Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A S.G.M. group of three awarded to Chief Boatman Peter Holbert, H.M. Coast Guard, later Chief Officer, Royal Navy

Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., small 2nd issue, bronze (Peter Holbert “Ina Mactavish” 17th October 1907); British War Medal 1914-20 (Ch. Offr. P. Holbert, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R. (Peter Holbert, Commd. Btn. H.M. Coast Guard.) mounted for display, good fine and better (3) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

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The Ina Mactavish, of Glasgow, small coaster of 107 tons, left South Shields on the River Tyne, on 16 October 1907, bound for Aberdeen, with a cargo of lime. At about 6.00 on 17 October the engines were stopped because of a rope entangled around the propeller. Shortly before 9.00, having decided to beach the ship, the vessel went aground to the south of Birling Car Rock in Almouth Bay. It took until 15.00 before the Alnmouth lifeboat could reach the vessel and rescue two survivors of the crew; by which time, two other crew members had drowned. For their part in trying to rescue the crew, Chief Boatman Peter Holbert, H.M. Coast Guard, Amble, Northumberland; Police Sergeant A. Barton, of Amble, and Police Constable J. Helm, of Warkworth, were each awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze.

The ship was later towed into Amble. In the inquiry that followed, the captain of the vessel was reprimanded for not sending a distress signal when the engines were stopped. It was also observed that there was a long delay between the wreck being spotted and the Alnmouth Lifeboat being launched.

Peter Holbert was born in the Parish of St Martin’s, Worcester, on 13 October 1867, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 4 September 1883; Boy 1, August 1885; Ordinary Seaman, October 1885; Able Seaman, January 1887; Leading Seaman, July 1889; Petty Officer 2, October 1893; Boatman H.M. Coast Guard, March 1895; Commissioned Boatman, April 1900; Chief Boatman, October 1907; Chief Officer, R.N., 22 January 1918; discharged to Shore (Age limit), 13 October 1922. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in October 1901.

Sold with some copied research including record of service.