Awarded to Capt. Ronald Neil Stuart, VC, DSO, RD, RNR.

Ronald Neil Stuart was born in 1886 and was the son, grandson and great grandson of seamen. His father was a master mariner and the family lived in Liverpool where Stuart attended Shaw Street College. He went to sea as an apprentice in 1902 on board the barque Kirkhill and later joined the Allan Line which was taken over by Canadian Pacific in 1915. Stuart became a probationary Sub-Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve in 1914 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1916. He commanded the destroyer HMS 'Opossum' and in 1917 was awarded the United States Navy Cross while commanding the Q ship 'Tamarisk'. He had come to the aid of the US destroyer 'Cassin' when she had been torpedoed by a U boat and towed her back to harbour. Stuart was promoted Lieutenant Commander RNR in 1918.
After the war, he returned to work for the Canadian Pacific Line but still remained an officer in the RNR and was promoted to Captain in 1935. He retired from CPR in 1951 where he had risen to the rank of Commodore in 1934. He became general manager of the company from 1938 until his retirement. Captain Stuart died in 1954.

The medal is in the form of a cross with points of laurel at the junction of the arms with, on a central boss. Obverse: A caravel. Reverse: Crossed anchors with the letters "U.S.N." Fitted in original case of issue. Fitted with a blue ribbon with central white stripe. It was instituted by Act of Congress 4 February 1919 as the USA's third highest decoration.

The museum also holds Captain Stuart’s Victoria Cross (MED1255), Reserve Officers’ Decoration (MED1257), 1914-1915 Star (MED1258), British War Medal (MED1259), Victory Medal (MED1260), George VI Coronation Medal (MED1261) and the Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (MED1262)