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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 541

Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, silver (Duncan Murphy, Wreck of the "Annabella" on the 12th November 1888), in damaged embossed case of issue, nearly extremely fine

Duncan Murphy, a Mate aboard the steamship Iberia was one of two men who was awarded the Board of Trade’s silver medal for going to the rescue of the barque Annabella, of Banff, which was sinking in the Bay of Biscay following a gale. On 12 November Murphy manned the rescue boat and succeeded in bringing ten crew to safety, but not before he had been washed overboard and the carpenter had been severely injured. Murphy made two trips to rescue the crew.

At Ardrossan Town Hall on 9 December 1887, Murphy, by now promoted to Captain of the Westphalia, received a cheque for £26 as compensation from the Board of Trade for his injuries. Upon accepting:

'Captain Murphy, in returning thanks, said when he performed the service referred to, he had had no thought of reward, he simply acted through a sense of duty.' (Glasgow Herald, 9 December 1887, refers).


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