Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Russia, Medal of Zeal, Nicholas II, small, silver (174390. J. W. Samson. C.E.R.A. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Jupiter.) officially impressed naming, on ‘St. Stanislas’ riband, edge bruise, very fine £180-220

In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, their icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea had broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out the Tyne Guard Ship H.M.S. Jupiter, and old Majestic-class battleship. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en-route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and well being of the Jupiter’s crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tsar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew. For his part, Samson was awarded the Russian Medal of Zeal.