Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Great Britain, Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 1st large type, replacement silver-gilt medal, glazed, edged with the original gold band inscribed, ‘[T]o Admiral Grenfell for assisting in saving the People from the conflagration of the Ocean Monarch, 24th March 1848’, edge band worn, replacement lunettes, otherwise extremely fine £350-450

5 Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medals in Gold were awarded in 1849, all in respect of the loss of the Ocean Monarch.

‘Gold Medal each to Thomas Littledale, merchant, and owner of the yacht Queen of the Ocean; Admiral Grenfell, Brazilian Consul-General; Captain Lisboa, in command of the Brazilian war-steamer Alfonso; Mr Dani, master of the steamship Prince of Wales; and Jerome, one of the seamen of the American packet-ship New World. All of the above awards were in respect of the rescue of nearly four hundred souls from the American packet-ship Ocean Monarch which caught fire just a few hours after leaving the port of Liverpool, the rescued being providentially saved from a horrible death by the Queen of the Ocean, the Alfonso, the Prince of Wales and the New World’. [extract from L.S.A.R.S.J. No.35].

‘The American sailing vessel Ocean Monarch left Liverpool for the United States on the morning of August 24th, 1848, with 396 persons, of whom 32 were first and second class cabin passengers, 322 were emigrants and 42 crew. Just after noon of the same day a steward reported to Captain Murdock that he had discovered a passenger lighting a fire in one of the ventilators in the after part of the ship. The captain at once sent an officer and a seaman to put out the fire and to bring the delinquent, but by that time the ship was burning. She was put before the wind to lessen the draught, but had to be brought to again, and the flames, fanned by the wind, soon gained mastery.

The Ocean Monarch’s position was six miles off Great Orme’s Head, North Wales, and as the fire was gaining rapidly the anchors were dropped to keep her stationary. Many of the unfortunate emigrants took refuge in the bows and in the rigging of the foremast, until both foremast and jib-boom snapped and the whole mass of people was flung into the sea.

At the time of the disaster the Brazilian frigate Alfonso was running her steam trials under command of Captain Joachim Lisboa. The Alfonso at once lowered her boats and went to the rescue of the emigrant ship. At the same time the yacht Queen of the Ocean and the American packet New World also came to the rescue. Between them these ships managed to save 218 persons, including those saved in the ship’s boats, Captain Murdoch being among the survivors. The loss of life amounted to 178, either from drowning or fire. The ship sank at her anchors at 1.30p.m.’