{"product_id":"royal-naval-reserve-ww1-medal-trio-survived-ss-mantola-sinking-1917-from-isle-of-skye","title":"Royal Naval Reserve WW1 Medal Trio Survived SS Mantola Sinking 1917 from Isle of Skye","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Medal Trio – Seaman Donald McLeod, Royal Naval Reserve\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1914-15 Star – \u003cb\u003e8281 A.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eD. MC LEOD. SMN. R.N.R. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003e8281A.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eD. MC LEOD. SMN. R.N.R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e8281A.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eD. MC LEOD. SMN. R.N.R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eDonald McLeod\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e was born on 12 March 1877 at Leith, Midlothian, and was resident on the \u003cb\u003eIsle of Skye,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eInverness-shire\u003c\/b\u003e prior to the First World War. He enlisted into the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Naval Reserve\u003c\/b\u003e and was mobilised for wartime service on \u003cb\u003e14 May 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, serving as an \u003cb\u003eAble Seaman\u003c\/b\u003e. His service record confirms continuous wartime employment afloat, with service aboard a number of vessels during the conflict.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eOne of the most notable ships on which McLeod served was the \u003cb\u003eSS Mantola\u003c\/b\u003e, a British India Steam Navigation Company “M” class cargo liner built by \u003cb\u003eBarclay, Curle \u0026amp; Co of Whiteinch, Glasgow\u003c\/b\u003e, and completed in June 1916. Mantola was a large and modern vessel of \u003cb\u003e8,253 gross registered tons\u003c\/b\u003e, powered by twin triple-expansion engines producing \u003cb\u003e4,050 ihp\u003c\/b\u003e, giving her a service speed of almost \u003cb\u003e14 knots\u003c\/b\u003e. Intended for the London–Bombay route, she was fitted to carry both cargo and passengers, with accommodation for \u003cb\u003e127 passengers\u003c\/b\u003e and a crew of \u003cb\u003e165\u003c\/b\u003e, and was defensively armed with a \u003cb\u003e4.7-inch gun\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eMantola’s wartime career was short but dramatic. On \u003cb\u003e30 October 1916\u003c\/b\u003e, while steaming from Middlesbrough to London, she struck a mine in the North Sea off Aldeburgh, damaging her forward hold but managing to remain afloat and reach port. Following repairs, she resumed service and on \u003cb\u003e4 February 1917\u003c\/b\u003e sailed from London bound for Calcutta, carrying general cargo and an exceptionally valuable consignment of \u003cb\u003eapproximately 600,000 ounces of silver bullion\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e8 February 1917\u003c\/b\u003e, while in the \u003cb\u003eWestern Approaches\u003c\/b\u003e, Mantola was torpedoed by the German submarine \u003cb\u003eU-81\u003c\/b\u003e, the torpedo striking abreast of the bridge and causing extensive damage, rupturing steam pipes and filling the ship with escaping steam. The order to abandon ship was given, and during the evacuation \u003cb\u003eseven lascar crewmen lost their lives\u003c\/b\u003e, either in the initial explosion or during the launching of the lifeboats. Despite the damage, Mantola remarkably remained afloat through the night. The following morning an attempt was made by \u003cb\u003eHMS Laburnum\u003c\/b\u003e to tow her, but worsening seas made this impossible, and Mantola was finally abandoned and sank on \u003cb\u003e9 February 1917\u003c\/b\u003e at position \u003cb\u003e49°50′16″N 13°06′12″W\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eMcLeod’s service record confirms that he was a \u003cb\u003esurvivor of the loss of SS Mantola\u003c\/b\u003e, placing him directly at the centre of one of the more remarkable merchant shipping losses of the First World War. The wreck later gained renewed prominence when deep-sea salvage operations recovered part of her silver cargo from a depth of over \u003cb\u003e2,400 metres\u003c\/b\u003e, further cementing Mantola’s place in maritime history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eMcLeod’s wartime service with the Royal Naval Reserve qualified him for the award of the \u003cb\u003e1914–15 Star\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eBritish War Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eVictory Medal\u003c\/b\u003e. He was demobilised following the end of hostilities and returned to civilian life in \u003cb\u003eCulnacnoc, Skye Inverness-shire\u003c\/b\u003e. He died on \u003cb\u003e22 June 1953\u003c\/b\u003e at Culnacnoc, Stenscholl.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eA highly evocative Royal Naval Reserve trio, firmly attributable to the dramatic loss of SS Mantola — groups with such a clear and well-documented shipwreck survival story are scarce and increasingly hard to find.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003ePHOTOGRAPH – Photograph of Donald McLeod was found on Ancestry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53138095243610,"sku":null,"price":155.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251126_133830_2.png?v=1766069120","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-naval-reserve-ww1-medal-trio-survived-ss-mantola-sinking-1917-from-isle-of-skye","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}