Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce silver Sea Gallantry Medal group of five awarded to Lieutenant T. L. Williams, Royal Naval Reserve, Chief Officer of the S.S. Egremont Castle, who commanded a lifeboat sent to the rescue of the crew of the S.S. Loong Sang during the Hong Kong typhoon of 18 August 1923

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Thomas Lloyd Williams, S.S. “Loong Sang”, 18th August 1923.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. T. L. Williams, R.N.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. T. L. Williams, R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Thomas L. Williams.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. T. L. Williams, R.N.R.) good very fine (5) £600-£800

S.G.M. (Silver) 13 January 1925:

Owing to the typhoon which struck the colony of Hong Kong on 18 August 1923, the steamship Loong Sang, of London, dragged her anchors and foundered after colliding with another vessel.
Men were observed in the water clinging to wreckage and a boat was got away from the Bowes Castle in charge of Mr. Cropper and manned by the officers and Chinese seamen named. After about five and half hours work in the raging sea and blinding rain, two survivors were picked up. A boat had also been launched from the Hwah Ping in charge of Mr. Lexow, and manned by the officers and men named (and Chinese fireman and cabin boy - names unknown). This boat picked up one survivor and drifted alongside the Egremont Castle. This boat was then sent away in command of Mr. Williams, and a crew consisting of the Chinese ratings from the Egremont Castle in an attempt to rescue further survivors, but as the boat was partly filled with water, little progress could be made, owing to the high sea and violent wind and rain, and despite the efforts of the boat’s crew, they were unable to effect any rescues. Later one of the Egremont Castle’s boats was got away in charge of Mr. Stuart with a crew made up of the four apprentices named and Ge Ling Low, Quartermaster of that vessel, and also the chief, second and third officers, and the three quartermasters named, from the Hwah Ping. This boat succeeded in picking up another survivor.
Very great risk was incurred in rendering the services owing to the high sea, violent wind and blinding rain. It is not known how many of the Loong Sang’s crew were on board, but it is stated that the number was about 36, including seven Europeans. Only two Europeans appear to have been saved and about 22 Chinese. The survivors, other than those referred to above, either drifted ashore or were picked up after the typhoon abated. Very great risk was incurred in rendering these services owing to the high sea, violent wind, and blinding rain.

The Sea Gallantry Medal in silver was awarded to Thomas Lloyd Williams, Chief Officer, five other European crew members and eight Chinese crew, all of the steamship Egremont of Liverpool; also to John Cropper, chief officer, two other European crew members and four Chinese crew, all of the steamship Bowes Castle of Liverpool (total awards 21, all in silver).

The Foreign Services Silver Medal was also awarded to Mr A. Lexow, Chief Officer, two other Russian crew members and four Chinese crew, all of whom formed part of the boat’s crew from the Chinese steamship Hwah Ping