Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Wealdstone Works Gold Medal for Saving Life at the ‘Albion’ Disaster 1898, gold cross of elaborate design, 40mm. dia., obv. central medallion engraved with a rescue scene; rev. engraved, ‘Presented to Robert Morris by the Employees at Wealdstone Works, Harrow, for Saving Three Lives at the Launch of “H.M.S. Albion”, June 1898’, with 15ct. gold hallmarks for Birmingham 1898, with integral loop and ring suspension, minor contact marks, good very fine £500-600

Ex Sotheby’s 3 July 1986, lot 403.

The Canopus Class battleship Albion, designed to be of 12,950 tons when complete, was built by the Thames Iron Works & Shipbuilding Company at Blackwall, London. Laid down on 3 December 1896, she was to be named and launched on 21 June 1898 by the Duchess of York. As a major celebratory event, the launch attracted widespread attention, and with the yard workers and children from local schools given the day off, some 30,000 people crammed into the shipyard and the surrounding area to view the dignitaries in their finery and the majestic scene of a leviathan, a symbol of British sea power, slipping spectacularly into the river. The river sides were crowded and a holiday atmosphere prevailed. On a neighbouring slipway, the people positioned themselves on the unfinished Japanese battleship Shikishima and such was the demand for space, that some 150 people jostled on to a temporary and rather frail wooden bridge across a creek nearby, ignoring warning notices and the endeavours of police and officials to keep them clear.

Following on from a luncheon given by the chairman of the company, the Duke and Duchess of York with the dignitaries made their way to the launching stage. After naming the ship and three failed attempts to smash a bottle of champagne on the hull, the Duchess cut a cord so as to signal the release of the ship. With bands playing, ship’s whistles and horns blaring and the crowds cheering, the ship slipped into the Thames. In the noise and confusion of the event, what was not immediately realised was that the ship on plunging into the water had created a massive wave. In the confines of the river, the wave had engulfed and destroyed the bridge near the Shikishima, casting the onlookers into the surging water.

Spectators and yard workers nearby immediately began rescue efforts, some diving into the muddy and churning water to help the survivors. When news of the accident spread, the police, fire brigade and ambulance services all made their presence felt. Despite their best efforts 38 people were killed, of these most were women and children.

For their services in the disaster, 18 people were awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, one a R.H.S. Bronze Medal and Certificate and one each a R.H.S. Certificate and a R.H.S. Testimonial on Vellum.

All the awards were covered by the general citation, ‘On the 21st June, 1898, while H.M.S. Albion was being launched from the yard of the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company at Blackwall, a huge wave was raised which carried away a platform on which 150 persons had gathered to witness the launch. The depth of water was about 14 feet, and there was great risk of being struck by baulks of floating timber.’

Robert Morris was a recipient of one of the R.H.S. Bronze Medals. His personal citation reads, ‘At the disaster on June 21st, 1898, under the same circumstances, Robert Morris, printer, Wealdstone, Middlesex, at great risk, saved three persons.’ (Case No. 29540). In addition to which, for the same deeds, he was presented with a gold medal by his fellow workers at the Wealdstone Works, Harrow.

Sold with two original sheets from the Thames Iron Works Gazette, dated 30 September 1897, in which Mr A. F. Hills, Chairman of the Thames Iron Works, writes of the disaster and its aftermath. Also with a quantity of copied research. See also L.S.A.R.S. Journals No.14, p.32-52; 15, p.66-67 & 16, p.47-53.