Lifesaving

Memorial: M5482

Memorial at St Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland commemorating Captain John McNeill Boyd, RN d. 1861

Location

St Columb's Cathedral, Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Transcript

‘{Below statue] 'I know that my Redeemer liveth', [Below] 'IN MEMORY OF / JOHN MCNEILL BOYD, R.N. / WHO / ON THE MRNING OF THE 9TH FEBY 1861 / SACRIFICED HIS OWN LIFE / IN THE NOBLE ACT OF SAVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS/ BY OBEYING, WITH THE BAVE COMPANIONS OF HIS FATE / THE NEVER-DISREGARDED CALL TO DANGER AND TO DUTY. / TO COMMEMORATE / THE NAME, THE CAREER AND THE DEATH / OF ONE IN WHOM WERE SIGNALLY UNITED, / THE HIGH QUALITIES OF THE INTREPID COMMANDER, / THE ACCOMPLISHED SAILOR, THE WARM FRIEND / AND THE CONSISTANT CHRISTIAN, / THIS MONUMENT / IS ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF / HIS NATIVE CITY / OBIIT 9 FEB. 1881 / AETAT SUAE / XLIX’

Details

Description: A statue of Hope holding an anchor and pointing heavenwards, above a relief showing Boyd pointing seawards instructing a sailor to throw a life-line. The whole supported on winged cherubs' heads, between which is an oval inscription tablet.
Type: Monument
Artists: Thomas Farrell
Vessel: HMS Ajax, Neptune

People

Boyd, John McNeill
Age: 49
Date of Death: 9/2/1861
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Boyd, the captain of HMS 'Ajax' drowned off Dun Loaghaire (Kingstown) in attempting to save the crews of the ship ‘Neptune’, the 'Industry' and the 'Mary'. Boyd, along with five crew and twenty-one townspeople, lost their lives in the rescue attempt. Boyd was posthumously awarded three medals - the RNLI Silver Medal, the Tayleur Fund Gold Medal and the Sea Gallantry Medal.

Boyd was buried with full military and naval honours in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin on 5th March 1861.

Bibliography: Homan Potterton 'Irish Church Monuments 1570-1880', (Ulster Architectural Heritage Society).
JSON