Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (To Second Officer S. C. Grant, S.S. “Orduna” for Gallant Service, 24th Jan. 1915) with silver buckle on ribbon, extremely fine £160-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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The S.S. Orduna was a 15,500 ton ocean liner built in 1913/14 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for the Pacific Steam Company. During the Great War she was utilised as an auxiliary cruiser and troopship. In her latter guise she transported troops from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool. 2nd Officer Grant was probably awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Medal for his part in the rescue of the Russian crew of the sailing ship Loch Torridon which had sprung a leak while transporting timber off the west coast of Ireland. The Orduna continued to have an eventful war, being targeted by a U-Boat in 1915, the fired torpedo missing its target, and in 1918 she accidentally collided with and sank the 4,400 ton steamer Konkary.