Silver Medal 1945

The Committee have decided to recognise, by the award of the Society’s Silver Medal, the exceptional bravery displayed by Junior Ordinary Seaman Victor Derek Brockman, of the tug Lady Brassey, although aged only sixteen years, when the Empire Lough, carrying a cargo of cased petrol, was set on fire on the 24th July 1944, by enemy shell fire between Dover and Folkestone. In spite of the flames and exploding ammunition, Brockman climbed on board the Empire Lough entirely on his own initiative, and at the grave risk of his own life, made the tug’s towing wire fast to the bollard. This brave action was mainly instrumental in enabling the Lady Brassey to beach the Empire Lough.

Lady Swaythling Trophy 2007/08

To Captain Glenn Wostenholme of the Maersk Kendal.

Shortly after midnight on 7th August 2007 the MV Pailin Maritime, a 30 year old, 3,000 ton vessel, fully laden with a cargo of logs and a crew of 24 en route from the Solomon Islands to Vietnam sent out a distress call. Her hull had cracked; she was taking in water and listing to starboard. The crew were ordered to abandon ship. Two liferafts were released and 23 crew jumped into the water, one non-swimmer would not. There was a strong southwesterly wind with a four metre sea. The Pailin sank in fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, 190 nm to the NNE, the new container ship Maersk Kendal was on her maiden voyage from Busan to Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia. She had been monitoring distress relay messages from the Pailin during the night and at 0900, Captain Glenn Wostenholme, ordered a change of heading towards her last known position – 90 miles away – and increased to full speed ahead. Maersk Kendal arrived on scene at 1230, was designated On Scene Co-ordinator and informed that another vessel would arrive in two and a half hours. A loose life jacket was sighted early on and a search sector was established to the north and east of it. The Car Carrier Rio Imperial joined the search. Drift and leeway calculations were made and a Dead Reckoning position for the survivors calculated. At 1515 blue canvas or plastic coverings were sighted in the water. At 1648, the decision was made to increase speed and head directly towards the calculated DR position in order to cover the furthest point away before nightfall. Then at 1702, Rio Imperial reported another empty life jacket and the DR was updated to a position approximately two miles SSE of the original one. The wind was south-westerly at 24 kts and the sea state moderate to rough. Numerous large logs were sighted in the water, then a body and then orange smoke and a small rocket were sighted off Maersk Kendal’s starboard bow, less  than one mile distant. The rescue boat was launched and two survivors recovered. They reported that two liferafts had been launched from the Pailin and that there were 24 in the crew. At 1852 Rio Imperial reported another liferaft to the north-east and she proceeded to recover 13 survivors. Captain Wostenholme decided to continue searching to the north-east hoping to cover the most likely area before dark. Then at 1903 Maersk Kendal sighted a second liferaft on the port bow one mile away. While manoeuvring his 299 metre long container ship alongside the liferaft they were hit by a strong squall. There was a 3.5 to 4 metre swell and it was now dark but four survivors were rescued. The search was concluded. The survivors had been adrift for nineteen hours and had drifted thirty-five miles away from the Pailin’s last reported position. Nineteen crew had been rescued.

Silver Medal 1885/86

Society Silver Medal awarded to Frederick Adams of the smack ‘Primrose’ for the rescue of crew of the Danish steamer Copenhagen on 6 December 1885.

In the case of the smack Primrose, for saving, in the smack’s boat, on December 6, during a westerly gale, with heavy sea, near Horn Reef, in the North Sea, 14 of the crew of the Danish steamer Copenhagen, the rescue being effected in two trips of the boat, manned by William Jones, (2nd Hand), Christian Nielson (3rd Hand), and Frederick James Adams (Deck Boy), at great personal risk; and the boat, with the two first named, being subsequently lost to sight and never heard of again, when bringing off, in a third trip, the Captain of the Copenhagen (Christian Fulleng), with Chief Mate and two Engineers.

To the Master of the smack, George Henry Cook, the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer; and to Frederick Adams, the Society’s Silver Medal. Also, to the widow of the lost Second Hand, William Jones, a special pecuniary grant of five pounds.

Emile Robin 1979/80

EMILE ROBIN award made to Mr Magnus Scott, Skipper of the mfv Alert, for rescuing 6 men from the St Kentigern adrift on a raft in dangerous seas of Skelda Voe on 3 November 1979.

On Saturday 3 November 1979, at about 0830 Mr Scott telephoned a village acquaintance to enquire about a lighting failure and was told that the 0800 news bulletin had reported that the Saint Kentigern had gone aground at Burra lsle. He thought at that time there was very little hope for the crew if their ship had grounded on the south western end of Burra lsle. About 0945 he was on his way to a shed beside the house to look at some creels when his eye caught the dying seconds of a flare on the south eastern point of Skelda Voe. This would be about 1 mile from where his boat was moored.

