Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea 1939-1945
In 1939, with the coming of World War II, Lloyd's set up a committee to find means of honoring seafarers (merchant men & fishing fleet) who performed acts of exceptional courage at sea, and this resulted in the announcement on December 27, 1940 of the Lloyd’s silver War Medal for Bravery at Sea.
Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea Base Metal & Bronze Specimens
The first awards were announced in March 1941. The first two were awarded to Captain Rowland Morris-Woolfenden and Sub-Lieutenant Patrick Wills-Rust, RNR, who had been Master and Second Officer respectively of the Coaster Abukir, a shallow hulled trader. On the night of May 27-28 1940, the last day of the Battle of Belgium, the SS Abukir had evacuated more than 200 soldiers and civilians from Ostend, Belgium. The Abukir survived 90 minutes of bomb attacks by enemy aircraft and 20 minutes of attack by Kriegsmarine E-boat (German fast attack boat) S-34 before being torpedoed and sunk.
All awards were for acts during the Second World War. The last were announced in October 1948. In all 541 Lloyd’s War Medals for Bravery at Sea were awarded. Four were award to women: (1) Miss Victoria Drummond (Marine Engineer on the Panamanian Bonita, which successfully battled a Focke-Wulf FW 200 Condor bomber attack at sea); (2) Miss Maria Elizabeth Ferguson ( 19-year old passenger on the SS Avila Star, who aided four wounded survivors after being torpedoed and sunk By U-201 on July 5, 1942); (3) Miss E. M. Owen (Stewardess on the SS St. Patrick sunk by German bombers June 13, 1941 for her passenger rescue efforts) and (4) Mrs. E. Plumb (First Class Stewardess on the New Zealand R. M. S. Rangitane sunk by German auxiliary cruisers Komet (HSK-7) and Orion (HSK-1) in the Pacific on November 27, 1940).
Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea Silver Medal as Issued
The obverse of the medal depicts a seated, nude heroic figure looking out over the sea and extending his left arm toward Mercantile Marine vessel (below the left arm) in the distance. In his right hand, the figure holds a laurel wreath. A curved inscription reads, AWARDED BY LLOYD'S. On the reverse is a trident surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. A scroll, inscribed BRAVERY, stretches across the center. Specimens in white metal and bronze exist.
All Lloyd's medals are worn on the right breast of the Merchant Navy only. They are not worn on the Royal Navy or Navy Reserve uniform.
In 1939, with the coming of World War II, Lloyd's set up a committee to find means of honoring seafarers (merchant men & fishing fleet) who performed acts of exceptional courage at sea, and this resulted in the announcement on December 27, 1940 of the Lloyd’s silver War Medal for Bravery at Sea.
Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea Base Metal & Bronze Specimens
All awards were for acts during the Second World War. The last were announced in October 1948. In all 541 Lloyd’s War Medals for Bravery at Sea were awarded. Four were award to women: (1) Miss Victoria Drummond (Marine Engineer on the Panamanian Bonita, which successfully battled a Focke-Wulf FW 200 Condor bomber attack at sea); (2) Miss Maria Elizabeth Ferguson ( 19-year old passenger on the SS Avila Star, who aided four wounded survivors after being torpedoed and sunk By U-201 on July 5, 1942); (3) Miss E. M. Owen (Stewardess on the SS St. Patrick sunk by German bombers June 13, 1941 for her passenger rescue efforts) and (4) Mrs. E. Plumb (First Class Stewardess on the New Zealand R. M. S. Rangitane sunk by German auxiliary cruisers Komet (HSK-7) and Orion (HSK-1) in the Pacific on November 27, 1940).
Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea Silver Medal as Issued
All Lloyd's medals are worn on the right breast of the Merchant Navy only. They are not worn on the Royal Navy or Navy Reserve uniform.
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