EMILE ROBIN award to Captain John Wiltshire and Chief Officer Frederick Stone of the ss Mohawk of London for the rescue of the crew of the schooner Alton S Marshall of Gloucester, Massachusetts on the 28 March 1894.
We cleared from London, March 22 for New York. On March 28 at 3 am., in Lat. 46 14′ N., Long. 48 28′ W., flare up lights as signals of distress were observed burning from a vessel on the starboard bow. I at once altered the course and bore down to her. As the night was very dark, with a strong wind, and a heavy sea running, we steamed slowly round her until daybreak, occasionally showing a blue light. A boat was then got out and manned by Mr Stone, Chief Officer, Boatswain Clarke, Boatswain’s Mate Uden, and Quartermaster Henchard, with men from the distressed vessel, whose boat just then got alongside.
She proved to be the dismasted schooner Alton S Marshall, of and from Gloucester, Mass., USA., bound for Iceland. With the assistance of the schooner’s boat, we succeeded in the course of five hours in saving the entire crew of 20 men, and then set fire to the schooner, as an obstruction to navigation. It was a fortunate thing for the crew of the Alton S Marshall that we sighted them when we did, as in less than 12 hours after the rescue we encountered a heavy north-easterly gale.
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EMILE ROBIN award to Capt PA Moffoot and Chief Officer Owen Medwyn Jones of the ss Empire Plover for the rescue of 11 of the crew of the mv Famagusta on the 19 Mar 1948
On 19th March 1948, the Empire Plover, having previously received a request by wireless to stand by from the Famagusta, sighted her, and was requested to escort towards Curnna; the wind was westerly, reaching gale force in squalls, with high thundering seas.
At 12.45 Famagusta signalled requesting tow to nearest port; Empire Plover succeeded in passing line by rocket, but Famagusta’s crew did not take it in and line parted. Plover then manoeuvred for passing another line, but on rounding starboard quarter of Famagusta it was seen that a boat which had been launched had overturned and Plover manoeuvred for rescue purposes, though with difficulty, with Plover being a turbine vessel with little stern power.
The vessel commenced taking on board persons from water, 3 men from Plover stripped and entered water to assist those in distress. It was then seen that other persons were in the water adrift on rafts and Carley floats. Plover launched lifeboat, and at 16.30 after circling slowly searching, manoeuvred into position to take onboard rescued people and boat crew. Captain of Famagusta came on board and stated that he had abandoned his vessel as sinking, and that no other persons remained on board. Checks showed that Plover had taken 6 persons from water, 5 brought onboard from lifeboat and 5 missing. Plover continued circling and searching till dark and then made all speed for Falmouth, leaving Famagusta bows under and sinking, listing heavily to port. Survivors landed Falmouth morning of 21st March.
Thomas Raymond Kelly (deceased), Able Seaman of the ss Empire Plover was awarded the George Cross on the 10th February 1948, for the part he played in rescuing two survivors of the Famagusta and attempting a third rescue.
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EDWARD AND MAISIE LEWIS award to the crews of SAR Sea King helicopter of 771 and SAR Sea King helicopter of B Flight 202 Squadron RAF Brawdy for the rescue of the crew from the freighter Secil Japan 12 Mar 1989.
Early in the evening of 12 March 1989 the Korean freighter Secil Japan was driven onto rocks below the cliffs of Hell’s Mouth in St Ives Bay, Cornwall. In response to a call for assistance routed through the Rescue Co-Ordination centre at Plymouth, the duty SAR Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was scrambled and on arrival in the area found the vessel close to the 200ft high cliffs, with its stern on the rocks and being battered by huge waves. With the wind gusting to 55 kts, spray rising to a height of 150ft and extreme turbulence in the vicinity of the cliffs, Lieutenant Nelson, the Captain, determined that it was too dangerous to lower his diver, CPO Aircrewman Grinney, to the ship. However, under the superbly professional conning by Aircrewman Hart, he manoeuvred the aircraft with consummate skill and succeeded in lowering a hi-line and rescue strop to the deck. At this point the ship swung round and Lieutenant Nelson deftly relinquished the controls to Lieutenant Pollard who now had better hover references, having gained visual contact with the cliffs. Four of the ship’s crew were then successfully lifted to safety before a violent roll caused the hi-line to part. The survivors were swiftly recovered to Culdrose and having obtained more lines, the Sea King returned to Hell’s Mouth. By this time, the ship was even closer to the cliffs, with decks awash and waves breaking over the wheelhouse. For 20 minutes the aircraft hovered within yards of the cliffs, maintaining a hi-line contact with the bridge wing, but the remaining crew members were too fearful of the breaking seas to leave the shelter of the bridge. Eventually, this rescue attempt had to be abandoned. At 0030 a SAR Sea King helicopter from RAF Brawdy (Captain, Flight Lieutenant JE McLeod) arrived on scene, finding the vessel hard aground on rocks at the base of the cliffs, with mountainous seas completely submerging her central deck and constantly breaking over the forecastle and bridge. The ship’s crew were now in grave danger and Flight Sergeant Dodsworth, with complete disregard for his own life, volunteered to be lowered to the deck, even though the ship presented a particularly difficult winching target. The Winch Operator, Flight Sergeant Soundy, had an extremely restricted view and because the best hover references were available on his side, Flying Officer Calderwood, the Co-Pilot, was at the controls throughout the rescue.
