Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Sea Gallantry Medal (Foreign Services), V.R., small, silver, ‘From the British Government, For Gallantry and Humanity’ (C. E. Meyer, 20th November 1890) in box of issue, good very fine £200-240

Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2003.

C. E. Meyer was a German merchant sailor, rated Able Seaman, was one of six men of the the S.S. Standard of Geestemundo awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal (Foreign Services) for this action (two awards in gold and four in silver); together with a Bronze Sea Gallantry Medal awarded to the Briton Frank Vitta of the Claudine, in November 1890.

The barque Claudine of Barnstaple became waterlogged and wrecked in the North Atlantic on 19 November 1890. The Standard launched a boat which became stoved in and the crew were rescued with difficulty. Later the Claudine launched her own boat with 8 men, only one of whom (Frank Vitta) would go back to the wreck. The Second Mate and a seaman of the Standard accompanied him, and they took off the rest of the crew. The Standard stood by about 18 hours.

Meyer was present with his Medal at Liverpool, and also received a gratuity of £2.