Sea Gallantry Medal (SGM)

The Sea Gallantry Medal (more properly known as the Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life) was introduced by an act of Parliament: The Merchant Shipping Acts of 1854 and 1894. The 1854 Act made provision for monetary rewards for saving life at sea, but in 1855 this was altered from a cash reward into the reward of the Sea Gallantry Medal in either gold, silver or bronze. The medal was also issued in two categories or classes: gallantry (when the rescuer risked their live) and humanity (where risks to the rescuer were minimal).

It is Britain’s oldest official civilian gallantry award. A higher ranking medal, the Albert Medal, awarded in two classes for saving life at sea, was instituted by Royal Warrant of 1866.

The SGM is a circular gold, silver or bronze medal, initially 56 millimetres in diameter, which was reduced to 33 millimetres diameter in 1903. The 56 millimetre-diameter medal was not designed to be worn by the recipient, but this was changed by the change to a 33 millimetre version.

Initially issued by the Board of Trade, the later medals were issued by the Ministry of Transport. All the medals were issued with the recipient's name around the medal's rim.

The medal's obverse was the profile of King or Queen, while the reverse was a family on a storm-tossed shore reviving a rescued sailor. The ribbon was red with narrow white stripes towards the edges.

Sea Gallantry Medal front

Sea Gallantry Medal

Front
Reverse

An incident during the 1914-18 War resulted in four members of the Worcestershire Regiment being awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal. Strangely, these awards are not included in Stacke's very comprehensive history of The Worcestershire Regiment in the 1914-18 War.

HMT Coronia was at sea in May 1917 when fire broke out in the coal bunkers. The Ship's Engineering Staff were unable to overcome the fire which had been gaining headway for some days. The gas fumes from the bunkers caused frequent and terrific explosions and the heat in the bunkers was tremendous. Volunteers from the soldiers being carried in the troopship were called for and 25% of the volunteers who were sent down to fight the fire were severely burnt, gassed or injured but notwithstanding the hazards, the fire was successfully overcome.

Amonst the list of officers and soldiers who fought the fire and were awarded the silver Sea Gallantry medal were four Worcestershire Regiment men who were part of a draft of men being sent out to join or returning from the 9th Battalion in Mesopotamia.

 

Worcestershire Regiment men who were awarded the SGM (Silver Medal)

The rank show in the table below is that which was held at the time the SGM was awarded.

Surname

Forename/s

Number

Rank

Gazette Date

Christison

George

45494

Private

1917

Jenkins

John C.

45505

Private

1917

Llewellyn

David M.

45493

Private

1917

Richardson

Alexander

45513

Private (Acting Corporal)

1917


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