SPLENDID BRAVERY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 176, 25 June 1935, Page 7

SPLENDID BRAVERY

IN MID-ATLANTIC STORM. RECOGNISED BY AWARDS. COOK’S SELF-SACRIFICE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received June 25, 11.22 a.m. RUGBY, June 24. The King has made a posthumous award of the Albert Medal to Mr Thomas Gibson, late cook on the steamer Usworth. The silver medal for lifesaving at sea, pieces of plate, and other awards were made also to the masters and various officers and members of the crew of the Belgian ship Jean Jadot and the Cunard-\Vhite Star liner Ascania, who displayed great bravery and skill in saving the men of the Usworth during a violent gale in mid-Atlantic last December. Two members of the crew of the Jean Jadot were drowned when a lifeboat capsized, and posthumous awards were made in their case.

Air Gibson gave his life in trying to save the messroom boy. He was a strong swimmer and was within a stroke or two of a lifeboat which the Ascania had launched when the hoy cried for help and Mr Gibson turned back for him, both being swept away. The Ascania’s lifeboat was commanded with great skill and courage by Lieutentant Pollitt, It.N.R. junior third officer of the Ascania. It was several times nearly smashed by the Usworth or the Ascania. The gale was so violent that the oars were forced from the rowlocks and blown out of the men’s hands, and all but six were broken, while the lifeboat at one moment was in the trough of steep waves and was at the next level with the Usworth’s boat deck. Nevertheless, the remainder of the crew were taken off.