Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Sea Gallantry Medal pair awarded to Able Seaman E. Newham, Mercantile Marine, for the rescue of the crew of the Schooner Lucie off Mauritius on 30 January 1913

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (E. Newham. “Lucie” 30th. January. 1913.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Ernest Newham) good very fine (2) £500-600

Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, July 1993.

Ernest Newham was one of seven crew members from the S.S. Cawdor Castle awarded the silver Sea Gallantry Medal for the rescue of the crew of the Schooner Lucie, which was sinking in the Indian Ocean, off Mauritius: ‘On 30 January 1913, during a strong gale, the schooner Lucie, of Mauritius, was in a sinking condition in the Indian Ocean. There were no signs of life visible on the Lucie but as the Cawdor Castle approached her, the crew of the Lucie suddenly came on deck and shouted for assistance. The Cawdor Castle immediately launched a lifeboat under the command of Chief officer Mr. Henry Linklater, and manned by six other men (including Newham). It was impossible for the boat to get alongside the Lucie owing to the heavy seas breaking over the vessel, but she was manoeuvred under the stern of the Lucie and the crew of eight men were taken off one by one, by means of ropes rigged to two booms fastened so as to project over the stern. The rescue occupied nearly an hour and a half. The rescuers incurred very considerable risk owing to the heavy seas prevailing at the time and their work was rendered more difficult by the exhausted state of Lucie’s crew.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett refers).

Newham was presented with his Sea Gallantry Medal by H.M. King George V on 13 January 1915, and was additionally awarded a gratuity of £3.