A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners

A Second World War B.E.M. attributed to Fireman E. Andrews, Merchant Navy, who was also awarded Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea on the occasion the S.S. Tucurinca was torpedoed in March 1943

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Edward Andrews), an official late claim or replacement, in its Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine £80-120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 31 August 1943:

‘The ship, sailing in convoy, was torpedoed and sustained heavy damage which caused serious flooding. Owing to damage to the machinery, only ahead movements of the ship were possible, but she was got under way again at reduced speed and pumps were put into action to reduce the flooding. Later the weather became bad, flooding increased and it became necessary to abandon the ship.

Fireman Andrews acted with great gallantry throughout. He was the first to volunteer to go below to raise steam after the ship was torpedoed. He remained in the engine-room maintaining steam, encouraging the other firemen and helping with the pumps. His courage and qualities of leadership set a high example.’

Edward Andrews, who was born in Liverpool in March 1913, was also awarded Lloyd’s Medal for Bravery at Sea on the same occasion, namely the torpedoing of the S.S. Tucurinca in March 1943. A copied newspaper feature which is included outlines his extraordinary wartime career, for he had earlier survived the mining and loss of the S.S. Chagris in Liverpool Bay, bomb damage in the Oronsay in the Mediterranean and a mid-Atlantic collision in the Historian. He finally came ashore in February 1958; sold with a file of research.