Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Third Officer W. M. Clark, Mercantile Marine

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, bronze (To William McWilliam Clark, For Gallant Service, 6/10/36); British War Medal 1914-20 (William McW. Clark); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (William M. W. Clark), extremely fine (3) £140-180

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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William McWilliam Clark, Third Officer of the S.S. Alca, was awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Medal in bronze for attempting to safe the life of an elderly man who had been knocked into Coburg Dock on 6 October 1936:

‘The S.S. Alca was shifting berth astern by means of ship’s winches and hauling lines. The shore Boatswain, an old man, was standing on the dock side when a rope slipped off a bollard and knocked him into the dock.

Clark, who was in the after part of the ship manipulating the ropes, on seeing the accident, immediately jumped ashore followed by Rylands. Both then dived into the dock from a height of about 20 feet and supported the old man until a boat arrived. He was conveyed to the dock side and lifted ashore, but unfortunately died from shock soon afterwards.’