He immediately telephoned the Coastguard and then went to scan the area with binoculars and caught one glimpse of the liferaft amidst reefs, breakers and boiling foam. Leaving his wife to telephone the Coastguard and with two of the local men he went to the local pier where he was joined by Mr Robert Cooper of Grindibrek, Easter Skeld. The conditions on the local bar were hazardous but they managed to get the Alert over this bar and seaward. The visibility was very poor because of high seas and spray and they were within 200 yards of the liferaft when they sighted it among reefs with only 25 yards separation between them and the rocky shore where there would have been little hope for them. Mr Scott brought the Alert to within 15 yards of the raft. He could not get any closer because of the dangerous reefs on which the seas were breaking. At this point he threw a heaving line to the raft and this was made fast. He then towed the raft through a shallow opening in the reefs and when he got her clear he swung his own boat round and went up to the raft on her weather side and got all the 6 men off safely. By then they were suffering from the usual consequence of exposure and the fear of their situation. The raft was towed for a while but the condition of the raft was such that it was open to the sea and was swamped frequently. The heaving line eventually broke and he left the raft and took the survivors on to the pier.

Mr Scott and his colleagues displayed fine seamanship in the most hazardous circumstances and made a courageous rescue when the raft was little more than 20 yards off the rocks. Mr Scott’s prompt initiative, fine seamanship and extremely courageous action undoubtedly saved the 6 lives involved.

Lady Swaythling 1998/99

THE LADY SWAYTHLING TROPHY awarded to AB Michael McCarthy of HMS ANGLESEY for outstanding boat handling in helping to pass a tow to a yacht in distress in rough seas on 2 November 1998.

During the middle watch on 2 November 1998 in gale force winds and complete darkness, the Officer of the Watch of the offshore patrol vessel HMS ANGLESEY spotted a red flare some 25 nautical miles to the West of Lundy lsland. On closing the position a small inshore yacht with a broken boom was found, rolling violently in the rough seas. Two aged men were stranded on the upper deck of the vessel, in poor physical shape. lt was decided to take the yacht in tow and the seaboat, a rigid inflatable craft was launched. The Coxswain of the seaboat, Able Seaman Michael McCarthy demonstrated considerable skill in positioning the seaboat, firstly to take the towline from the ANGLESEY and then to come alongside the yacht as it was violently tossed about on the rough sea. AB McCarthy’s boatmanship was such that his bowman was able to scramble aboard the yacht and secure the towline. With the yacht under tow, its crew needed to be evacuated to the ANGLESEY. The two men could not jump so AB McCarthy had to manoeuvre his seaboat to hold it hard against the side of the yacht whilst the bowman laid the men one at a time along the cockpit deck edge and choosing his moment rolled them into the seaboat. The yacht and her crew were safely transferred to Milford Haven later the same day.

AB McCarthy displayed considerable courage and skill throughout a difficult and dangerous rescue in atrocious weather conditions at night. Without his outstanding boatmanship, success would not have been possible.

Silver Medal 1882

London – In case of the SS Antenor, for rescue, from on shore at Ras Asir, on July 27-28th 1882, of the Master, Second Officer, Third Officer (with broken leg since time of wreck), Quartermaster, and apassenger, with twelve others of the crew, being all the survivors out of forty-nine persons on board the SS Fleurs Castle, lost three miles south of Ras Asir, Cape Guardafui, on July 9 1882. To the Captain of the SS Antenor, Lieutenant John Threlfall Bragg, RNR (already in possession of the Society’s Framed Testimonial) – one of the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometers. To the Chief Officer, Randolph S Campbell, in charge of the ship’s lifeboat effecting the rescue, under special circumstances, through surf etc, the Society Silver Medal and to the five seamen manning the boat in question (Charles Lilley, John Robinson, Patrick Hare, Alfred Titheridge and Joseph Williams) a special pecuniary award of £10 10s, in general recognition of their services on the occasion.

Gold Medal 1857

A letter was read from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating the services of Lieut. WP Jamison RN., Port Captain Cape town, Mr J Wilson, Assistant Port Captain Cape Town, and 18 men, in rescuing the crews, amounting to 64 persons, of the Newport, Isabella, Cristobel, Ellen Rawson, wrecked in the Table Bay on the 6th,7th, 10th and 14th June, respectively. It appeared that Lieut. Jamison and the following persons forming the lifeboat’s crew had been out on four different occasions; – viz. Joseph Hopson (coxswain), William Anderson, Andrew Brown, Benjamin Harvey, Edward Weatherby, Dolph Myers, John Sharlandand Henry Stark. It was therefore resolved on the motion of Rear-Admiral Smart, KH., seconded by Capt. Rawstrone, RN., and carried unanimously, that the Gold Medal of the Society be awarded to Lieut. Jamison, RN.

Lady Swaythling 2006/2007

Coxswain Donald McLeod – RNLI, Isle of Barra, for the lifeboat’s escort of the yacht Vijaya.

