Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (To Patrick Kearns, S.S. “Manchester Regiment”, For Gallant Service 8/12/29) good very fine £100-120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to Civilians from the Collection of John Tamplin.

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On 8 December 1929 the British S.S. Volumnia of Glasgow was in distress in very bad weather in the Atlantic; in response to distress signals the S.S. Manchester Regiment went to her assistance, and having approached, waited for a lull in the storm before attempting a rescue. Shortly after 9 o’clock, despite the very dangerous sea running, the Master (Captain Philip Linton) of the Manchester Regiment decided to attempt a rescue, and a boat was launched in charge of the Second Mate (Mr W. H. Downing), with a crew consisting of the Third Mate (Mr E. W. Espley], and Able Seamen J. Bromage, J. Manin, H. J. Stringer, P. Kearns and J. A. Chidlow, together with a passenger, Mr R. P. Ziegler. Very great difficulty was experienced in keeping the boat afloat, but by skilful manoeuvring the Second Mate, though badly injured in the hand in the launching of the boat, made two trips to the Volumnia and the entire 45 members of the crew of that vessel were eventually taken off. The rescuing boat was badly damaged and abandoned.

Patrick Kearns was also awarded, for this same rescue, the Sea Gallantry Medal in silver and Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in bronze. These two medals were offered for sale by Midland Medals in March 1976.