An inter-war Sea Gallantry Medal group of five awarded to Able Seaman R. Inglis, Merchant Navy, late Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, attached Royal Naval Division

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Robert Inglis, “Czarina”, 28th December 1923); 1914 Star (C.1/2657 R. Inglis, A.B., R.N.V.R., Anson Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (C.1/2657 R. Inglis, A.B., R.N.V.R.); Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medal, silver (Robert Inglis, (A.B.), S.S. Cairnmona, December 28, 1923), with ‘double-dolphin’ slip-bar on riband and top silver riband buckle, good very fine or better (5) £600-£800

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2009.

Sea Gallantry Medal 17 July 1924. Board of Trade records state:

‘On 28 December 1923, the barquentine Czarina of St. John’s Newfoundland, was in distress in the North Atlantic in a heavy gale with hurricane force; her signals of distress were observed and answered about 10 p.m. by the Cairnmona, whose master manoeuvred as closely as possible to the Czarina, and upon hailing the distressed crew ascertained that the only life-boat had been smashed, and lost overboard, together with sails and various spars.

In spite of the very dark night and heavy seas which were running, a life-boat was got away from Cairnmona in charge of Mr. Baker and manned by the men named [including Inglis], proceeded with great difficulty to the shipwrecked vessel, which was rolling very heavily, and succeeded in taking off the crew of eight hands.’

In total the Board of Trade granted five Silver Medals for the above rescue, while the Government of Newfoundland awarded plate to the ship’s master, Captain John Berlin, binoculars to John Baker, the Chief Officer, and money gratuities to the three crew members who manned the rescuing boat. Board of Trade records also reveal that these men were put forward for additional recognition by Lloyds, but that duty ultimately fell to the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society.

Robert Inglis, originally a native of Leith, was born in December 1894, and enlisted in the Clyde Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, in May 1913, aged 18 years. Mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities, he served in the Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, in the Antwerp operations of that year (official records refer). Demobilised in April 1919, he commenced a career as a merchant seaman, in which capacity he won his S.G.M. for the above cited deeds in December 1923, his ship, the Cairnmona of the Cairne Line, then being registered at Newcastle. Inglis received his decoration from George V at an investiture held on 12 February 1925.

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