Memorial: M973

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

JSON

{
  "post_id": "40186",
  "id": "M973",
  "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.’",
  "content": "<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40191\" width=\"453\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-300x225.jpg 300w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-768x576.jpg 768w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 453px) 100vw, 453px\" /></figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40193\" width=\"356\" height=\"474\" srcset=\"https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972-225x300.jpg 225w, https://memorials.rmg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 356px) 100vw, 356px\" /></figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Memorial at Gorleston Old Cemetery, Norfolk, commemorating four members of a local lifeboat ‘Refuge’ which capsized after going to the assistance of the  ‘Akaba’</p>",
  "images": ["/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-1024x768.jpg","/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-300x225.jpg","/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A-768x576.jpg","/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-A.jpg","/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972-768x1024.jpg","/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972-225x300.jpg","/uploads/2019/11/Gorleston-C-e1574853024972.jpg"],
  "categories": ["Lifesaving"],
  "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",
    "dateErected": "",
    "artists": "",
    "vessel": "Refuge, Akaba"  },
  "event": {
    "event":"",
    "date": "",
    "category": ""  },
  "people": [{"name":"George, Aaron ","age":"64","dateofdeath":"10/11/1888","causeofdeath":"Maritime accident","rankOccupation":"Lifeboatman","organisation":"Unknown"},{"name":"Whiley, William","age":"34","dateofdeath":"10/11/1888","causeofdeath":"Maritime accident","rankOccupation":" Lifeboatman ","organisation":"Unknown"},{"name":"George,  Samuel","age":"39","dateofdeath":"10/11/1888","causeofdeath":"Maritime accident","rankOccupation":" Lifeboatman ","organisation":"Unknown"},{"name":"Woods,  Alfred","age":"27","dateofdeath":"10/11/1888","causeofdeath":"Maritime accident","rankOccupation":" 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.",
    "bibliography": "",
    "recorder": "Stewart Adams 2019",
    "photographer": "Stewart Adams"  }
}

Commemorating seafarers and victims of maritime disasters