Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to Chief Officer Seaward Sydenham, S.S. Alleghany, Mercantile Marine, who was awarded all three life saving medals for the rescue of his brother in the North Atlantic on 16 November 1906

Sea Gallantry Medal, E.VII.R., small 2nd issue, silver (Seaward Sydenham, “Alleghany” 16th November 1906); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Seaward Sydenham, Nov. 16 1906) with integral bronze riband buckle; Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, silver (Seaward Sydenham “Alleghany” 16 Novr. 1906) mounted for wear, good very fine and better (3) £1,200-£1,600

Edrington Collection, 1980; W. H. Fevyer Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2008.

Seaward Sydenham, Chief Officer of the S.S. Alleghany, of West Hartlepool, was born in Hull on 11 June 1877 and was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver for the rescue of his brother from the North Atlantic on 16 November 1906. The official recommendation states:
‘The Carpenter, H. Sydenham fell overboard and his brother the Chief Officer sprang after him with a lifebuoy. Rescuer swam half a mile and only reached his brother as he was getting exhausted. Both rescued by boat from ship. There was considerable risk and a westerly gale with high sea. Rescue took place in North Atlantic on 16 November 1906.’

For this action Sydenham also received the Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze and the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in Silver, the respective citations reading:

R.H.S. Case no. 35,102: ‘On 16 November, 1906, H. Sydenham was swept overboard from the S.S. Alleghany at sea, there being a heavy gale blowing at the time. S. Sydenham, Chief Officer of the steamer, took a lifebuoy, and jumping in kept him afloat for half an hour when they were picked up by a boat’.

‘On 16 November 1906 the British steamer Alleghany encountered a severe gale whilst on a voyage from Liverpool to Newport News. The Carpenter, who was walking along the deck, was thrown overboard when the ship gave a tremendous lurch. Fortunately the incident had been witnessed and the engines were immediately stopped. The Chief Officer, who was the Carpenter's brother, hearing the cry of “Man Overboard” hurried on deck. On learning that it was his brother in the sea he seized a lifebelt and dived to the rescue. After a severe struggle he succeeded in reaching the drowning man, and held him up until the arrival of one of the ship’s lifeboats. The two men were in an exhausted condition, but subsequently recovered.’

Sold with copied research.