Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The unusual Second War B.E.M. and Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal pair awarded to Leading Fireman W. H. A. Crouch, Merchant Navy, the former for bravery under enemy fire during a rescue incident in the Channel in June 1944, some 25 years after receiving his American decoration

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Civil (William H. A. Crouch); American Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal, the reverse officially engraved, ‘To W. Crouch, Seaman, of the British Tug Lady Crundall, in recognition of his heroic services in effecting the rescue at sea, on January 31, 1919, of the master and crew of the American Steamship Piave’, nearly extremely fine or better (2) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 24 October 1944: ‘When a ship was hit and set on fire by enemy shell fire between Dover and Folkestone, the tug was placed alongside whilst shells were still falling nearby. She immediately helped to fight the fires which were extinguished by the time the ship was berthed in Dover ... Crouch showed courage and skill. He was responsible for the efficient working of the pumps and helped to put out the fire in the ship while she was still under enemy attack.’

William Hector Alexander Crouch was serving as a Leading Fireman aboard the rescue tug Lady Duncannon at the time of the above incident involving the S.S. Empire Lough which was lost through enemy shellfire in the Straits of Dover on 24th June 1944. Fellow crew member George Crake also received a B.E.M. and their skipper, Lieutenant G. W. Holman, R.N.R., the M.B.E.

Crouch was born in Dover in March 1903 and served in the Mercantile Marine in the Great War, receiving the Mercantile Marine War Medal and British War Medal. He was latterly employed as a greaser for assorted ferries of the British Transport Commission, and died in December 1961, after recently completing an assignment in Dover.