Auction Catalogue

25 September 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 184

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25 September 2008

Hammer Price:
£460

A Mercantile Marine Service Association Medal, Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medal pair awarded to Third Officer Thomas E. Syvret, Merchant Navy, for the rescue of the crew of Mary Queen of the Seas, 1886

Mercantile Marine Service Association Medal, silver, reverse inscribed, Presented to Mr T. E. Syvret, 3rd Officer, S.S. Brittish (sic) Princess, for rescuing crew of Schr. Mary Queen of the Seas, May 3 1886’, silver buckle on ribbon; Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (Thos. E. Syvret, 3rd Offcr. S.S. “British Princess” for rescuing 6 persons from the “Mary Queen of the Seas”, May 3 1886) silver buckle on ribbon, edge bruising to first, very fine and better (2) £500-600

Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 100.

‘The American Line steamer
British Princess, from Philadelphia, arrived at Queenstown ... having on board the Captain and crew of the schooner Mary Queen of the Seas, who were rescued, wounded and exhausted from their sinking and disabled vessel on May 3 ... The schooner was bound from Barbados to St. John’s, with rum and molasses, and experienced a terrible gale on the 28th ult., which tore away the rudder, and left an immense hole in the vessel’s quarter, through which the water poured into the cabin and hold, leaving the craft quite disabled. The Captain and crew were at the pumps three days and nights trying to keep the ship afloat, but the water continued to increase despite their efforts. Consequently, exhausted and famished, they left the pumps and decided to throw overboard the cargo to lighten her in order to save her. The cook, named J. Raulson, of Greenock, went to the hold for this purpose, but, having incautiously struck a match, the rum became ignited, and soon the entire cargo was in flames. He escaped to the deck, badly burned, as also were the others. This fresh disaster almost drove them mad, but they fought the flames, and subdued them after several hours’ work. Their condition was then desperate. Exhausted, hungry, and wounded, with the seas sweeping over them, they resigned themselves to death, when, most providentially, the British Princess hove in sight, and, through the splendid courage of five of her seamen, the unfortunate crew were rescued. ....’ (Ref. The Mercantile Marine Service Association Reporter, Vol. XI, 1886).

Silver medals of the Mercantile Marine Service Association and the Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society were awarded to 3rd Officer Thomas E. Syvret of the
British Princess, for having on the 3 May 1886, with a boat’s crew, at great risk from a heavy sea, rescued the six people who formed the crew of the schooner Mary Queen of the Seas. The L.S.H.S. in addition awarded the six men of the boat’s crew 30s each.