A 'Volturno Disaster' Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to R. Hunt, Mercantile...

A ‘Volturno Disaster’ Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to R. Hunt, Mercantile Marine Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Rexford Hunt. Volturno. 9th. October. 1913.) in embossed case of issue; British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Rexford Hunt) both in flattened card boxes of issue, extremely fine (3) £500-£700 --- Rexford Hunt was born at Fleetwood on 23 March 1896, and was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in Silver whilst serving in the S.S. Asian on the occasion of the Volturno disaster of 9-10 October 1913. He subsequently served in the Mercantile Marine during the Great War, and was awarded his Master’s Certificate on 2 June 1919. He died in Gravesend on 7 October 1939. The Volturno, a British steamer, chartered by the Uranium Steamship Co. of Rotterdam, and bound thence to New York, was engulfed by fire in mid-Atlantic during a heavy gale. Of the 657 on board, 521 were saved by a fleet of eleven steamers that sped to her aid. Heavy seas interfered with the launching of boats, but the difficulty was eventually overcome by the use of oil; those who perished were mostly lost in the boats. The hull of the Volturno was eventually found by a Dutch steamer and scuttled as a dangerous derelict. Numerous awards were made for this famous rescue, including 78 Sea Gallantry Medals in Silver to crew members of the six British vessels, of which 7 were awarded to the crew of the Asian, as well as a piece of plate to her Master, and binocular glasses to her Chief Mate. In addition the Board of Trade also awarded 152 silver Sea Gallantry Medals (Foreign Services) to the crews serving on foreign vessels at the rescue. Sold with copied research.