Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A B.E.M. and Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea pair awarded to Fireman G. S. Bird for saving life while serving in the S.S. Empire Gladstone in July 1945

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (George S. Bird) in original card box of issue; Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, silver (Fireman George S. Bird, S.S. “Empire Gladstone”, 20th July, 1945.) in its gold-embossed fitted case of issue, extremely fine (2) £800-£1,000

B.E.M. (Civil Division) London Gazette 5 February 1946:
‘George Stanley Bird, Fireman, S.S. “Empire Gladstone” (James Chambers & Company).
The Fourth Engineer Officer and the Chief Steward were found unconscious on the floor of the refrigerator machine-room of the S.S. Empire Gladstone. A dense vapour was escaping from the pipelines of the refrigerating plant and Bird volunteered to descend to the machine-room with a line attached to his body. He succeeded in making a line fast around the Chief Steward, who was hauled up unconscious on to the deck. Bird again descended into the machine-room and, after much difficulty, succeeded in making a line fast around the Fourth Engineer, who was then also hauled up. At one time Bird was overcome by the vapour and had to be assisted out of the machine-room, but he returned to the rescue work as soon as he recovered. Bird ran considerable risk in going to the help of his shipmates single-handed and he showed courage without thought for his own safety.’

Sold with a quantity of original documents including named Buckingham Palace enclosure for B.E.M.; Ministry of War Transport letter notifying award of the B.E.M.; correspondence from James Chambers & Co., Liverpool, advising of the awards of the B.E.M. and Lloyd’s medal, and forwarding the Lloyd’s medal for saving life; forwarding letter from the Chairman of Lloyd’s for same; various seamen’s documents including Continuous Certificate of Discharge, Identity Cards etc.