Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Chief Officer F. H. S. Petherbridge, Merchant Navy, who was twice decorated for gallant acts by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (To F. H. S. Petherbridge, for Gallant Service, 2-4-24), in its fitted Oldfield, Liverpool fitted case; Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, bronze (To F. H. S. Petherbridge, [?] Off., S.S. Clan Keith, for Meritorious Service, 7/3/27), the first officially renamed and the last with erasure of ‘3rd’ from rank, extremely fine (2) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Merchant Seamen and D.E.M.S. Gunners.

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Francis Henry Shuttleworth Petherbridge was born in Hampstead, London, in April 1906. And he won his first award from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society - the Silver Marine Medal - while serving as an Apprentice aboard the S.S. Clan MacIver in April 1924, the Society’s records stating:

‘Illuminated Certificate and Binoculars to Captain Arthur Douglas Turton, Silver Medal and Certificate of Thanks each to David Morris (Third Officer), Leslie F. Malcouronne (Fourth Officer), Robert W. Howie (Third Engineer), James Wales (Fourth Engineer), Joseph Quinn (Carpenter), Arthur Inwards (Steward), John Parkinson and F. H. S. Petherbridge (Apprentices) , of the S.S. Clan MacIver for praiseworthy and humane service in the rescue of 15 European passengers, 1,221 pilgrims and 140 crew of the S.S. Frangestan which caught fire and subsequently foundered in the Red Sea on the 2nd April.

At 7 a.m. on that date Frangestan was found to be on fire, evidently due to spontaneous combustion of cotton loaded at Bombay. She was seen by the Clan MacIver, which ship closed with her, and in the early afternoon, as the fire appeared to be gaining, the Captain of the Frangestan decided to transfer his passengers to the Clan MacIver, and if possible take his ship into Port Sudan with his own crew. At 4.15 p.m. the Clan MacIver stopped close to the Frangestan, lowered his boats and commenced the transfer, and by 9 p.m. all passengers and Chinese crew were on board the Clan Liner. Eventually, the fire gaining strength, it was decided to abandon the steamer, and all the crew were taken off and were finally on board the Clan Liner by 10.30 p.m.’

It is interesting to relate that the burning wreck of the Frangestan was sighted by the submarine K-26, then en route to the Far East, and following consultation with the Admiralty, she was ordered to sink her.

Three years later, and by now a Third Officer serving aboard the S.S. Clan Keith, Petherbridge added the Society’s Bronze Medal to his earlier accolade, relevant records stating:

‘Bronze Medal and Certificate of Thanks to F. H. S. Petherbridge, Third Officer, S.S. Clan Keith, for rescuing a boy aged 12 in danger of drowning in the Ship Canal at Eastham, on 17 March 1927. The boy was playing with others at the edge of the canal when he fell in. Petherbridge, who was on the canal bank taking the ship’s draught, immediately plunged fully clothed into the water and brought the boy safely to the bank.’

Petherbridge took his 2nd Mate’s ticket in February 1927, and his 1st Mate’s ticket in July of the following year. Having then gained his Master’s Certificate in April 1930, he went on to witness active service in the 1939-45 War, initially with command of the S.S. Clan Stuart, which ship was sunk after a collision in convoy off Start Point on 11 August 1940 - Petherbridge and his crew were subsequently picked up by a French fishing boat. Next appointed to the command of the Clan Ranald, he remained similarly employed until removing to his final wartime command, the Clan Cameron, in early 1944. He was awarded the 1939-45, Atlantic and Burma Stars, in addition to the War Medal 1939-45.

Petherbridge finally came ashore in the late 1960s after a career spanning 42 years; sold with an extensive file of research.