Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Services, 3rd type, bronze (Wireless Operator W. C. Bowey, S.S. “Beaumaris”, 7th. February 1918.) suspension claw loose, otherwise extremely fine £200-£240

‘When the S.S. Beaumaris was about a mile from the Longships Lighthouse, at 8:00 a.m. on 7th February, 1918, the track of a torpedo was sighted approaching from the starboard side, ands the torpedo struck the ship almost immediately in No. 1 hold. The Master ordered the engines to be stopped at once. The port lifeboat, containing seven men, left the ship without orders. The rest of the crew gathered round the starboard boat but waited for orders. The Master sent the Second Engineer to start the engines again, as he intended to try and beach the ship. However, at this moment she appeared to be sinking, so he ordered the starboard boat to be launched and to keep clear of the ship. The Senior Wireless Operator remained on board with the Master, and sent out distress signals. The Master meanwhile steered the vessel into Whitesand Bay, where she took the ground forward, the main deck forward by then being submerged to the after end of No. 1 hatch. The Master dropped the anchors, while the Wireless Operator stopped the engines. The starboard lifeboat followed in the wake of the ship ready to pick them up if necessary, and eventually landed the crew at Sennen Cove. The sea at the time was very rough.’

For their gallantry, the Master, Philip Henry Lawther, was awarded an Admiralty Award of £100, and the Lloyd’s Silver Medal for Meritorious Service; and the Wireless Operator, William Crossley Bowey, was awarded an Admiralty Award of £50, and the Lloyd’s Bronze Medal for Meritorious Service.

Sold with a newspaper cutting photograph of the recipient.