Obverse: Head of Liberty (left) hair knotted and bound with a wreath of laurel. Legend: 'PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES'. Star below. Reverse: Within a laurel wreath tied with a bow, inscription: 'TO C. WHITESIDE FIREMAN OF THE BRITISH STEAMSHIP, DEFENDER, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC SERVICES IN EFFECTING THE RESCUE AT SEA ON DEC.18 1926 OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE SHIPWRECKED UNITED STATES COASTGUARD CUTTER, LINCOLN'. Fitted with a bronze pinned bar, inscription: 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. (The 3 central letters covered by the U.S.shield).
The SS ‘Defender’ of Liverpool received a wireless message reporting a vessel on fire near Cape Lookout which turned out to be the ‘Lincoln’. Captain E. Maycock sent a boat under the command of 2nd Officer W.A. Short which got within 10 feet of the stricken vessel, but her crew refused to jump overboard and be picked up. Owing to high winds and bad weather the boat failed to get a line on board and drifted away. The ‘Defender’ then approached the ‘Lincoln’ and succeeded in rescuing two survivors from the sea; the remaining six crew members were lost.

C. Whiteside was a fireman on the SS 'Defender' 1915 of Liverpool.