Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Shipwrecked Fishermen Medal and Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries Gold Medal pair awarded to Chief Officer H. E. Wall, of the S.S. Mira, for rescuing the crew of the Schooner J. N. Wylde in the North Atlantic on 15 December 1902

Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, silver (Chief Officer H. E. Wall, S.S. “Mira” Dec. 15. 1902) complete with double Dolphin suspension, and integral top silver riband buckle, in Wyon, London, fitted case of issue; Canada, Department of Marine and Fisheries Life Saving Medal, in the form of a life-ring, with coat of arms at centre, gold and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Presented by the Government of Canada to H. Wall, Chief Officer of the S.S. “Mira”, of Newcastle, England, in recognition of his bravery in assisting to rescue the crew of the Schooner “J. N. Wylde”, of Port Medway, N.S., which foundered at Sea, December 15th. 1902’, maker’s name to reverse, with integral top gold riband buckle, in Rosenthal, Ottawa, case of issue, extremely fine, rare (2) £500-700

The official log of the S.S. Mira states: ‘December 15, 1902, 11 a.m. Sighted a schooner J. N. Wylde, of Port Medway, Nova Scotia, partly dismasted, sails gone, English ensign in rigging, union-down. Captain reported ship disabled, crew frostbitten, and requested to be taken off. Strong gale from the north, with high cross sea. Called for volunteers, launched starboard lifeboat in charge of Chief Officer, and after several attempts succeeded in taking them off. When on board, treated and attended to the seamen as well as I was able. Consulted the Captain as to his ship drifting about, being an obstruction and danger to navigation. Decided to set her of fire, which we did after great difficulty. At 3:20 p.m. lifeboat on board, and set away on course for Philadelphia.’

Captain Swartman, of the S.S. Mira, wrote as follows on 19 December 1902: ‘On the morning of the 15th of December we sighted a vessel in distress in Lat. 40-27” North; Long. 67-25” West, and on coming up with her she proved to be the J. N. Wylde in distress. I hailed her and the Master asked that the vessel’s crew be taken off. It was blowing hard at the time with a heavy sea running and considering it to be an extremely hazardous undertaking, I called for volunteers to man the life boat. Practically the whole Ship’s crew responded. I placed Mr. Wall, Chief Officer, in charge, who proceeded with five crew under his command and by his determined grit and bravery effected the rescue of the eight persons composing the Ship’s company of the J. N. Wylde, one of which was the Captain’s wife, without loss or hurt. The plucky and seamanlike manner in which Mr. Wall handled his boat and encouraged his boat’s crew whilst battling with the waves from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., and the number of times he was swept away from the schooner by the waves, and the determined way in which he stuck to what he started to do, filled me with admiration. With his hands badly crushed, and bleeding and barefooted, and with the water freezing as it fell in the boat, you can imagine what pluck he had, and the boat’s crew, with their hands numbed ands skin bruised from the palms of their hands with handling the oars, deserve creditable mention.

Captain Dunphy, of the ill-fated J. N. Wylde, wrote as follows to Mr. Wall on 18 December 1902: ‘I herewith present you with a sextant, not to pay you for your risk of life in commanding your ship’s lifeboat that rescued myself, wife, and crew, but that you may kindly remember the brave act of yourself and volunteer crew who so nobly risked their lives in taking us from out dismasted and leaking vessel, the J. N. Wylde.’

For their gallantry in rescuing the crew of the J. N. Wylde, Captain Swartman was presented with a binocular glass; Mr. Wall a Gold Medal; and two of the life-boat crew Silver Medals. The remaining three life-boat crew each received a gratuity of $10 .