Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Services, 1st type, bronze star, reverse contemporarily engraved ‘John Lee’, nearly extremely fine £100-140

John Lee was the steward in the barque Trafalgar who, together with Apprentice 3rd Engineer Mr. William Shotton and Sailmaker Hugh Kennedy was awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Service on 7 February 1894 ‘for their extraordinary exertions in navigating their vessel to Melbourne in December 1893 after the death of the senior officers and part of the crew.’

The Trafalgar, a 4-masted barque on 1,696 tons, was despatched in the beginning of 1893 from Cardiff to Rio de Janeiro, and thence to New York and then on to Batavia, reaching the latter port in September. An outbreak of Java Fever was occurring at Batavia at the time and the Master refused to allow the crew to go ashore. However, he was the first to succumb to it. Whilst being buried ashore, several members of the ship, who attended the funeral, also took sick. As there was little likelihood of their recovery whilst the ship was moored at Batavia, the Chief Officer (now acting Master) decided to put to sea and make for Australia.

The voyage began on 29 October 1893. Soon after, one of the seamen took ill and, despite, the efforts of the steward, John Lee, and the deck officers, died on 9 November. Neck, the Chief Officer (acting Master) and the Third Officer (now acting Second Officer and responsible for navigation) became ill. On 15 November the former died, as did also the ship’s carpenter. The position was now critical. The operation of working the ship now rested entirely upon Mr. Shotton, aged 18. He had only recently completed his term of indentured service, but had originally been selected for the post on account of his knowledge of navigation. He took over the navigation and operation of the ship temporarily, pending the recovery of the (acting) Second Officer, but the latter died on 21 November and apart from him, the sailmaker, Hugh Kennedy, was the only person on board who had any idea of the duties of a supernumerary officer or the confidence to undertake the guidance of the ship whilst Mr. Shotton snatched a few hours’ sleep. The last fatality on board was the cook, who died on 7 December, and presumably John Lee took over his duties as well as his own. They passed Cape Leuwin, on the southwest corner of Australia with light to fresh variable winds and were hoping for a speedy arrival at Melbourne, but a gale sprang up forcing them to run before it and losing some of their sails in the process, but arrived at their destination in darkness on 15 December. The Port Officer boarded the Trafalgar, and, having examined the crew, was satisfied that there was no danger of infection.

At a subsequent meeting of the Melbourne Marine board the story of the Trafalgar was noted. The members regretted that finances did not permit the presentation of a piece of plate to Mr. Shotton. However, the Minister of Customs later presented him with a gold watch and Hugh Kennedy with a silver one. There does not appear to have been any recognition of John Lee’s efforts, or perhaps there were no bronze watches available.

Sold with copied research and various copied newspaper articles about the incident.