Orders, Decorations and Medals

A scarce Edward VII Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Barry, R.N., Ardmore Coastguard, for services at the wreck of the Teaser in 1911

Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., small 2nd issue, silver (Richard Barry. ‘Teaser” 18th March, 1911); British War Medal 1914-20 (146042 P.O.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (146042 P.O.1Cl., H.M.S. Carron); Royal National Lifeboat Institution, E.VII.R., silver (Mr Richard Barry. Voted 13th April 1911) very fine and better (4) £1800-2200

S.G.M. presented by the King 2 February 1911, one of only 54 of this type awarded in silver (1906-10).

‘18 March 1911: During a terrific south-easterly gale, the Montrose schooner Teaser was driven ashore near Ardmore Bay, Co. Waterford, Ireland, in a very heavy sea. The rocket apparatus was brought to the scene and lines were thrown over the vessel, but her crew, exhausted and cold, could not make use of them. Aware of this, Messrs. Barry and Neal tried to swim out, but were beaten back to the shore. Father O’Shea then obtained a boat in which he put out with others, including the two coastguardmen. They boarded the wreck, but two of her crew were already dead and the other succumbed shortly afterwards’. (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox).

For their services, The Reverend John O’Shea, Parish Priest of Ardmore, was awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in gold; Petty Officer Richard Barry and Leading Boatman Alexander Neal, H.M. Coastguard, Ardmore, were each awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in silver.

For a more detailed account of the rescue attempt, see The Wreck of the Teaser - A Gold Medal Rescue, by John Wilson, in L.S.A.R.S. Journal No. 30, p.22-25. Sold with copied research.