Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Volturno Disaster’ Sea Gallantry Medal awarded to Lawrence O’Neill, Quartermaster of the S.S. Devonian of Liverpool

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Lawrence O’Neill. “Volturno” 9th October 1913) mounted as worn on original investiture pin, good very fine £300-£400

Lawrence O’Neill, a Quartermaster on board the steamship Devonian, of Liverpool, was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver and £3 on the occasion of the Volturno disaster of 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 a fleet of eleven steamers that sped to her aid. 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.

O’Neill was presented with his Medal by King George V on 29 June 1914. He also received the bronze medal from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.

Numerous awards were made for this famous rescue, including 78 Sea Gallantry Medals in Silver to crew members of the six British vessels. Eighteen Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded to the Devonian. 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.