An important pre-War Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Able Seaman G. W....

An important pre-War Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Able Seaman G. W. Garlinge, Royal Navy, for the rescue of the Royal Party from the wreck of the S.S. Delhi off Cape Spartel, Morocco, on 13 December 1911; together with a signed copy of Princess Alexandra’s book ‘Egypt and Khartoum’, which includes a chapter on the wreck of the Delhi, the inside cover inscribed ‘For Mr. Garlinge, from Alexandra, 1957’ Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (George W. Garlinge. “Delhi”, 13. Dec. 1911.); 1914-15 Star (232332, G. W. Garlinge, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (232332. G. W. Garlinge. A.B., R.N.) minor official correction to surname on BWM, the SGM heavily polished, with minor edge bruising, this fine; the rest better (4) £700-£900 --- William George Garlinge was born in Nonington, Kent, on 3 January 1888 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 20 September 1904. Advanced Able Seaman on 12 April 1907, he served in H.M.S. London from 16 October 1911, and was serving aboard London when the ship went to the aid of the stricken S.S. Delhi on 13 December 1911. The 8,090-tonne Peninsular and Oriental liner Delhi, with 85 first class passengers on board, including the Duke and Duchess of Fife (H.R.H. the Princess Royal) and their two daughters, Princess Alexandra (later Princess Arthur of Connaught) and Princess Maud, was bound from London to Bombay via Marseilles. At about 2:00 a.m. on 13 December 1911, the ship ran ashore in very rough weather some two miles from Cape Spartel. There was a strong westerly wind and very heavy rain. A wireless call was immediately sent out and was picked up by the station at Cadiz and within a short time several men-of-war were speeding to the wreck. Amongst the first ships to arrive were H.M.S. London and H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh. At about 11:00 a.m. Rear-Admiral Sir C. Cradock brought a boat alongside and with great difficulty took off the Royal Party from the Delhi. On her way back, the boat was swamped not far from shore and everyone thrown into the water, Princess Alexandra having a narrow escape from drowning. Eventually all came to land safely. 7 silver and a number of bronze Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded for this action, including the Bronze medal to Garlinge, for his service in the cutter despatched from London to take part in the rescue operations. He saw further service during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was shore demobilised on 1 July 1919. Sold with a rare copy of the book ‘Egypt and Khartoum’ written by Princess Alexandra (and which was printed only for circulation within the Royal Family), which includes a chapter on the Wreck of the Delhi, the inside inscribed ‘For Mr. Garlinge, from Alexandra, 1957’; together with an accompanying letter (this in relic condition) typed by Princess Alexandra's private secretary which indicates that Mr. Garlinge wrote to Princess Alexandra in 1957 offering sympathy for her current illness and as a result of this, the signed book was sent to him as a gift from Alexandra, presumably on account of Garlinge having been a member of the S.S. Delhi rescue party.