BRAVERY REWARDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20649, 25 June 1935, Page 9

BRAVERY REWARDED.

Posthumous Honours for Sea Heroes. United Press Assn.—By Telegraph— Copyright. (Received June 25, 230 p.m ) LONDON, June 24. The King made a posthumous award of the Albert Medal to Thomas Gibson, late cook of the S.S. Usworth. The silver medal for life-saving at sea. piece of plate and other awards were made also to masters and various officers and members of the crew of the Belgian ship Jean Jadot find the Cunard*White Star liner Ascania. All 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 awarls were made in their case. Thomas Gibson gave his life in trying to save the mess-boy. He was a strong 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 were swept away. The Ascania’s lifeboat was commanded with great skill and courage bv Lieutenant Pollitt, R.N.R.. and junior third officer of the Ascania. It was several times nearly smashed by the Usworth. or 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 the steep waves and was at the next level with the Lsworth’s boat deck. Nevertheless, the remainder of the crew were taken off.