Family medals - 1915 Star Trio (M.12432 T Moodie ERA.4.RN) b...

Estimate

£80 - £85

Family medals - 1915 Star Trio (M.12432 T Moodie ERA.4.RN) born Largs, Ayrshire. Plus his sons 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star + North Africa 1942-43 clasp, Italy Star, War Medal (missing MBE Civil). With original ribbon bar. MBE L/G 28 Aug 1942 for R.224615 Thomas Moodie 3rd Officer Merchant Navy (lived Seamore St, Largs, Ayrshire) 'The ship was torpedoed and at once sttled by the head. The Master stopped the engins and ordered the Officers to get the boats away and stand by to pick up the rafts. There were four big rafts and some twenty-five small buoyant floats. About 12 men climbed on each raft and others sat on the small floats. The Master and Cheif Officer stayed on board to try to save a man who had been wounded by the explosion. Before they could do anything a second torpedo hit the ship and she sank in a minute later. As she sank, those left on board got away on a Carley float, and were picked up by the 2nd Officers boat. The Chief Officer was put into his own boat and the Master went to his. As there were so many rafts and th eboats were overcrowded, the Master decided to keep together and had the rafts lashed one to another. About every four hours he chamnged the men over from raft to boat so that all could have a spell in the boats. They were picked up after two days, having suffered much from excessive heat by day and great cold at night. It was largely due to the Master's powers of command and organisation that the only lives lost were those killed by the explosion. He was ably seconded by the Chief, 2nd and 3rd Officers'. As vended by family