Coxswain Albert Spurgeon, of Lowestoft, who already holds the silver and bronze medals, has been awarded the bronze medal for the second time.

He took the life-boat out at night to a naval vessel, was flung against the binnacle and cut his jaw open for three inches, but he insisted on carrying on, and it was not until nearly nine hours later that he went to hospital.

There he had eight stitches put in the wound..