A scarce S.G.M., Tynemouth Medal group of three awarded to Coastguard William Marsden, Blyth Haven Coast Guard

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., Silver (“Dunelm” 11th January 1913); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (168524 Boatman, H.M. Coast Guard); Tynemouth Medal, silver ‘Awarded to Coastguard William Marsden, 11th January 1913, for bravery in saving life at sea’, fitted with scroll suspender and ornate suspension brooch, generally very fine or better (3) £800-1000

A total of 10 Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded for the wreck of the Dunelm, of these only Marsden received a silver medal, the other 9 men receiving bronze medals.

The recommendation for these awards states: ‘At 10:45am on the 11th January 1913, during a very heavy gale, the Dunelm, of Sunderland, England, stranded on Seaton Sea Rocks, Blyth and became a total wreck. The North Blyth Volunteer Life Saving Apparatus Company arrived at 11:20am, but gear had to be carried over rocks for about 900 yards. Tide was running swiftly and eventually gear had to be abandoned. A seaman jumped overboard with a line attached to him and swam to a ledge of rocks which two members of the L.S.A. Co. had reached. The line was used for the whip and the remaining14 members of the crew were landed on the ledge. During the operations the whip fouled the rocks and Marsden plunged into the sea to clear it. He was twice washed away and nearly drowned, but was rescued by Gibney and Archibold.

After reaching the rocks the men had to make their way or be assisted to the shore through the shore. The tide came in and marooned six men. Kelsey, Robertson and Scott were the last of the rescuers whose retreat was cut off, but they remained on the rocks until all the crew were landed. Nixon went off to the ledge in a small boat and rescued two men. Macarthy then took out a small boat. The four remaining men got into it, but it capsized and Macarthy was nearly drowned. Brown and Beading thereupon took out the boat and tried to reach one of the rescuers named Hurrell, but he sank before they could reach him. They however, rescued the other three men.’

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