had afflicted their skin and Mary Ferguson was suffering from 48 salt water boils. She and Traunter remained in Lisbon until they were judged fit enough to travel. At the end of August a Douglas DC-3 flew them from Lisbon to Bristol, England. Ferguson almost immediately fulfilled her intention to join the WRNS, and served at Devonport for the remainder of the war. Honours and monuments In November 1942 Chief Officer Eric Pearce, First Officer Michael Tallack and Second Officer John Anson were all awarded the MBE and Boatswain John Gray and passenger Mary Ferguson were awarded the BEM. Ship's carpenter Alexander Sutherland and Captain Charles Low, who had been Master of the Lylepark, received commendations. The London Gazette commended Pearce for "outstanding leadership... steady discipline and [keeping] everyone in good heart". It commended Anson for "skilful seamanship... and [overcoming] many difficulties" in charge of an open boat for 20 days on the open sea. The London Gazette commended Ferguson for "great courage... nursing four injured men... [making] no fuss... and her general behaviour during the 20 days' ordeal... was excellent". It said Gray "showed great skill and initiative... and was responsible for saving many lives". In 1943 Third Officer Richard Clarke, who had been in No. 2 Boat, was also awarded the MBE. The London Gazette said that "It was due to the courage, skill and fortitude of Mr Clarke during the latter part of the voyage that the boat was brought to safety." Lloyd's of London awarded Pearce and Ferguson Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea. Members of Almeda Stars crew who were killed are commemorated in the Second World War section of the Merchant Navy War Memorial at Tower Hill in London. One member of Avila Stars crew, 17-year-old Donald Black, is buried in the British Protestant Churchyard at Ponta Delgada. Three more are buried in the British Cemetery at St. George's Church, Lisbon: Assistant Steward William Clarke, Donkeyman Charles Ellis and Third Engineer Raymond Girdler. Ferguson's WRNS uniform jacket, bearing her medal ribbons, is now an exhibit in the Imperial War Museum. References Sources and further reading External links 1926 ships Ships of the Blue Star Line Cargo liners Maritime incidents in July 1942 Ocean liners of the United Kingdom Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II Steamships of the United Kingdom World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean