Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea awarded to William King of the S.S. Albatross for saving life on the Isabella Hall, 1888

Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, silver (William King, wreck of the “Isabella Hall” on the 5th November 1888) in case of issue, minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine £450-550

The schooner Isabella Hall of Barrow, was wrecked on 4 November 1888 when she struck on Tongue Sands at the entrance to the River Thames. Captain E. P. Dodd and his crew of four were saved by the crew of the steamer Albatross. The schooner had been on passage from London to Cardiff with a cargo of ore.

‘On the 4th November 1888 the schooner Isabella Hall of Barrow stranded on the Tongue Sand, and the crew having lost their boat in a heavy sea were obliged to take to the rigging. Next morning two boats went to their relief but could not get near the wreck owing to heavy seas, and the shipwrecked crew were in danger of loosing their lives, when the Albatross, which was passing up channel, sent a boat manned by John Dinneen and four seamen, who despite warnings rowed close to the wreck and after nearly an hour’s struggle threw a line on board and rescued one of the crew. He had scarcely been lifted into the boat when a heavy sea nearly swamped her and washed Dinneen and three seamen out of her, but they regained the boat, and bailing her out proceeded with their task, finally succeeding in rescuing the rest’ (Ref: Gallantry).

For their services, Chief Mate John Dinneen of the Albatross was awarded the Albert Medal. His boat’s crew: William George King, Henry Fedder, Robert Lacey and Arthur Oakley were each awarded the Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea in Silver. The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner’s Society also made an award, presenting an Aneroid Barometer to
Captain John Brown Randall of the Albatross, the Society’s Silver Medal to John Dinneen, and the sum of £1 to each of the seamen manning the boat.