The medals of Captain Joseph Harry Cole DSC (Marine Superint...

Hammer

£4,800

The medals of Captain Joseph Harry Cole DSC (Marine Superintendent for William Thomson and Co of Leith (The Ben Line Steamers) from 1927-1942), medals including George V distinguished service cross (London 1918) in Garrard issue case, a WWI war medal [JOSEPH H COLE], a George V Mercantile Marine war medal [JOSEPH H COLE], silver medal of the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire [CAPT J H COLE SS BENALDER 19-8-25] in John Pinches issue box, a silver Lloyd's medal for Saving Life at Sea [CAPTAIN JOSEPH HARRY COLE SS BENALDER 19TH AUGUST 1925] in Wyon of London issue box, a silver Lloyd's medal for Meritorious Service (1913 circular type) [CAPTAIN JOSEPH HARRY COLE SS BENLAWERS 12TH MAY 1918] in fitted issue case and an Elkington bronze Royal Humane Society medal [CAPTAIN J H COLE 19TH AUGUST 1925] in Elkington and Co Ltd issue box, along with full set of matching miniatures, a typed letter by Cole detailing the events of 12th May 1918 describing how "the Benlawers struck a mine in 52 52, 4 44 .... approaching Bardsey LH", the steam ship SS Benlawers was built in 1905 by Bartram and Sons of Sunderland, the mine that exploded was laid on 24th August 1917 by German U boat UC75, there were 5 casualties. Furthermore three framed certificates including Royal Humane Society (bronze medal) to Captain J H Cole "for having saved life from asphyxia" dated 11th May 1926, WWI Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty good service certificate SS War Roach June 1919, and Institute of Naval Architects 1930, also books including Reed's Tables of Distances tenth edition, Stowage 1930, Instructions as to the Survey of Life Saving Appliances 1926, Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Explosives in Ships 1937, The Ship Captain's Medical Guide 1921 with SS BENALDER stamp, autographed Ben Line dinner menus celebrating fifty years service of William Thomson 1st October 1936 and Robert Bryden 25th October 1938, etc.

The report of the events of the 19th August 1925 recorded in Lloyd's Medals by Jim Gawler reads: "At 8am on August 19th. 1925, the Chief Engineer reported to the Captain of the s.s. "Benalder" that the starboard lower bunker was on fire. The Captain accompanied the Chief Engineer and the Second Engineer to the upper bunker and the two engineers then went into the lower bunker with a hose and a portable electric light. Both men became affected by gas and the Chief Engineer shouted this information to the Captain and then assisted the Second Engineer to the hatchway. The Captain grabbed the Chief Engineer by his free hand and tried to pull both men up the face of the coal. This proved impossible and as the engineers were losing consciousness the hand clasp between them parted, but this allowed the Captain to pull the Chief Engineer into the upper bunker. 
The Captain had sent for a heaving line and he went down and made this fast to the Second Engineer. After the second attempt they were both hauled up, the Captain having collapsed after making the line secure. Artificial respiration had to be applied to the Second Engineer but the Captain regained consciousness after being on deck for a few minutes. 
By about noon the fire had been put out, and four hours later most of the water had been drained out of the lower bunker. 
Silver medal awarded to Captain Joseph Harry Cole"