Orders, Decorations and Medals

An unusual life-saving group awarded to Captain James J. Shaw, Master of the Steamship Dalton of Newcastle, for rescuing the shipwrecked crew and passengers of the Steamship Tidal of Cardiff, off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, in January 1922

Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, Silver Medal, sometime gilded (Captain J. J. Shaw, S.S. “Dalton” January 12. 1922) with claw but lacking usual suspension; Shipping Federation, silver medal for Meritorious Service (J. J. Shaw, 12th January 1922) fitted with gold chain mount and ring for suspension; Board of Trade Presentation Salver, 320 mm., with ball and claw feet, 1100 gm., hallmarked London 1896, with presentation inscription to the centre ‘Presented by the Board of Trade to James Joseph Shaw, Master of the Steamship “Dalton” of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in acknowledgement of his humanity and kindness to the shipwrecked crew and passengers of the steamship “Tidal” of Cardiff, whom he rescued off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, on the 12th January 1922’, contained in its wooden presentation box, together with a contemporary press photograph of Captain Shaw with the Mayor of Newcastle and other civil dignitaries, generally very fine (3) £800-1000

John Joseph Shaw, Master, Robert Spencer, Second Officer, Martin Wennerburg, Boatswain, Arthur Hellman and Arthur Edward Clerk, Able Seamen, Henry Fudge, Donkeyman, all of S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

‘On the 12th January 1922, the S.S. Tidal of Cardiff, laden with coal, was in distress about 8 miles off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, the vessel having shipped tremendous seas, which caused her to take a heavy and increasing list. In response to signals of distress the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne came to her assistance, and although the weather conditions were very bad the master of the Dalton decided to try to launch a boat. Volunteers were called for, and after the Dalton had been manoeuvred about 50 yards to the windward of the Tidal a life-boat, in charge of Mr Robert Spencer and manned by the seamen mentioned, was launched and succeeded in rescuing the crew and passengers consisting of ten men, two women, and three children, and safely transferred them to the Dalton. The rescuing boat had only gone some 30 yards on the return journey when the Tidal foundered.’

A piece of Plate (Salver) value £15 was awarded by the Board of Trade to James J. Shaw, Master of the Dalton, and a pair of Binoculars value £8.2.6 to Robert Spencer, Second Officer. In addition, Spencer and the four crewmen of the life-boat were awarded the Board of Trade Bronze Sea Gallantry Medal. Henry Fudge was subsequently selected for the ‘Emile Robin’ award for 1922. Captain Shaw received his silver salver at a Presentation by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle on 6 July 1922.