A VERY RARE & MUCH SOUGHT AFTER C.Q.D. MEDAL "FOR GALLANTRY" (1909) Presented to the crews of SS REPUBLIC, SS BALTIC & SS FLORIDA for their heroic actions in saving 1700 lives after the collision of SS REPUBLIC & SS FLORIDA
A VERY RARE & MUCH SOUGHT AFTER C.Q.D. MEDAL "FOR GALLANTRY" (1909)Presented to the crews of SS REPUBLIC, SS BALTIC & SS FLORIDA for their heroic actions in saving 1700 lives after the collision of SS REPUBLIC & SS FLORIDA THE FIRST TIME THAT RADIO WAS USED TO EFFECT A RESCUE AT SEA
Although not a Royal Navy Award we have listed it in this section due to it's classic naval status and great appeal to serious naval collectors. This is a very rarely seen medal, so it was with some great surprise that we purchase two examples at once this week
Mintage was small with only 240 medals to SS REPUBLIC & just 97 medals to SS BALTIC ( medals to SS FLORIDA unknown ) thus probably less than 400 produced in total with many having been melted long ago due to it's heavy weight in silver. JACK BINNS was the Marconi Radio Set Operator who sent the first signal 'CQD' (ALL STATIONS DISTRESS) using the old 'Q' Code. ( Interestingly, Binns was offered the radio operators position on SS TITANIC but refused the offer ! ) A REAL CLASSIC & 'MUST HAVE' ITEM FOR THE SERIOUS NAVAL COLLECTOR.SOLD