Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

U.S.A., Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal, head of Liberty left, ‘Presented by the President of the United States’; reverse inscribed, ‘To T. S. Robertson, Seaman of the British Steamer Horsa, in recognition of his heroic services in effecting the rescue of the captain and six sailors of the American Barkentine Elmiranda, wrecked at sea, November 14, 1904’, with ‘E. Plurs. Unum’ brooch bar; together with a silver trophy cup, 165 x 104mm. (approx.), hallmarks for London 1918, engraved, ‘Presented by the Canadian Government to Mr Thomas Stephenson Robertson, First Officer of the S.S. “British Empress” of London, in acknowledgement of his humanity to the shipwrecked crew of the Schooner “Mildred” of Sydney, N.S., on the 30th November 1918’, good very fine and better (2) £1000-1200

A report by an agent of the Commercial Agency of the United States states: ... the report of Barkentine “Elmiranda”, J. J. Corbett, master, of Boston, Mass., which vessel was abandoned at sea in a water logged condition on 14th inst. and captain and crew taken off by the Br. S/S Horsa of West Hartlepool, England, Captain Ostergard, and landed at this port on 18th inst. by pilot boat, and placed under my care. I provided for the said captain and crew and am sending them forward by Br. S/S “Trinidad” leaving on 26th inst for New York ...’

For rescuing the captain and crew of the Elmiranda on 14 November 1904, Captin Ostergard and 2nd Officer J. Phillips of the Horsa were each awarded a watch. Seaman Robertson and four others were each awarded the Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal.

Robertson was further honoured in 1918 when as First Officer on the British Empress he participated in the rescue of the crew of the Schooner Mildred of Nova Scotia. The Canadian Government, Department of Marine and Fisheries, through the Board of Trade awarded the Henry Bernard Large, Master of the British Empress, a piece of plate; First Officer Robertson and Second Officer Snowling, a silver cup each and three gunners crew $15 each.

Sold with a quantity of copied papers relating to the awards.