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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Dafydd, post: 26512292, member: 86815&quot;][ATTACH=full]1689964[/ATTACH]</p><p>SS Erinpura.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1689965[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1689966[/ATTACH]</p><p>32 mm Bronze Medal also minted in Silver for Officers.</p><p><br /></p><p>This interesting eBay find turned up today.</p><p>You can click the links to find out more.</p><p><br /></p><p>Technically this is not a coin but a medal and was not recovered from a shipwreck but celebrates survivors of a shipwreck and was awarded to their rescuers.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is the story behind this artifact.</p><p><br /></p><p>SS <i>Erinpura</i> was an E-class <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_liner" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_liner" rel="nofollow">ocean liner</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_India_Steam_Navigation_Company" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_India_Steam_Navigation_Company" rel="nofollow">British India Steam Navigation Company</a>, built in 1911. She was the first British India ship built for Eastern service to be fitted with radio. She served in both World Wars. Enemy action in 1943 sank her in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" rel="nofollow">Mediterranean Sea</a> with great loss of life.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Building</b></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Denny_and_Brothers" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Denny_and_Brothers" rel="nofollow">William Denny and Brothers</a> built <i>Erinpura</i> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbarton" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbarton" rel="nofollow">Dumbarton</a>, Scotland, for £108,606. Her yard number was 945. She was launched on 9 October and completed on 6 December. She was named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erinpura" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erinpura" rel="nofollow">Erinpura</a>, a village in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan" rel="nofollow">Rajasthan</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Erinpura</i> had twin <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller" rel="nofollow">screws</a>. Each was driven by a three-cylinder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_steam_engine#Triple_or_multiple_expansion" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_steam_engine#Triple_or_multiple_expansion" rel="nofollow">triple expansion engine</a>. Between them the two engines developed a total of 1,059 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Nominal_horsepower" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Nominal_horsepower" rel="nofollow">NHP</a> or 6,657 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Indicated_horsepower" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Indicated_horsepower" rel="nofollow">IHP</a>, giving her a speed of 16.7 knots (30.9 km/h).</p><p><br /></p><p>Her owners <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_registration" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_registration" rel="nofollow">registered</a> <i>Erinpura</i> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow" rel="nofollow">Glasgow</a>. Her UK <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_number" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_number" rel="nofollow">official number</a> was 312998 and her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_letters" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_letters" rel="nofollow">code letters</a> were KPWS. By 1914 she was equipped for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_telegraphy" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_telegraphy" rel="nofollow">wireless telegraphy</a>. Her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_call_sign" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_call_sign" rel="nofollow">call sign</a> was MVJ.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Erinpura</i> was one of seven <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_ship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_ship" rel="nofollow">sister ships</a> called the E-class. Four different shipyards built them for the Bay of Bengal – Singapore Straits service. Her sisters were <i>Ellenga</i>, <i>Edavana</i>, <i>Elephanta</i>, <i>Egra</i>, <i>Ellora</i> and <i>Ekma</i>. <i>Erinpura</i> was the sixth to be completed. The E class was one of the most successful, profitable and longest-lasting in the history of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj" rel="nofollow">British India</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>First World War</b></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Erinpura</i> was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troopship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troopship" rel="nofollow">troop ship</a> early in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" rel="nofollow">First World War</a>, carrying troops from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachi" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachi" rel="nofollow">Karachi</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille" rel="nofollow">Marseille</a>, and then to Sanniya in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_campaign" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_campaign" rel="nofollow">Mesopotamia</a> (now <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" rel="nofollow">Iraq</a>). On 24 December 1914 she ran aground in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea" rel="nofollow">Red Sea</a> on Muhanrah Bar, off the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanish_Islands" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanish_Islands" rel="nofollow">Hanish Islands</a>, en route to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abadan,_Iran" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abadan,_Iran" rel="nofollow">Abadan</a>. She sustained some damage, but was able to return to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" rel="nofollow">Bombay</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>She made several more trooping voyages until becoming a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_ship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_ship" rel="nofollow">hospital ship</a> in August 1915, supporting the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Expeditionary_Force" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Expeditionary_Force" rel="nofollow">Indian Expeditionary Force</a> with 475 beds and 104 medical staff. She served on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra" rel="nofollow">Basra</a> – Bombay Service, and from November 1917 was used as an ambulance transport.