Star of Courage

• Awarded on: March 25, 1985
• Invested on: September 27, 1985

Franklyn Patrick Fraser, S.C.
Christopher Daniel Murphy, S.C.
Star of Courage

The brave and selfless actions of Franklyn Fraser and Christopher Murphy saved three fishermen from certain death on the morning of 4 June 1984. Fishing boats weathered ten-metre waves whipped by gale-force winds, waiting to proceed one by one through the narrow entrance of the harbour. When a huge swell pushed the Justanother Boat on its side, two boats tried unsuccessfully to rescue the three crewmembers forced to abandon ship. Responding to a distress call, Franklyn Fraser, Master of the Lorrie F., turned into the storm and closed the Justanother Boat. One man left the foundering boat and tried to scramble aboard but remained hanging on the guardrail, gripped by crewman Murphy who, paralysed with cold, was unable to lift him up. Well aware of the extreme risk to their lives, with pounding waves threatening to overtake the Lorrie F., Mr. Fraser pointed his boat into the rough sea and ran from the wheelhouse onto the deck to help pull the man to safety. He returned to the Justanother Boat and took another man on board. Weather conditions were such that the Lorrie F. bottomed in the shallow, foaming waters. Undaunted, Mr. Fraser made a third approach to the sinking vessel and Christopher Murphy recovered the remaining victim.