Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Lloyd’s Meritorious Service Medal pair awarded to 2nd Engineer A. Charters, Mercantile Marine

Transport 1899-1902, 1 clasp, S. Africa 1899-1902 (A. Charters); Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st issue, bronze star, unnamed as issue, in fitted case of issue, extremely fine (2) £800-£1,000

Dix Noonan Webb, September 2011.

Alexander Charters served as 2nd Engineer Officer aboard the Cunard steamship Pavonia, 5,588 tons. Employed on the Liverpool-Boston service, she suffered damage due to a severe gale on 3 February 1899 which caused her boilers to be dislodged from their mountings. With a complete loss of power the ship drifted helplessly for 11 days until she was taken in tow by the Wolfiston who brought her to the sheltered waters of the Azores. There she was patched up and eventually made it back to Liverpool where she was repaired. Having been laid down in 1881, the Pavonia was deemed suitable for disposal by Cunard but this was delayed by the Boer War and her final two voyages before going to the scrap yard in 1900 were made carrying troops to and from South Africa.

For their actions in saving both life and ship during the incident of February 1899, the Captain and some of the officers of the ship were awarded medals by the Mercantile Marine Service Association and the Corporation of Lloyd’s. Captain Aitken of the Pavonia received the M.M.S.A. Illuminated Address and the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life in silver with certificate; Chief Officer Taylor received the M.M.S.A. Silver Medal and the Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Service in Bronze with certificate; Chief Engineer Duncan received the M.M.S.A. Silver Medal and the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life in silver with certificate, and 1st Officer Firth, 2nd Officer Bryce, 2nd Engineer Officer Charters and 3rd Engineer Officer Bain were each awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Service in Bronze. Charters was also awarded the Transport Medal for service aboard the same ship in transporting soldiers to and from South Africa, 1899-1900.

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