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Between the wars</b></p><p><br /></p><p>This interesting eBay find turned up today.</p><p><br /></p><p>Technically this is not a coin but a medal and was not recovered from a shipwreck but celebrates survivors of a shipwreck and was awarded to their rescuers.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is the story behind this artifact.</p><p><br /></p><p>SS <i>Erinpura</i> was an E-class <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_liner" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_liner" rel="nofollow">ocean liner</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_India_Steam_Navigation_Company" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_India_Steam_Navigation_Company" rel="nofollow">British India Steam Navigation Company</a>, built in 1911. She was the first British India ship built for Eastern service to be fitted with radio. She served in both World Wars. Enemy action in 1943 sank her in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" rel="nofollow">Mediterranean Sea</a> with great loss of life.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Building</b></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Denny_and_Brothers" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Denny_and_Brothers" rel="nofollow">William Denny and Brothers</a> built <i>Erinpura</i> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbarton" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbarton" rel="nofollow">Dumbarton</a>, Scotland, for £108,606. Her yard number was 945. She was launched on 9 October and completed on 6 December. She was named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erinpura" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erinpura" rel="nofollow">Erinpura</a>, a village in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan" rel="nofollow">Rajasthan</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Erinpura</i> had twin <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller" rel="nofollow">screws</a>. Each was driven by a three-cylinder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_steam_engine#Triple_or_multiple_expansion" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_steam_engine#Triple_or_multiple_expansion" rel="nofollow">triple expansion engine</a>. Between them the two engines developed a total of 1,059 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Nominal_horsepower" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Nominal_horsepower" rel="nofollow">NHP</a> or 6,657 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Indicated_horsepower" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Indicated_horsepower" rel="nofollow">IHP</a>, giving her a speed of 16.7 knots (30.9 km/h).</p><p><br /></p><p>Her owners <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_registration" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_registration" rel="nofollow">registered</a> <i>Erinpura</i> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow" rel="nofollow">Glasgow</a>. Her UK <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_number" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_number" rel="nofollow">official number</a> was 312998 and her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_letters" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_letters" rel="nofollow">code letters</a> were KPWS. By 1914 she was equipped for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_telegraphy" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_telegraphy" rel="nofollow">wireless telegraphy</a>. Her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_call_sign" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_call_sign" rel="nofollow">call sign</a> was MVJ.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Erinpura</i> was one of seven <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_ship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_ship" rel="nofollow">sister ships</a> called the E-class. Four different shipyards built them for the Bay of Bengal – Singapore Straits service. Her sisters were <i>Ellenga</i>, <i>Edavana</i>, <i>Elephanta</i>, <i>Egra</i>, <i>Ellora</i> and <i>Ekma</i>. <i>Erinpura</i> was the sixth to be completed. The E class was one of the most successful, profitable and longest-lasting in the history of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj" rel="nofollow">British India</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>First World War</b></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Erinpura</i> was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troopship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troopship" rel="nofollow">troop ship</a> early in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" rel="nofollow">First World War</a>, carrying troops from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachi" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachi" rel="nofollow">Karachi</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille" rel="nofollow">Marseille</a>, and then to Sanniya in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_campaign" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_campaign" rel="nofollow">Mesopotamia</a> (now <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" rel="nofollow">Iraq</a>). On 24 December 1914 she ran aground in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea" rel="nofollow">Red Sea</a> on Muhanrah Bar, off the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanish_Islands" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanish_Islands" rel="nofollow">Hanish Islands</a>, en route to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abadan,_Iran" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abadan,_Iran" rel="nofollow">Abadan</a>. She sustained some damage, but was able to return to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" rel="nofollow">Bombay</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>She made several more trooping voyages until becoming a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_ship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_ship" rel="nofollow">hospital ship</a> in August 1915, supporting the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Expeditionary_Force" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Expeditionary_Force" rel="nofollow">Indian Expeditionary Force</a> with 475 beds and 104 medical staff. She served on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra" rel="nofollow">Basra</a> – Bombay Service, and from November 1917 was used as an ambulance transport.