Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

C.Q.D. Medal 1909, silver, unnamed as issued, good very fine £240-300

In the early morning of 23 January 1909, the White Star Line’s R.M.S Republic, sailing from New York to Gibraltar, collided with the Italian liner S.S. Florida in fog off the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts USA. The White Star Line’s R.M.S. Baltic responded to the C.Q.D. call sent out by radio. Three passengers died in the collision; the remaining passengers from the Republic were transferred, first to the less-damaged Florida, and then, on her arrival, to the Baltic. The Republic sank the next day whilst under tow to New York. The saloon passengers of the two White Star Liners subscribed to a fund to provide medals to the crews of the three ships involved, in recognition of the fact that they saved more than 1,700 lives. Three silver-gilt medals were given to the three captains, with the officers and crew given silver and bronze medals. This was the first occasion on which the C.Q.D. distress call had been sent by wireless transmission.