Lot 1663

Description

Pair: Imperial Service Medal (GVR); National Shipwreck Relief Society of N.S.W. Silver Medal. Alexander McMaster on first medal, 'Awarded to Alexander McMaster for an act of bravery 10 June 1885' on second medal. Both medals engraved. A few edge bumps on second medal, original ribbons dirty, otherwise very fine.

ISM; LG 14/11/1919, p13800 to Alexander McMaster, Sergeant of Police, Second Class, New South Wales.

Alexander McMaster, born 14Sep1863 in Scotland; served as a sailor before joining police force; Police Service: probationary Constable 10Oct1886 at Depot; to Metropolitan Station No.2 16Nov1886; Ordinary Constable 01Jan1887; to Metropolitan Station No.13 17May1888; Constable 1st Class 01May1891; Senior Constable 01Jan1902; Sergeant 2nd Class 13May1914; Discharged on pension 28Feb1918; Died 09Aug1937.

Alexander McMaster was one of a group of people awarded the National Shipwreck Relief Society of N.S.W. Silver Medal for assisting in the rescue of children aboard the A.S.N. Company passenger ship, SS Cahors, which was shipwrecked on Evans Reef near Ballina on the NSW north coast on June 10, 1885. On that day, Alexander McMaster was a seaman on board Cahors acting as lookout on the ship's bridge. He went on duty about half an hour before the vessel struck. He said the weather was hazy but he kept a good lookout and the first he saw was what appeared to be white foam over the starboard bow. Three minutes later the vessel struck the reef despite the chief officer trying to avoid it by altering course. There was blinding rain at the time and hence the late sighting of the reef.

With research in folder including copy of Gazette entries.