"The Albert Medal has been awarded to Trooper James Werner Magnusson, of the New Zealand Mounteds. On the occasion of the loss of a transport he dived into the rough sea and swam to the assistance of an injured soldier and placed him in a boat. He returned to the sinking ship and rejoined his unit, but lost his life."

[Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13832, 11 March 1918, Page 5]

But there is a longer story.

James had served at Gallipoli and Egypt. Judging by his service record, he certainly liked his drink and had been charged more than once with drunkeness and causing affray,  In Egypt, while on sentry duty, had a "set to" with an officer, called him a few names and was arrested and courts martialled. Sentenced to 9 months hard labour, he was returned to NZ to serve the sentence at Dunedin prison. On his release, he was sent back to Egypt via England, to rejoin his unit. However, on the leg from the UK to Egypt. the SS Transylvania was torpedoed and James was killed.

The citation for his Albert Medal reads:

" Magnusson, who was on the deck of the Transport, saw an injured soldier struggling in the water, and immediately dived overboard, although there was a very rough sea, swam to his assistance, and succeeded in placing him in a boat. Magnusson then returned to the sinking ship and rejoined his unit. His life was lost."