Category Archives: Lifesaving

Ship Inn, Mousehole, Cornwall, England

Plaque in Mousehole, Cornwall dedicated to Charles Greenhaugh. d. 1981

Location

Ship Inn, Mousehole, Cornwall, England

Transcript

'CHARLES GREENHAUGH / LANDLORD OF THIS HOUSE/AND CREWMAN OF THE SOLOMON BROWNE / LOST WITH ALL HAND 19TH DECEMBER 1981 / REMEMBERED WITH GREAT AFFECTION / BY TENANTS, MANAGERS / EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS / OF ST. AUSTELL BREWERY CO. LTD. / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN'

Details

Type: Plaque
Position: Exterior of building
Materials: Slate
Vessel: Solomon Browne

People

Greenhaugh, William
Age:
Date of Death: 19/12/1981
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI

Extra

Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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Priory Church, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Memorial at the Priory Church, Bridlington commemorating six men drowned in the capsize of the lifeboat ‘Harbinger’ during the gale of 1871

Location

Priory Church, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Transcript

[South side] 'IN REMEMBRANCE OF / ROBERT PICKERING, / JOHN CLAPPISON, / RICHARD ATKIN, JAMES WATSON, / DAVID PURDON / WILLIAM COBB / WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE / HARBINGER LIFEBOAT / WHILST NOBLY ENDEAVOURING TO / SAVE THOSE WHOSE BODIES REST BELOW ' [East side] 'IN LASTING MEMORY / OF / A GREAT COMPANY OF SEAMEN / WHO PERISHED IN THE FEARFUL GALE / WHICH SWEPT OVER / BRIDLINGTON BAY, / ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 1871. / THE WAVES OF THE SEA ARE MIGHTY AND RAGE HORRIBLY, / BUT THE LORD WHO DWELLETH ON HIGH / IS MIGHTIER' [North side] 'THE ARROW OF SUNDERLAND / CAROLINE OF WHITBY / JOHN OF WHITSTABLE / LAVINIA OF SEAHAM / DELTA OF WHITBY / MARGARET OF IPSWICH / PRODUCE OF FOLKESTONE / TERESITA OF HARWICH / WILLIAM MAITLAND, WHITBY / AND AN UNKNOWN ENGLISH SCHOONER, WERE WRECKED ON THE 10TH / OF FEBRUARY, 1871, WITH LOSS OF LIFE IN BRIDLINGTON BAY. / THIRTEEN OTHER VESSELS WERE LOST IN THE BAY IN THE SAME GALE' [WEST SIDE] 'FORTY-THREE BODIES / OF THOSE WHO ON THAT DAY / LOST THEIR LIVES LIE IN THIS / CHURCHYARD, NEAR THIS MONUMENT'

Details

Description: Obelisk on pedestal and four-stepped plinth, within an enclosure of iron posts and chains.
Type: Memorial
Position: Churchyard
Materials: Stone
Vessel: Arrow, Caroline, Delta, John, Lavinia, Harbinger, Margaret, Produce, Teresita, William Maitland

People

Atkin, Richard
Age:
Date of Death: 10/2/1871
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Clappison, John
Age:
Date of Death: 10/2/1871
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Cobb, William
Age:
Date of Death: 10/2/1871
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Pickering, Robert
Age:
Date of Death: 10/2/1871
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Purdon, David
Age:
Date of Death: 10/2/1871
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Watson, James
Age:
Date of Death: 10/2/1871
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Erected by public subscription. It commemorates the men of the lifeboat 'Harbinger' which capsized while attempting rescue the crews of vessels struck by the great gale of 1871.
Bibliography: W. Sharrah and J.W. Day 'Tales of the Sea: being an account of the great storm in Bridlington Bay when thirty vessels were wrecked', (Hull, 1876) pp. 9-10, 16-28.
Recorder: See biblio and Chris Newall 2003
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Poole, Dorset, England

Plaque in Poole, Dorset, dedicated to Richard Wills d. 1908

Location

Poole, Dorset, England

Transcript

'IN MEMORY OF / RICHARD WILLS / 2ND COXSWAIN FOR 30 YEARS / AND FOR 25 YEARS COXSWAIN / OF THE POOLE LIFEBOAT. / DURING THE PERIOD OF HIS SERVICE / 120 LIVES WERE SAVED. / DIED JULY 8TH 1922. / AGED 72 YEARS.'

