Memorial at Gorleston Old Cemetery, Norfolk, commemorating four members of a local lifeboat ‘Refuge’ which capsized after going to the assistance of the ‘Akaba’
Location
Gorleston Old Cemetery, Gorleston, Norfolk, England
Transcript
[Front of base] ‘VOLUNTEER LIFEBOAT MEMORIAL’ [above on a scroll] ‘AARON GEORGE. / Aged 64 Years. / IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH.’ [South side on scroll] ‘WILLIAM WHILEY. / Aged 34 Years.’ [East side on scroll] ‘ALFRED WOODS. / Aged 27 Years.’ [North side] ‘SAMUEL GEORGE. / Aged 39 Years.’ [On separate plaque] ‘WHO WERE UNFORTUNATELY / DROWNED THROUGH THE / CAPSIZING OF THE LIFEBOAT / REFUGE WHEN RETURNING / FROM RENDERING MERITORIOUS / SERVICES TO THE STEAMSHIP / AKABA. / NOVEMBER 10TH / 1888.’
Details
Description: Base of cross (now detached) carved with rocks. The inscriptions are placed on four carved scrolls, a border of rope twist runs round the base. Type: Cross Position: Gorleston Old Cemetery Materials: Sandstone Vessel: Refuge, Akaba
People
George, Aaron Age: 64 Date of Death: 10/11/1888 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman Organisation: Unknown Whiley, William Age: 34 Date of Death: 10/11/1888 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman Organisation: Unknown George, Samuel Age: 39 Date of Death: 10/11/1888 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman Organisation: Unknown Woods, Alfred Age: 27 Date of Death: 10/11/1888 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman Organisation: Unknown
Extra
Notes: 'Refuge' was a private lifeboat belonging to Gorleston boatmen. After going to the assistance of steamer 'Akaba' she was being towed back to port when the tow-rope parted and she was driven onshore where she capsized with the loss of four of her seven crew. Recorder: Stewart Adams 2019 Photographer: Stewart Adams
Wall tablet in St Peter’s Church, Fort Colombo, Sri Lanka commemorating Lieutenant John Gore RN d. 1835
Location
St Peter's Church, Fort Colombo, Sri Lanka, Rest of the World
Transcript
'Sacred to the memory of Lieut. JOHN GORE RN, only son of Vice Admiral Sir John Gore K.C.B. who during the voyage home of his father's flagship "Melville" from this station perished heroically in an unsuccessful attempt to save the life of a brother officer off Algoa Bay on the 30th April 1835 aged 23 years. This tablet was placed here by his friend, the Right Hon. Sir Robert Wilmot Horton Bart. G.C.H., Governor of Ceylon MDCCCXXXVII.'
Details
Type: Wall tablet Vessel: HMS Melville
People
Gore, John Age: 23 Date of Death: 30/4/1835 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Lieutenant Organisation: Royal Navy
Memorial window at St Nicholas’ Church, Blakeney, Norfolk dedicated to the RNLI, AD 2000
Location
St Nicholas' Church, Blakeney, Norfolk, England
Transcript
'RNLI / AD 2000 / THE BLAKENEY TWELVE XII'
Details
Description: The upper section of the window has scout badges. The lower section has two shields related to the sea. In the lower left hand window is the emblem of the RNLI and on the lower right is a village sign for Blakeney. Roundels feature sea-related imagery - a crab, cockle shells, two fish and a badge of 'The Blakeney Twelve'.
Type: Window Position: North Porch Materials: Stained glass Date Erected: 2002 Artists: Jane Gray
Extra
Notes: The Blakeney Twelve refers to a group of twelve businessmen who fund raise for local charities.
