The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer

A Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to Able Seaman William John Lawry, Merchant Navy; awarded three medals for services at the rescue of the crew of the Reindeer I off Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1932

Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (William John Lawry “Reindeer I” 12th March 1932); Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, bronze (A.B. John William Lawry, Tug “Reindeer I” 12th March 1932); Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medal, 3rd issue, bronze (To J. Lawry, For Gallant Service, 12/3/32) with bronze brooch bar on ribbon, mounted court style as worn, last with slight edge bruise, good very fine (3) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 119.

‘On the 12th March 1932 the steam tug Reindeer I of Halifax, Nova Scotia, carrying a crew of thirty hands, had been at sea off Halifax for several hours in a heavy gale and huge seas. She was leaking badly and her pumps were choked; her crew were becoming exhausted by their efforts to keep down the water, and wireless distress signals were sent out. These were answered by the S.S. Montcalm of Liverpool, then about 45 miles away.

The Montcalm arrived about three hours later. The Reindeer I was then low in the water, and her captain decided that she must be abandoned without delay. Owing to the violent rolling of the tug, a life-boat could not be launched from her and preparations were made to launch a life-boat from the Montcalm, which took up a position as near to the distressed vessel as was prudent. Considerable difficulty was experienced in launching a boat which, although damaged, was eventually sent away soon after 6 p.m. This boat was in charge of Mr Henry S. Knight, the Second Officer of the Montcalm, and manned by the men named.

At first, the life-boat was unable to get close to the tug as she was drifting before the gale. Later, however, the engineer of the Reindeer I was able to put the engines astern for a few minutes in order to check the drifting, and the crew of the life-boat succeeded in securing lines which had been thrown overboard from the tug and so brought their boat alongside.

Meanwhile, the Montcalm had been pouring oil on the water to make the work of rescue easier, but in spite of this the life-boat was continually ranging back and forth and moving up and down the side of the tug, the crew of which had to jump into the life-boat as opportunity offered.

By 7 p.m., the crew of the Reindeer I were all in the life-boat. As it was damaged and heavily laden, it took nearly three-quarters of an hour to reach the Montcalm. The boat’s crew and the crew of the tug were taken on board by a rope ladder, but the boat had to be abandoned’. (Ref. Gallantry, p. 428).

A total of nine S.G.M’s. in bronze were awarded to men of the Montcalm. The Government of Canada awarded the master of the Montcalm, Captain Arthur Rothwell, a piece of plate, binoculars to Second Officer Knight and a monetary award to Lawry and other members of the boat’s crew. A Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in silver was presented to Second Officer Knight and members of the boat’s crew were awarded the medal in bronze. In addition, the Committee of Lloyd’s presented a bronze tablet to be placed on board the Montcalm to commemorate the event. Sold with copied research including several reports of the rescue.