Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, bronze (Thomas Spellman Wreck of the SS “Hurworth” of Newcastle on the 1st December 1881.) minor contact marks to obverse field, otherwise nearly extremely fine £280-£320

Thomas Spellman, of the White Star Line R.M.S. Germanic, was awarded the Board of Trade’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry in Saving life at Sea for his part in the rescue of the crew of the S.S. Hurworth in the north Atlantic on 1 December 1881, after the latter vessel had hit an iceberg off Belle Isle, north of Newfoundland:

‘The wind rent her canvas into ribbons, and cracked the big masts as if they were spider legs; the fierce waves rushed across her decks, splintering the life-boats, and crushing her cabin roof as it it were papers. The ancient hull creaked almost like a human wail. She tossed in the angry sea through one long day, and the hearts of everyone on board were despairing as the night came on. She could hold out only a little while longer, and every soul aboard knew it. The night was fiercer with the doomed craft that the day, and the winds, increased in violence, kept extinguishing the beacon lights that efforts were made to burn. Presently the red and green lights of a vessel were seen coming nearer through the darkness.

More beacons were ignited, and after what seemed a terrible century of anguish and suspense to every one on the Newcastle steamer, a rocket was seen to shoot up into the air from the approaching vessel. Help was coming, all knew, but all feared it would come too late, for every instant the poor old craft shook with a tremor that seemed like a dying gasp. The stranger came on with fearful speed, and then a blue rocket went skyward. The signal meant, “We will stand by you”.

The rescuer was the Germanic. She ran as close to the disabled vessel as mariners ever find it safe to do in wrecks. So terrible was the sea that it was deemed foolhardy to attempt to get a life-boat afloat in the darkness. The same cheerful signal was again displayed, and then it was recognised by all that there was nothing to do but wait for daylight. At last it came.

The Germanic’s decks were crowded with passengers, who had lost every desire for sleep in their anxiety for the fate of those so near and yet so far. Flying from the cracked mast-head of the wreck were signal flags which to the sailor’s eye read: “No boats serviceable; in great distress; send assistance.” Long before the sun was up that morning a life-boat was manned by a volunteer crew of the White Star steamer. Captain Bence, the Chief Officer of the Germanic, commanded the relief party. Ten persons were brought back on the first trip. Again the little boat bounded towards the breaking ship, and another load was saved. A third time she made the dangerous journey. All that remained were rescued, but not before the life-boat head her stern splintered by being dashed by the heavy sea with great force against the sinking hull.’ (contemporary account refers).

For their part in the rescue, Captain Charles William Kennedy, the Captain of the Germanic, was awarded the Board of Trade’s Silver Medal for Humanity; Chief Officer Robert Bence was awarded the Board of Trade’s Silver Medal for Gallantry; and the five crew members of the Germanic who manned the life-boat, including Spellman, were all awarded the Board of Trade’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry.