Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce S.G.M. and Royal Humane Society medal group of four awarded to Leading Boatman Sidney Sworn, H.M. Coast Guard, Penzance, for gallantry at the wreck of the Swedish sailing ship Trifolium which had been driven on shore off Sennen’s Cove, Land’s End, in March 1914

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Sidney Sworn. “Trifolium”, 15th March 1914.); British War Medal 1914-20 (136820 S. Sworn. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (136820 Sidney Sworn, Boatn., H.M. Coast Guard.); Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful), (Sidney Sworn, 15th March 1914.) mounted for display, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

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Provenance: Christie’s, April 1991.

Royal Humane Society Case Number 40668:

‘At 6.40 a.m. on 15th March 1914, the sailing ship Trifolium was driven on shore off Sennen’s Cove, Land’s End, in an exceedingly dangerous position among the rocks, where she was rapidly breaking up. Arthur Oddy, Chief Petty Officer, and Sidney Sworn, Leading Boatman, H.M. Coast Guard, who were on duty, exerted themselves to the utmost in saving or attempting to save life. Oddy plunged into the violent surf and was successful in saving two of the crew who were vainly endeavouring to reach the shore. Sworn also swam out and caught a man belonging to the ship, but after landing him he was found to be dead. He again rushed into the surf and saved a local fisherman who in attempting to give help was in danger of being swept away. Both men incurred great risk of being carried away by the undertow, and of being dashed on the rocks by the heavy sea running.’

The Trifolium was a Swedish sailing barque from Gothenburg.

Sydney Sworn was also awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver by King George V for the same rescue, the recommendation providing a little more detail:

‘(1) Arthur Oddy, Chief Petty Officer C.G., Sennen Cove. (2) Sidney Sworn, Leading Boatman C.G., Penzance.
The Trifolium stranded on the Gwynver Sands, near Sennen Cove. The L.S.A. Company was summoned and two rockets were fired. The crew could not haul the whip on board, but as the vessel was breaking up they jumped in to the water and landed by means of the rocket lines and assistance from shore.
Oddy and Sworn on several occasions waded into the heavy surf to assist persons in distress. The former was directly instrumental in saving two lives and he also assisted in saving another. The latter succeeded in bringing ashore one man, who was found to be dead. He also saved a member of the L.S.A. Company who was in danger of being carried away by the undertow. 15th March 1914.’

Sidney Sworn was born at Southampton on 30 November 1870, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 April 1886. He served until January 1901 when, having been promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class, he transferred to the Coast Guard. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal on 6 April 1908. During the Great War he was a Petty Officer and returned to the Coast Guard in 1917, being posted back to Penzance. He ended his career, after 45 years service in the R.N. and Coast Guard, as District Officer at Cromer, Norfolk, in 1930, retiring to the South Coast, near Bournemouth, where he died in the late 1940’s.

Sold with photograph of the recipient with his wife at Thorpeness, where he was Chief Officer, and a contemporary news cutting announcing his retirement.