Awarded to Robert Samuel Nodes (1889-1916). Obverse: Britannia seated (right), a trident and shield at her side, clasping the hand of a naval boy, the muzzle of a cannon at his feet; the stern of a vessel with Union Jack (left) a ship in the distance (right). Legend: 'MARINE SOCIETY INSTITUTED MDCCLVI'. Exergue: 'INCORPORATED MDCCLXXII'. Reverse: inscription within a floral wreath. 'REWARD OF MERIT TO (incuse) ROBERT S.NODES 1ST JULY 1909'. Fitted with a bar and dark blue ribbon. In original case of issue.

The medals were presented to former Warspite boys for five years of exemplary service after they had left the ship and joined the Merchant Navy. They are now awarded annually for deeds of exceptional merit at sea.

Robert Samuel Nodes was born in Islington, the son of undertaker William Robert Thomas Nodes and his wife Catherine Maria. He began his career as a Marine Society boy in the training ship 'Warspite' at Woolwich. Nodes was apprenticed to William Thomas & Co. on the 5 April 1904 and was awarded the Marine Society Medal on 1 July 1909 for five years exemplary service. He was given a mate's certificate to work on foreign-going ships in London on 6 May 1910. At this time, he was working for the General Steam Navigation Company Ltd. During World War 1, still working for the same firm, he was first mate on SS 'Vesuvio' when she struck a mine off Newhaven on the 6 April 1916 enroute from Messina, Sicily to England. He was one of fourteen survivors who were picked up after the vessel sank but died of his injuries twelve days later in London. His name is listed on the Tower Hill war memorial.
Robert Nodes married Ethel Hilda Nodes on 27 December 1914 in Islington. They had one daughter Cecilia.