In spite of being swamped several times, the Winchman finally landed on the bridge where he deployed the hi-line and persuaded the crew to leave their shelter, placing them in strops in preparation to be lifted. Corporal Barnett, an engineer with no aircrew training, greatly assisted the Winch Operator in the organisation and placement of the survivors as they arrived, thereby allowing Flight Sergeant Soundy to maintain his concentration and ensuring the safety of the aircraft at all times. In the meantime, regardless of the danger to his own life, Flight Sergeant Dodsworth remained on deck until all 11 men had been safely recovered. Furthermore, before the final lift, he was forced to climb the mast to free the winch cable which had become entangled with the radio aerial. Throughout the rescue, the hover position of the aircraft was maintained under appalling conditions.
The professional skills of the crews of both aircraft in the face of extreme conditions over an extended period of physical and mental stress were of the highest order and in the very best tradition of the branches of the Services to which they belong, resulting in the saving of 15 lives.
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The Society, which has provided financial support to merchant seafarers, fishermen and their dependants since 1839, will hold its 166th Skill and Gallantry Awards Ceremony in October. The Awards seek to recognise those who have shown exceptional courage in the face of adversity.
Last year saw the Society’s president, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, present awards to ‘Rescue 193’ of 771 Naval Air Squadron RNAS CULDROSE; the Crew of HMS CLYDE; Petty Officer Luke Hallis, Chief Bosun’s Mate of HMS Clyde and Mr John Hunter of Lagan SAR Rescue Swimmer Corps.
Malcolm Williams, Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society said: “The Society’s annual Skill and Gallantry Awards are the highlight of our events calendar. Every year we see men and women who have shown outstanding skill and bravery recognised and I am sure this year will be no different. The Awards raise awareness of the professionalism and selflessness seafarers and rescue crews demonstrate in keeping others, whether they be seafarers or members of the public, safe from the dangers of the sea. Ultimately, I hope these Awards go some way towards acknowledging their tremendous efforts.”
Within the past year the Society has provided financial support in over 2,000 cases of need, received over 500 new applications for assistance and distributed grants worth over £1.4 million.
Since 1839, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has provided financial and practical help, assistance and advice to fishermen and mariners and their dependants who have suffered hardship, misfortune or poverty, as a result of being at sea or in retirement.
To celebrate Britain’s proud and enduring connection with the sea, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society runs a national annual photography competition. Launched to mark national Seafarers Awareness Week in June, the Charity encourages amateur and professional photographers to find the UK’s ultimate sea view.
To find out more information about the Charity, visit our website, our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.
To donate by text please send a text message to 70070 containing the code SMSY11 followed by your donation of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. To donate online please visit our Charities Aid Foundation page.
You can also Gift Aid your contribution, meaning the Society can claim an additional 25 pence from HM Revenue & Customs for every £1 you donate.
You can post a contribution at any time to 1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TL – cheques should be made payable to ‘Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society’.
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The Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer was awarded to Stephen Evans, Master of the schooner Mostyn of Chester for rescuing the crew of the sinking French ss Trignac on 19 Feb 1892:
In the case of the schooner Mostyn, of Chester, for the rescue of the Captain and the crew of sixteen from the French ss Trignac, of La Rochelle, abandoned sinking, after loss of three hands, in the North Atlantic, 20 miles off Scilly on February 19, 1892, to the Master of the schooner, Stephen Evans, the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer.
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EMILE ROBIN award was presented to Capt Arthur Unwin and CO William H Roberts of the ss Lord Erne of Belfast for the rescue of the crew of 13 of the ss Percesien of Quebec, 9 Feb 1918.
