Lot Essay
Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including two letters from the British India Steam Navigation Company regarding the recipient's S.G.M. (dated 19.3.1918 and 23.8.1919), and an official communication from the Political Department, Bombay, regarding an Investiture at Government House on 19.12.1919.
S.G.M. 'On 1 July 1917, while the S.S. Chilka of Glasgow was lying in Baruva Roadstead, India, a fire broke out among bundles of coir yarn in one of the holds in which was also a magazine containing cases of gun-cotton and safety cartridges. The pumps were at once started and three hoses played into the 'tween hatch. Mr. McDonald went down into the hold and, with the assistance of Kabri Ahmed, endeavoured to remove the explosives. Finding this impossible, Mr. McDonald held open the magazine hatch, and in spite of the fumes, he and Mr. Wilkin, assisted by Mr. Brymer and Kabri Ahmed, played the hose into the magazine for a considerable time, and thus probably averted a severe explosion. Considerable risk was incurred in rendering these services' (P.R.O. BT261-6 refers).
S.G.M. 'On 1 July 1917, while the S.S. Chilka of Glasgow was lying in Baruva Roadstead, India, a fire broke out among bundles of coir yarn in one of the holds in which was also a magazine containing cases of gun-cotton and safety cartridges. The pumps were at once started and three hoses played into the 'tween hatch. Mr. McDonald went down into the hold and, with the assistance of Kabri Ahmed, endeavoured to remove the explosives. Finding this impossible, Mr. McDonald held open the magazine hatch, and in spite of the fumes, he and Mr. Wilkin, assisted by Mr. Brymer and Kabri Ahmed, played the hose into the magazine for a considerable time, and thus probably averted a severe explosion. Considerable risk was incurred in rendering these services' (P.R.O. BT261-6 refers).