Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Able Seaman R. W. Beckett, Merchant Navy, for his services in rescuing the crew of the S.S. Usworth in the North Atlantic on 14 December 1934

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Robert W. Beckett. S.S. “Usworth” 14th. December. 1934); Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, bronze (Able Seaman Robert Walter Beckett - S.S. “Usworth” 14th. December 1934); Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (To R. W. Beckett, For Gallant Service 14/12/34) with integral top silver brooch bar; Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, 6th type, silver (R. W. Beckett. A.B., S.S. “Ascania” - S.S. “Usworth” December. 14. 1934.) with ‘double-dolphin’ slip-bar on riband, nearly extremely fine (4) £1800-2200

The Dalgliesh Steamship Company’s steamship Usworth, Captain J. J. Reed, left Sydney, Nova Scotia, for Queenstown on 6 December 1934, with a cargo of wheat. Encountering rough weather from the onset, she suffered damage to her steering on the 10th. Seeking urgent assistance, the Belgian steamship Jean Jadot and the Cunard liner Ascania came to her aid. The citation for the Board of Trade Sea Gallantry Medals well describes the efforts of those involved:

‘The S.S. Usworth was severely damaged in a hurricane in the North Atlantic in December 1934. The vessel had battled with the gale for 3 days and efforts to effect temporary repairs were unavailing. The steering gear became damaged and it was not found possible to steer the ship. An S.O.S. was sent out at 6 a.m. on the 11th December which was answered by the S.S. Jean Jadot who steamed to her assistance. The Jean Jadot made attempts at salvage which continued until the afternoon of the 13th. The Usworth was then shipping very heavy seas which stove in the hatches and threw the vessel on her beam ends. At 7 a.m. on the 14th December the S.S. Ascania arrived on the scene and poured oil on the sea while the Jean Jadot manoeuvred into position to fire a line across the Usworth. Three rockets were fired, each of which fell short. The Ascania then steamed round to the weather side of the Usworth and fired 2 rockets each of which fell short. The position of the Usworth was getting desperate and the master asked whether a boat could be sent to take off her crew. A boat was sent away from the Jean Jadot which manoeuvred to the leeside of the Usworth and 15 men were taken off. The boat had shipped a lot of water and was capsized by a cross wave. The men thrown in the water became covered with oil and were quickly exhausted. It was possible however to get some of the men on board the Jean Jadot but unfortunately 2 of the crew of the Jean Jadot and 13 of the crew of the Usworth lost their lives. As there were still some of the crew left on the Usworth, the master of the Ascania decided to launch a lifeboat. The boat was got clear with great difficulty and had a perilous time before reaching the lee of the Usworth. Those on the Usworth were told to jump one at a time. Three jumped together and two lost their lives, although T. Gibson, cook, could have reached the boat but for turning back to the assistance of the messroom boy. The officer in charge of the lifeboat then decided he must go alongside the Usworth which he did with great skill thus being able to save the lives of the remaining 9 crew. The Ascania was manoeuvred to protect the lifeboat. The survivors were got on board the Ascania with great difficulty. The Jean Jadot had remained by the Usworth for 3 days and the Ascania for 18 hours. Great skill in seamanship by the Masters of the Jean Jadot and the Ascania and the action of Lieut. Pollitt of the Ascania who was in charge of the lifeboat was nothing short of heroic. He displayed remarkable seamanship in a very difficult and dangerous operation.’ (Ref. P.R.O. BT.261.7, rotation no. 41, reg. no. M9380.35).

For the rescue, the British Board of Trade awarded 12 S.G.M. in silver to men of the Ascania and 11 S.G.M. (Foreign Services) in silver to men of the Jean Jadot. In addition, Captain Bisset of the Ascania was awarded a silver rose bowl to the value of £30; 3rd Officer Pollitt and 2nd Officer Leblanc, commanding the boat’s crews of the Ascania and Jean Jadot, were awarded silver cups to the value of £15; 4th Officer Lambert of the Jean Jadot was awarded a silver salver to the value of £12 and members of both boat’s crews were awarded £5 each. In addition to medals for saving life, Lloyd’s of London presented a commemorative plaque to the Ascania.

Cook T. Gibson of the Usworth was awarded a posthumous Albert Medal for sacrificing his life in attempting to save the life of L. Jones, the messroom boy.

Sold with a quantity of copied research, including newspaper extracts, reports and citations relating to the various medals.