Details

Type: Plaque
Materials: Brass

People

Wills, Richard
Age: 72
Date of Death: 8/7/1922
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboat Coxswain
Organisation: RNLI

Extra

Notes: Originally this plaque was located in the Seamen's Mission on Poole Quay which was closed in about 1950. It is currently in private hands. The obituary to Richard Wills in the RNLI journal "The Lifeboat" records the existence of this plaque and its original location (November 1922, p.337: "Richard Wills... In 1908 he was awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum for taking part in a shore-boat service, in which he and four other men rescued at great personal risk, two men whose boat had capsized in a heavy ground-swell. A brass tablet to his memory has been put up in the Seamen's Mission at Poole, and was unveiled on 19th November."
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Gilling West, North Yorkshire, England

Wall tablet in Gilling West, North Yorkshire, commemorating Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock  d. 1914

Location

Gilling West, North Yorkshire, England

Transcript

'IN MEMORY OF / REAR ADMIRAL SIR CHRISTOPHER CRADOCK / KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE VICTORIAN ORDER, / COMMANDER OF THE BATH, / KNIGHT OF THE ROYAL ORDER CROWN OF PRUSSIA, / KNIGHT OF THE ROYAL SPANISH ORDER OF NAVAL MERIT, / MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL OTTOMAN ORDER OF THE MEDJIDIEH, / AIDE DE CAMP TO KING EDWARD VII 1909-1910, / 4TH SON OF CHRISTOPHER CRADOCK OF HARTFORTH. / BORN 1862 - KILLED IN ACTION 1914 / 'THE DAY THOU GAVEST LORD IS ENDED, / THE DARKNESS FALL AT THY BEHEST' [Left panel] 'SERVED IN SOUDAN FIELD FORCE 1891 / AS A.D.C. TO GOVERNOR GENERAL OF RED SEA. / BATTLE OF TOKAR AND OCCUPATION OF /AFFIAFIT. (KHEDIVE'S BRONZE STAR. / TOKAR CLASP, MEDJIDIEH 4TH CLASS. / MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.) / COMMANDED NAVAL BRIGADE AT / STORMING AND CAPTURE OF TAKU FORTS / 1900 (PROMOTED FOR GALLANTRY, CHINA / MEDAL, TAKU CLASP.) / COMMANDED NAVAL BRIGADE AND / DIRECTED AMERICAN, JAPANESE AND / ITALIAN FORCES AT RELIEF OF TIENTSIN / AND RELIEF OF SEYMOUR'S FORCE AT / SIKU. (RELIEF OF PEKIN CLASP.) / COMMANDED 4TH CRUISER SQUADRON / 1913-1914 DURING REBELLION IN MEXICO. / RESPONSIBLE FOR RESCUING SOME / 2000 AMERICAN REFUGEES IN / MEXICO DURING AMERICA'S OPERATIONS / AGAINST THIS STATE. (RECEIVED THROUGH / BOTH THE ADMIRALTY AND FOREIGN / OFFICE THE THANKS AND APPRECIATION / OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.) [Right panel] 'COMMANDER ROYAL YACHT / 'VICTORIA AND ALBERT' 1894. / TESTIMONIAL OF ROYAL HUMANE / SOCIETY FOR SAVING LIFE IN 1904. / SILVER MEDAL OF BOARD OF TRADE / FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE ON / THE OCCASION OF THE SAVING THE / LIFE OF H.R.H. PRINCESS ROYAL AT / WRECK OF S.S. 'DELHI' 1911 WHEN HE / ALSO RECEIVED THE APPRECIATION / OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF / THE ADMIRALTY. / COMMANDED THE BRITISH SQUADRON / ON THE COAST OF AMERICA DURING THE / WAR WITH GERMANY IN 1914-18 AND / LOST HIS LIFE IN THE ACTION OFF / CORONEL CHILE 1ST NOV. 1914 WHEN / OUTNUMBERED AND OUTCLASSED / IN SHIPS, OUTRANGED IN GUNS AND / HOPELESSLY OVERWHELMED BY / WEIGHT OF METAL, HIS FLAG SHIP H.M.S. / 'GOOD HOPE' AND H.M.S. 'MONMOUTH' / WERE SUNK WITH EVERY SOUL ON / BOARD.'

