Presidential Gold Medal

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 F. KINSETT, LAMPTRIMMER 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.

F. Kinsett was a trimmer on the SS 'Defender' of Liverpool,

Object Details

ID: MED0626
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Lifesaving award
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Morgan, George Thomas
Events: Wreck of the Lincoln, 1927
Vessels: Defender (1915); Lincoln 1926 (US Coastguard)
Date made: 1926
People: Kinsett, F.
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm