British Singles

Lot 4750    Session 15 ( 7.30pm Thursday 20th November)    British Singles

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,500

LLOYD'S MEDAL FOR BRAVERY AT SEA 1940. Deck Hand James Swanney, S.T. "Compaganus" 17th December 1939. Engraved. Toned extremely fine.

Commendation (posthumous) Supplement to London Gazette 24 May 1940, p3171 (Trawler 'Compaganus'), to James Swanney, deceased, Deck Hand.

Steam trawler Compaganus was attacked and sunk on December 17, 1939 by enemy aircraft in the North Sea 150 miles east of Amy Island whilst sailing from Granton to the fishing grounds.

Lloyd's List & Shipping Gazette, Tuesday, March 18, 1941: 'While fishing in the North Sea the vessel was attacked by two enemy aircraft for about half an hour with bombs and machine-gun fire. The crew went below for cover. The trawl was down, and between attacks James Swanney, a deck-hand, came up to try and cut away the fishing gear to enable the trawler to be handled more easily. During one of his attempts he was killed by machine-gun fire. He had done his best and lost his life to save his shipmates.'

James Swanney, age 53, is commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial dedicated to merchant seamen and fishermen lost at sea during WWII. The memorial is located at the Tower of London precinct.

With copy of London Gazette page.