Edward & Maisie Lewis Award 1989

EDWARD AND MAISIE LEWIS award to the crews of SAR Sea King helicopter of 771 and SAR Sea King helicopter of B Flight 202 Squadron RAF Brawdy for the rescue of the crew from the freighter Secil Japan 12 Mar 1989.

Early in the evening of 12 March 1989 the Korean freighter Secil Japan was driven onto rocks below the cliffs of Hell’s Mouth in St Ives Bay, Cornwall. In response to a call for assistance routed through the Rescue Co-Ordination centre at Plymouth, the duty SAR Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was scrambled and on arrival in the area found the vessel close to the 200ft high cliffs, with its stern on the rocks and being battered by huge waves. With the wind gusting to 55 kts, spray rising to a height of 150ft and extreme turbulence in the vicinity of the cliffs, Lieutenant Nelson, the Captain, determined that it was too dangerous to lower his diver, CPO Aircrewman Grinney, to the ship. However, under the superbly professional conning by Aircrewman Hart, he manoeuvred the aircraft with consummate skill and succeeded in lowering a hi-line and rescue strop to the deck. At this point the ship swung round and Lieutenant Nelson deftly relinquished the controls to Lieutenant Pollard who now had better hover references, having gained visual contact with the cliffs. Four of the ship’s crew were then successfully lifted to safety before a violent roll caused the hi-line to part. The survivors were swiftly recovered to Culdrose and having obtained more lines, the Sea King returned to Hell’s Mouth. By this time, the ship was even closer to the cliffs, with decks awash and waves breaking over the wheelhouse. For 20 minutes the aircraft hovered within yards of the cliffs, maintaining a hi-line contact with the bridge wing, but the remaining crew members were too fearful of the breaking seas to leave the shelter of the bridge. Eventually, this rescue attempt had to be abandoned. At 0030 a SAR Sea King helicopter from RAF Brawdy (Captain, Flight Lieutenant JE McLeod) arrived on scene, finding the vessel hard aground on rocks at the base of the cliffs, with mountainous seas completely submerging her central deck and constantly breaking over the forecastle and bridge. The ship’s crew were now in grave danger and Flight Sergeant Dodsworth, with complete disregard for his own life, volunteered to be lowered to the deck, even though the ship presented a particularly difficult winching target. The Winch Operator, Flight Sergeant Soundy, had an extremely restricted view and because the best hover references were available on his side, Flying Officer Calderwood, the Co-Pilot, was at the controls throughout the rescue.

In spite of being swamped several times, the Winchman finally landed on the bridge where he deployed the hi-line and persuaded the crew to leave their shelter, placing them in strops in preparation to be lifted. Corporal Barnett, an engineer with no aircrew training, greatly assisted the Winch Operator in the organisation and placement of the survivors as they arrived, thereby allowing Flight Sergeant Soundy to maintain his concentration and ensuring the safety of the aircraft at all times. In the meantime, regardless of the danger to his own life, Flight Sergeant Dodsworth remained on deck until all 11 men had been safely recovered. Furthermore, before the final lift, he was forced to climb the mast to free the winch cable which had become entangled with the radio aerial. Throughout the rescue, the hover position of the aircraft was maintained under appalling conditions.

The professional skills of the crews of both aircraft in the face of extreme conditions over an extended period of physical and mental stress were of the highest order and in the very best tradition of the branches of the Services to which they belong, resulting in the saving of 15 lives.

Barometer 1892

The Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer was awarded to Stephen Evans, Master of the schooner Mostyn of Chester for rescuing the crew of the sinking French ss Trignac on 19 Feb 1892:

In the case of the schooner Mostyn, of Chester, for the rescue of the Captain and the crew of sixteen from the French ss Trignac, of La Rochelle, abandoned sinking, after loss of three hands, in the North Atlantic, 20 miles off Scilly on February 19, 1892, to the Master of the schooner, Stephen Evans, the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer.

Emile Robin 1918

EMILE ROBIN award was presented to Capt Arthur Unwin and CO William H Roberts of the ss Lord Erne of Belfast for the rescue of the crew of 13 of the ss Percesien of Quebec, 9 Feb 1918.

Captain Arthur Unwin and Chief Officer William Hunter Roberts of the ss Lord Erne of Belfast for the rescue of the crew of 13 of the ss Percesien of Quebec, 9 February 1918. The following letter was written by the Officers and crew of the ss Percesien to Captain A Unwin, after their rescue:-

Dear Sir, We the undersigned officers and crew of the steamship Percesien, of Quebec, desire to offer you and your gallant officers and men our most hearty thanks for the noble manner in which you stood by our sinking ship, and finally succeeded in effecting our rescue from what seemed certain death. To the brave men who, in the height of storm and thick snow squalls, did not flinch from launching and manning the lifeboat on that night of peril, our thanks are especially due and most gratefully offered.

