TOPIC:

A medal to one of the orderlys on SS Maine is listed for the next DNW auction.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (1) Natal (C. F. O’Brien. Army Medical Service.)

O’Brien was one of 10 Americans who sailed on the S.S. Maine on its voyage to South Africa to be delivered for use as a hospital ship.

There is a history of the SS Maine in this forum post .

The medals to the Maine are listed on the RAMC roll, WO100/225 pages 247-9. P247 lists 18 names plus 2 declined. P248 lists 2 dispensers, 5 nurses and 11 men of the SJAB. P249 lists 6 nurses and 10 orderlys (including O'Brien).

All 3 pages are labelled RAMC so it is interesting that the medal is named to the AMS.

While there were 10 orderlys on board, it appears from the rolls that there were more than 10 Americans.

Group to Orderly Green of the SJAB who served on board the Maine.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (2) CC OFS (132 Ordly. F. W. Green, St John Amb. Bde.);
China 1900 (0) (1482 Pte. F. W. Green, St John Amb. Bde.);
S.S. Maine American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund 1899, white metal medallion

14 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade received the China Medal, for services in the American hospital ship Maine.

The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck the above medallion to help with their fund raising.

Sold Dec 2008 for £2,200.

From DNW, Sept 2007.

QSA (1) Natal (8223 S. Major S. J. How, R.A.M.C.)
China 1900 (0) (8223 Serjt.-Maj. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.)
1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.);
British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How);
Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8223 S. Sjt. Mjr. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.)

Around 10 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade received the Queen’s South Africa Medal, and around 15 of them the China Medal, for services in the American hospital ship Maine. But only around six members of the R.A.M.C. likewise qualified, the whole under Major James Meek and Sergeant-Major How.

The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck a special medal to help with their fund raising.

Stanley James How was one of just eight members of the medical staff employed in the Maine to be mentioned in Lord Roberts’ despatch on 1 March 1902, he and Major Meek being the only members of the R.A.M.C. so honoured. Having been placed on retired pay in July 1914, How was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities and was appointed a Quarter-Master and Lieutenant in November 1914, and subsequently gained advancement to Q.M. & Captain in November 1917. Accompanying research further states that he was killed at the Curragh Military Hospital, Dublin in 1919.

Hammer price £2,300.

From DNW, Sep 2007.

Medals to Acting Staff Sergeant W. H. Stone, Royal Army Medical Corps, late St. John Ambulance Brigade, who served aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer Rebellion

QSA (1) CC (127 Ordly. W. H. Stone, St. John Amb. Bde.)
China 1900 (0) (1439 Pte. W. H. Stone, St. John Amb. Bde.)
1914-15 Star (26126 Sjt. W. H. Stone, R.A.M.C.)
British War and Victory Medals (26126 A.S. Sjt. W. H. Stone, R.A.M.C.)
Defence Medal 1939-45
Jubilee 1897, SJAB, bronze (Private W. H. Stone)
Coronation 1902, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue, bronze (W. H. Stone, Cpl.)
Coronation 1911, St. John Ambulance Brigade issue (Cpl. W. H. Stone)
St. John Service Medal (Corporal William H. Stone, July 1911)

William Henry Stone was one of about 15 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade to be employed aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer Rebellion.

He is not on the roll for the QSA for SS Maine.

VM renamed.

Hammer price of £1,300.

Picture courtesy of DNW

Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamels;
China (1) Taku Forts, copy clasp and not entitled (117 Orderly S. Kingston. St John Amb: Bde:);
QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, both copy clasps and not entitled (117 Ordly: S. Kingston, St John Amb: Bde:);
Together with S.S. Maine American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund 1899, silver medallion, the last rare in silver

Samuel Kingston is confirmed on the roll of ‘British Members of the Staff of the American Ladies Hospital Ship Maine during the time that the ship was attached to the China Expeditionary Force,’ one of just 14 members of the S.J.A.B., two Sergeants and 12 Privates, all of whom are shown in the rank of Orderly. He is not shown on the Q.S.A. roll as serving on the Maine and was not entitled to any clasps to either medal.

The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck the above medallion to help with their fund raising.

The group of 4 to Samuel Kingston is being re-offered by DNW.

The estimate now is £800-£1,200.

It sold in August 2020 for a hammer price of £1,000 against an estimate of £1,200-£1,500.