Auction Catalogue

21 September 2001

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

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Lot

№ 612

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21 September 2001

Hammer Price:
£290

Shipping Federation, silver medal for Meritorious Service (A. Hellman, 12th January 1922) extremely fine £250-300

See Colour Plate VII

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.