Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to Chief Boatman Peter Holbert, H.M. Coast Guard and Royal Navy

Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., small 2nd issue, bronze (Peter Holbert “Ina Mactavish” 17th October 1907); British War Medal 1914-20 (Ch. Offr. P. Holbert, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R. (Peter Holbert, Commd. Btn. H.M. Coast Guard) good fine and better (3) £450-550

The Ina Mactavish, of Glasgow, small coaster of 107 tons, left South Shields on the River Tyne, on 16 October 1907, bound for Aberdeen, with a cargo of lime. At about 6.00 on 17 October the engines were stopped because of a rope entangled around the propeller. Shortly before 9.00, having decided to beach the ship, the vessel went aground to the south of Birling Car Rock in Almouth Bay. It took until 15.00 before the Alnmouth lifeboat could reach the vessel and rescue two survivors of the crew; by which time, two other crew members had drowned. For their part in trying to rescue the crew, Chief Boatman Peter Holbert, H.M. Coast Guard, Amble, Northumberland; Police Sergeant A. Barton, of Amble, and Police Constable J. Helm, of Warkworth, were each awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze.

The ship was later towed into Amble. In the inquiry that followed, the captain of the vessel was reprimanded for not sending a distress signal when the engines were stopped. It was also observed that there was a long delay between the wreck being spotted and the Alnmouth Lifeboat being launched. With some copied research.