Memorial at Patrixbourne, Kent commemorating Captain Bridges Watkinson Taylor RN d. 1814
Location
St Mary's Church, Patrixbourne, Kent, England
Transcript
'Sacred to the Memory of Captain Bridges Watkinson Taylor, of the Royal Navy (fifth son of the Rev. Edward Taylor of Bifrons), born, Sept. 25th, 1777. He served with distinguished zeal and credit from the early age of 15 years with little interval until the period of his death, which was caused by the upsetting of a boat off Brindisi in the Adriatic, on the 24th February 1814, whilst he was in command of his Majesty's ship Apollo, and forwarding measures for a projected attack upon the island of Corfu, then in the possession of the French. He was not less conspicuous for the active and gallant manner in which he discharged his duty to his King and Country, than for kindness of heart, benevolence of disposition, exemplary and unaffected piety, and it is remarkable that his meritorious and useful career was closed by a fatal accident from which, under Providence, he had, at the risk of his own life, rescued at various periods of his service, three of his fellow creatures. He had the honour of sharing in the glory of the victories of the 1st June 1794, and the Nile on the 1st of August 1798. On the 18th of the same month, when Lieutenant on board the Leander of 50 guns, he was wounded and taken prisoner in a hard-contested action between that ship and the French ship Genevent of 74 guns. In proof of the esteem and affection born to his memory by the officers of the Apollo, they have erected a monument to him in the church at Portsmouth. This tablet is placed here by his surviving brothers and sisters in testimony of their attachment to a most affectionate and most beloved brother.'
Details
Event Category
1793-1802 French Revolutionary War; 1803-1815 Napoleonic War
People
Taylor, Bridges Watkinson Age: 36 Date of Death: 24/2/1814 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Captain Organisation: Royal Navy
Extra
Notes: Other memorials at Brindisi and Portsmouth. Bibliography: Rev. W. A. Scott Robinson ‘Patricksbourne Church and Bifrons’, Kent Archaeological Society, vol xiv, 1882 Recorder: See biblio
Plaque at St Mary the Virgin, Ingestre commemorating Sub-Lieutenant William Talbot d. 1872
Location
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Ingestre, Staffordshire, England
Transcript
‘To the beloved memory of / Sub Lieutenant William Talbot RN / aged 24 who was drowned at sea off the coast of / Portugal 3rd March 1872 with nine others of a boat's crew / in a gallant attempt to save the life of a shipmate. / This tablet is placed by his brother officers to record their deep / regret at his loss and their warm admiration of his heroic conduct. / Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ [On arch] 'H.M.S. ARIADNE'
Details
Description: A brass plate with a border of oak leaves, anchors in the corners and an engraved arch at the top. A coat of arms over the inscription. Type: Plaque Position: North side of nave Materials: Brass Vessel: HMS Ariadne
People
Talbot, William Age: 24 Date of Death: 3/3/1872 Cause of Death: Maritime accident Rank / Occupation: Sub-Lieutenant RN Organisation: Royal Navy
Memorial in St Matthew’s Church, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire dedicated to Captain John Boyd RN d. 1861
Location
St Matthew's Church, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Transcript
'Captain John McNeill BOYD of H.M.S. Ajax, who with five of his brave sailors, perished at KINGSTOWN Ireland in a gallant attempt to rescue from destruction the crews of two vessels driven on the rocks by the Hurricane of the 9th February 1861. To record this heroic act of self sacrifice as well as that rare union of qualities that endeared the warm friend, the manly christian, the intrepid sailor and the considerate commander to all who knew him. This monument is erected by thirty members of the congregation of this church in which his brother ministered for eighteen years'
Details
Vessel: HMS Ajax
People
Boyd, John McNeill Age: 49 Date of Death: 9/2/1861 Cause of Death: Unknown/None Rank / Occupation: Captain RN Organisation: Royal Navy
Extra
Notes: Captain Royal Navy, HMS 'Ajax', drowned in attempt to rescue crew of 'Neptune' during hurricane. Recorder: Rev. William Henry Donnan, 27/10/1970
Memorial in Postman’s Park, London commemorating Ernest Benning d. 1883
Location
St Botolph's Church, Postman's Park, London, England
Transcript
'ERNEST BENNING / COMPOSITOR. AGED 22 / UPSET FROM A BOAT ONE DARK / NIGHT OFF PIMLICO PIER / GRASPED AN OAR WITH ONE HAND / SUPPORTED A WOMAN WITH THE / OTHER BUT SANK AS SHE WAS / RESCUED AUG. 25. 1883'
Details
Description: Painted tile on a wall under a lean-to. Type: Memorial tile Position: Churchyard Artists: William de Morgan, Ernest george
People
Benning, Ernest Age: 22 Date of Death: 25/8/1883 Cause of Death: Maritime Accident Rank / Occupation: Organisation:
Extra
Notes: A memorial cloister or loggia set up at the expense of the sculptor and painter G. F. Watts in 1899. Bibliography: Philip Ward-Jackson 'Public Sculpture of the City of London' (Liverpool, 2003). pp.295-98.
