Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry


Along with four of the crew I remained on the bridge of the steamer till the last, and we had to be taken off one by one by means of a line thrown from one of our lifeboats by the fishermen. ... During my thirty-five years’ experience at sea this is my first serious mishap, but I could not have fallen into the hands of a more hospitable people and I will never forget their kindness although I live to be a hundred years old’.


The Journal further records, ‘It appears that the people in the little fishing village of Whinnyfold were apprised of the disaster a few minutes after the steamer went ashore, ... The fishing boat Vine immediately put out, ... The waves threatened every moment to engulf their tiny boat and they had to exercise the most careful seamanship to keep her from being swamped. After much battling with the waves, they got alongside the steamer’s lifeboats. Thomas Gray boarded one boat and William Cay another, and succeeded in landing twenty of the crew at Broadhaven Creek. ... The skipper and four of the crew still remained on the vessel, but the brave fishermen of Whinnyfold determined that their lives must be saved at whatever risk, and out they went again, this time in one of the steamer’s lifeboats. The crew were John Hay, George Hay, Charles Cay, Thomas Gray, Alexander Hay, Alexander Cay, William Cay, Alexander John Freeland, Alexander Morgan, and John Robert Hay. After much combating with the waves the fishermen got the boat hauled up into a sheltered creek, and from here they threw a line to the shipwrecked mariners. One by one the survivors were dragged through the surf, and got on board the boat. ... The fishermen again piloted the boat safely ashore, and the five survivors were taken to Whinnyfold, where, along with the other members of the crew, they were most kindly treated by the fishermen. ....’


Sold with the recipient’s Royal National Life-Boat Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck Certificate, resolved that ‘The best thanks of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution and £2 be presented to Mr. Thomas Gray, for gallantly putting off in a boat, and, at great risk of his own life, assisting to rescue part of the crew of the S.S. “Xenia” of Copenhagen, in a whole gale of wind and a very heavy sea, on the 1st February 1903.’, dated London, 12 February 1903, and signed by the Prince of Wales in his capacity of President, and housed in a glazed display frame; and a painting of the Wresk of the Xenia on Cruden Scars, by A. Harwood, 1906, showing the Aberdeen fishermen gallantly rescuing the crew.


163


A S.G.M. awarded to Able Seaman A. Notley, S.S. Armadale Castle, for rescuing the crew of the Bluff off the South African coast on 9 June 1929


Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (Albert Notley “Bluff” 9th. June 1929) nearly extremely fine £300-£400


S.G.M. London Gazette 7 February 1930: Able Seaman Albert Notley, of the S.S. Armadale Castle of London (in a joint citation with Fourth Officer Edward George Fullick; Boatswain’s Mate Frank Richard Dominey; Able Seamen Harry Henbest, Henry James Parnell, Leslie Thomas Pattinson, Joseph Edward Purkiss, George Stewart, William Albert Taylor, Norman Ward, Richard Walter Watton, and Herbert Thomas Mark Willcock; and Lamptrimmer Henry Leale) ‘In recognition of the services rendered in rescuing the crew of the fishing vessel Bluff of Cape Town, which was in distress off the South African coast on the 9th June 1929.’


‘The fishing vessel Bluff, of Cape Town, left Durban on 8 June 1929 for the fishing grounds off North Sands and on the same day ran into squally weather. Early next day the wind had increased to gale force and a heavy sea swept the vessel, smashing the fishing gear. Shortly afterwards, heavy seas washed three of the crew overboard; two succeeded in regaining the vessel and the other managed to cling to a raft which had broken adrift and was picked up later on the beach. A course was then set for Durban, but a mooring wire fouled the propeller and stopped the engines. The crew were unable to clear the obstruction. The starboard anchor was let go, but lost. After drifting for a while, the Bluff let go the port anchor and succeeded in anchoring some two and a half miles from the shore. About 7:30 a.m. the Armadale Castle, en route from East London to Durban, was attracted by signals of distress made by the Bluff. Heavy seas were still running, but the Armadale Castle was manoeuvred into such a position that a lifeboat could be sent away. This boat was in command of Mr. Fullick, the Fourth Officer, and was manned by Boatswain’s Mate Frank Richard Dominey; Able Seamen Harry Henbest, Henry James Parnell, Leslie Thomas Pattinson, Joseph Edward Purkiss, George Stewart, William Albert Taylor, Norman Ward, Richard Walter Watton, and Herbert Thomas Mark Willcock; and Lamptrimmer Henry Leale. The approach to the wreck was very difficult, but Fullick succeeded in getting alongside and took off 17 of the crew of the Bluff before he was compelled to return to the Armadale Castle, as the lifeboat had shipped so much water as to be in danger of sinking. On return to the Armadale Castle, the lifeboat was taken on board and the steamer was manoeuvred to a more favourable position in the hope of making a further trip to the Bluff, as there were five men still on board that vessel. Fullick again took charge of the boat, which was manned by the same crew. By skilful seamanship, he took the boat a second time alongside the Bluff and rescued the remainder of the crew. Great risk was incurred and the lifeboat had to be abandoned as the Armadale Castle was drifting perilously near the shore.’ (The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett refers).


Albert Notley was presented with his Sea Gallantry Medal by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office in Southampton on 30 July 1930.


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