HEROISM AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 11

HEROISM AT SEA

KING'S RECOGNITION POSTHUMOUS AWARDS British Wireless RUGBY, June 24 The King has made a posthumous award of the Albert Modal to Thomas Gibson, late cook of the steamer Usworth. The silver medal for life-saving at sea. pieces of plate and other awards were made also to the masters and members of the crew of the Belgian ship Jean Jadot and the Cunard-White Star liner Aseania. 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 and a lifeboat capsized. Posthumous awards were made in their case. Gibson sacrificed his life in trying to save a messroom' boy. He was a strong swimmer and was within a stroke or two of the lifeboat which the Aseania had launched when the boy cried for help and Gibson turned back for him. Both were swept away. The Ascania's lifeboat was commanded with great skill and courage by Lieutenant Pollitt, Royal Naval Reserve, junior third officer of the Aseania. Several times it was nearly wrecked by the TJsworth or Aseania. The gale was so violent that oars were forced from rowlocks, blown out of the men's hands, and all but six were broken. While the lifeboat was at one moment in a trough of the steep waves it was at the next level with the Uswortlvs boat deck. Nevertheless, the remainder of the crew were taken off.