Thomas Cassidy - Sea Gallantry Medal - 7th May 1918.

[Cassidy Medals]

Hi to all

Can anyone assist? I'm looking for more information on Thomas Cassidy, who was awarded a Sea Gallantry Medal on 7th May 1918 aboard the ship War Bittern.

Does anyone have a copy of the citation they can share?

Does anyone know his Marine Number? Just wondering if he was awarded a Mercantile Marine Medal, BWM etc.

What I know.

• He was a Bosun.
• Location Sea Gallantry Medal Awarded - London.
• Other sailors awarded Sea Gallantry Medal for same incident. A.S. Anderson, Chief Officer, J.W. White, 2nd Engineer, W. Brown OS.
• War Bittern was built in Belfast. A "B Type" Cargo Ship. Launched 14 March 1918. Delivered 11 April 1918.
• War Bittern Official Number = 142369, Registered at London. 1919 renamed Patagonier.
• Sold to Greece in 1932 and sunk on 12 Feb 1941 by German Cruiser, Admiral Hipper in the Atlantic.
• The Ships Registry is located at National Archives Kew, BT 110/438/20. Can anyone confirm if Cassidy is listed in the Registry? I ordered a search, but was advised that Cassidy wasn't in the Registry?  

[horatio2]

The Admiralty MMR Medal Roll shows a Thomas CASSIDY, Bosun Mate, 763267, who claimed a 1914-15 Star trio of medals. A possibility?

See also   -   https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7989318

Edited 24 September by horatio2

[busterfield]

A bit far from Darwin. Ship's log 10/4/18-9/9/18

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1733751

[Cassidy Medals]

 

On 24/09/2023 at 17:06, horatio2 said:

The Admiralty MMR Medal Roll shows a Thomas CASSIDY, Bosun Mate, 763267, who claimed a 1914-15 Star trio of medals. A possibility?

See also   -   https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7989318

I did see this gents Medal Card before I posted my message..... the ship was built in Belfast where he was born....and his trade aligns..... so it makes sense that this could be our Cassidy....... I was just looking for something a little more concrete...... perhaps other info will come to hand to tie them together....... thanks for taking the time to reply.  

[Cassidy Medals]

On 24/09/2023 at 17:40, busterfield said:

A bit far from Darwin. Ship's log 10/4/18-9/9/18

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1733751

Yes...we of the never never....laugh out loud..... It's a long way by distance....but just a click away on the net....... First time I've seen this link / document. I'm very interested to see what info it can provide. If I don't get any other leads, I'll do a record search. Thanks for sharing the link. 

Edited 25 September by Cassidy Medals

[Swinesheadvillage]

Hi

You may be interested in this article from The Journal of Commerce 21 Sept 1918 (courtesy of FMP)

Thomas was presented with his medal by King George, at a Buckingham Palace investiture on Wednesday 18th Sept 1918, also including the presentation of a VC to Lieut Harold Auten.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards

Derek

 

[Cassidy Medals]

19 hours ago, Swinesheadvillage said:

Hi

You may be interested in this article from The Journal of Commerce 21 Sept 1918 (courtesy of FMP)

Thomas was presented with his medal by King George, at a Buckingham Palace investiture on Wednesday 18th Sept 1918, also including the presentation of a VC to Lieut Harold Auten.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards

Derek

 

Derek....That is brilliant......thanks a million.... I have a basic FMP membership.... I've always wondered if it was worth upgrading to include Newspapers...... I think you've answered that question. Was the info re medal presentation in the newspaper article as well??

Now all I need now is to verify his Dis A and/or RS2 number.

I've written to the Maritime Museum in Cornwall as they have some Shipping files from 1914-15 on-line which match my man....... just need to pin it all together now. Fingers crossed.

Now you've got me wondering if there are any photos of Cassidy at the Investiture ceremony?? Or even a printed brochure??

Thanks again

Gary    

Edited 27 September by Cassidy Medals

[Swinesheadvillage]

Hi Gary

The full article is on this link:-

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004036%2F19180921&page=2&article=020&stringtohighlight=thomas+cassidy+sea+gallantry+medal

I think that there is a free trial period of 7 days for the upgrade to FMP newspaper access. So maybe save up searches and then blitz it over the free period. Alternatively many library services have access. Just remember to cancel before the end of the free period as you have to give financial details I believe.

The investiture was, according to The Commerce,  to award gallantry medals to 300 service personnel and seafarers. The article above was the longest I could find and details many other recipients, mainly Naval. It appears to have been syndicated many times,

I wondered the same as you, but unfortunately no photos of Cassidy, nor a printed brochure that I could find. A quick web search shows that it took place in the quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, in public, in front of many thousands of spectators and some invited American observers.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards

Derek

[Cassidy Medals]

On 24/09/2023 at 17:06, horatio2 said:

The Admiralty MMR Medal Roll shows a Thomas CASSIDY, Bosun Mate, 763267, who claimed a 1914-15 Star trio of medals. A possibility?

See also   -   https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7989318

Hi horatio2

I've trawled the Merchant Seman files as NAA and FMP and agree that this is our man. He is the only Thomas Cassidy Bosun listed in the records. 

I also found his Merchant Seaman Cards from 1918-1941. Ref BT348 & BT349. With same Dis A. No. as Mercantile Marine Medal Card.

The Belfast directories list his as a Sailor in 1900, he served throughout WW1 from 1914 to 1918 and the last entry on the Merchant Seaman cards is for 1935.

So it would appear that he was a sailor his entire life. 

I am continuing to research other areas of his life.

Happy Days    

[Cassidy Medals]

On 27/09/2023 at 18:30, Swinesheadvillage said:

Hi Gary

The full article is on this link:-

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004036%2F19180921&page=2&article=020&stringtohighlight=thomas+cassidy+sea+gallantry+medal

I think that there is a free trial period of 7 days for the upgrade to FMP newspaper access. So maybe save up searches and then blitz it over the free period. Alternatively many library services have access. Just remember to cancel before the end of the free period as you have to give financial details I believe.

The investiture was, according to The Commerce,  to award gallantry medals to 300 service personnel and seafarers. The article above was the longest I could find and details many other recipients, mainly Naval. It appears to have been syndicated many times,

I wondered the same as you, but unfortunately no photos of Cassidy, nor a printed brochure that I could find. A quick web search shows that it took place in the quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, in public, in front of many thousands of spectators and some invited American observers.

Hope this helps

Kind Regards

Derek

Thanks Derek.

I have a lot of Cassidy men to follow up on....perhaps over xmas?? With ref to photos....what I did note was that some of the later Merchant Seaman Files [BT349] had passport type photos of the sailors..... unfortunately there was no photo on the Thomas Cassidy card. Perhaps something will surface in the future.  

Cheers

Gary