A fine North Atlantic Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver, 2nd issue, GVR bust and Shipwrecked Fisherman and Mariner’s Royal Benevolent Society Medal in Silver, 6th type suspension pair awarded to Edmund Smith, Carpenter, SS “Cairnmona” who was would be decorated by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner’s Royal Benevolent Society and would also receive the Sea Gallantry Medal in silver for his part in the rescue of the crew of the Barque Czarina in the North Atlantic on 28th February 1923. Smith was one of four men who manned the Cairnmona’s lifeboat and rescued the eight men of the Czarina in a rescue that spanned four hours. He would receive the Sea Gallantry Medal from His Majesty the King on 12th February 1925.
Pair: Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver, 2nd issue, GVR bust; (EDMUND SMITH CZARINA 28TH DECEMBER 1923) mounted on a pin for wear and housed in its fitted case of issue.; Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner's Royal Benevolent Society Medal in Silver, 6th type suspension; (EDMUND SMITH. (CARPENTER) S.S. “CAIRNMONA” DECEMBER 28 1923.) Mounted on a pin for wear and housed in an Elkington & Co, Presentation case.
Condition: individually mounted and housed in their respective fitted cases of issue, two edge-knocks to the Shipwrecked Fishermen’s Medal otherwise Very Fine or better
Edmund Smith was born in South Stoke, Oxfordshire on 4th June 1883 and would see Great War Service with the Merchant Navy earning entitlement to a British War Medal and Mercantile Marine War Medal.
On 28th December 1923 the Barque Czarina of Newfoundland was in distress in the North Atlantic in a heavy gale with a hurricane force 70 miles off Cape Race, the signals were observed and answered about 2200 hours by the Cairnmona of Newcastle-upon-Tyne bound for Portland, Maine. Her master manoeuvred as closely as possible to the Czarina and upon hailing the distressed crew ascertained that the only lifeboat had been smashed and lost overboard, together with all sails and various spars. In spite of the very dark night and the heavy seas which were running, a lifeboat was got away from the Cairnmona in charge of Mr John Thompson Baker, Chief Officer and manned by Able Seaman Robert Inglis, William Stewart, Daniel Gimlet and Carpenter Edmund Smith, proceeded with great difficulty to the shipwrecked vessel, which was rolling very heavily and succeeded on taking off the crew of eight hands. Several approaches had to be made in order that individual members of the crew of Czarina could jump into the lifeboat, one at each approach. The rescue occupied for hours.
The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner’s Royal Benevolent Society Annual Report for 1923 noted:
‘The ‘Emile Robin’ Life-Saving Rewards for 1923 have been adjudged by the Committee to the rescue on December 1923 of the crew (8) of the Barquentine Czarina of St. John’s, Newfoundland, in a hurricane some 70 miles off Cape Race, by the S.S. Cairnmona of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, owned by Cairns, Noble & Co. Ltd. This case was considered to be the most meritorious during the year, and under the terms of the Trust, the rewards will be given to the Captain, John T. Berlin, and the Chief Officer, John T. Baker, the latter being further awarded a purse of money and the Society’s Silver Life Saving Medal, pecuniary rewards, with medals, also being presented to Edmun Smith (Carpenter) and Robert Inglis, William Stewart and Daneil Gimlet (Able Seaman) who manned the lifeboat actually effecting the rescue.
The Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver was presented to Mr Edmund Smith by HM The King on 12th February 1925.
Smith would later see Merchant Navy service during the Second World War and would earn entitlement to a 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, War Medal.
