Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 1st large type bronze medallion (A. Dunn. “Terre Neuve” 3 Nov. 1895) edge nicks, nearly very fine £260-300

Provenance: Captain J. Hartford Collection, Glendining’s, September 1992.

A. Dunn was one of seven members of the crew of the S.S. Aristides awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea for the rescue of the crew of the French vessel Terre Neuve, which was sinking in the Southern Ocean: ‘Captain Poppy, of the ship Aristides, which arrived from London this morning, brought the news that in longitude 76 east he picked up fourteen of the crew of the French barque Terra Neuve. The barque left Hamburg on July 23 last, and was bound for Adelaide. The Aristides left London on August 12. She crossed the equator 41 days out, and when in the vicinity of St. Paul encountered a gale of almost hurricane force, and it took good seamanship on the part of the officers and crew to bring their vessel safely through. On November 3, when the wind had somewhat abated, a barque was sighted flying signals of distress. A closer examination showed that the signals read, “Must abandon vessel”. Captain Poppy, of the Aristides, at once bore down on the stranger and hove-to to leeward. The barque then put out a boat with her second mate and four hands. This boat with the greatest difficulty reached the Aristides, but was smashed against her side. The occupants, however, were saved. They stated that their vessel was in a sinking condition. The Aristides at once put out a life boat with Chief Officer Williams and six of the crew (including Dunn). This boat was almost overwhelmed by the mountainous seas running but contrived, after a perilous experience, to take off the remainder of the Terre Neuve's crew. A blinding squall of rain then came on, and when it cleared off the Terre Neuve had disappeared. Captain Gosse, of the lost vessel, was at the French Consulate this afternoon. He said they were out 100 days, and the cause of the barque’s foundering was the heavy weather encountered, her docks being swept with tremendous seas. She is also thought to have sprung a leak. The weather was very violent, being of the nature of a cyclone. The French vessel's company lost all their property. All are loud in their praise of the very kindly treatment they received on the vessel which rescued them.’ (Adelaide Advertiser, 29 November 1895 refers).

In addition to six Lloyd’s Medals for Saving Life at Sea in bronze awarded to the crew of the Aristides, the Chief Officer, Mr. W. M. Williams, was awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in silver, his medal selling in these rooms in December 2003.