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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 523

A Sea Gallantry Medal awarded to Coastguardsman Frank Shelley, for the cliff-top rescue of the crew of the Nairn, at Broadhaven, 1931

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (Frank Shelley “Nairn” 3rd December 1931) mounted as worn, in case of issue, very fine

Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 121.
Ex-Fevyer Collection, 2008.

‘The steam trawler Nairn of Aberdeen, with a crew of ten hands, went ashore at Broadhaven, Near Collieston, soon after 10 p.m. on 2nd December 1931 during a south-easterly gale. The Collieston Life-saving Apparatus Company, with life-saving gear, reached the top of a cliff, about 150 feet high, abreast of the Nairn at 11.20 p.m. and fired four rockets, but failed to establish communication with the wreck. W. R. Smailes, District Officer of the Coastguard, Peterhead, then proceeded down the cliff to a ledge where he was joined by F. Shelley, Coastguardsman, and T. Walker, J. Henderson and J. Robertson, members of the Life-saving Company, with the rocket gear and a powerful acetylene lamp. Great difficulty was experienced in setting up the gear on the ledge owing to the limited space; but eventually communication with the Nairn was effected by means of a rocket. While the life-saving gear was being hauled out to the wrecked vessel by her crew, Smailes, Walker, Henderson and Robertson climbed on to some intervening rocks to prevent the gear becoming fouled. On three occasions, however, the gear was caught in the rocks; and each time it was cleared by Smailes, who was assisted down to a lower outer ledge and supported by Walker and Henderson, these operations being facilitated by the light from the lamp which Robertson had carried through seas, to an outer rock. The life-saving gear was then secured on board the Nairn and her crew were safely landed by the Company by about 3.15 a.m. In clearing the fouled gear, Smailes, Walker, Henderson and Robertson incurred considerable risk, as the rocks over which they climbed were very slippery and were being swept by violent seas, while the strong wind and the darkness added to the difficulties. Coastguardsman Shelley also incurred grave risk in climbing, alone, up and down the cliff to convey messages between the party on the rocks and the remainder of the Life-saving Company on the cliff top’. (Ref. Gallantry, p. 424).

The above five were each awarded the S.G.M. in bronze and Smailes was, in addition, awarded a piece of plate to the value of £10. The S.G.M’s. were presented by the King at Buckingham Palace. Sold with copied extract from P.R.O. BT.261.6.

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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£240