Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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) in damaged case of issue, nearly extremely fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Old Collection of Medals Relating to The Great War.

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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 named 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 onto 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 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. The Government of Newfoundland awarded binoculars to Mr. Watson in appreciation of his services. Ref. The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett.

For their bravery in rescuing the crew of the Elsie L. Corkum, Second Mate James Kemp Watson and the 6 members of the Heronspool’s lifeboat, were each awarded the Bronze Medal for Gallantry. The medal to Mathison was presented to him by the King on 8 July 1922.

With copied research.