Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Lloyd’s Life Saving Medal and Al Valore di Marina group of five awarded to Able Seaman W. D. Bonas, Royal Navy, for the rescue of the crew of the Italian steamer Casmona in December 1929

Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, small type, bronze (Able Seaman William Dalton Bonas, S.S. “Casamona”, 6/7th December 1929) in its embossed case of issue; Al Valore di Marina, bronze (William Dalta Bonas, Golfo di Biscaglia - 7 Dicembre 1929) in case of issue; 1914-15 Star Trio (210809 A.B. R.N.); together with H.M.S. New Zealand silver medal 1913, Jutland commemorative medal by Spink, white metal, an enamelled badge of H.M.S. New Zealand, and a contemporary news cutting, generally very fine or better (8) £600-700

William Dalton Bonas served throughout the Great War as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. New Zealand. He was therefore present at the actions of the Heligoland Bight in August 1914, the action off the Dogger Bank in January 1915, the battle of Jutland, 31 May-1 June 1916, and the light cruiser action off Heligoland in November 1917.

Bonas was awarded the Lloyd’s bronze medal and the Italian Al Valore di Marina for the rescue of the crew of the Italian steamer Casmona, when that vessel was abandoned in a sinking condition during a heavy gale off the Channel Islands on 7 December 1929. He was serving aboard the British steamer Arlanza which received distress signals the previous evening from the Casmona, altered course and came up with the distressed vessel at 1.30 p.m. the next day, followed shortly afterwards by the Norwegian steamer Hansi. The Casmona was then in a critical condition and boats were manned and lowered by both vessels. After several attempts 15 members of the distressed vessel’s crew were rescued by the Arlanza and three by the Hansi. One of the Casmona’s boats also succeeded in reaching the Arlanza with the remaining members of the crew.