Gordon Bastian

Gordon Love Bastian, (30 March 1902 – November 1987) was an engineering officer in the British Merchant Navy who was awarded the Albert Medal for risking his own life to save other members of the crew of SS Empire Bowman after it was torpedoed on 31 March 1943. In 1971, living recipients of the Albert Medal and Edward Medal were instructed to return their medal and were instead issued with the George Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry awarded to civilians or to military personnel for actions "not in the face of the enemy" in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth

Early life and career Bastian was born at Barry, Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales on 30 March 1902. In 1927, he first travelled to Canada. He joined the merchant navy and became an engineering officer. With the outbreak of the Second World War most British merchant shipping was organised into convoys, but German U-boats and surface raiders still inflicted considerable losses during the Battle of the Atlantic. Bastian was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for his convoy service on 1 January 1942.

By 12 March 1942, Bastian was second engineer officer on SS Empire Bowman, which was departing Freetown, Sierra Leone as part of Convoy SL 126, due to arrive in Liverpool at the beginning of April.

In 1944, Bastian was also awarded the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea for his actions.

Later life and legacy

Soon after receiving his AM, Bastian was invalided out of the Merchant Navy as a result of the damage caused to his lungs by the cordite smoke he inhaled during the rescue.

Bastian received his GC in a presentation made by the Governor-General of Canada, Roland Michener on 27 November 1973. Soon after the award of the AM, Bastian's portrait was painted by war artist Bernard Hailstone; the painting now forms part of the Government Art Collection. In 1990, a new road in his home town of Barry was named "Bastian Close" in his honour .