A rare life saving pair awarded to Quartermaster William Forsyth, S.S. Missouri, for the rescue of the passengers and crew of the S.S. Danmark in April 1889

Life Saving Medal, obv. an angel bearing a palm branch, a ship’s wheel and anchor at her feet, ‘From the Citizens of Philadelphia to the Officers & Crew of Atlantic Trans. Line S.S. Missouri’; rev. ship’s boat, capstan and rope, with sprigs of laurel and oak above, ‘For Humanity and Heroism displayed in rescuing passengers and crew of Steamship Danmark in mid ocean, April 1889’, all struck, inscribed on the edge ‘William Forsyth Quartermaster’, 48mm., silver, with ornate ‘block and tackle’ suspension from representative rope-entwined wreckage, with cleat and S.S. Missouri life-belt, the reverse with pin for wearing; together with an engraved gold medal, 26mm, obverse ‘Wm Forsyth, Steamship Missouri, Baltimore’, reverse ‘Rescue of the Danmark’s Passengers & Crew, April 6th 1889’, with gold watch chain fitting; also with a British War Medal 1914-20, erased naming; Mercantile Marine Medal 1914-18, unnamed, extremely fine and very rare (4) £700-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Boddington Collection of Life Saving Medals.

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Lifesaving pair, ex D.N.W. 21 September 2001, lot 609.

In April 1889 the S.S. Danmark of the Thingvalla Line, en route to New York, suffered a broken propeller shaft and foundered about 800 miles from Newfoundland. The British S.S. Missouri took the crew of 69 plus 669 passengers on board after jettisoning most of her cargo and, after a difficult journey and the skilful use of celestial navigation finally arrived safely in Philadelphia. The citizens of Philadelphia gave a large silver medal and the City of Baltimore a smaller gold medal to the crew members of the Missouri in recognition of their gallant rescue work under the command of Captain Hamilton Murrell of the Missouri. Sold with a quantity of copied research.