medal set
Report a Mistake- Object Number 20110038-001
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Event
1914-1919 First World War
1917 Halifax Explosion - Affiliation --
- Artist / Maker / Manufacturer --
- Date Made 1919/02/18
- Place of Use Continent - North America, Country - Canada
- Category Communication artifacts
- Sub-category Personal symbol
- Department Arms and Technology
- Museum CWM
- Earliest 1919/02/18
- Latest 1919/02/18
- Inscription (obverse/avers): FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING A LIFE AT SEA (reverse/verso) AWARDED BY HIS MAJESTY TO ALBERT CHARLES MATTISON LATE ACTING BOATSWAIN ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY FOR GALLANTRY IN ATTEMPTING TO SAVE LIFE AT THE COST OF HIS OWN LIFE ON THE OCCASION OF THE EXPLOSION AT HALIFAX N.S. 8TH DECEMBER 1917.
- Support loose
- Materials Bronze, Silkworm silk
- Rank Acting Boatswain
- Service Component Royal Canadian Navy
- Measurements Length 10.3 cm, Width 3.3 cm, Thickness 1.5 cm
- Caption The Albert Medal
- Additional Information The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the posthumous award of the Albert Medal for gallantry in saving life at sea to: Mr. Albert Charles Mattison, late Acting Boatswain, Royal Canadian Navy, and Stoker Petty Officer Edward S. [sic] Beard, late Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve… On the 6th December, 1917, the French Steamer Mont Blanc, with a cargo of high explosives, and the Norwegian Steamer lmo were in a collision in Halifax Harbour. Fire broke out on the Mont Blanc immediately after the collision, and the flames very quickly rose to a height of over 100 feet. The crew abandoned their ship and pulled towards the shore. The commanding officer of H.M.C.S. Niobe, which was lying in the harbour, on perceiving what had happened, sent away a steam boat to see what could be done. Mr. Mattison and six men of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve volunteered to form the crew of this boat, but just as the boat got alongside the Mont Blanc the ship blew up, and Mr. Mattison and the whole of the boat's crew lost their lives. The boat's crew were fully aware of the desperate nature of the work they were engaged in, and by their gallantry and devotion to duty they sacrificed their lives in the endeavour to save the lives of others."