Albert Medal presented to Able Seaman Alfred Miles (1899-1989) P/23965. The citation from the ‘London Gazette’ of 29 April 1941 reads as follows: ‘On 1st December 1940, when HMS ‘Saltash’ was passing from one dock basin to another, a wire was run out from the starboard bow to the weather corner of the gate so as to hold the bow up to the wind. The wire was taken to the windlass, but this was too slow, and men were picking up the slack by hand, leaving some loose turns on the deck. As the ship drew level the order was passed to turn up. The wire was taken from the windlass to the bollards. Able Seaman Miles saw Able Seaman Thompson standing in a bight of wire and called out to him to get clear, but he failed to do so and the wire drew taut round his ankles. Miles knew that Thompson might be hauled through the bull-ring and that if he himself were caught in the wire he would be in the same danger; yet he tried to force the bight open with his hands. His right hand was jammed between the wire and Thompson’s foot. He said nothing and still tried to free his shipmate. The hurt which caused the loss of his hand was not known until later. Thompson was dragged along the deck to the bull-ring but way was taken off the ship just in time to save him’. Alfred Miles died in 1989.

The medal is made entirely of bronze and consists of a badge in the form of a garter, crowned. In the centre of the badge is the monogram ‘V A’ on an anchor on a blue enamel background. Round the edge of the badge on the obverse is inscribed, ‘FOR.GALLANTRY.IN.SAVING.LIFE.AT.SEA’.
On the reverse is inscribed, ‘AWARDED BY THE KING TO ABLE SEAMAN ALFRED MILES FOR GALLANTRY IN RISKING HIS LIFE AND LOSING HIS RIGHT HAND TO SAVE A SHIPMATE IN H.M.S.SALTASH ON THE 1ST DECEMBER 1940’. It is suspended by a ring and blue ribbon with two broad white stripes. (The first class Albert Medal is in gold). The medal is kept with its original case of issue, bearing the Royal Cypher ‘GVIR’.