Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

U.S.A., Presidential Gold Life Saving Medal, head of Liberty left; reverse inscribed, ‘G. Bowring, seaman of the British steamship Silvia, in recognition of his heroic services in effecting the rescue at sea, on October 16, 1913, of the master, his wife, and crew of the American schooner Lottie Beard’, complete with gold ‘E. Plur[ibu]s Unum’ brooch bar, total weight 40.5g, in contemporary fitted case, extremely fine £1800-2200

George Bowring was born in Poole, Dorset on 6 April 1875. Circa 1891 he entered the Royal Navy, serving as a Boy 2nd Class. He later served in the Merchant Navy and it was whilst serving on the S.S. Silvia, of Liverpool, in 1913 that his services in rescuing the crew of the Lottie Beard gained him the prestigious award of the U.S.A. Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal. Bowring continued to serve in the Merchant Navy during the Great War and was awarded the British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals. Having survived the war, he drowned when serving on the King Gruffydd, off Rosario, Argentine, on 17 September 1928.

‘Captain Lawry of the American schooner Lottie Beard, with his wife and crew were landed at Southampton yesterday by the steamer Sylvia (sic), which picked them up. Lawry’s story was that he was engaged in the coasting trade, and was bound from New Jersia (sic) to Maine when his vessel was overtaken by a storm. He ran for shelter to the Nantucket shoals and stayed there for 15 days, going on again when the wind dropped. But he had not proceeded far before another storm even worse than the first, started. The masts and fittings of the Lottie Beard were carried away, and ships and souls were in a desperate plight when the Sylivia, thinking that the schooner was deserted and a danger to shipping, went to have a look at her. Captain Lawry’s last act was to set fire to his own ship which was uninsured, and which represented his life’s savings.’ (Ref. Grey River Argus, 4 November 1913).

For the rescue of the master, his wife and crew of the Lottie Beard, the Master of the Silvia, J. A. Prowse, was awarded a gold watch and chain with charm; the Chief Officer, J. W. Jones, was awarded a pair of binoculars, and four members of the crew, including Seaman Bowring, were each awarded a Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal.

With comprehensive research, including copied genealogical details, m.i.c., death certificate; research re the rescue; the ships; the medal and its award. With several copied photographs of the Lottie Beard.