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Between the wars</b></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]1689967[/ATTACH] </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>HMS Topaze</b></p><p><br /></p><p>On 15 June 1919 <i>Erinpura</i> again ran aground in the Red Sea in a severe dust storm, this time on the Mushejera Reef. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaze-class_cruiser" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaze-class_cruiser" rel="nofollow"><i>Topaze</i>-class</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser" rel="nofollow">cruiser</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Topaze_(1903)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Topaze_(1903)" rel="nofollow">HMS <i>Topaze</i></a> took off her passengers and troops and took them to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Colony" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Colony" rel="nofollow">Aden</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>The grateful passengers subscribed to produce the medal above and it was awarded to all of the crew of HMS Topaze.</p><p><br /></p><p>Note the huge and obvious mistake on the medal. The engraver has made a mistake and the medal is named to <b>SS Berinpura</b> not <b>SS Erinpura.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Attempts to free <i>Erinpura</i> failed, and in 1920 bad weather moving her back and forth on the reef damaging her hull. In September 1920 her owners decided to have her cut in two just forward of her bridge. Her bow was left stuck on the reef, and the rest of the ship was towed to Aden.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dennys built a new bow in Dumbarton and sent it to Bombay. In 1921 <i>Erinpura</i> was towed to Bombay, where her new bow was fitted. In 1923 she returned to service, based in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal" rel="nofollow">Bay of Bengal</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 1934 there was an international reorganisation of code letters and wireless call signs. <i>Erinpura</i> was given the new call sign GJWN, which also superseded her original code letters.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Second World War</b></p><p><br /></p><p>In 1938 <i>Erinpura</i> was called up during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement" rel="nofollow">Sudetenland crisis</a>.&nbsp; In March 1940 she was requisitioned for the Liner Division.&nbsp; She continued to operate in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" rel="nofollow">Indian Ocean</a> until April 1943, when she passed through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" rel="nofollow">Suez Canal</a> to the Mediterranean, where she steamed from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria" rel="nofollow">Alexandria</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli,_Libya" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli,_Libya" rel="nofollow">Tripoli</a> and back.</p><p><br /></p><p>On 29 April 1943 <i>Erinpura</i> left Alexandria in Convoy MW 27 to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Malta_(World_War_II)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Malta_(World_War_II)" rel="nofollow">Malta</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_captain" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_captain" rel="nofollow">Captain</a> PV Cotter commanded <i>Erinpura</i>, which was the Commodore&#039;s ship for the convoy. She was carrying more than 1,000 troops, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basutoland" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basutoland" rel="nofollow">Basuto</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_people" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_people" rel="nofollow">Batswanan</a> members of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Auxiliary_Pioneer_Corps" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Auxiliary_Pioneer_Corps" rel="nofollow">African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Palestine" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Palestine" rel="nofollow">Palestinian Jewish</a> soldiers of 462 Transport Company of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army" rel="nofollow">British Army</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>She was one of 20 merchant ships in MW 27, along with her sister ship <i>Egra</i> and two other British India SN Co ships. Six <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" rel="nofollow">Royal Navy</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer" rel="nofollow">destroyers</a>, four <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Navy" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Navy" rel="nofollow">Hellenic Navy</a> destroyers and two Royal Navy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minesweeper" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minesweeper" rel="nofollow">minesweepers</a> escorted the convoy.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the evening of 1 May 1943, German bomber aircraft attacked the convoy 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benghazi" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benghazi" rel="nofollow">Benghazi</a>. The ships took evasive action and returned fire. A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_111" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_111" rel="nofollow">Heinkel He 111</a> torpedoed a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Tanker_Company" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Tanker_Company" rel="nofollow">BTC</a> tanker, the 8,466 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_register_tonnage" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_register_tonnage" rel="nofollow">GRT</a> <i>British Trust</i>, which caught fire and sank in three minutes, killing 10 of her crew.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the next wave of the attack, a bomb hit <i>Erinpura</i> in one of her forward holds, causing her to list to starboard and sink within four or five minutes. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship" rel="nofollow">DEMS</a> crew of her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_12-pounder_12_cwt_AA_gun" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_12-pounder_12_cwt_AA_gun" rel="nofollow">12-pounder anti-aircraft gun</a> continued to return fire until she sank. More than 800 people aboard <i>Erinpura</i> were killed. Accounts differ as to numbers, but one counts the dead as 633 Basuto pioneers, 140 Palestinian Jewish soldiers, 11 Batswanan pioneers, 54 of <i>Erinpura</i>&#039;s Indian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar" rel="nofollow">lascar</a> crew, six DEMS gunners and two engineer officers.</p><p><br /></p><p>An interesting artifact of a vessel that would likely have been forgotten save for this medal. I had certainly never heard of her.