Awarded to John Roberts, Able Seaman 'Baltic'. Obverse: Head of George V (left). Below bust 'G.R.I.' Legend: 'FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE AT SEA'. Reverse: Three men, one of whom is signalling to a rescuing life-boat in the distance and a woman with a baby, on a raft and a broken spar in a stormy sea. Inscription on edge: 'JOHN ROBERTS, "NORTHERN LIGHT" 6TH DECEMBER 1929'. Fitted with a cusped bar and scarlet ribbon with narrow stripe near each edge. In fitted case of issue.

Newfoundland schooner ‘Northern Light’ carrying general cargo from St Johns to Bonavista Bay, was sighted by White Star liner ‘Baltic’, drifting waterlogged in bad weather and requesting assistance. A volunteer crew of nine men including Roberts under 3rd Officer J. H. Walker put off from ‘Baltic’ and picked up a line from ‘Northern Light’. They took off five crew members, but the son of the skipper, Rex Parsons, who had been ill with pneumonia, let go the line and drowned.