The Times, Thursday May 15, 1919
NIGHT ON AN UPTURNED BOAT.
AN OFFICER'S GALLANTRY.
The king has, on the recommendation of the President of the Board of Trade, awarded the Silver Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea to Lieutenant John Charles Orr, Royal Irish Rifles.
On the night of October 3 last the steamships Burutu and City of Calcutta were in collision in the Irish Sea. The Burutu sank in about 10 minutes after the collision and many lives were lost. Lieutenant Orr was a passenger on the Burutu. When that vessel was about to take her final plunge, another passenger slid down a rope into a boat, which immediately capsized, He managed, however, to reach another upturned boat, and Lieutenant Orr, who was already clinging to it, assisted first him, and then three others, to get on to the keel. One of the latter was the steward's boy, who was without any clothing, and Lieutenant Orr took off the coat he was wearing and gave it to the lad; and throughout the night he endeavoured to keep up the circulation of each of his companions by chafing their limbs. Unfortunately, however, during the night two of those on the boat were washed away by the mountainous seas, the others being kept from falling off mainly through the exertions of Lieutenant Orr. Next morning the United States destroyer Stevens came up, and Lieutenant Orr fastened on to his two remaining companions the lifebuoys which were thrown to them, and saw them hauled on board. He was left for the moment alone on the upturned boat, when the destroyer's propeller struck it by mischance and cut it in two. Fortunately, however, Lieutenant Orr was soon able to get on board the destroyer by means of a line. Undoubtedly his gallant and persistent services were the means of saving two lives.
NIGHT ON AN UPTURNED BOAT.
AN OFFICER'S GALLANTRY.
The king has, on the recommendation of the President of the Board of Trade, awarded the Silver Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea to Lieutenant John Charles Orr, Royal Irish Rifles.
On the night of October 3 last the steamships Burutu and City of Calcutta were in collision in the Irish Sea. The Burutu sank in about 10 minutes after the collision and many lives were lost. Lieutenant Orr was a passenger on the Burutu. When that vessel was about to take her final plunge, another passenger slid down a rope into a boat, which immediately capsized, He managed, however, to reach another upturned boat, and Lieutenant Orr, who was already clinging to it, assisted first him, and then three others, to get on to the keel. One of the latter was the steward's boy, who was without any clothing, and Lieutenant Orr took off the coat he was wearing and gave it to the lad; and throughout the night he endeavoured to keep up the circulation of each of his companions by chafing their limbs. Unfortunately, however, during the night two of those on the boat were washed away by the mountainous seas, the others being kept from falling off mainly through the exertions of Lieutenant Orr. Next morning the United States destroyer Stevens came up, and Lieutenant Orr fastened on to his two remaining companions the lifebuoys which were thrown to them, and saw them hauled on board. He was left for the moment alone on the upturned boat, when the destroyer's propeller struck it by mischance and cut it in two. Fortunately, however, Lieutenant Orr was soon able to get on board the destroyer by means of a line. Undoubtedly his gallant and persistent services were the means of saving two lives.
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