AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 230, 26 June 1935, Page 9

AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

Us worth Disaster Recalled RESCUE WORK IN GALE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, June 24. The King has made a posthumous award of the Albert Medal, which is given only in cases of exceptional gallantry and devotion, to Thomas Gibson, late cook of the s.s. Usworth. The silver medal for life-saving at sea, pieces of plate, and other awards are made also to the masters and various officers and members of the crew of the Belgian steamer Jean Jadot and the Cunard-White Star steamer Ascania who displayed great bravery and skill in saving men from the Usworth during a violent gale in mid-Atlantic last December. Two members of the crew of the Jean Jadot were drowned and a lifeboat was capsized, and posthumous awards are made in their case. Gibson, the Usworth’s cook, gave his life in trying to save a messroom boy. He was a strong swimmer and was within a stroke or two of a lifeboat which the Ascania had launched when a boy cried for help and Gibson turned back for him, both being swept away. I The Ascania’s lifeboat was commanded with great skill and courage by Lieutenant Pollitt, R.N.R., junior third officer of the Ascania, in circumstances of extreme peril, and several times it was nearly smashed on the Usworth or the Ascania. The gale was so violent that the oars were forced from the rowlocks and were blown out of the men’s hands, all but six being broken, while the lifeboat, at one moment in the trough of steep waves, was at the next level with the Usworth’s boat deck. Nevertheless the remainder of the crew were taken off and with difficulty got aboard the Ascania. Mr. Pollitt, after what is officially described as “a heroic and remarkable rescue,” was the last to leave the badlydamaged lifeboat.

Seventeen lives were lost in the Usworth disaster. The Jean Jadot sent a lifeboat which took off 14 of the crew, but when they were being picked up by the Jean Jadot the boat capsized and 12 of the Usworth crew and two of the Belgians were drowned. The Ascania’s boat took off the remainder of the Usworth’s crew, but three who jumped too soon were drowned.