Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C. Medal awarded to Mechanic Richard Quick Stevens of the St. Ives Lifeboat, who died in the St. Ives Lifeboat Disaster of 23 January 1939 and who was posthumously awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in Bronze

Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (5496 D. R. Q. Stevens, Smn. R.N.R.) nearly extremely fine £200-300

Richard Quick Stevens was born in St. Ives, Cornwall on 8 July 1902. Employed as a Fisherman and a member of the St. Ives R.N.L.I. Lifeboat crew, he enrolled in the R.N.R. in October 1921.

As Mechanic aboard the St. Ives lifeboat John and Sarah Eliza Stych he was called out on 23 January 1939.

‘In an exceptionally violent west-north-westerly gale and heavy sea, a vessel (never identified) was seen to be in a dangerous position off Cape Cornwall. Although Sennen Cove is only six miles to the south, their lifeboat could not be got away, therefore the St. Ives self righting motor lifeboat John and Sarah Eliza Stych launched at 2.50 p.m. with 11 miles to travel in the teeth of the gale. As she left the shelter of St. Ives Bay, she met a heavy sea. Coxswain Cocking decided to keep her well clear of the headland then, avoiding the strong flood tide, turned west-wards but, one and half miles north-north-east of Clodgy Point, she was capsized by a violent wave. When she righted herself, the Coxswain, the acting Bowman, the Signalman and Edgar Bassett were nowhere to be seen. Several times the engine restarted only to stall when it was put in gear and, with only four men in the boat, the mizzen mast and sail could not be raised. The lifeboat drifted across the bay, all attempts to recover power failed and, when she capsized again, the Mechanic (Stevens) was washed away. Continuing to drift towards Godrevy, she capsized a third time at 7.45 p.m. near the rocks. William Freeman was the only survivor, and he was able to crawl ashore and reach Godrevy Farm.’ (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox).

All eight members of the crew were awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in Bronze. With copied R.N.R. service sheet which records, ‘Drowned at Sea on 23.1.1939 (St. Ives Lifeboat)’.