The Barra Lifeboat, RNLB Edna Windsor, with Coxswain Donald MacLeod in command and a total of five crew on board, was launched at 0853 on 21 June 2006 to go to the assistance of the 12 metre aluminium racing yacht Vijaya with two crew on board, which had been broached-to and seriously damaged 15 nautical miles north-west of Barra Head in the Outer Hebrides.

The skipper of the yacht had sustained a head injury and water ingress had disabled the electronics. Concerned that without local knowledge the yacht might aim for the Sound of Barra, the shortest route to calmer waters but the most treacherous in the conditions, Coxswain MacLeod decided to take the lifeboat that way in order to be able to intercept the Vijaya if necessary. Heading north in the lee of Barra the wind was westerly force 8 with a 2 metre swell and visibility of less than 1⁄2 mile in heavy showers. It was low water. Conditions worsened as the Severn class lifeboat passed up the east side of the island with winds increasing to force 9. Communications were established with the yacht and Coxswain MacLeod warned the skipper not to approach the Sound of Barra but to continue heading south south-east aiming for the southern tip of the island and the Sound of Sandray. As the lifeboat entered the shallow waters of the Sound, Coxswain MacLeod was forced to reduce speed to 5 kts with each 10-11 metre wave breaking over her. He ordered the crew to strap themselves into their seats. At 1000, on entering deeper water to the west of the Sound, Coxswain MacLeod was able to increase speed to 12 kts. The yacht was sighted at 1034.

Movement of the lifeboat made the use of a chart impossible and with a poor radar picture in the atrocious conditions Coxswain MacLeod had to use his local knowledge to guide Vijaya to safety. The yacht was making good 6 kts. They shaped course together for the narrow entrance (300 metres) to the Sound of Sandray with its unmarked sand bars, the lifeboat leading the way, the yacht surfing down the swell at up to 17 kts. At 1145, having taken all way off to allow the yacht to keep station, the lifeboat was struck by a particularly large cresting wave which broke right over the lifeboat, knocked her over onto her port side and caused her to heel over 100 degrees. Still strapped in, none of the crew were injured. Vijaya was subsequently led through the Sound and into sheltered waters.

Gold Medal 1859

A letter having been read from Mr J Dickinson, dated India House, together with the copies of documents enclosed, transmitted from the Bombay government, bearing testimony to the conduct of Lt Edward Giles, of the Indian Navy, Mr HR Miles, master of the Hydree, Captain Henry Scott, HM 9^th Light Dragoons and Lt Hubert Le Cocq, Bombay Artillery, on the occasion of the shipwreck of the transport Julia, on the bar of Karaeachee Harbour, on the 29th June 1857. It was resolved unanimously, on the motion of Vice-Admiral Bertie Cator, seconded by Captain the Hon. Joseph Denman, RN.

“The Committee, having examined the various documents referred to, bearing testimony to the gallant services in the cause of humanity of the gentlemen before-named, in the execution of which they nobly periled their own lives, and were mainly instrumental, by the providence of God, in saving the crew and passengers of the said vessel, with the exception of 4 gunners of Horse Artillery, which were unhappily drowned by the upsetting of the Hydree’s cutter, specially notice the conduct of Mr HR Miles, the Master of the Hydree, whose gallant, skilful and heroic exertion, appear to have elicited the unqualified praise of all who witnessed his perservering endeavours in the cause of humanity, having been himself capsized and remained two hours in the water. The Committee do therefore award the Gold Medal of the Institution. To Lt Edward Giles, of the Indian Navy, Port Officer, whose name is most honourably mentioned for skill and courage, evidenced throughout the whole time that any lives were imperiled, the Silver Medal; and also to Capt Henry Scott, and Lt Hubert Le Cocq, who were both capsized with Capt Miles, whose gallant and perservering exertions are specially noticed, the Silver Medal of the Institution, each.”

Barometer 1923/24

A Marine Aneroid Barometer was presented to James More, Skipper of the steam drifter Mayberry of Wick, for rescuing 9 crew of the Cordelia of Banff on 1st November 1923.

The attention of the Committee was called by Mr Alexander Wood, Hon. Agent at Wick, to the decidedly skilful and courageous rescue of the crew (9) of the steam-drifter Cordelia, of Banff, by the sd Mayberry, of Wick near the Cross Sands Lightship, off the Norfolk Coast, on November 1.  The skipper of the latter vessel, James More, notwithstanding the heavy sea running, which made his approaching the sinking Cordelia a matter of difficulty and danger, managed to get close enough to enable the men to jump on board the Mayberry, and his conduct was rewarded by the gift of a purse of £5 and an aneroid barometer, with inscription testifying to the good seamanship and bravery which he displayed.  The rewards were handed to James More on December 29, by Provost McEwan, at a special meeting of the Wick Town Council in their hall, when speeches were made congratulating the gallant skipper and his crew.