The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A Sea Gallantry Medal awarded to Seaman Svenning Mathison of the steamship Heronspool, for rescuing the crew of the schooner Elsie L. Corkum, 26 December 1920

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (Svenning Mathison, “Elsie L. Corkum” 26th December 1920) mounted as worn, in damaged case of issue, nearly extremely fine £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Svenning Mathison was a Seaman on the steamship Heronspool of West Hartlepool.

‘On 26 December 1920, the schooner Elsie L. Corkum, of St. John’s, Newfoundland, was in distress in the Atlantic Ocean in a South Westerly gale with a very rough sea running. The vessel was in a water-logged condition owing to the severe weather which she had met and her boats had been washed away. Signals of distress were seen by the steamship Heronspool, of West Hartlepool. A call for volunteers to man a lifeboat met with a general response, and the second officer, being put in charge, chose the men to accompany him. The lifeboat was lowered with great difficulty owing to the rolling of the Heronspool. Several times she swung in and once the guy ropes parted, and on another occasion her bows crashed on to the davits. After three quarters of an hour’s work the lifeboat got away from the Heronspool in a leaky condition owing to the battering she had suffered during the launching, and proceeded to the Elsie L. Corkum, and took off the crew of six men. Continuous baling was necessary to keep the lifeboat afloat, and it took over an hour before the shipwrecked crew were safely transferred to the Heronspool. The damaged lifeboat was badly smashed whilst being hoisted on board, and had to be abandoned.’ (Ref. The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett).

Second Mate James Kemp Watson and six other men of the Heronspool were awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in bronze. Watson was additionally awarded a pair of binoculars by the Government of Newfoundland. Svenning’s medal was personally presented to him by the King on 8 July 1922. With copied research.