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Auction: 399 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 166

Great Britain. Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society's Marine Medal, 3rd type. Silver (TO MR. A.E. DYER. THIRD OFFICER. FOR GALLANT SERVICES AT THE WRECK OF THE S.S. LIMA FEB:1910)

The Pacific Navigation Company steamer Lima left Liverpool for Valparaiso, Chile via Callao on Dec. 23, 1909. On February 5, 1910, the ship ran ashore on the Chilean island of Huamblin (Guamblin, Socorro) in very rough waters. The chief pilot and 50 passengers were drowned. Lima's distress signals were seen by the S.S. Hatumet, which stood by and assisted in the rescue of 205 passengers and crew. The Lima's first officer Isaac Nicholson and the boatswain were able to get two boats under the stern of the distressed vessel and to pass a line to those on board, allowing them to be hauled onto the boats and taken to the Hatumet.

During the night the rope became entangled with the rocks, capsizing Nicholson's boat with the loss of its crew of six. Seeing he could no longer serve any useful purpose standing by, the captain of the Hatumet made for Ancud with the survivors, hoping to find a warship which could go to the scene of the wreck with a rocket apparatus. The following day, a Chilean cruiser rescued the remaining 88 persons still on the Lima.

Third Officer Albert Ernest Dyer (1878-1944) was one of nine recipients of the Silver medal (five In Memoriam medals were awarded) in connection to the wreck. He also received "binoculars and Illuminated Vote of Thanks" from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society. The binoculars he received, made by Chadburn's Ltd Opticians, 47 Castle St., Liverpool, are included here with the medal

On original ribbon and in LS&HS case of issue. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine. With extensive documentation of Dyer's certificates and maritime career, along with the presented binoculars (wear and scuffs to the case).

Sold for
$375

Starting price
$150