Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Norway, Kingdom, Medal for Heroic Deeds, 2nd Class, silver, with crown suspension (W. Crouch Feb 19th. 1889) contemporarily engraved naming, edge bruising, very fine £200-300

William Crouch (listed erroneously as Grooch on the official Roll) was awarded the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds, 2nd Class for saving the life of the crew of the Caroline:

‘On the 10th October 1887 the schooner Caroline, skippered by Mr. A. Knudsen, was sailing in ballast from Felixstowe to her home port of Kragerø in Norway. She encountered very dirty weather when twenty miles north-west of Texel, and at six o’clock in the evening the crew were obliged to cut away the rigging. The ballast shifted to the lee side, and a heavy sea striking her shortly after, she heeled over on to her beam ends. The men on board had a fearful experience during the night, the angry waves dashing furiously over the vessel without a moment’s respite. As soon as day broke a distress flag was hoisted but failed at first to attract attention. Eventually at five o’clock that afternoon it was observed by the fishing boat John Frederick of Lowestoft, skippered by William Crouch, and he hove down upon them. He approached and attempted to go alongside and rescue the Caroline’s crew, but after two unsuccessful efforts he moved away and sent instead his rowing boat, manned by Charles Wright and John Andrews. After great exertions and with considerable danger to themselves they reached the wreck. The younger member’s of the Caroline’s crew managed to jump into the smack’s boat without sustaining any injury; but the steward, an elderly man, unfortunately crushed his left hand severely, the ends of three fingers being taken completely off. Despite breaking an oar during the return journey, the boat made it safely back to the John Frederick, where the rescued crew were most kindly treated by the Lowestoft smacksmen. They then brought them back to Lowestoft, where they arrived on the 13th October, and the rescued men were at once taken to the Sailors’ Home.’ (Eastern Daily Press, 20 February 1889 refers).

For their gallantry King Oscar II of Norway and Sweden awarded William Crouch the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds 2nd Class, and Charles Wright and John Andrews the Medal 3rd Class. Crouch was presented with his medal by the Mayor of Lowestoft on 19 February 1889, and in a short speech said ‘he had only done his duty. He hoped he should never be found wanting when the lives of his fellow men were in danger.’ (ibid).