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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 522

A Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Third Officer James Holland Walker, Merchant Navy for services in rescuing the crew of the schooner Northern Light in the Atlantic, 1929; he was latterly awarded the scarce ‘Bramley-Moore Medal’ for services in rescuing the crew of the Daisy in the Atlantic in 1927

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (James Holland Walker “Northern Light” 6th December 1929); Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, silver (Third Officer James Holland Walker, “Northern Light” 6th December 1929); Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Bramley-Moore Medal for Saving Life at Sea, silver (To J. H. Walker, 3rd Off., S/S “Ionic” for Gallant Service, 15/4/27); France, Medal of Honour, Marine Marchant (Walker, J.H., 1927), silver, mounted as worn by Spink & Son, very fine, scarce (4)

Ex-Edrington (1980) and Fevyer (2008) Collections.

‘Illuminated Vote of Thanks to Captain A. E. Jackson, commanding the White Star S.S. “Ionic”, and Silver Medal and Certificate of Thanks each to 3rd Officer J. H. Walker and 5th Officer Lieut. W. T. Poustie, R.N.R., in charge of the two life-boats, for praise-worthy and humane service in rescuing the crew (24) of the French schooner “Daisy”, which was abandoned in the North Atlantic in a sinking condition, on the 15th April, 1927’. (Extract from the 88th Annual report, year ended 1 July 1927, of the Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society).

A total of 20 Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Bramley-Moore Medals for Saving Life at Sea were awarded in silver; the first award being made in 1874, the last in 1945. For this rescue Walker was also awarded the French Medal of Honour.

‘The schooner Northern Light of St. John’s, Newfoundland, was in distress in the Atlantic Ocean on the 6th December 1929 and the Baltic went to her assistance. A very strong westerly gale was blowing and a heavy sea was running. After the Baltic had been manœuvred into position at windward, oil was forced overboard to facilitate the launching of a lifeboat. It was only with difficulty that the boat was got away in charge of Mr Walker and manned by the men named. The boat approached near enough to the Northern Light to enable a line attached to a piece of wood which had been floated from the schooner to be secured and made fast to the boat. By means of this line the schooner’s crew then succeeded one by one in reaching the life-boat, except one man who was drowned owing to the line being dragged from his grasp by the pitch of the boat in the heavy seas. The risk was great and the life-boat had great difficulty in returning to the Baltic, where rescued and rescuers had to be got on board by means of lines, and the boat abandoned’. (Ref. Gallantry, p. 421/422).

A total of ten S.G.M. in bronze were awarded for this rescue - to Walker and the crew of the life-boat. Captain E. Davies of the Baltic and Third Officer Walker were awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in silver; medals in bronze were awarded to the crew of the life-boat.

Sold with copied research, including extracts from The Times, 23 December 1929, reporting on the story of the rescue and also a cutting from The Times bearing a photograph of the rescue in progress, and of the rescued and rescuers.

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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£1100