Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War S.G.M. group of three awarded to Chief Engineer J. Brymer, Mercantile Marine

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (James Brymer, “Chilka”, 1st July 1917), in its fitted case of issue; British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals 1914-18 (James Brymer), good very fine and better (3) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

View
Collection

James Brymer, who was born in Dundee in 1879, was serving as Chief Engineer of the S.S. Chilka at the time of winning his S.G.M. in the summer of 1917. Board of Trade records state:

‘On 1 July 1917, while the S.S. Chilka of Glasgow, was lying in Baruva Roadstead, India, a fire broke out among bundles of coir yarn in one of the holds in which was also a magazine containing guncotton and safety cartridges. The pumps were at once started and three hoses played into the ‘tween hatch. Mr. MacDonald went down into the hold and, with the assistance of Kabri Ahmed endeavoured to remove the explosives. Finding this impossible, Mr. MacDonald held open the magazine hatch, and in spite of the fumes which were coming from it, he and Mr. Wilkin, assisted by Mr. Brymer and Kabri Ahmed, played a hose into the magazine for a considerable time, and thus probably averted a severe explosion. Considerable risk was incurred in rendering the services.’

All of the above named were awarded S.G.Ms in silver, Brymer eventually receiving his distinction at an investiture held at Government House, Bombay, in December 1919.

A Dictionary of Disasters at Sea adds that the Chilka was carrying 15 European and 1,600 native passengers, bound from Madras to Rangoon, and that the ship was beached but became a total wreck. Moreover, an unspecified number of deck passengers jumped overboard and were drowned.

Sold with original British India Steam Navigation Company and Government House letters in respect of the S.G.M., together with Board of Trade forwarding letter for his British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals, dated 16 February 1926, together with a file of research.