United States of America, Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal of the British Tug Lady Crundall for th

United States of America, Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal of the British Tug Lady Crundall for the Rescue of the American Steamship Piave in January 1919, medal with integral ‘E. Plurs. Unum’ pinback suspension bar. Obverse of the medal has the head of Liberty facing left. The reverse of the medal is engraved ‘TO W. DRURY SEAMAN, OF THE BRITISH TUG LADY CRUNDALL IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC SERVICES EFFECTING THE RESCUE AT SEA, ON JANUARY 31-1919 OF THE MASTER AND CREW OF THE AMERICAN STEAMSHIP PIAVE.’On 29th January 1919, the 6000 ton American cargo ship Piave, at the time owned by the U.S. Army Transport Service, was on her maiden voyage laden with food from New York to Rotterdam when she ran aground on the Goodwin Sands off the Kent coast. The grounding of the vessel was seen by the Gull lightvessel which prompted the launch of the North Deal Lifeboat at 10.30pm.Whilst the lifeboat stood by the stricken vessel for 2 days, Dover Harbour Board tugs, of which the Lady Crundall was one, attempted to refloat the Piave without success, cargo was jettisoned into the sea and on the 4th attempt cracking noises were heard. At 5.30pm in heavy seas with a bitter wind blowing snow the ship started to collapse and broke her back with the crew of the Piave scrambling for safety, some to the Deal lifeboat, others into the sea. They attempted to launch the lifeboats on the Piave but the tackle got snagged leaving the vessels suspended from the davits before the men were thrown into the sea. 29 of the crew were rescued by the North Deal Lifeboat with the remainder of the 96 man crew being saved by the tugboats and the Ramsgate lifeboat that had arrived at the wreck. Presidential Gold Lifesaving medals were presented to the whole crew of the North Deal lifeboat as well as the captain and crew of the tugboat.