James Clayton Barr

[2] Carmania was larger and less manoeuvreable than the other ships that arrived, so she stood off, deployed her searchlight, and directed rescue operations.

[3] A few weeks later the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society awarded Barr its Gold Marine Medal for his part in the Volturno rescue.

[4] On 7 August 1914 Carmania was commissioned into the Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser under the command of Captain Noel Grant, RN.

Captain Barr was retained as navigator and advisor, with the acting rank of Commander, Royal Naval Reserve.

For his part in that successful action, Barr was made a Commander of the Order of the Bath and was Mentioned in Despatches.