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Auction: 7029 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 476

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society´s Marine Medal, 3rd Circular type, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1929), 38mm (To Patrick Kearns, S/S "Manchester Regiment", For Gallant Service. 8/12/29.), nearly extremely fine, with top silver riband buckle (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1929), in Oldfield, Liverpool, case of issue Estimate £ 150-180 Rescue in the Mid-Atlantic On the 8th December 1929, the British S.S. Volumnia, of Glasgow, was in distress in very bad weather in the Atlantic Ocean; in response to distress signals the S.S. Manchester Regiment, of Manchester, went to her assistance, and, having approached, waited for a lull in the storm before attempting a rescue. Shortly after 9 o´clock, despite the very dangerous sea, the Master of the Manchester Regiment decided to attempt a rescue, and a boat was launched, in charge of the Second Mate, William Henry Downing, with a crew consisting of the Third Mate, Ernest William Espley; Able Seamen John Bromage, John Manin, Harold James Stringer, Patrick Kearns, John Arthur Chidlow; and a passenger of the Manchester Regiment, Mr R.D. Ziegler. Very great difficulty was experienced in keeping the boat afloat, but by skilful manoeuvring Mr Downing, though badly injured in the hand in the launching of the boat, made two trips to the Volumnia and the entire forty-five members of the crew of that vessel were eventually taken off. The rescuing boat was badly damaged and abandoned. The crew of the lifeboat were all awarded Sea Gallantry Medals in silver, in addition to the awards made by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society (Recommendation dated 30.1.1930), and Able Seaman Kearns was additionally given a monetary award. Provenance: Glendinning´s, 5.3.1969 (sold together with the recipient´s Sea Gallantry Medal)

Sold for
£220