Gravestone in Trinity Road Cemetery, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire commemorating Charles Barr d. 1893
Location
Trinity Road Cemetery, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England
Transcript
'In loving memory of Charles Risdale Barr who lost his life whilst going to take the lifeboat to the rescue of others 18 Apr 1893 aged 43 years. Also George Speight Barr son of the above drowned 9 Feb 1899 aged 22 years'
Details
Type: Gravestone
People
Barr, Charles Risdale Age: 43 Date of Death: 18/4/1893 Cause of Death: Unknown/None Rank / Occupation: Organisation:
Extra
Notes: George Speight Barr, drowned. Father and Son, Charles Risdale Barr and George Speight Barr buried in same grave. Recorder: C. Flintham
Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Castle Macadam, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland commemorating Thomas Belton, Patrick Leban and Thomas Burke, d. 1908
Location
Holy Trinity Church, Castle Macadam, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
Transcript
[Front] 'SACRED / TO THE MEMORY OF / CAPTAIN JAMES THOMAS BELTON / S.S. CITY OF DUNDEE / BY WHOSE DEVOTED GALLANTRY ALL THE / PASSENGERS WERE SAVED, WHEN, DURING / A FOG, THE VESSEL WAS RUN INTO & SUNK / IN THE BAY OF CARDIGAN / EARLY ON THE MORNING OF 4TH OCT. 1908 / 'WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE / WATERS, I WILL BE WITH THEE''
[Back] 'THE REMAINS WERE WASHED ASHORE / AT ENNEREILLY / AND HERE BY LOVING HANDS / LAID TO REST ON HALLOW EVE / HIS NAME IS ONE OF THE FIRST INSCRIBED / ON THE / CARNEGIE TRUST ROLL OF HEROES / BORN AT HULL 20TH NOV. 1863'
[Right panel] 'THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED / BY HIS BROTHER CAPTAINS, / OFFICERS AND FRIENDS / TO COMMERATE / THE HEROIC DEED OF A BRAVE / AND NOBLE ENGLISH SAILOR'
[Left panel] 'TWO OF HIS OFFICERS, BOTH IRISHMEN, / PATRICK HENRY LEBAN, AGED 45 YEARS / SECOND OFFICER / AND / THOMAS BURKE, AGED 47 YEARS / QUARTER MASTER / SHARED THE SAME GLORIOUS END, / GOING DOWN WITH THE SHIP'
Details
Description: Plinth surmounted by cross with anchor and chain twined round. Type: Memorial; Cross Position: Churchyard Vessel: SS City of Dundee
People
Belton, James Thomas Age: 42 Date of Death: 4/10/1908 Cause of Death: Vessel Loss Rank / Occupation: Master Organisation: Ellerman’s City Line Burke, Thomas Age: 47 Date of Death: 4/10/1908 Cause of Death: Vessel Loss Rank / Occupation: Quartermaster Organisation: Ellerman’s City Line Leban, Patrick Henry Age: 45 Date of Death: 4/10/1908 Cause of Death: Vessel Loss Rank / Occupation: 2nd Officer Organisation: Ellerman’s City Line
Extra
Notes: DOSSIER. The City of Dundee was in collision with Elders & Fyffes MATINA in St George's Channel, Bay of Cardigan. The passengers were all rescued. Bibliography: The Ship’s List Recorder: Alfred Farnell
Memorial in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales commemorating Ieuan Bateman d. 1956
Location
Memorial hall, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Transcript
'In memoriam of Ieuan Bateman of Tregimnis Lodge who lost his life while serving on the St Davids Lifeboat during the rescue of the crew of the trawler Notre Dame de Fatima on November 8th 1956'
Details
Type: Brass plaque Materials: Brass Vessel: Notre Dame de Fatima
People
Bateman, Ieuan Age: 22 Date of Death: 8/11/1956 Cause of Death: Maritime Accident Rank / Occupation: lifeboatman Organisation: RNLI
Extra
Recorder: David Saunders
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Commemorating seafarers and victims of maritime disasters
