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37-511: Empire Elgar was a 2,847  GRT heavy lift ship that was built in 1942 by William Gray & Co Ltd , West Hartlepool , Co Durham , United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). During World War II , she served with the Arctic Convoys . In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Sea Minstrel . A further sale in 1951 saw her renamed Marandellas . In 1956, she

74-417: A beam of 46 feet 5 inches (14.15 m). She had depth of 23 feet 0 inches (7.01 m) and a draught of 20 feet 10 + 3 ⁄ 4  inches (6.369 m). The ship was propelled by a 269 nhp triple expansion steam engine , which had cylinders of 20 inches (51 cm), 31 inches (79 cm) and 55 inches (140 cm) diameter by 39 inches (99 cm) stroke. The engine

111-583: A cargo of aircraft from the American Liberty ship J. L. M. Curry , returning to Murmansk on 29 December. Convoy JW 51B arrived at the Kola Inlet on 3 January 1943. Empire Elgar assisted in unloading the ships which reached Murmansk, although this was delayed by problems with her winches. Empire Elgar remained in the Soviet Union until August 1944. She was a member of Convoy RA 59A, which departed from

148-431: A cargo of war materiel, she made her maiden voyage on 2 May, joining Convoy FN 697, which had departed from Southend , Essex that day and arrived at Methil , Fife on 4 May. She then joined Convoy EN 81, which departed on 6 May and arrived at Oban , Argyllshire on 9 May. She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 8 May, joining Convoy UR 23, which departed that day and arrived at Reykjavík , Iceland on 12 May. Empire Elgar

185-705: A further award. A holder of the BEM subsequently appointed to membership of the Order of the British Empire is permitted to wear the insignia for both. The Medal of the Order of the British Empire was established in June 1917, along with the Order of the British Empire of which it was a part, and could be awarded for either meritorious service or for gallantry. It was awarded to 2,014 people, 800 of whom were from foreign countries. In 1922,

222-536: Is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown . The current honour was created in 1922 to replace the original medal, which had been established in 1917 as part of the Order of the British Empire . The British Empire Medal is granted by the monarch of the United Kingdom in recognition of meritorious civil or military service. Recipients are entitled to use

259-588: Is affiliated to it. Between 1993 and 2012, the British Empire Medal was not awarded to citizens of the United Kingdom, although it continued to be awarded in some Commonwealth realms during that time. The practice of awarding the Medal to British citizens was resumed in June 2012, to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II . Since March 1941 a clasp attached to the ribbon can be bestowed to denote

296-520: The CAM ship Empire Lawrence launched her Hawker Sea Hurricane , but the pilot was wounded whilst attacking five Junkers Ju 88s , of which one was shot down and another damaged. The pilot bailed out and his aircraft crashed into the sea. DEMS gunners on Empire Elgar damaged two aircraft, with one probably destroyed. The attacks continued into the next day. On reaching the entrance to the White Sea , progress

333-507: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships on 23 June 1969. The new tonnage regulations entered into force for all new ships on 18 July 1982, but existing vessels were given a migration period of 12 years to ensure that ships were given reasonable economic safeguards, since port and other dues are charged according to ship's tonnage. Since 18 July 1994

370-570: The Kola Inlet on 28 August and arrived at Loch Ewe on 5 September. She was carrying 195 long tons (218 tonnes) of ammunition and was bound for Leith , Midlothian , where she was to receive further instructions. She joined convoy WN 630, which departed on 7 September and arrived at Methil two days later. Empire Elgar departed from Methil on 29 October, spending the next five months sailing between Methil and Southend in various FN and FS convoys. She visited Sunderland , Co Durham from 12 to 15 December,

407-514: The Tyne from 27 December to 5 January 1945 and again from 31 January to 13 February. She departed from Southend on 19 February as a member of Convoy FN 1638, which arrived at Methil on 21 February. Empire Elgar left the convoy at Great Yarmouth , Norfolk , on 20 February. She sailed the next day to join Convoy FN 1640, which had departed from Southend that day and arrived at Methil on 23 February. She left

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444-527: The merchant marine , police and civil defence, for acts of gallantry that did not reach the standard of the George Medal (GM). Such awards often had citations, while awards for meritorious service usually did not. From 14 January 1958, awards of the BEM for acts of gallantry were formally designated the British Empire Medal for Gallantry and consisted of the BEM with a silver oak leaf emblem worn on

481-403: The 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting , Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the BEM would once again be awarded in the United Kingdom; this would start beginning in 2012, to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II . In the 2012 Birthday Honours , released on 16 June 2012, the BEM was awarded to 293 people. Although those awarded the honour do not receive it from

