Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, bronze (Patrick Kehoe. Wreck of the Barque “Kwasind” on the 15th November - 1877.) nearly extremely fine £200-260

Patrick Kehoe, Able Seaman of the S.S. England, was awarded the Board of Trade’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry for his service in rescuing the crew of the barque Kwasind on 15 November 1877. ‘At 2 o’clock on the afternoon of 15 November, the Kwasind, of Swansea, was sighted flying a flag of distress by the England. She rounded to, with her head to the sea, to avoid the heavy rolling caused by the immense waves. Her starboard lifeboat was then launched with considerable difficulty, and manned by Chief Officer Hadley and nine sailors. When the boat came within hailing distance of the distressed vessel the Captain, Evan Davies, cried out that his vessel was sinking, his crew exhausted by the incessant labour, and that he desired to abandon the barque. Mr. Hadley, after much difficulty, managed to lay the lifeboat alongside the barque and near enough for the men to jump aboard her from the rail. Ten men thus jumped into the boat, and at last Captain Davies, thinking that all were off the vessel, followed their example.

The lifeboat had gone a long distance from the abandoned barque when a man was seen gesticulating fiercely upon her deck. The unfortunate seaman was told that his only chance for life lay in jumping overboard and swimming. He followed this advice and was picked up. The work of rescue occupied two and a half hours, and the rescued crew were landed at New York.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett refers).


For this rescue the Captain of the England, Mr. W. H. Thompson, was awarded the Board of Trade’s Silver Medal for Humanity; Chief Officer Hadley the Board of Trade’s Silver Medal for Gallantry, and the nine sailors who accompanied him in the lifeboat the Board of Trade’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry. Thompson and Hadley were additionally awarded the Mercantile Marine Services Association Silver Medal for this rescue, and the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society awarded Thompson a gold clasp to his existing Gold Medal.