Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, bronze (H. J. Claridge. 6 March 1896. “Elisha Gibbs.”) good very fine £260-300

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

H. J. Claridge, Third Officer of the S.S. Scottish Prince, was awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea for the rescue of the crew of the American schooner Elisha Gibbs, which was sinking in the North Atlantic Ocean: ‘The circumstances of the rescue point to great gallantry on the part of Claridge and his companions. During a storm on 6 March 1896 the Scottish Prince sighted in mid ocean the Elisha Gibbs flying signals of distress. The captain of the steamer immediately turned the vessel’s head in the direction of the schooner, from Massachusetts, whose decks were by this time at the water’s edge. In consequence of the heavy seas that were running, the launching of a boat was deemed almost impossible, but as the crew of the Scottish Prince knew full well, the Elisha Gibbs could not keep long above water, and that its foundering would mean the loss of several precious lives, so some of the crew volunteered to make the attempt to save the crew of the doomed ship. The first attempt at launching the lifeboat ended in the gallant rescuers being thrown into the water, and it was only with great difficulty that they succeeded in righting their craft and getting on board again. After their boat had been several times nearly swamped the crew of the Scottish Prince succeeded in their perilous mission, and rescued every man on the schooner.’ (The Aberdeen Journal, 19 December 1896 refers).

Claridge was additionally awarded a share of $20 of gold presented by the United States Government.