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Auction: 6017 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 150

A 1906, Sea Gallantry Medal Group of Four to Second Mate S. Cornwell, S.S. Bostonian, For Risking His Life in the Rescue of the Crew from the Stricken British King, which Foundered in the North Atlantic; Having Been Similarly Honored by the Norwegian Authorities for His Part in the Rescue of the Schooner Fjeld, 1903 Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., silver (Sydney Arthur Cornwell Wreck of the "British King" on the 11th. March 1906); British War Medal (Sydney A. Cornwell); Mercantile Marine War Medal (Sydney A. Cornwell); Norway, Gallantry Medal, O.II.R., second class, silver, 36mm (Mr. S.A. Cornwell 2nd. Off. "S/S Bostonian at rescue of crew of Schooner "Fjeld" 26/9/03.), good very fine (4) Estimate £ 500-600´The British King sprang a leak during a hurricane in the North Atlantic, and began to sink on 10th March, 1906. In answer to signals of distress the German Steam Ship Mannheim, of Hamburg, bore down, but as the weather was too bad for a boat to be launched she stood by all night, and in the morning with assistance of the British team Ship Bostonian, of Liverpool, tried to form a lea in that a rescue might be attempted. After much difficulty and in spite of terrific weather a boat was launched by the Mannheim and was so skilfully handled that 11 of the crew of the British King were rescued, but the boat was destroyed. The Bostonian then launched a boat but it was smashed alongside and the crew of the boat were injured and only rescued with great difficulty. A second boat was launched from the Bostonian and rescued 13 of the crew of the British King before it was destroyed. Subsequently the British King foundered and five men were picked up clinging to her wreckage. There was a heavy sea at the time of the rescue and those who rendered assistance incurred great risk to life.´ (Board of Trade papers refer) As a result of the rescue, John Parry, Master of the Bostonian, and Andreas Schau, Master of the Mannheim, were presented with a piece of silver plate each. Tom Brown and Sydney Cornwell, first and second Mate of the Bostonian, and Wilhelm Jaeger, Second Officer of the Mannheim, were each presented with a set of Binocular Glasses and a silver Sea Gallantry Medal, whilst eleven of the gallant crew from the Bostonian, and four from the Mannheim, were each presented with a silver Sea Gallantry Medal, and a sum of three pounds. In total 18 Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded for the rescue. Sydney Cornwell was presented with his Medal at Liverpool 19.7.1906.

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