Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A 1913 Sea Gallantry Medal awarded to Assistant Scout Master W. F. Vowles, Port of London Sea Scouts

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (William Fletcher Vowles, “Mirror”. 25th. October, 1913.) with top bronze riband buckle, nearly extremely fine £300-£400

‘At about 11.00 p.m. on 25 October 1913, a collision occurred in Gravesend Reach, River Thames between the steamship Hogarth of Aberdeen and the ketch Mirror of Dartmouth used for the purpose of training Boy Scouts, by which the Mirror was sunk and four lives were lost.
When the collision occurred the crew of the Mirror clambered on board the Hogarth, but Mr. Vowles immediately went to the forecastle hatchway and saw that the Boy Scouts were coming on deck. Finding that the Mirror was sinking fast and being uncertain as to whether all the boys had come up, he went below although the water was well up in the forecastle, and, by shouting and splashing satisfied himself that no one was left. As he came up on deck again the Mirror sank bow first and those on board were all thrown into the water. Mr. Vowles then swam to the Hogarth’s port bow, calling for ropes, which were thrown over from that vessel, and seeing Assistant Scout Master Cornall floating unconscious near him, he attempted to rescue him, but Cornall slipped from his grasp and was drowned. Three of the boy scouts were picked up by a boat from the Hogarth and Mr. Vowles and two others were hauled on board that vessel by ropes.’

William Fletcher Vowles, Assistant Scout Master, Port of London Sea Scouts, was presented with the his Bronze Sea Gallantry Medal by King George V on 29 June 1914. He also received a Lloyd’s Silver Medal for this action. On board the Mirror at the time of the incident were Assistant Scout Masters Vowles and Cornall; and 11 Sea Scouts. A memorial to the four who lost their lives was unveiled by Prince Leopold in St. Agatha’s Church, Finsbury Avenue, in 1914.