Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, Marine Medal, 3rd type, bronze (Thos. Jones. S.S. “Bavarian” For Rescuing With Boat’s Crew 4 of the Schooner “Eddy Pierce” Sept. 26. 1888.) with integral top riband buckle, suspension slightly bent, good very fine £120-£160

Thomas Jones was born in Liverpool on 12 April 1873, and upon joining the Mercantile Marine was awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Lifesaving Marine Medal in bronze for his participation in the rescue of four of the crew of the schooner Eddy Pierce on 26 September 1888.

The event was covered in local newspapers:
‘A silver medal and vote of thanks to Captain Archibald W. Ball, steamship Bavarian, for having on the 26th September last, rescued four of the crew of the schooner Eddy Pierce, which vessel was in a sinking condition on the American coast, and had fallen over on her beams ends immediately before the rescue.
A silver medal and vote of thanks to Mr George W. Muir, chief officer of the Bavarian, for having with a boat’s crew, rescued four men from the above schooner, the captain having been drowned.
A bronze medal and 20 shillings to each of the seven men who formed the boat’s crew and rescued the crew of the Eddy Pierce in a gale of wind and heavy sea.’

A further article states:
‘The Board of Trade have received through the Foreign Office the under-mentioned rewards, which have been made by the United States Government to certain of the officers and crew of the British Steamer Bavarian, in recognition of services rendered by them to the ship-wrecked crew of the American schooner Eddy Pierce on the 26th of September: - a gold watch and chain to the master, Archibald W. Ball; a gold medal and $50 to the chief officer, George W. Muir and a sum of $10 to each of the seven seamen, John Oliver Johnston, James Byrne, James Henry Spencer, Arthur McGuire, James Burns, John Hurley and Thomas Jones.’

Jones later served as a Master in the Mercantile Marine during the Great War (entitled to a British War Medal and Mercantile Marine War Medal).

Sold with a USB stick of copied research, which includes a photographic image of the recipient.