Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st (1910) type, silver (A. Hellman 12th. January 1922) unmounted, small test-mark to edge, nearly extremely fine, rare £300-£400

Dix Noonan Webb, September 2001.

Arthur Hellman, an Able Seaman in the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was, along with Second Officer Robert Spencer; Boatswain Martin Wennerburg; Able Seaman Arthur Edward Clerk; and Donkeyman Henry Fudge, all of the Dalton, awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Bronze; the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medal in silver; and the Shipping Federation Medal for Meritorious Service.

‘On the 12th January 1922, the S.S. Tidal of Cardiff, laden with coal, was in distress about 8 miles off the Corton Lightship, near Lowestoft, the vessel having shipped tremendous seas, which caused her to take a heavy and increasing list. In response to signals of distress the S.S. Dalton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne came to her assistance, and although the weather conditions were very bad the master of the Dalton decided to try to launch a boat. Volunteers were called for, and after the Dalton had been manoeuvred about 50 yards to the windward of the Tidal a life-boat, in charge of Mr Robert Spencer and manned by the seamen mentioned, was launched and succeeded in rescuing the crew and passengers consisting of ten men, two women, and three children, and safely transferred them to the Dalton. The rescuing boat had only gone some 30 yards on the return journey when the Tidal foundered.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scrlett refers).

A piece of Plate (Salver) value £15 was awarded by the Board of Trade to James J. Shaw, Master of the Dalton, and a pair of Binoculars value £8.2.6 to Robert Spencer, Second Officer. Henry Fudge was subsequently selected for the ‘Emile Robin’ award for 1922.