Auction Catalogue

10 & 11 May 2017

Starting at 11:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 1045

.

11 May 2017

Hammer Price:
£400

A Scandinavian life saving pair awarded to Mr. A. Patch, who was awarded the Swedish Medal whilst captain of the trawler Cerberus, for saving the lives of the crew of the Swedish vessel Aimo which was foundering under heavy weather in the North Sea, 27 September 1896, and the Norwegian Medal whilst captain of the trawler Stanley, for saving the lives of the crew of the Norwegian barque Boylesta which suffered a similar fate in the North Sea on 26 March 1898

Sweden, Kingdom,
Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd Class, silver, with crown suspension (Arthur Patch); Norway, Kingdom, Medal for Heroic Deeds, 2nd Class, silver, with crown suspension, unnamed as issued, suspension loose on latter, otherwise nearly extremely fine (2) £400-500

Arthur Patch was born at Kilburn, Middlesex, in 1862, and received his Master’s licence at Grimsby on 20 July 1886. He was awarded the Swedish Medal for saving life at Sea, 2nd Class for the rescue of the crew of the Aimo:

‘On the 27 September 1896, the Grimsby steam trawler
Cerebus, skippered by Arthur Patch, sighted the Swedish three-masted ship the Aimo flying distress signals some 200 miles north east of Spurn head. He immediately launched his own boat and went to her, finding her waterlogged and sinking. He took off the crew of nine and brought them safely to Christianssand.’ (citation in Swedish refers).

For his gallantry Patch was awarded, on 21 October 1898, the Swedish Meal for saving life at Sea, 2nd Class, and a gratuity of £2 was paid to one of his crew. Compensation of £20 was also paid to the owner of the
Cerebus for time lost and reduced income from fishing by reason of the rescue.

Eighteen months later, Patch was awarded the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds, 2nd Class for saving the life of the crew of the
Boylesta:

‘On 15th March 1898 the Norwegian barque
Boylesta left Kristiansand South with a load of planks destined for St. Malo. Nothing noteworthy happened before the 23rd of the same month when the vessel was attacked by a violent storm in the North Sea, during which the ship sprang a leak, faster than the pumps could cope with, and was gradually swamped. The mainmast went overboard and the waves broke continuously over the wreck. A seaman was also carried away and drowned. On the 25th March a warship passed, but made no attempt to rescue the shipwrecked sailors from the riotous ocean. Another dreadful night followed, but on the Sunday morning 26th March a ship could be seen setting course for the wreck. It was the steam trawler Stanley, of Boston, Lincolnshire. The sea was running very high at the time, and the rowboat of the trawler was sent to fetch the crew of the barque. It capsized on its first trip but the rescuers succeeded in righting it. In all, it required three trips to bring across all the survivors, with the boat manned by the Second Hand Frederick Hargreaves and seamen William Speering and William Jarvis for the first two trips, and by the Stanley’s skipper, Arthur Patch, and the two seamen for the final trip.’ (citation in Norwegian refers).

‘On board the
Stanley the survivors were given food and dry clothing and taken to Boston. The rescued men were warm in their praise of the smartness of the crew of the Stanley, and the kindness and consideration shown towards them.’ (Boston Guardian, 2 April 1898 refers).