518-500: The EGM was awarded for acts of bravery, until it was replaced by the George Cross in 1940. The BEM was awarded in similar circumstances as the other Order of the British Empire medals. In the uniformed services, it was awarded to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police, On 24 September 1940, the George Cross was established, and

555-563: The EGM was revoked by Royal Warrant the same day. All living recipients, other than honorary recipients, and the next-of-kin of those posthumously awarded the EGM after 3 September 1939, the start of the Second World War , were to exchange their insignia for the George Cross. Recipients of the BEM were not affected by these changes. From 1940, the war led to an increasing number of BEMs awarded to service personnel and civilians, including

592-481: The Royal cypher on the reverse. The medal had a ring suspender for the 27 millimetres (1.1 in) wide ribbon of plain purple, the military division having a red central stripe. The medal was awarded unnamed. The medals introduced in 1922 broadly follow the same design but, with a diameter of 36 millimetres (1.4 in), are larger than the previous medal, and have either FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE or FOR GALLANTRY in

629-523: The Tyne on 2 April, arriving on 11 April via convoys RU 158, WN 684 and FS 1780. She departed on 22 April, joining Convoy FN 1693, which had departed from Southend the previous day and arrived at Methil on 23 April. Reykjavik was reached on 1 May via convoys EN 488 and UR 161. Empire Elgar was a member of Convoy RU 163, which departed from Reykjavik on 22 May 1945 and arrived at the Belfast Lough on 27 May. She

666-617: The United Kingdom until 1992. After a 1993 review of the British honours system , the government decided that the distinction between the BEM and MBE had "become increasingly tenuous" and the Prime Minister, John Major , ended the award of the BEM to British subjects, although the medal continued to be awarded in some Commonwealth realms , such as the Bahamas and the Cook Islands . Following

703-483: The convoy at the Tyne on 22 February. Empire Elgar sailed on 7 March for Blyth, Northumberland , arriving later that day. She departed on 10 March, joining Convoy FN 1656, which had departed from Southend the previous day and arrived at Methil on 11 March. She joined Convoy EN 480, which departed on 13 March and arrived at Loch Ewe two days later. Empire Elgar was a member of Convoy UR 157, which departed on 15 March and arrived at Reykjavik on 20 March. She departed for

740-435: The gross and net tonnages, dimensionless indices calculated from the total moulded volume of the ship and its cargo spaces by mathematical formulae , have been the only official measures of the ship's tonnage. However, the gross and net register tonnages are still widely used in describing older ships. British Empire Medal The British Empire Medal ( BEM ; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service )

777-447: The guns and by their courage, coolness and accuracy of fire succeeded in beating off the many attacks to which the ship was subjected. Empire Elgar was equipped with derricks enabling her to unload the heavy war stores ( locomotives , tanks and aircraft ) from other ships that arrived with Convoy PQ 16. Amongst her cargo were tanks. Once she had discharged her cargo, Empire Elgar unloaded other ships' cargos into her hold, returned to

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814-458: The monarch in person, but from the Lord Lieutenant of their county, recipients are invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party to celebrate their achievement. The Medal of the Order of the British Empire awarded from 1917 to 1922 was a circular silver medal, 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in diameter, showing a seated Britannia and the inscription FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE on the obverse and

851-418: The obverse exergue . The medal has a straight bar suspender for the 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide ribbon. This was plain purple, with a red central stripe for the military division, until 1937 when, like the Order, the ribbon changed to the current design of rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with an additional pearl-grey central stripe for the military division. The medal was presented with the recipient's name on

888-489: The original medal was discontinued, and was replaced by two separate honours, both of which still formed part of the Order of the British Empire. These two honours were known as the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (usually referred to as British Empire Medal , BEM) and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (usually referred to as Empire Gallantry Medal , EGM). Of these medals,

925-584: The planes were set on fire, one being seen to crash into the sea. An attempt was made to ram an enemy submarine, and although this was unsuccessful, the ship's accurate fire kept the enemy submerged. The Second Officer was the Gunnery Officer of the ship and his courage, skill and leadership were mainly responsible for the excellent defence of the vessel which resulted in the probable destruction of at least one enemy aircraft and severe damage to others. Able Seamen Patterson and Smith did splendid work at

962-638: The poor quality of the Russian coal. On arrival at Murmansk, it was discovered that the port had been under attack for the previous three days. Murmansk was under almost constant attack as the Germans had possession of airfields only 55 nautical miles (102 km) away. In December, a convoy reached the Murmansk area. Empire Elgar sailed down the Dvina River to where a jetty served the naval base and airfield . She unloaded

