Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Royal Humane Society Medal awarded to Boy 1st Class W. Kerr, Royal Navy, for saving life on the occasion of the disastrous collision between H.M. Ships “Victoria” and “Camperdown”, 22 June 1893, when the former sank with the loss of 358 lives

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Wm. Kerr. Boy 1st. Class, R.N., 22nd. June, 1893), complete with top bronze riband buckle, edge bruising, suspension post loose, nearly very fine £600-800

R.H.S. Case no. 26,574: ‘To William Kerr (17), Boy 1st Class, Royal Navy, for saving the life of Matthew Jones (47), Chief Engine Room Artificer, Royal Navy, who was drowning at sea off Tripoli, Syria, at 3:45 p.m. on 22nd June 1893. Jones was in the water groaning, and told Kerr that both his legs were broken and that he was unable to swim. Kerr gave the man a life buoy that he had, and went for another; returning to Jones he pushed him along until they were taken into a boat from the Dreadnought. Exhausted, Jones was placed in bed and successfully treated by the Medical Officer.’

One of just five such awards given by the Royal Humane Society for this famous disaster, and the only medallic awards for the episode.

Victoria and Camperdown

On 22 June 1893, Admiral Sir George Tryon put to sea with a squadron of 13 ships from an anchorage off Beirut, bound for the coast off Tripoli. The vessels steamed in two columns, H.M.S. Victoria, his flagship, leading one, and Rear-Admiral Markham, in H.M.S. Camperdown, heading the other. At about 2 p.m., Admiral Tryon sent for his Flag Captain and Staff Commander, telling them of his intention to invert the two columns of ships at six cables distance, a suggestion that alerted the latter to the possible danger of a collision. Very tactfully, for the Admiral was not in the habit of being questioned, his Staff Commander suggested a distance of eight cables as more appropriate. The Admiral responded in the affirmative.

Minutes later, however, he hoisted a signal which stated that the fleet was to form a column of divisions line ahead, ‘with columns disposed abeam to port, columns to be six cables apart’. Once more, ever so tactfully, via the Flag Lieutenant, the Staff Commander asked for confirmation of the signal but the former returned with his tail between his legs: the Admiral was to have his own way. By way of confirmation, Tryon now hoisted another signal: ‘Second division alter course in succession, sixteen points (180 degrees) to starboard preserving the order of the Fleet. First division alter course in succession, sixteen points to port preserving the order of the Fleet’. Almost alone the Staff Commander had dared to question the Admiral’s orders, but now the fearful implications were recognised by all. Rear-Admiral Markham, aboard the Camperdown, was stunned. Accordingly he signalled the Victoria, ‘Do you wish evolution to be performed as indicated by the signal?’ But back came the Admiral’s terse reply, ‘What are you waiting for?’ - short of a court-martial for disobeying orders, Markham was now powerless to act.

Thus the Camperdown and Victoria, both steaming at just over eight knots, commenced the fatal manoeuvre and within minutes the former had struck the Victoria on her starboard bow. The order to close watertight doors and to make ready the collision mat had already been given when disaster appeared inevitable but the volume of water rushing into the Victoria was too great to be stemmed: the initial impact forced her 70 feet through the water and left a gaping hole 12 feet wide at upper deck level and 18 feet wide below the waterline.

Admiral Tryon ordered Captain Bourke below decks to inspect the damage and at the same time signalled to the other ships who were preparing to lower lifeboats: ‘Negate sending boats, but hold them in readiness’. In fact, Bourke’s inspection was pointless - the Victoria had little chance of floating for more than a few minutes; and any lifeboats would probably be sucked down with her. An attempt was made to reach land but, as the steam pressure fell and the helm would not respond, preparations were made to abandon ship. On the bridge, Admiral Tryon muttered to the Staff Commander and the Flag Lieutenant, “It’s all my doing, it’s all my fault.” He then added in a shaky voice, “I think she’s going down.” “Yes, sir,” replied the Staff Commander, “I think she is.”

The Victoria’s bows were now well down and she was heeling to starboard. An officer ordered the men who had bravely held their stations to jump, Petty Officer Johnston among them, but many made their way over the quarterdeck and down the sloping stern, where they were cut to pieces by the still rotating propellers. Soon afterwards she turned completely over and sank with the loss of her Admiral, 21 Officers and 336 men. The entire episode had taken little more than ten minutes.

Rescue boats quickly gathered around the scene and managed to pick-up about 290 survivors, including the Victoria’s executive officer, Commander John Jellicoe, the future Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland (whose rescue from the water led to Naval Cadet Philip Roberts-West receiving one of the other 5 Royal Humane Society Medals awarded for this incident); the Camperdown was temporarily repaired and sailed for Malta. It was here, one month later, that the surviving officers of H.M.S. Victoria were tried by Court Martial for the loss of their ship. The court heard evidence from 17-27 July 1893 and its findings absolved them of any blame. In fact, the disaster was solely attributed to the actions of Admiral Tryon.

The 358 Officers and crew who lost their lives in the collision are commemorated by the H.M.S. Victoria Monument, Victoria Park, Portsmouth.

Sold with copied research, including a photograph of the sinking of the Victoria.

Note: The Royal Humane Society Medal awarded to Petty Officer W. Johnston, Royal Navy, for this same incident, sold in these rooms on 2 March 2005 for a hammer price of £750.