Captain Arthur Unwin and Chief Officer William Hunter Roberts of the ss Lord Erne of Belfast for the rescue of the crew of 13 of the ss Percesien of Quebec, 9 February 1918. The following letter was written by the Officers and crew of the ss Percesien to Captain A Unwin, after their rescue:-
Dear Sir, We the undersigned officers and crew of the steamship Percesien, of Quebec, desire to offer you and your gallant officers and men our most hearty thanks for the noble manner in which you stood by our sinking ship, and finally succeeded in effecting our rescue from what seemed certain death. To the brave men who, in the height of storm and thick snow squalls, did not flinch from launching and manning the lifeboat on that night of peril, our thanks are especially due and most gratefully offered.
Words cannot sufficiently express the deep appreciation we entertain for their timely and unselfish response to our signals of distress. Under a merciful God, we owe our lives to the daring and skill of Mr WH Roberts, Ist Officer, Geo Callander and J Hart, 1st & 2nd Gunners, J McAlister, 4th Engineer, RN Turner, apprentice, and Chow Wah, Chinese sailor, who volunteered to come to our rescue. Their conduct reflects credit on their nobility of nature and was worthy of the best traditions of the race.
They have added another chapter to the annals of brave deeds performed at sea. When from our fast settling ship we sent up rockets in the hope that some passing ship might see them, it is little hope we entertained of so ready a response or one in time to be of any help. Our two remaining lifeboats, one of them in a damaged condition were then being got ready as a last resort to be launched at daybreak, should our ship remain afloat so long. How welcome then was the sight of your ship can readily be imagined as we hung between hope and despair. When your signals told us that you were launching a boat to come to our assistance, we could scarcely believe it. The darkness of the night was intensified by driving snow squalls, which added to the height of the wind and rough seas, made the launching of a lifeboat a most perilous undertaking, and it seemed impossible that a boat could be launched or that she could approach the side of our ship without disaster. That this was done without mishap reflects the greatest credit on the seamanship and daring of your gallant officers and men, and to them and to you in this insufficient, humble way, our most sincere thanks are most gratefully offered. We desire to express our regrets for the loss of your last remaining lifeboat, which was put out to us and could not again be hoisted on board and as a consequence was lost. The loss of this boat is a most serious one to you, as we approach the danger zone, and leave you in the necessity of having to improvise rafts from what materials may be at hand.
The Canadian Government recognised the courage shown by the officers and crew of ss Lord Erne by presenting silver cups to the Master, Chief Officer, 4th Engineer, Apprentice and the two Gunners.
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On 5 October 2004 the RN’s SAR Sea King helicopter ‘Rescue 177’ was scrambled from Prestwick to go to the assistance of the crew of the disabled Canadian submarine HMCS CHICOUTIMI, drifting in heavy seas approximately 100 nautical miles south west of Donegal following a major fire. The crew, Kapitaen Lieutenent Martin Rutsatz FGN (Pilot), Lieutenant Jason Davies RN (Co-Pilot), Lieutenant Richard Lightfoot RN (Observer), Corporal Tony Dicks (Aircrewman) and Leading Aircrewman Darren Jones deployed to Donegal overnight from where they were launched at 1600 on 6 October to evacuate three of the submarine’s injured crew. The submarine, without power and unable to maintain course or position was lying beam on to a 20ft swell causing considerable vertical and lateral movement. The lack of power also meant that the aerials situated aft of the fin, the normal transfer area, could not be lowered. It was quickly apparent that this was going to be a technically difficult and challenging operation. Added to this, the hi-line recovery technique that would need to be used was new to the submarine’s crew and the absence of reliable two-way communications meant that this was going to be a very demanding evolution! Two crewmen were successfully recovered with LACM Jones acting as the winch operator but the third casualty had by now collapsed and was unconscious. LACM Jones immediately volunteered to be transferred to the fin in order to complete the rescue despite the very real possibility of personal injury from the aerials as the submarine rolled and pitched uncontrollably.
Following a physically demanding transfer to the fin involving considerable crew co-operation, flying skill and situational awareness, he noticed that the casualty was suffering from lack of oxygen and he took the decision to make an immediate recovery to the aircraft where he was able to commence CPR.
The teamwork, skill, determination and courage of this relatively junior crew ensured that they were able to successfully take the three injured crewmen off the disabled submarine.
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The EDWARD AND MAISIE LEWIS award made to Captain P Bentley and crew of the Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh for the rescue of 89 survivors of the Russian fish factory ship Pionersk aground at Trebister Ness, Shetland in rough seas. The helicopter crew were Senior First Officer J Rawlings, Winch Operator D Ellis and Winchman P Mansell.
