Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria in a diadem and veil (left). Legend: 'VICTORIA KAISAR-I-HIND'. Reverse: Inscription: 'MR. J. McLENNAN QUARTER MASTER S.S. NUBIA 22ND MAY 1893'. Legend: 'FOR LIFE SAVING AT SEA PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL'. Fitted with a cusped bar and crimson ribbon.

The SS ’Nubia’ (1882), Anchor Line, in May 1893 encountered the Indian-owned barque ‘Shah-in-Shah' in the Hooghly River showing distress signals. The vessel had been dismasted in a cyclone bound from Kochi to Chittagong and was jury-rigged, with water in the hold. The ‘Nubia’ tried to get a boat to her but without success but stood by and tried again in the early hours of the 22nd. One each occasion the boat was crewed by four British quartermasters, three Indian crew and the Chief Officer. This second time they got a line on board and hauled the twenty crew members of the ‘Shah-in-Shah' to safety.