Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Engineering Officer W. S. Thorburn, Mercantile Marine, who received the Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, for services as an Engineer in S.S. Ophir

British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (William S. Thorburn); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued, in embossed fitted case, nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Great War Awards.

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William Stanley Thorburn was born on 3 July 1886 at Liverpool and served as Engineering Officer in the S.S. Ophir. An unattributed press cutting with the lot states: ‘At a meeting of the Local Marine Board, held in Glasgow yesterday, medals were presented from the King of Italy to Mr. W. S. Thorburn, an engineer, and Mr. James B. Wylie, a member of the crew of the British steamer Ophir, in recognition of services rendered in connection with the Messina Earthquake of 1908. It may be recollected that the Ophir put about to Messina, on learning of the earthquake, and embarked 700 survivors of the disaster for Italy.’

Thorburn died at Scotstoun in September 1924.

Sold with an original letter addressed to the recipient at Norse Road, Scotstoun, Glasgow, from the Secretary of the Glasgow Local Marine Board, advising him that he had been awarded a medal by the King of Italy in respect of his services at the Messina Earthquake in 1908, and inviting him to attend for its presentation, this split in two parts and with tears to folds.