The seas between New Zealand and Australia are notoriously dangerous; a fact the crew of the American ship Patrician discovered the hard way. Captain Sterling of the Patrician noted that the ship was “fast sinking” when the crew of the steamer Fifeshire came to their aid on 28 August 1896. One of the crew who came to rescue the stricken vessel was the Quartermaster James Martin. His actions during the disaster led to the Royal Humane Society of Australasia awarding him this Clarke Medal for Bravery. James went to sea aged 15, and served in various roles. He eventually left the high seas and studied psychological philosophy and healing, eventually settling in Hāwera and practising as a ‘metaphysician’.
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