Details

Description: A marble wall tablet with a carved border, a bronze sword lies below the inscription and a bronze foul anchor within a wreath is placed in the top left corner.


Type: Wall tablet
Materials: Marble, bronze
Vessel: HMS Good Hope

Event

Battle of Cape Coronel

Event Date

1914

Event Category

1914-1918 First World War

People

Cradock, Christopher
Age:
Date of Death: 1/11/1914
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Rear Admiral
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Recorder: David Saunders
Photographer: Sam Wood 2008
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Kensal Green Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, England

Memorial at Kensal Green Cemetery commemorating Harold Wingfield RN d. 1876

Location

Kensal Green Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, England

Transcript

'HAROLD WINGFIELD R.N. / DROWNED AT SEA / WHILST GALLANTLY TRYING TO SAVE SHIPMATE, 13TH DEC 1876 / AGED 17 / IN MY FATHERS HOUSE ARE / MANY MANSIONS. JOHN XIV'

Details

Description: Curbed grave, tall pedestal (ornate) with a cross and stone garland.
Type: Memorial
Position: Section 111
Materials: Stone

People

Wingfield, Harold
Age: 17
Date of Death: 13/12/1876
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Freemantle 'He was sent to the "Newcastle" at Madeira, and, poor boy, he was drowned in the China seas, having jumped overboard after a man, about which there was a court of enquiry. He was rather a wild young fellow, but a plucky lad.'
Bibliography: See Admiral The Hon. Sir Edmund Fremantle 'The Navy as I have Known it 1849-1899' (London, 1904) p.383.
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Lowestoft Municipal Cemetery, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

Memorial at Lowestoft Municipal Cemetery, Lowestoft, Suffolk commemorating William Capps, RNLI, d. 1901

Location

Lowestoft Municipal Cemetery, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

Transcript

'WILLIAM CAPPS died 10 Feb. 1901 aged 60 years (for 18 years coxswain of the Lowestoft Lifeboat) also his wife HARRIET NAOMI JENNER died 3 Jan 1928 aged 75'

Details

Type: Gravestone
Position: Plot 38

People

Capps, William
Age: 60
Date of Death: 10/2/1901
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboat Coxswain
Organisation: RNLI

Extra

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Sea Front, Margate, Kent, England

Statue on the Sea front, Margate, Kent commemorating the nine crew members of the ‘Friend to All Nations’ capsized on 2nd December 1897

Location

Sea Front, Margate, Kent, England

Transcript

'To the memory of / WILLIAM PHILLPOTT COOK Snr COXSWAIN / HENRY RICHARD BROCKMAN ROBERT ERNEST COOK / WILLIAM PHILPOTT COOK Jnr EDWARD ROBERT CRUNDEN / JOHN BENJAMIN DIKE WILLIAM RICHARD GILL / GEORGE ROBERT WILLIAM LADD CREW / AND / CHARLES E. TROUGHTON / Superintendant of the / Margate Ambulance Corps / who lost their lives through the capsizing of / the Margate Surf Boat Friend to All Nations / On Thurday 2nd December 1897'

