Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A B.E.M. for Gallantry awarded to Ship’s Patrolman H. J. Ashton, Merchant Navy, for disarming an armed passenger whilst at sea on board the S.S. Empress of France

British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R., with silver oak leaf gallantry emblem (Henry James Ashton) naming impressed on prepared edge, in its Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine £400-£500

B.E.M. for Gallantry (Civil Division) London Gazette 21 October 1958: Henry James Ashton, Patrolman, S.S. Empress of France, Canadian Pacific Steamships, Ltd. (Liverpool) - (Jointly with Patrolman John Alphonse Whittaker) :-

‘While at sea, a passenger was awakened at about 1.15 a.m. by a fellow passenger who, after making certain allegations against him, fired a revolver which he had concealed beneath a pillow folded over his hand. The bullet missed the passenger, who managed to escape from the cabin and report the incident. Ship’s Patrolmen Ashton and Whittaker started to search the ship and at 2.45 a.m. it was reported that the man was hiding on the Promenade Deck. Ashton approached from one direction and Whittaker took another route. Ashton saw the man and went towards him whereupon he pulled a revolver from his pocket and aimed it at Ashton. At that moment Whittaker came through adjacent swing doors and Ashton seizing the opportunity leaped at the gunman. The man fired at Ashton, but the shot missed him narrowly. Whittaker also seized the man and after a struggle he was disarmed. The revolver still contained six rounds of ammunition. The man was later found to be insane.’