S.G.M. 'The British King sprang a leak during a hurricane in the North Atlantic and began to sink on 10 March 1906. In answer to signals of distress the Mannheim bore down, but as the weather was too bad for a boat to be launched she stood by all night, and in the morning with the assistance of the Bostonian tried to form a lee so that a rescue might be attempted. After much difficulty and in spite of terrific weather, a boat was launched by the Mannheim and was so skilfully handled that 11 crew of the British King were rescued, but the boat was destroyed. The Bostonian then launched a boat but it was smashed alongside and the crew of the boat were injured and only rescued with great difficulty. A second boat was launched from the Bostonian and rescued 13 of the crew of the British King before it too was destroyed. Subsequently the British King foundered and five men were picked up clinging to her wreckage. There was a heavy sea at the time of the rescue and those who rendered assistance incurred great risk to life' (P.R.O. BT261-5 refers).

Seaman John Edward Fitzgerald was one of 13 men from the Bostonian to receive the Silver Medal for this incident, the serious nature of which is evidenced by the eventual loss of 28 crew members from the British King - just 54 Edward VII 2nd type S.G.M's were awarded.