Details

Description: Full-length statue of lifeboatman in oilskins and cork life jacket, striding forward. On a granite plinth.
Type: Statue
Materials: Bronze, granite
Date Erected: 1899
Artists: Frederick Callcott, Elkington & Co Ltd
Vessel: Friend to All Nations

People

Brockman, Henry Richard
Age: 50
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Cook, William Philpott
Age: 54
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboat coxswain
Organisation:
Cook, William Philpott
Age: 28
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Cook, Robert Ernest
Age: 26
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Crunden, Edward Robert
Age: 31
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Dike, John Benjamin
Age: 41
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Gill, William Richard
Age: 35
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Ladd, George William
Age: 38
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:
Troughton, Charles E.
Age: 40
Date of Death: 2/12/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Nine crew members drowned when 'Friend to All Nations' capsized going to rescue crew of the 'Persian Empire'.

Another memorial in Margate Cemetery M5611.

Bibliography: David Saunders 'Maritime Memorials & Mementoes' (Yeovil, 1996) p. 85
Recorder: B. Tomlinson
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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St Cattwg's Church, Port Eynon, Swansea, Wales

Statue at St Cattwg’s Church, Port Eynon, Swansea of a lifeboatman commemorating three men who died as a result of the capsize of the lifeboat ‘Janet’ in 1916

Location

St Cattwg's Church, Port Eynon, Swansea, Wales

Details

Description: The full-length figure of a lifeboatman on an inscribed plinth.
Type: Statue
Position: Churchyard
Materials: Marble on stone plinth
Vessel: Janet

People

Eynon, William
Age:
Date of Death: 1/11/1916
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: 2nd Coxswain
Organisation: RNLI
Gibbs, William
Age:
Date of Death: 1/11/1916
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Coxswain
Organisation: RNLI
Harry, George
Age:
Date of Death: 1/11/1916
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI

Extra

Notes: 'Janet' lifeboat, capsized after going to assist wrecked 'Dunvegan'.
Bibliography: H.M. Tucker 'Gower Gleanings' (Swansea,1951) pp. 69-72; Wynford Vaughan-Thomas 'Portrait of Gower' (London, 1976) pp. 121-123; David Saunders 'Maritime Memorials & Mementoes' (Yeovil, 1996) p.163 (illustration).
Recorder: Mr P.D. Morgan, 1981
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Loch Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man

Memorial at Douglas, Isle of Man commemorating Sir William Hillary d. 1847, founder of the RNLI

Location

Loch Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man

Transcript

'SIR WILLIAM HILLARY & HIS VOLUNTEER / CREW GO TO THE AID OF THE STRICKEN / ST. GEORGE 20TH NOVEMBER 1830'

Details

Description: A relief of a boat rowing towards a sinking paddle steamer.
Type: Sculpture
Materials: Bronze
Date Erected: 2001
Artists: Michael Sandle
Vessel: St George

People

Hillary, William
Age: 76
Date of Death: 5/1/1847
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Philanthropist
Organisation: Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Extra

Notes: Unveiled 29 June 2002. Aged 60, Hillary had actively participated in the rescue of the crew of the packet 'St George', wrecked at the entrance to Douglas harbour.
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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St Mary's Parish Church, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England

Gravestone at St Mary’s Parish Church, Frinton-on-Sea, commemorating Cecil Bambridge d. 1911

Location

St Mary's Parish Church, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England

Transcript

'This stone was erected / by voluntary subscriptions in memory of / Cecil Bambridge / aged 19 years / one of the crew of the / Frinton Volunteer Lifeboat / who was drowned while on service / April 5th 1911 / He gave his life for others / Elizabeth Bambridge / aged 58 years / Mother of the above / Died 23rd November 1911 / O God our help in ages past / our hope for years to come / our shelter from the stormy blast / and our eternal home'

Details

Description: With a detailed carving of a lifeboat.
Type: Headstone

People

Brambridge, Cecil
Age: 19
Date of Death: 5/4/1911
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI

Extra

Recorder: M T Morton, 7/9/81
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