Words cannot sufficiently express the deep appreciation we entertain for their timely and unselfish response to our signals of distress. Under a merciful God, we owe our lives to the daring and skill of Mr WH Roberts, Ist Officer, Geo Callander and J Hart, 1st & 2nd Gunners, J McAlister, 4th Engineer, RN Turner, apprentice, and Chow Wah, Chinese sailor, who volunteered to come to our rescue. Their conduct reflects credit on their nobility of nature and was worthy of the best traditions of the race.

They have added another chapter to the annals of brave deeds performed at sea. When from our fast settling ship we sent up rockets in the hope that some passing ship might see them, it is little hope we entertained of so ready a response or one in time to be of any help. Our two remaining lifeboats, one of them in a damaged condition were then being got ready as a last resort to be launched at daybreak, should our ship remain afloat so long. How welcome then was the sight of your ship can readily be imagined as we hung between hope and despair. When your signals told us that you were launching a boat to come to our assistance, we could scarcely believe it. The darkness of the night was intensified by driving snow squalls, which added to the height of the wind and rough seas, made the launching of a lifeboat a most perilous undertaking, and it seemed impossible that a boat could be launched or that she could approach the side of our ship without disaster. That this was done without mishap reflects the greatest credit on the seamanship and daring of your gallant officers and men, and to them and to you in this insufficient, humble way, our most sincere thanks are most gratefully offered. We desire to express our regrets for the loss of your last remaining lifeboat, which was put out to us and could not again be hoisted on board and as a consequence was lost. The loss of this boat is a most serious one to you, as we approach the danger zone, and leave you in the necessity of having to improvise rafts from what materials may be at hand.

The Canadian Government recognised the courage shown by the officers and crew of ss Lord Erne by presenting silver cups to the Master, Chief Officer, 4th Engineer, Apprentice and the two Gunners.

Edward & Maisie Lewis Award 1994/95

The EDWARD AND MAISIE LEWIS award made to Captain P Bentley and crew of the Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh for the rescue of 89 survivors of the Russian fish factory ship Pionersk aground at Trebister Ness, Shetland in rough seas.  The helicopter crew were Senior First Officer J Rawlings, Winch Operator D Ellis and Winchman P Mansell.

In the early hours of 31 October 1994, the Pionersk was reported aground at Trebister Ness, Shetland having dragged her anchors in south-easterly winds of gale force 8, gusting force 9-10 with a rough sea and heavy swell. Shetland Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh and launched the Lerwick lifeboat. The Pionersk was lying parallel to the cliffs with the forward third of the vessel on rocks and the after part still afloat and yawing violently from side to side some 30 to 40ft. In addition, the Pionersk was rolling heavily in the violent seas up to an angle of 30º. The Coastguard helicopter was on task for over five hours and lifted 89 survivors from the deck of the Pionersk in nine separate sorties. The severe weather conditions and the erratic and violent movements of the ship demanded the highest standards of flying skill, teamwork and intense concentration from the crew. This was a first class rescue carried out in the most testing conditions adjacent to a dangerous stretch of coastline which added to the problems for the crew. Highly skilled at this type of task, the crew displayed the professionalism, courage and dedication which well deserve this award.

Lady Swaythling 1994/95

The Lady Swaythling Trophy for outstanding seamanship, judgement and courage was awarded to Coxswain H Clark of the Lerwick Lifeboat, for the rescue of 67 survivors of the Russian fish factory ship Pionersk grounded in rough seas at Trebister Ness, Shetland, on 31st October 1994. 

In the early hours of 31 October 1994, the Pionersk was reported aground at Trebister Ness, Shetland, having dragged her anchors in south-easterly winds of gale force 8, gusting force 9-10 with rough seas and heavy swell. Shetland Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh and launched the Lerwick lifeboat, with Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark in command. The Pionersk was found to be lying parallel to the shore, bows on to the sea and swell. The forward third of the vessel was aground, the after part still afloat. Seas were breaking over the superstructure, the ship was yawing violently, and in imminent danger of breaking up. The Coxswain initially decided to attempt to embark survivors from a heavy metal ladder over the stern of Pionersk but after embarking 4 by this method he decided it was too dangerous. The 10ft rise and fall of the swell was forcing the lifeboat up under the ladder with serious risk of injury to survivors and crew. The only other possible method was from a pilot ladder over Pionersk’s port quarter. This required the Coxswain to manoeuvre his lifeboat in the very limited searoom between ship and shore. With utmost concentration for over one hour the Coxswain made repeated approaches to the pilot ladder an estimated 80 times, taking off a further 63 survivors. Often the lifeboat’s propellers failed to bite in the turbulent water, or the confused and surging sea destroyed his approach. There was no margin for error as the yawing and rolling of the Pionersk further restricted his room for manoeuvre. Leaking diesel oil from the casualty was whipped into a fine spray by the helicopter’s downdraught. Together with the noise, this created a further serious hazard. With 67 survivors on board the lifeboat proceeded to Lerwick to land them before returning to the scene to stand by while the helicopter completed evacuation of the rest of the crew.

