Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Volturno’ disaster Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to Boatswain Daniel Riordan of the steamship Asian

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Daniel Riordan, “Volyurno” 9th October 1913); British War Medal 1914-20 (36540 D. Riordan, 2 Hd., R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (D.2650 D. Riordan, Ldg. Sea., R.N.R.) first with some edge bruising, nearly very fine and better (3) £350-400

Daniel Riordan, Boatswain on Asian of Liverpool, was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver on the occasion of the Volturno disaster of 9 October 1913. The Volturno, a British steamer, chartered by the Uranium Steamship Co. of Rotterdam, and bound thence to New York, was engulfed by fire in mid-Atlantic during a heavy gale. Of the 657 on board, 521 were saved by a fleet of eleven steamers that sped to her aid. Heavy seas interfered with the launching of boats, but the difficulty was eventually overcome by the use of oil; those who perished were mostly lost in the boats. The hull of the Volturno was eventually found by a Dutch steamer and scuttled as a dangerous derelict.

Numerous awards were made for this famous rescue, including 78 Sea Gallantry Medals in Silver to crew members of the six British vessels. Seven Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded to the Asian. In addition the Board of Trade also awarded 152 silver Sea Gallantry Medals (Foreign Services) to the crews serving on foreign vessels at the rescue.