Category Archives: Lifesaving

Gorleston Old Cemetery, Gorleston, Norfolk, England

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

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St Peter's Church, Fort Colombo, Sri Lanka, Rest of the World

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

Extra

Recorder: C. Flintham

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St Nicholas' Church, Blakeney, Norfolk, England

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.

Photographer: Pippa Lacey

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St Mary's Church, Patrixbourne, Kent, England

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

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Church of St Mary the Virgin, Ingestre, Staffordshire, England

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

Extra

Recorder: B. Tomlinson 2018

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St Matthew's Church, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

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

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St Botolph's Church, Postman's Park, London, England

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.

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Trinity Road Cemetery, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England

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

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Holy Trinity Church, Castle Macadam, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland

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

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Memorial hall, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales

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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