Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War B.E.M. and Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea pair awarded to Boatswain Ewart Alfred Gardner, Merchant Navy, for services in the ‘George Cross’ action aboard S.S. Ocean Voyager, 19 March 1943

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Ewart Alfred Gardner); Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea, silver (Boatswain E. A. Gradner, S.S. “Ocean Voyager”, 19th March 1943) this in case of issue, nearly extremely fine (2) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 81.

B.E.M. London Gazette 23 November 1943.

Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea Lloyd’s List and Shipping Gazette 27 April 1944. ‘Ewart Alfred Gardner, Boatswain, Ocean Voyager’. ‘During a heavy attack by enemy aircraft on a harbour the vessel was hit and set on fire. The ship had a large cargo of ammunition and petrol and was exploding all the time, and although every effort was made to extinguish the fire she had to be abandoned. The master was killed by the explosion and Chief Officer Stronach took charge of operations. He had been rendered unconscious but recovered almost immediately and went forward to search for survivors. Several of the crew were sheltering in an alleyway, and in spite of exploding ammunition he led them to a boat alongside which carried them to safety. He then lowered another boat and brought alongside the vessel in case other survivors were found. The fire was now raging furiously, but Mr Stronach made his way to the officers’ accommodation amidships, and holding a hose over his head he kept himself wet for protection against the heat and flames. With considerable difficulty he entered the collapsed accommodation, and, finding one of the officers badly burned and unconscious, Mr Stronach got him clear and along the deck to the lowered boat. Returning amidships he discovered another officer who was trapped and removed the debris from him. He dragged him through the port-hole and along the deck, where he tied a rope around his waist and lowered him into the boat. The situation was now becoming perilous and Mr Stronach ordered a man to take the boat to safety. He again returned to the accommodation, where he saw a badly injured officer. Pulling this man along the deck to the side of the ship, he got a rope around him and lowered him to a raft which he had called back to the ship. Once more the chief officer searched for survivors, and on going aft he found a greaser lying unconscious in the scuppers and dragged him to the ship’s side. As there was no boat or raft alongside, he put a lifebelt around the man and threw him overboard. having made sure there were no more survivors Mr Stronach jumped overboard and swam to a raft, which then returned to rescue the greaser. Chief Officer Stronach remained on the burning ship searching for survivors for an hour and twenty minutes, although he knew that the ship might blow up at any minute. He saved a number of the crew by his leadership in inducing them to get away, and the three officers and the greaser owed their lives to his conspicuously brave efforts, performed wthout regard to his own safety. When the ship was set on fire, Second Engineer Hotham remained alone in the engine-room and endeavoured to obtain more pressure on the pumps, but as the service pipes were fractured efforts to extinguish the fire had to be abandoned. After helping to get two of the injured officers into the boat, he went back to the engine-room and endeavoured to get more pressure on the pumps. He did not leave until the engine-room bulkheads became white-hot. He showed high courage and devotion to duty throughout. Although the vessel was burning furiously, and he knew that she might blow up, Boatswain Gardner stayed at his fire station in an endeavour to obtain an adequate supply of water. When he received orders to abandon ship he took charge of a boat and got away a number of the crew. His courage and devotion to duty were outstanding’.

The S.S. Ocean Voyager, a British cargo vessel of 7,174 tons, was bombed by enemy aircraft in Tripoli Harbour on 19 March 1943. With a cargo of ammunition and petrol the vessel caught fire and was wracked with explosions. Her captain and five others were killed in the attack. The wrecked vessel sank on the following day. For their gallant services that day, Chief Officer Stronach was awarded the George Cross; Second Engineer Hotham, the George Medal, and Boatswain Gardner, the B.E.M.

Sold with Buckingham Palace Investiture slip, 7 December 1943.