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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 576

The Lloyd's Medal for Bravery to Boatswain A. J. Webster who served on the Royal Sovereign and who was additionally entitled to a British Empire Medal for the same action

LLoyd's Medal for Bravery at Sea (Boatswain A. J. Webster, M.V. "Royal Sovereign" 9th December 1940.), in fitted case of issue, small edge bruise, otherwise very fine

B.E.M. London Gazette 18 March 1941.

Lloyd's List and Shipping Gazette 30 July 1941.

Joint Recommendation for Captain T. J. Aldis D.S.C. Master, Boatswain A. J. Webster, Assistant Steward J. Thomas:

The ship was damaged at night by an explosion. The chief officer was killed and 25 of the crew wounded. The master freed himself from the debris and tried to help the chief officer clear. He then saw to the rescue of the injured pilot and examined the boats. He found them to be too badly damaged for further use. The stern of the ship was under water and her bow in the air. The master and boatswain were left on board to deal with the anchors and the ship began to settle. The master showed great devotion to duty, entirely disregarding his severe injuries. The boatswain, whose wrist was broken, saved the life of the second cook, who badly burned and unconscious by swimming with him to a raft. The assistant steward was trapped in his quarters with another member of the crew who had a broken leg and foot. The ladder to the saloon was blown way, but Thomas climbed out, although himself wounded, and wrapping a table-cloth round his messmate hauled him out and lowered him into the water, whence he was picked up.

In December 1940, the vessel in question was the former passenger boat MV Royal Sovereign, which had been requisitioned as a troop transport by the Admiralty and renamed HMS Royal Scot.

The M.V. "Royal Sovereign" had been requisitioned as a troop transport by the Admiralty and had taken part in the Dunkirk evacuation. On 9 December 1940, while sailing from the Gareloch to the south of England and navigating the Bristol Channel, the ship struck a mine. The explosion killed Chief Petty Officer H.V. Clarke and injured others on the bridge. The vessel began taking on water but did not sink immediately, allowing survivors to be taken off by a tug that came alongside. She later sank in the Bristol Channel.

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Estimate

Starting price
£480