Skip to main content

Medal for Bravery at Sea: CM.27-2005

An image of Medal for Bravery at Sea

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Alternative views

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Artist: Wyon, Allan Gairdner
Issuer: Lloyds of London

Entities

Categories

Description

Although sailors of the Merchant Navy were in all ways at the front line of conflict in the Second World War, as casualties caused by submarines, mines and aircraft amply tell even without the ordinary dangers of traffic by sea, the British naval establishment had no awards that could be made for acts of bravery in the service, as opposed to campaign medals for service of all kinds in particular areas. In 1939 therefore the well-known maritime insurers, Lloyds of London, set up a committee to award such a decoration to seafarers who performed exceptional acts of courage at sea. The award was announced in December 1940, and the first issues made in March 1941. Awards continued until 1948, all for Second World War service, and the medal was thereafter discontinued. The actual medal was designed by Allan Gairdner Wyon, and this piece is a specimen in white metal; the Museum also has one in bronze.

Notes

History note: From the estate of the late Mrs Venetia M. Watson, daughter of the artist

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2005-01-31) by Watson, Philip Charles

Dating

1940-12 CE - 1941-03 CE

Note

White metal specimen

Components of the work

Object composed of white metal Diameter 36.0 mm Die Axis 0 degrees Weight 28.73 g

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Male figure, nude except for cap, holding wreath in right hand, seated quarter left with head left, right elbow rested on seatback and left arm outstretched over background of sea through which merchant ship sails left

  • Text: AWARDED BY LLOYDS
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Stylised crown-like trident with wreath around, scroll before bearing inscription

  • Text: BRAVERY
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.27-2005
Primary reference Number: 156546
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 30 June 2016 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Medal for Bravery at Sea" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156546 Accessed: 2024-11-05 03:37:31

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156546 |title=Medal for Bravery at Sea |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 03:37:31|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-156546

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/cm/cm18/CM_27_2005_281_29.jpg"
        alt="Medal for Bravery at Sea"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Medal for Bravery at Sea</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...