Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Presentation Cigarette Box, 114 x 84 x 37mm., silver, with wooden interior and base, hallmarks unclear, side inscribed, ‘Presented to J. E. Palmer in recognition of Lifesaving Services’, lid inscribed, ‘M/T. St. Finbarr 25th December 1966’, one side slightly buckled, good condition £100-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

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On Christmas morning 1966 the trawler St. Finbarr owned by Thomas Hamling & Co, Hull, was steaming off the coast of Labrador. Fire broke out down below and a mayday signal was immediately sent out. Her sister ship, the Orsino answered the distress call and proceeded at her best speed. Some 41/2 miles away, the Orsino took 20 minutes to arrive on the scene by which time the St. Finbarr was engulfed in flames and a violent explosion had disabled the vessel. The crew of the St. Finbarr were unable to launch their own boat and it required a boat from the Orsino to rescue 13 of her sister ship’s crew. The remaining 12 had become trapped and perished. The Orsino then took the St. Finbarr in tow in an attempt to reach St. John’s, Newfoundland but the ship sank some 14 miles from St. John’s where the survivors of the crew were landed. It is believed that Mr J. E. Palmer was one of the boats’ crew from the Orsino who assisted in the rescue. Sold with copied research.