</p><p><b>HMS Topaze</b></p><p><br /></p><p>On 15 June 1919 <i>Erinpura</i> again ran aground in the Red Sea in a severe dust storm, this time on the Mushejera Reef. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaze-class_cruiser" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaze-class_cruiser" rel="nofollow"><i>Topaze</i>-class</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser" rel="nofollow">cruiser</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Topaze_(1903)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Topaze_(1903)" rel="nofollow">HMS <i>Topaze</i></a> took off her passengers and troops and took them to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Colony" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Colony" rel="nofollow">Aden</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>The grateful passengers subscribed to produce the medal above and it was awarded to all of the crew of HMS Topaze.</p><p><br /></p><p>Note the huge and obvious mistake on the medal. The engraver has made a mistake and the medal is named to <b>SS Berinpura</b> not <b>SS Erinpura.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Attempts to free <i>Erinpura</i> failed, and in 1920 bad weather moving her back and forth on the reef damaging her hull. In September 1920 her owners decided to have her cut in two just forward of her bridge. Her bow was left stuck on the reef, and the rest of the ship was towed to Aden.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dennys built a new bow in Dumbarton and sent it to Bombay. In 1921 <i>Erinpura</i> was towed to Bombay, where her new bow was fitted. In 1923 she returned to service, based in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Bengal" rel="nofollow">Bay of Bengal</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 1934 there was an international reorganisation of code letters and wireless call signs. <i>Erinpura</i> was given the new call sign GJWN, which also superseded her original code letters.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Second World War</b></p><p><br /></p><p>In 1938 <i>Erinpura</i> was called up during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement" rel="nofollow">Sudetenland crisis</a>.&nbsp; In March 1940 she was requisitioned for the Liner Division.&nbsp; She continued to operate in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" rel="nofollow">Indian Ocean</a> until April 1943, when she passed through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" rel="nofollow">Suez Canal</a> to the Mediterranean, where she steamed from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria" rel="nofollow">Alexandria</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli,_Libya" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripoli,_Libya" rel="nofollow">Tripoli</a> and back.</p><p><br /></p><p>On 29 April 1943 <i>Erinpura</i> left Alexandria in Convoy MW 27 to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Malta_(World_War_II)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Malta_(World_War_II)" rel="nofollow">Malta</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_captain" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_captain" rel="nofollow">Captain</a> PV Cotter commanded <i>Erinpura</i>, which was the Commodore&#039;s ship for the convoy. She was carrying more than 1,000 troops, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basutoland" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basutoland" rel="nofollow">Basuto</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_people" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_people" rel="nofollow">Batswanan</a> members of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Auxiliary_Pioneer_Corps" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Auxiliary_Pioneer_Corps" rel="nofollow">African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Palestine" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Palestine" rel="nofollow">Palestinian Jewish</a> soldiers of 462 Transport Company of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army" rel="nofollow">British Army</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>She was one of 20 merchant ships in MW 27, along with her sister ship <i>Egra</i> and two other British India SN Co ships. Six <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy" rel="nofollow">Royal Navy</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer" rel="nofollow">destroyers</a>, four <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Navy" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenic_Navy" rel="nofollow">Hellenic Navy</a> destroyers and two Royal Navy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minesweeper" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minesweeper" rel="nofollow">minesweepers</a> escorted the convoy.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the evening of 1 May 1943, German bomber aircraft attacked the convoy 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benghazi" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benghazi" rel="nofollow">Benghazi</a>. The ships took evasive action and returned fire. A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_111" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_111" rel="nofollow">Heinkel He 111</a> torpedoed a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Tanker_Company" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Tanker_Company" rel="nofollow">BTC</a> tanker, the 8,466 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_register_tonnage" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_register_tonnage" rel="nofollow">GRT</a> <i>British Trust</i>, which caught fire and sank in three minutes, killing 10 of her crew.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the next wave of the attack, a bomb hit <i>Erinpura</i> in one of her forward holds, causing her to list to starboard and sink within four or five minutes. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship" rel="nofollow">DEMS</a> crew of her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_12-pounder_12_cwt_AA_gun" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_12-pounder_12_cwt_AA_gun" rel="nofollow">12-pounder anti-aircraft gun</a> continued to return fire until she sank. More than 800 people aboard <i>Erinpura</i> were killed. Accounts differ as to numbers, but one counts the dead as 633 Basuto pioneers, 140 Palestinian Jewish soldiers, 11 Batswanan pioneers, 54 of <i>Erinpura</i>&#039;s Indian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar" rel="nofollow">lascar</a> crew, six DEMS gunners and two engineer officers.</p><p><br /></p><p>An interesting artifact of a vessel that would likely have been forgotten save for this medal. I had certainly never heard of her.</p><p>Click Links for further Wickipedia reading.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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