Lloyds War Medal for Bravery at Sea

[Doc Vernon]

Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea.pdfLloyds War Medal For Bravery File received from a Member Ian

[Brenda Shackleton]

1942 PQ18 Lloyds Medal for Bravery at Sea..jpg1943 E COPELAND WILLIAM MOFFAT BOSUN PHOTO TNA_MSEA_BT350_18_00_180011 AA.jpg1945 K OCTOBER DISCHARGE Scan_0001.jpg1950 Capt Donovan & friendsB (2).jpg

RECIPIENTS OF LLOYDS MEDAL FOR BRAVERY AT SEA

WILLIAM NICHOL MOFFAT. Boatswain of Rescue Ship COPELAND aged 52 at time of rescue ( SS AYMERIC. 16th May 1943. Atlantic) From my Dad's notes ( Capt W.J. Hartley ) "the sea and Air conditions for men on the rafts and boats were such that exposure would soon take toll of life. All my crew worked magnificently to save them by jumping on rafts, bending lines on them and getting them on board in the quickest possible time; other willing hands attended to their needs on board and also carried out artificial respiration for those who required same. In connection with great gallantry during the rescue operations I mention the name of William Moffat, Boatswain of this steamer. Through whose efforts, seamanship and noble courage a goodly number of survivors were saved. He jumped on rafts as they came alongside, secured them and bent Life Lines around survivors to get them on board. At other times he went down the Life nets , waist deep ion icy cold water to bend a line on some other helpless seaman." WHAT A FANTASTIC MAN ! Below his Citation for the Lloyds Medal.....

Mr Moffat was boatswain of a ship engaged in
rescuing survivors from a torpedoed vessel. At
great personal risk, he jumped down on to boats
and rafts alongside, securing them and bending
lines around numbed and helpless survivors.
Several times he was working waist-deep in icy
water, a fresh gale made his position on the boats
and rafts extremely perilous. It was due to his
great courage and resource that many lives were saved.

Dad
Citation Feb 3rd 1944
Captain William Joseph Hartley, Master
The ship took part in a North Russian convoy which was attacked
by submarines, and later by enemy aircraft with torpedoes
and bombs. Throughout the numerous fierce attacks over
a period of five days, the fortitude, courage and seamanship
of Captain Hartley were of the highest order. His skilful conning
saved the vessel on several occasions from being hit. During one
attack he took his ship to the rescue of survivors from a burning
vessel. The Ship's guns destroyed one enemy aircraft and
damaged others

CAPTAIN JAMES DOMINIC DONOVAN, MASTER. Second left on the photograph taken in the 1950s with my Mum and Dad and Fr. O'Connor from Apostleship of the Sea ( Liverpool) and Capt. D's wife.....
Awarded after sinking of ATHELSULTAN 22 September 1942. Capt D . aged 52 - so no Spring chicken !
Citation 3rd Feb 1944
The ship , sailing in convoy, was torpedoed. Owing to the rapid sinking and heavy
seas only one boat could be swung out. When this boat was almost waterborne it
capsized and the occupants were thrown into the water. A number of them , and
some of the crew who had jumped into the sea, were able to reach rafts and were
later rescued. Captain Donovan showed fine courage and coolness in this sudden
emergency. He did all he could to get the crew away and then returned to the
bridge, which was being swept by heavy seas, to search for two men who were
missing. He was washed from the lower bridge on to the gangway , and on reaching
the forecastle he persuaded a seam to jump overboard. At this moment the ship
sank, and after being in the water for nearly two hours the Master was picked up



Finally. The Lloyds Medal is not a Crown medal so neither my Dad nor his friend Jim Donovan were 'allowed' to wear these medals at Navy events. My Dad valued it more than his D.S.C. because it was exclusively a medal for Merchantmen ( and women) regardless of rank.

After many many years of asking Worcestershire Medals produced copies of the Lloyds. I was able to obtain a copy of the medal and I shall wear it with pride , whatever the Naval event !!

This is a long post. Hope it isn't too long
Brenda

[Keith at Tregenna]

The Loss of the Trevessa

On the 7th of December, 1923, on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, there took place the final of a series of Board of Trade meetings, which then issued its Wreck Report for the steamship Trevessa. This report described the events leading up to the sinking of this ship, belonging to the well-known shipping company Hain, of St Ives in Cornwall, and what happened afterwards. It took place in Mauritius because it was on this island, and its neighbour Rodriguez Island that the two open lifeboats of the Trevessa had arrived after over three weeks of an astonishing voyage of 1728 miles across a large part of the Indian Ocean after their ship sank, and it was generally believed that they had been lost.

Once the news of the voyage and that 34 out of a crew of 44 had survived was heard, it became international news, with headlines around the world. The survivors were brought home and Captain Cecil Foster in particular became a great celebrity. He was summoned to an audience with George V and was impressed with the King’s practical knowledge of seamanship and navigation. He received many gifts including the Lloyd’s Silver Medal for Saving Life at Sea, also awarded to his First Officer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14070955

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...il-p_t_-foster

Keith.

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[WG Smith]

I think this thread whilst well intended is historically inaccurate as 541 Medal were awarded.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Please tell more, interested in any info you may provide.

Regards,

Keith.

[Doc Vernon]

I think this thread whilst well intended is historically inaccurate as 541 Medal were awarded.

Thank you for the correct update it si good to have the correct information on these kind of things!
Cheers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peo...ere%20awarded.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Both are interesting and informative, more and more on much is better known now.

K.

[WG Smith]

Article is not exactly accurate in understating the number of Medals awarded. The actual total was 547.

[Keith at Tregenna]

#8: Can you please add more detail and source as even your own #4: figure differs?

Regards,

Keith.