A nineteenth century medal awarded to an Ardrossan ship captain for his bravery in rescuing the crew of another ship when it burst into flame, was gifted to the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine by his family last Friday.

Sister and brother Barbara and Robert Sharp purchased the Lloyds Medal for Saving Life at Sea at auction and, alongside Robert’s daughters Carolyn and Julie, decided to present it to the national collection where the fascinating story of their ancestor Captain Sharp’s heroics can be shared with the public for many years to come.

Ardrossan born Captain Peter Sharp was master of the sailing brig 'Annabella Clark', an Ardrossan built and registered cargo ship (Barclay & Shearer, Ardrossan).

He was awarded the Lloyd’s medal, as well as an Albert Medal of the First Class, for his actions saving the lives of the crew of French ship 'Melanie' when 600 barrels of petroleum she was carrying exploded on the River Adour in southwest France on November 20, 1878.

According to the Lloyds List, the fire blazed from 6pm to 11pm completely destroying the vessel and cargo. Captain Sharp, and a sailor named James McIntosh who was also recognised with a medal, were onboard the Annabella Clark moored nearby. They rescued men from the ship and the burning river, sustaining serious injury to themselves. All the crew survived except the ship’s boy.

The Edinburgh Gazette records: "A mass of flame shot up from the main hatch and the ship quivered all over from the explosion of some of the barrels. The ship's seams opened at once and the petroleum pouring through spread a belt of flame around the ship. The master and a seaman then jumped overboard, but the mate remained to try to save his son who was lying helpless under some heavy objects, which had fallen on him. Captain Peter Sharp…(and)… James McIntosh…. rowed their boat through the flames, picked up the seaman who had jumped overboard, and took the mate from the blazing vessel….(Such were the injuries sustained)…. ‘it was thought at first that Captain Sharp would lose the sight of one eye, and James McIntosh the use of his hands."

Receiving the medal on behalf of the Scottish Maritime Museum, Director David Mann said: “We are thrilled and grateful to Barbara and Robert for their incredible generosity in purchasing Captain Peter Sharp’s Lloyds Medal for Saving Life at Sea from auction and then gifting it to the Museum collection.

“The medal, like all our ships, boats and exhibits across the Museum, bring the spirit and stories of our maritime heritage and history to life. It’s great to be able to add and share Captain Sharp’s story.

“His Albert Medal is held at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and we may consider approaching them for a potential loan to reunite the two medals which would be wonderful.”

Barbara Sharp explained how the family found the medal: “We were exploring family history initially after my father died and most of this work was done by Carolyn and Julie. The girls viewed Peter's Albert medal and French equivalent on a trip to London where the medals are held in the National Maritime Museum.

“We became aware of the Lloyds medal when I shared Peter's story with a work colleague who was signed up for one of the ancestry services. She looked Peter up and discovered that this other medal existed and was up for sale at auction. We went on to purchase it successfully and decided to gift it to the Scottish Maritime Museum.”

The Lloyds Medal for Saving Life at Sea was instituted in 1836 and bestowed in recognition of bravery in rescuing, or attempting to rescue, those whose lives were endangered at sea.

Captain Sharp was born in Ardrossan in 1838. He passed his master’s certificate on 16th September 1869. The ‘Annabella Clark’ was a brig of 153 tons owned by A. Guthrie and registered in Ardrossan.

The Scottish Maritime Museum is also currently calling out to members of the public who might have works of art, which would enhance the Museum’s growing, and nationally significant art collection.

The Scottish Maritime Museum, which is based on the Harbourside in Irvine, Ayrshire, with a smaller museum in Dumbarton, has already collected over 40 works of art under the ambitious art acquisition project ‘SMMart: Enriching the Imagery of Scotland's Maritime Heritage’.