b. 1838 Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland. d. ?
DATE OF AM ACTION: 20/11/1878 Boucan, France.
Peter Sharp was born in Androssan, North Ayrshire, Scotland in 1838, and gained his Master’s Certificate on 16 September 1869. Appointed to the command of the brig Annabella Clark, of Ardrossan, he was, along with one of his crew members, awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea for the rescue of the crew of the French ship Mélania, which had caught fire near Bayonne. For their great gallantry in saving the lives of the French crew, both Sharp and McIntosh were additionally awarded the Albert Medal in Gold for Sea. Sharp received his AM from the Mayor of Newport, Monmouthshire on 24th April 1879.
AM CITATION:
On the 20th of November, 1878, at about 5.45 P.M., a fire suddenly broke out. on board the French ship ” Melanie,” which was lying in the River Adour, at Boucan, near Bayonne, loaded with 500 barrels of petroleum, of which 40 were on deck. 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, Master of the ” Aunabella Clark,” of Ardrossan (which was lying close by in the river), accompanied by a seaman, named JOHN MCINTOSH, came at once to his assistance. They rowed their boat through the flames, picked up the seaman-who had jumped overboard and took the mate from the blazing vessel. Captain SHARP and MCINTOSH both sustained very severe injuries. It was feared at first that Captain SHARP would lose the sight of one eye? and JOHN MC!NTOSH the use of bis hands.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, GREENWICH, LONDON.
Acknowledgement:
Allan Stanistreet – Image of Peter Sharp AM.