Lifesaving

Memorial: M5589

Memorial at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Aldeburgh, Suffolk commemorating the crew of the ‘Aldeburgh’ who lost their lives when the lifeboat capsized on 7th December 1899.

Location

Church of St Peter and St Paul, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England

Transcript

'A: GREATER . LOVE . HATH . NO . MAN . THAN . THIS . THAT . A . MAN . LAY . DOWN . HIS . LIFE / THIS . TABLET . IS . ERECTED . BY . THEIR . TOWNSMEN . / AND . WOMEN . IN . PROUD . AND . GRATEFUL . MEMORY . OF / JNO BUTCHER . AGED . 52 . YEARS . WALR. WARD . AGED 33 . YEARS / CHAS CRISP . AGED 51 YEARS . YEARS . ALLN A. EASTER . AGED . 28 . YEARS / THOS MORRIS . AGED . 36 . YEARS . H.W. DOWNING . AGED . 23 . YEARS / JAS M . WARD . AGED 21 . YEARS / WHO . LOST . THEIR . LIVES . BY . THE . CAPSIZING . OF / THE . LIFEBOAT "ALDEBURGH" . DEC . 7TH . 1899. / "THY WAY IS IN THE SEA, AND THY PATHS IN THE GREAT / WATERS, AND THY FOOTSTEPS ARE NOT KNOWN'

Details

Description: Nowy-headed, cartouche-shaped panel in hammered copper on a green marble base. An oval relief of the lifeboat, between two foul anchors above the main part of the inscription.
Type: Wall plaque
Position: West wall Nave
Materials: Copper, green marble
Vessel: Aldeburgh

People

Butcher, John
Age: 52
Date of Death: 7/12/1899
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI
Crisp, Charles
Age: 51
Date of Death: 7/12/1899
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI
Downing, Herbert William
Age: 21
Date of Death: 7/12/1899
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI
Easter, Allan Arthur
Age: 28
Date of Death: 24/3/1900
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI
Morris, Thomas
Age: 36
Date of Death: 7/12/1899
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI
Ward, Walter George
Age: 33
Date of Death: 7/12/1899
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI
Ward, James Miller
Age: 21
Date of Death: 7/12/1899
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Lifeboatman
Organisation: RNLI

Extra

Notes: The lifeboat was launched in an easterly gale on December 7th 1899 in response to distress signals from the Shipwash Lightship. The boat capsized off the south end of the town and was driven onto the beach upside down. Twelve of the 18 crew, extricated themselves and swam ashore but six were trapped under the boat. James Miller Ward was pulled out from under the bows, just alive, but could not be revived. The 'Times' reported that a 'number of women distinguished themselves in the rescue of the men saved.' Allan Arthur Easter died later, on March 24 1900 as a result of his injuries.
Bibliography: 'Aldeburgh Church Monthly' Sept. 1900. 'The Times' 8 Dec 1899 p. 9 and 9 Dec p.8.
Recorder: The Arts Society (NADFAS) 2006
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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