William Davidson Mudie was born on September 22, 1841 in Dumfriesshire (Scotland). He went to sea at the age of 16 and passed his Master's ticket in 1877. In March 1884 he was made Master of the SS Thibet, a threedeck, three mast, barque-rigged passenger&cargo liner of the P&O Stemaship Navigation company.
On September 19th 1884 at 11.15 hrs, whilst en route from Yokohama to Hong Kong, he rescued off the coast of Nagasaki 13 men (Captain Fukushima Tokutaro and 12 crewmen) on a junk, bottom up, much exhausted and without food for 48 hours. A severe gale had occurred there earlier (P&O Ships movements and Nautical reports, Greenwhich Maritime museum). On 21 October 1884 Captain Mudie received the Red Ribbon medal (Koju Hosho) from the Japanese government for saving the lives of several Japanese seamen.
Mudie's career with P&O ended in 1898 because of bad health and he was granted a pension of 100 pounds a year.
On September 19th 1884 at 11.15 hrs, whilst en route from Yokohama to Hong Kong, he rescued off the coast of Nagasaki 13 men (Captain Fukushima Tokutaro and 12 crewmen) on a junk, bottom up, much exhausted and without food for 48 hours. A severe gale had occurred there earlier (P&O Ships movements and Nautical reports, Greenwhich Maritime museum). On 21 October 1884 Captain Mudie received the Red Ribbon medal (Koju Hosho) from the Japanese government for saving the lives of several Japanese seamen.
Mudie's career with P&O ended in 1898 because of bad health and he was granted a pension of 100 pounds a year.
Private collection. Photos courtesy of the owner.
Bar engraved with a date October 21, 1884.
Reverse engraved
英吉利國 - England
ダブリユ・ミユーデイー - [ lit. Daburiyu Miyūdeī] Davidson Mudie
Original case.