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RNLI Feature
December - Issue 40
For those in peril on the sea by Dave Barry BRAVERY, gallantry and tragedy mark the history of Scarborough lifeboat station, Britain’s third oldest. The town’s first lifeboat was built in 1801, supported by voluntary subscriptions and donations. It cost £212 and was powered by oars. Its first service was on 2 November 1801 when it rescued a crew of seven from the Newcastle brig Aurora. In those days, the lifeboathouse was near Mill Beck, which ran down the Valley and into the sea at Aquarium Top. It was moved to a site near the west pier in 1826. The earliest record of an award for members of Scarborough’s lifeboat crew dates back to 11 October 1824, when the Sunderland ship Hebe was in distress. Silver medals were awarded to James Fowler and Smith Tindall for gallant conduct after the lifeboat rescued seven crew. A silver medal was presented to coxswain Thomas Clayburn, and monetary awards were made to four other men. It was for the rescue, in a small boat, of eight of the crew of the ship Centurion, which was wrecked off Osgodby on 9 January 1928. Tragedy struck in 1836, when the lifeboat capsized with the loss of 10 crew during a rescue attempt. Scarborough’s first self-righting lifeboat was acquired in 1852. In 1857, a silver medal was awarded to Henry Wyrill for his part in the rescue of five crew from the Sunderland brigantine Elizabeth, which was wrecked off Scarborough on 14 November 1856. Scarborough lifeboat station was taken over
by the RNLI in 1861, when a new lifeboat was commissioned. On its first service, on 2 November 1861, the Amelia was dashed against the Spa wall while trying to rescue the crew of the schooner Coupland, which was wrecked. Two lifeboat crew and three members of the public died while trying to help.
were pensioned by the RNLI (see separate story). In 1966, Scarborough RNLI acquired its first inshore lifeboat. Later in the year, the oil rig Neptune requested a lifeboat in case it had to be abandoned during squalls of up to 90 knots in seas of up to 35 feet. The lifeboat stood by throughout the night of 16/17 November.
“Bravery, gallantry and tragedy mark the history of Scarborough lifeboat station” When the RNLI introduced motor-lifeboats, Scarborough got the second one, in 1924. Until then, all lifeboats were muscle-powered by the oar. 1951 was a troubled year for the local RNLI. Another new lifeboat capsized, while on exercise, but without loss of life. Then, on 13 December, when the lifeboat was being hauled up after an exercise, the carriage ran over the legs of George Bayes, a 17-year-old helper whose right leg was broken. Bronze medals were awarded to coxswain John Sheader, assistant mechanic Thomas Mainprize and posthumously to bowman Frank Dalton after the lifeboat rescued 10 people from the Dutch motor vessel Westkust on 9 December 1951. Dalton was crushed between the lifeboat and the vessel and died. His widow received a pension from the RNLI. In 1954, the ECJR lifeboat capsized on service with the loss of three crew: coxswain Jitta Sheader, second coxswain John Cammish and signalman Frank Bayes. Their dependants
In 1968, inshore lifeboat crew Bob Swalwell and Cec Bean were formally thanked after the traumatic attempted rescue of a child who had fallen over the cliffs at Gristhorpe. Sadly, the child was found dead on arrival. Mr Swalwell said it was the saddest event in a long association with the RNLI. In 1969, coxswain William Sheader took the lifeboat between dangerous outcrops of rock to save a man from the sea after his motor boat had capsized. He was awarded a silver medal and jointly won a national award for the bravest act of life-saving carried out by a lifeboat crew member. In 1973, in a storm-force north-westerly wind and a rough sea, the lifeboat saved the Eun Mara An Tar and rescued her crew of four when its steering gear packed in, six miles offshore. A bronze medal was awarded to acting coxswain Thomas Rowley in recognition of his courage and seamanship. The station acquired its Mersey-class allweather lifeboat in 1991. The lifeboathouse,
built in 1940, had to be adapted. The main door was heightened and a new fuel tank installed. A side extension was constructed to provide a souvenir outlet, a shore-helpers’ store, a drying room and a workshop. This later housed the inshore lifeboat. In 1994, the lifeboat repeatedly manoeuvred close to the sea-wall in confused breaking seas in the north bay, in an attempt to rescue someone who had gone into the sea to save a dog. Coxswain / mechanic Richard Constantine was formally thanked in recognition of his seamanship, skill and determination. In 2003, he was awarded an MBE. In 1995, helmsman Paul Stonehouse was honoured for the way he kept control of the situation in conditions bordering on the operational limits of the inshore lifeboat. The lifeboat rescued four surfers in a heavy breaking swell which was reflecting off the sea wall in a north-westerly force 6/7 wind in the north bay. Scarborough RNLI took possession of its D-class inshore lifeboat D724 John Wesley Hillard III on 13 December 2009. The last member of the local lifeboat crew to win the RNLI’s bronze medal for gallantry was Rudi Barman, for his role in the attempted rescue of a man who had entered the sea near the Spa, last year. Andrew McGeown was trying to retrieve his dog but drowned. The roles played by crew members Craig Burnett, Jason Hedges, Adam Beston and Pete Billingsley, were also recognised. Over the centuries, 35 gallantry awards have been awarded to Scarborough lifeboat crew members including 18 medals: 13 silver and four bronze.
One terrible night in 1861 by Dave Barry In 1861, two crewmen and three bystanders died during a violent storm. The Amelia lifeboat, acquired seven months earlier, was on its maiden mission – which turned out to be its only shout. Lives were lost instead of saved. At 4pm on Saturday 2 November, the Coupland, from South Shields, tried to enter the harbour during a strong northerly gale. As the schooner rounded the pier end, the sails were blown inside out and the vessel was driven helplessly across the south bay onto rocks near the Spa, 30 yards from the sea wall. The sea was a ferment and gigantic waves had dislodged stones from the wall. After the new lifeboat was launched, it was driven between the schooner and the shore, then flung against the sea wall several times. The crew were no longer able to control the boat, which was hurled back and forth, overwhelmed by mountainous waves. Three men were tossed overboard. One scrambled back into the boat but Thomas Brewster was crushed to death between the boat and the sea wall. The third, exhausted but alive, was washed ashore. The remaining lifeboatmen decided their only hope was to abandon ship and try to make it ashore; John Burton didn't. Onlookers dashed into the surf to help but were struck by big waves that washed them out of their depth. Three died: John Hiles, Thomas Tindall and Lord Charles Beauclerk
A painting of the Amelia lifeboat and the Coupland schooner in 1861 who, like Brewster, was crushed between the boat and the wall. He was hauled from the sea with a rope, with “the life just ebbing out of him”, according to a witness. The peer was buried in Dean Road cemetery. The storm was so powerful that three bodies
were never recovered. By the time it abated, it had claimed the lives of 24 men along the north-east coast, leaving 11 widows and 29 fatherless children. Ironically, the Coupland’s crew of six were brought safely ashore with rocket lines.
In recognition of the extreme nature of the tragedy, within five days the RNLI had awarded six silver medals for gallantry including three rare posthumous medals honouring Beauclerk, Hiles and Tindall.