Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A League of Neutral Countries Life Saving Medal group of three awarded to Able Seaman O. Hicks, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, for his assistance in rescuing the crews of six Dutch merchantmen attacked and sunk by a German submarine off the Isles of Scilly, 22 February 1917

British War and Victory Medals (R.1344 O. Hicks. A.B. R.N.V.R.); League of Neutral Countries Life Saving Medal, 60mm, bronze, the obverse featuring a Royal Naval rating shaking hands with a Dutch merchant seaman, with their respective crewmates looking on, the reverse inscribed ‘The Netherland Section of the League of Neutral Countries to OS. Hicks Jr. in grateful commemoration of the services tendered by the English Sailors who rescued with peril of life the crews of seven unarmed Dutch Merchantmen surreptitiously attacked and recklessly destroyed by a German Submarine February 22nd 1917’, the last in Cornelis Begeer, Utrecht, card box of issue, good very fine, the last scarce (3) £400-£500

Dix Noonan Webb, September 2002.

In February 1917 Lieutenant Commander Hersing in the German submarine U.21 was heading home after a successful (from his point of view) tour in the Mediterranean. On 22 February he met a Dutch convoy of eight steamers off the Isles of Scilly. They had just left Falmouth and were about 25 miles west of Bishop’s Rock. To Hersing these vessels seemed the most perfect gift just as he was entering the English Channel, and he promptly sank six of them. In response to the wireless calls from one of the Dutch merchantmen, three H.M. Tugs from the newly-inaugurated Rescue Service came out from Falmouth and, with the assistance of other trawlers, saved two of the steamers. About 200 of the occupants were brought ashore at Penzance.

The disaster severely angered the Dutch authorities, as the convoy had been granted ‘safe conduct’ by Germany, although Hersing was unaware of this. The incident created a diplomatic incident, and the outcome was that Germany eventually made compensation by transferring to Holland six German steamers that were lying in the Dutch East Indies. (Seas of Adventures, by E. Keble Chatterton refers).

The above medal was specially commissioned by the League of Neutral Countries and presented to those men who participated in the rescue of the crews of the sunk merchantmen.

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