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Auction: 16001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 512

(x) Lloyd's Medal for Bravery at Sea, circular Silver Medal (Captain C.E.W. Hersee, S.S. "Fowberry Tower" 12th. May 1941.), nearly extremely fine

King's Commendation for Brave Conduct London Gazette 19.8.1941 Captain Claude Elliott William Hersee, Master
The recommendation, dated 2.7.1941, states: 'The S.S. Fowberry Tower was attacked by an enemy aircraft. She answered at once, and silenced the bomber's machine-gun. She was twice hit by bombs, and began to sink; most of the crew were blown or washed off the ship. The Master was half an hour in the water before being picked up by a trawler. By then many of the crew had been rescued, but, as the Master noticed that one or two were still missing, he went back to his ship in the trawler's boat. The vessel had almost foundered. On board he found the Second Mate. He was alive, but both his legs were broken, and he was pinned down by wreckage. The water was nearly up to where he lay. The Master's courage saved the Second Mate's life.'

Captain Claude Elliot William Hersee, born Brockley, June 1895; served during the Great War in the Merchant Navy, and in the Second War as Master of the S.S. Fowberry Tower; was awarded the Lloyd's Medal for Bravery at Sea for his gallantry during low level German Air Force attacks on his vessel when in the mid-Atlantic, 12.5.1941; as the attacks intensified after the moon rose, the Fowberry Tower was sunk, and Hersee and the crew were eventually rescued by the Royal Navy; Commissioned Lieutenant, 21.1.1942, and subsequently served with the Sea Transport Service in the Middle East from 20.3.1942; promoted Lieutenant-Commander, 31.3.1944; advanced Superintending Sea Transport Officer, November 1945.

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Sold for
£1,400