ALBERT MEDAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22607, 26 June 1935, Page 7

ALBERT MEDAL

A POSTHUMOUS AWARD COOK'S BRAVERY RECOGNISED (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, June 24. The King made n posthumous award of the Albert Medal to Thomas Gibson, late cook of the s.s. Usworth. The silver medal for life saving at sea and pieces of plate and other awards wens made also to the masters and various officers and members of the crew of the Belgian ship Jean Jadot and the Cunard-White 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 and a lifeboat capsized, and posthumous awards were made in their case. Gibson gave his life trying to save a messroom boy. He was a good swimmer, and was within a stroke or two of the lifeboat which the Ascania launched when the boy cried for help and Gibson turned back for him, both being swept away. The Ascania's lifeboat was commanded with great skill and courage by Lieutenant Pollitt, R.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, it was at the next level with the Usworth's boat deck. Nevertheless, the remainder of the crew was taken off.