Silver Medal 1955
The Society’s Silver Medal for Gallantry was awarded to Skipper Charles Alfred Grimmer, of the st Ben Meidie for rescuing the crew of the st Remindo on the night of 27th April, 1955.
The Society’s Silver Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to Skipper Charles Alfred Grimmer, and a pecuniary award of £5 to each member of the crew serving on the st Ben Meidie at the time, in recognition of their action in rescuing the crew of the st Remindo on the night of 27th April, 1955.
The citation was as follows:- While the Aberdeen trawler Ben Meidie SN. 340 was lying at anchor on the morning of 28th April, the watch reported to the Skipper at 0110, that he saw flares coming from a vessel lying at Kobbatangi while he was anchored to the North of the Kottatangi. He immediately called out his crew, heaving her anchor and went to the assistance of the vessel. He put the small boat out with the mate and four members of the crew. During this time the weather was blowing a very hard gale from the south-east with heavy rain. The small boat went to the assistance of the crew of the vessel in distress, which turned out to the the st Remindo of Grimsby, Off. No.149058. Skipper Grimmer then saw the lights disappearing on board the Remindo and heard shouts of help coming from the sea. He manoeuvred his vessel towards the shouts and connected with the raft, which was only 6’ by 3’. The men were all lashed to the raft but were unable to help themselves. After the men were freed and taken on the, the Ben Meidie then contacted its own small boat, which had three survivors on board. After getting everyone on board the Ben Meidie made for Thorshavn at full speed, at which port he arrived at 0530 on 28th April. If the Ben Meidie had not been there, where she was anchored, the whole of the crew of the Remindo would have been lost. One member of the crew of the Remindo was missing at the time of the rescue when the other 13 men were taken on board. Three of the 13 were found to be dead on arrival at Thorshavn, there being 10 survivors out of the crew of 14 all told.
The presentation was made to Skipper Grimmer at the Town House, Aberdeen, on 2nd June 1956, by Lord Provost Stephen, a Vice President of the Society.