999-458: The post-nominal letters " BEM " with special privileges to use St Paul's Cathedral for funerals, baptisms and weddings. BEM holders can also apply for a family crest designed by the Monarch’s artist. Since December 1918, the honour has been divided into civil and military divisions in a similar way to the Order of the British Empire itself. While recipients are not members of the Order, the medal

1036-488: The quayside and then put the transferred cargo ashore. She assisted in unloading the survivors of the ill-fated Convoy PQ 17 . In September, Empire Elgar was ordered to Molotovosk . Five ships from a convoy ran aground on a sandbank and she was sent to unload their cargos in order to refloat the ships. Empire Elgar returned to Archangelsk to unload. She was then ordered to Murmansk to relieve Empire Bard . The 550 nautical miles (1,020 km) voyage taking 24 hours due to

1073-619: The ribbon. The first recipients of this newly designated award were two Board of Customs officers, George Elrick Thomson and John Rees Thomas, who ventured into a burning steamship hold in an attempt to rescue a colleague. Like the GM, the BEM for Gallantry could not be awarded posthumously and was eventually replaced in 1974 with the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM). Again, recipients of the BEM for services other than acts of bravery were not affected by these changes. The BEM continued to be awarded to subjects of

1110-546: The volume of spaces not available for carrying cargo, such as engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from gross register tonnage. Gross register tonnage is not a measure of the ship's weight or displacement and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement . Gross register tonnage was defined by the Moorsom Commission in 1849. Gross and net register tonnages were replaced by gross tonnage and net tonnage , respectively, when

1147-400: Was a member of Convoy PQ 16 , which departed on 21 May. On 24 May, the convoy was spotted by a Blohm & Voss Ha 139 reconnaissance aircraft. The convoy was to remain under aerial surveillance for the next six days. On 25 May, an attempt was made to bomb the convoy, but no hits were scored. This was followed by a second attack, also unsuccessful. When a third attack was mounted that evening,

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1184-428: Was awarded an MBE for their actions whilst Empire Elgar was under attack. These were Gazetted on 30 July 1943. The ship sailed in a convoy which, for six days, was attacked almost continuously by submarines and from the air, but the vessel survived and arrived safely. During the passage of the convoy an excellent defence was put up by the ship. Many hits were registered on enemy aircraft and on one occasion three of

1221-654: Was built by the Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool. Empire Elgar was launched on 17 February 1942 and completed in April. The United Kingdom Official Number 168938 and Code Letters BDRL were allocated. Her port of registry was West Hartlepool and she was placed under the management of the Dover Navigation Co Ltd. She had a crew of 27, plus nine DEMS gunners. Empire Elgar arrived at Middlesbrough , Yorkshire on 18 April 1942. After loading

1258-424: Was carrying a cargo of cod liver oil . She then sailed to Grangemouth , Stirlingshire , arriving the next day. Empire Elgar departed on 1 June for Hull , Yorkshire, arriving two days later. She sailed on 22 June for Liverpool , Lancashire , arriving on 26 June and departing on 3 July for London, where she arrived on 6 July. She departed for Liverpool on 20 July, arriving four days later. In 1947, Empire Elgar

1295-531: Was slowed by ice. Two icebreakers were required to clear a passage. PQ16 arrived at Murmansk , Soviet Union on 30 May. Empire Elgar ' s destination was Archangelsk . She moored in the Dvina Bay some 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) from the town, where a new quay was under construction. Amongst her crew were Able Seamen George Kitchener Patterson and Harry Smith and Second Officer Maurice Irvin. Patterson and Smith were awarded British Empire Medals and Irvin

1332-434: Was sold to a Norwegian company and renamed Edward Jansen . A further sale in 1960 saw her renamed Slitan . In 1961, she was sold to a Bulgarian company and renamed Pirin ( Bulgarian : Пирин ). She served until 1965 when she was scrapped at Split , Yugoslavia . The ship was built in 1942 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool , Co Durham . The ship was 315 feet 4 inches (96.11 m) long, with

1369-682: Was sold to her managers. She was renamed Sea Minstrel . In 1951, she was sold to Drayton Steamship Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne and renamed Marandellas . In 1956, Marandellas was sold to I Jansen, Bergen , Norway and renamed Edward Jansen . She was sold in 1960 to Skibs A/S Katlander and renamed Slitan . In 1961, she was sold to the Bulgarian Government-owned Navigation Maritime Bulgare , Varna and renamed Pirin . She served until 1965, arriving on 1 October at Split , Yugoslavia for scrapping. Gross register tonnage Net register tonnage subtracts

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