Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Captain J. L. Ogilvie, Royal Naval Reserve, who was shipwrecked on the Norfolk coastline in 1916

1914-15 Star (Capt. J. L. Ogilvie, R.N.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. J. L. Ogilvie. R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (James L. Ogilvie); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. J. L. Ogilvie. R.N.R.); together with the corresponding dress miniatures (the 1914-15 Star incorrectly represented by a 1914 Star and clasp), nearly extremely fine (4) £100-£140

James Lonie Ogilvie was born in Arbroath on 10 May 1863 and joined the Merchant Navy in London on 20 November 1879. Appointed Apprentice under the stewardship of David Bruce of Dundee, he gained his Board of Trade Certificate of Competency as First Mate on 29 July 1885 and qualified Extra Master 16 December 1887. Recorded in 1911 as Master Mariner, Ogilvie served during the Great War as Master of White Swan from 23 October 1914; the Diss Express of 24 November 1916, adds:
‘The White Swan was bound from Hartlepool to Greenwich with coal, and left port Wednesday night. She brought up off Gorleston in the heavy weather on Friday morning, but began to drag ashore at dusk, and is a total wreck... The White Swan soon began to go in pieces under the terrific battering.’

Rescued by the Gorleston rocket brigade, the crew took refuge at the local Sailor’s Home from the last of the hurricane force winds. Appointed Master of the Whinfield in 1921, Ogilvie later retired to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, where he died on 4 December 1952.

Sold with a fine photograph of the recipient in naval uniform.