Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Greek Navy Medal First Class group of three awarded to Bedroom Steward K. H. Walton, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, late Driver, Royal Army Service Corps, for his services in attempting to rescue the crew of the Greek trawler Iason on 13 March 1955

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (T/22520985 Dvr. K. Walton. R.A.S.C.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; Greece, Kingdom, Navy Medal, First Class, gilt, unnamed as issued, about extremely fine (3) £180-220

K. H. Walton served with the Royal Army Service Corps during the Korean War, before joining the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company’s liner Chusan as a utility steward on 4 June 1954. He transferred to the P & O’s liner Stratheden as a bedroom steward on 29 August 1954, and was serving in her when he rendered valuable service during the tragic attempted rescue of the crew of the stricken Greek trawler Iason: ‘The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company in London stated yesterday that eight members of the crew of the liner Stratheden had been drowned when their lifeboat capsized as they were trying to rescue members of the crew of the Greek steam trawler Iason, which sank on Sunday in the Ionian Sea. Eleven members of the crew of fifteen on the Iason lost their lives when the lifeboat capsized. The crew of the trawler had jumped into the sea when the trawler sank and the Stratheden’s boat had been launched to save them.’ (The Times, 15 March 1955 refers).

For his gallantry Walton was awarded the Greek Navy Medal, First Class, together with a diploma, and was also congratulated by the Directors of the P & O: ‘All of you who played a gallant part in the attempted rescue of the crew of the Greek trawler Iason upheld the highest tradition of the sea, and this endeavour is one of which the Company is justly proud and which will live in the annals of our history.’ (Letter to the recipient dated 24 March 1955 refers).

Walton’s career with the P & O was short-lived though, as he deserted from the Stratheden when she was at Sydney on 24 August 1955.