Beschreibung:

An Extremely Rare 'Triple' Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Group of Five to Captain J. Fortay, Mercantile Marine British War Medal (James Fortay); Mercantile Marine War Medal (James Fortay); Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, small silver medal (Jas. Fortay, Mate S.S. "St. Pancras" for Rescuing with Boat's Crew the Crew of Brigantine "Petrel" Feb. 1892), with integral top silver riband buckle, in Elkington, London , fitted and embossed case of issue; Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, small silver medal (Capt. Jas. Fortay. S.S. "St. Dunstan" for Rescue of Crew (5 in Number) of Schooner "Nesta", on N. Atlantic. 26/10/03.), with integral top silver riband buckle, in Oldfield, Liverpool , fitted and embossed case of issue; Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, small silver medal (To Capn. James Fortay. S.S. St. "George" for Gallant Service. 25th. Feb: 1917), with integral top silver riband buckle, in Oldfield, Liverpool , fitted and embossed case of issue, extremely fine, a rare and probably unique combination (5) Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Annual Report July 1892: 'A Silver Medal and vote of thanks to Mr. James Fortay, Mate of the St. Pancras , for having effected the rescue with a boat's crew of 6 men of 5 men forming the crew of the Brigantine Petrel , which vessel was in distress and in immediate danger of foundering during a heavy easterly gale in the Irish Sea on the 19th of February 1892. This was a work of considerable risk from the heavy sea which was running.' Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Annual Report July 1904: 'A Silver Medal and vote of thanks to Captain James Fortay, of the S.S. St. Dunstan , for the rescue of the crew (5 in number) of the Schooner Nesta on the 26th of October, 1903. The St. Dunstan sighted the Nesta at 3:00am on the Monday, showing signals of distress, bore down on her, and found that she was from Cadiz, bound to St. John's, Newfoundland. The Schooner was in a disabled condition, and the crew wished to abandon their vessel. Owing to the state of the weather and the heavy sea, the Captain of St. Dunstan decided to standby until daylight, when the lifeboat was launched in charge of the Chief Officer. The work of taking the men off the wreck was one of great difficulty and danger, but after several attempts it was successfully accomplished owing to the free use of oil bags.' Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Annual Report July 1917: 'A Silver Medal and Certificate of thanks to Captain John [ sic ] Fortay, S.S. St. George , for rescuing the crew, 22 in number, of the S.S. Falcon , torpedoed off the coast of Ireland on 25th of February 1917. After the crew were picked up a submarine was sighted, but the St. George put on full speed, and escaped.' Captain James Fortay was born on the Isle of Whithorn, Scotland, in 1866, and by the age of 16 was a sailor based in Liverpool; received his Master's Certificate, January 1888. He died, 22.10.1938, and is buried in Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool. Three individual silver medals to one man is probably unique in the annals of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, as in the normal course of events he should have received a single medal with two additional Award Bars.