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

A Volturno disaster Sea Gallantry Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman Archibald Stewart, of the steamer Rappahannock

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Archibald Stewart, “Volturno: 9th October, 1913) edge bruise, otherwise very fine £300-350

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

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Archibald Stewart, an Ordinary Seaman on the Rappahannock, was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver on the occasion of the Volturno disaster on 9 October 1913. The Volturno, a British steamer, chartered by the Uranium Steamship Co. of Rotterdam, and bound thence to New York, was engulfed by fire in mid-Atlantic during a heavy gale. Of the 657 on board, 521 were saved by eleven steamers, including the Cunarder Campania. Heavy seas interfered with the launching of boats, but the difficulty was eventually overcome by the use of oil; those who perished were mostly lost in the boats. The hull of the Volturno was eventually found by a Dutch steamer and scuttled as a dangerous derelict.

Numerous awards were made for this famous rescue, including 78 Sea Gallantry Medals in Silver to crew members of the six British vessels. In addition the Board of Trade also awarded 152 silver Sea Gallantry Medals (Foreign Services) to the crews serving on foreign vessels at the rescue. Sold with full details of the Volturno disaster.

A total of 384 silver and 371 bronze medals of this type were awarded.