In the early hours of 31 October 1994, the Pionersk was reported aground at Trebister Ness, Shetland having dragged her anchors in south-easterly winds of gale force 8, gusting force 9-10 with a rough sea and heavy swell. Shetland Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh and launched the Lerwick lifeboat. The Pionersk was lying parallel to the cliffs with the forward third of the vessel on rocks and the after part still afloat and yawing violently from side to side some 30 to 40ft. In addition, the Pionersk was rolling heavily in the violent seas up to an angle of 30º. The Coastguard helicopter was on task for over five hours and lifted 89 survivors from the deck of the Pionersk in nine separate sorties. The severe weather conditions and the erratic and violent movements of the ship demanded the highest standards of flying skill, teamwork and intense concentration from the crew. This was a first class rescue carried out in the most testing conditions adjacent to a dangerous stretch of coastline which added to the problems for the crew. Highly skilled at this type of task, the crew displayed the professionalism, courage and dedication which well deserve this award.
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The Lady Swaythling Trophy for outstanding seamanship, judgement and courage was awarded to Coxswain H Clark of the Lerwick Lifeboat, for the rescue of 67 survivors of the Russian fish factory ship Pionersk grounded in rough seas at Trebister Ness, Shetland, on 31st October 1994.
In the early hours of 31 October 1994, the Pionersk was reported aground at Trebister Ness, Shetland, having dragged her anchors in south-easterly winds of gale force 8, gusting force 9-10 with rough seas and heavy swell. Shetland Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh and launched the Lerwick lifeboat, with Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark in command. The Pionersk was found to be lying parallel to the shore, bows on to the sea and swell. The forward third of the vessel was aground, the after part still afloat. Seas were breaking over the superstructure, the ship was yawing violently, and in imminent danger of breaking up. The Coxswain initially decided to attempt to embark survivors from a heavy metal ladder over the stern of Pionersk but after embarking 4 by this method he decided it was too dangerous. The 10ft rise and fall of the swell was forcing the lifeboat up under the ladder with serious risk of injury to survivors and crew. The only other possible method was from a pilot ladder over Pionersk’s port quarter. This required the Coxswain to manoeuvre his lifeboat in the very limited searoom between ship and shore. With utmost concentration for over one hour the Coxswain made repeated approaches to the pilot ladder an estimated 80 times, taking off a further 63 survivors. Often the lifeboat’s propellers failed to bite in the turbulent water, or the confused and surging sea destroyed his approach. There was no margin for error as the yawing and rolling of the Pionersk further restricted his room for manoeuvre. Leaking diesel oil from the casualty was whipped into a fine spray by the helicopter’s downdraught. Together with the noise, this created a further serious hazard. With 67 survivors on board the lifeboat proceeded to Lerwick to land them before returning to the scene to stand by while the helicopter completed evacuation of the rest of the crew.
Coxswain Clark knew that he faced the grave danger that, at any time, he might be trapped between the wreck and the unforgiving shore. He displayed exemplary skill, judgement, courage and leadership through this long and arduous rescue in extreme conditions. His action in manoeuvring the lifeboat safely into position so many times in the confined and turbulent waters between the Pionersk and the rocky shore was an exceptional and sustained feat of seamanship fully deserving the award of the Lady Swaythling Trophy.
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Silver Medal awarded to the Master of the Smack General Wolseley of Grimsby for the rescue of 2 survivors of the crew of the Dutch herring lugger Maatze in the North Sea in very heavy seas on 30th October 1884. Awards were also made to the Mate, Thomas H Smith and to 3 hands Williams Wells, Hurley Wardle and Arthur Naylor.
Grimsby – In the case of the smack General Wolseley, for rescue of the two survivors, out of fifteen hands, all told, of the crew of the Dutch herring lugger Maatze, in the North Sea, 125 miles NE by W from Grimsby, on October 30 1884, under exceptional circumstances, in a very heavy sea, the Dutch vessel having for a time been completely overturned, imprisoning crew in cabin, with great loss of life.
To the Master, Henry Baxter – the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer; to the Mate, Thomas Henry Smith – the Society’s Silver Life Saving Medal, with pecuniary reward of the sum of two pounds, as in charge of the boat of the smack, and having boarded the wreck to save life of maniac survivor, subsequently drowned. To the three hands manning the boat under the Mate, viz., William Wells, Hurley Wardle, and Arthur Naylor the pecuniary reward of two pounds each man.
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