Coxswain Clark knew that he faced the grave danger that, at any time, he might be trapped between the wreck and the unforgiving shore. He displayed exemplary skill, judgement, courage and leadership through this long and arduous rescue in extreme conditions. His action in manoeuvring the lifeboat safely into position so many times in the confined and turbulent waters between the Pionersk and the rocky shore was an exceptional and sustained feat of seamanship fully deserving the award of the Lady Swaythling Trophy.

Silver Medal 1884/85

Silver Medal awarded to the Master of the Smack General Wolseley of Grimsby for the rescue of 2 survivors of the crew of the Dutch herring lugger Maatze in the North Sea in very heavy seas on 30th October 1884.  Awards were also made to the Mate, Thomas H Smith and to 3 hands Williams Wells, Hurley Wardle and Arthur Naylor.

Grimsby – In the case of the smack General Wolseley, for rescue of the two survivors, out of fifteen hands, all told, of the crew of the Dutch herring lugger Maatze, in the North Sea, 125 miles NE by W from Grimsby, on October 30 1884, under exceptional circumstances, in a very heavy sea, the Dutch vessel having for a time been completely overturned, imprisoning crew in cabin, with great loss of life.

To the Master, Henry Baxter – the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer; to the Mate, Thomas Henry Smith – the Society’s Silver Life Saving Medal, with pecuniary reward of the sum of two pounds, as in charge of the boat of the smack, and having boarded the wreck to save life of maniac survivor, subsequently drowned. To the three hands manning the boat under the Mate, viz., William Wells, Hurley Wardle, and Arthur Naylor the pecuniary reward of two pounds each man.

Silver Medal 1854-55

Silver Medal awarded to Mr Henry Hildebrand, Mr EH Blake and Mr Thomas Fleming.

During a thick fog and heavy breakers on the 6th September 1854, Mr Hildebrand, Mr EH Blake and Mr Fleming proceeded to the rescue of the Prince of Seas of Glasgow, having heard the cries of passengers (in all 200 people) and saved the vessel from being a total wreck, between Sunderland and Boffin Island.

Lady Swaythling Trophy 2000/01

The LADY SWAYTHLING Trophy awarded to Coxswain John Stewart of RNLI Campbeltown Lifeboat for the rescue of the crew of FV Sincerity on 29 November 2000.

The early evening of 29 November 2000 saw the Sincerity at sea in the sound of Bute when the boat suffered engine failure. With no power to battle against the raging seas, the boat was quickly swept onto nearby rocks. The two-member crew attempted to launch the liferaft – but the violent wind ripped it from their grasp. With the engine room flooded and with no electrical power, the skipper used his mobile phone for the mayday call. The nearest lifeboat capable of operating in such appalling conditions was at Campbeltown 30 miles south. lt proceeded at full speed with Coxswain Stewart in command. The SAR helicopter monitoring the situation reported it was unable to remain on location due to extreme wind turbulence near the stranded vessel. Arriving on the scene, the lifeboat’s Coxswain found the Sincerity firmly grounded on rocks 75 yards from the shore. An hour later, having tried a number of rescue manoeuvres without success, the tide was rising with heavy rolling seas breaking over the fishing vessel – the situation was becoming critical. With more water under the keel Coxswain Stewart attempted to come in alongside the stern of Sincerity. lt took three attempts, but at last the lifeboat was manoeuvred close enough for the fisherman to jump from the stricken vessel where he was grabbed by the waiting lifeboat crew members. lt took three further attempts in the atrocious conditions before the skipper also managed to jump across to safety.

Throughout this rescue Coxswain Stewart demonstrated leadership, determination and seamanship skills of the highest order truly meriting the award of the Lady Swaythling Trophy.

Silver Medal 1860/61

The Society’s Silver Medal was awarded to Captain Abraham Martin of the brigantine Albion of Guernsey for his skill, humanity and courage in rescuing 10 crew from the Jane of Whitby and the Superb of Yarmouth, during a very severe gale and cross sea on 27th & 29th October 1860.

A letter was read from Mr Waddington Esq enclosing (per order of Sir George Lewis, Secretary of State) to the Royal Humane Society, which not coming within the rules, was sent on to this Institution, a letter from the President of the Chamber of Commerce forwarded through the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey calling attention to the gallant conduct of Captain Abraham Martin of the brigantine Albion of Guernsey in saving the crew, 10 in number of the Jane of Whitby and of the Superb of Yarmouth.

It appeared that these gallant services in the cause of humanity were rendered during a very severe gale and cross sea on the 27th and 29th of October 1860, in the North Sea when much nautical skill was exhibited by Captain Martin in handling his vessel. He made six attempts to pick up the small boat of the Albion under charge of the Captain of the Jane who volunteered to make one attempt to go to the help of the Captain, his wife (nearly exhausted) and crew of the Superb, and with great difficulty accomplished their errand of mercy. Another vessel, a foreigner, ran by them the same day leaving them to perish. It was stated also that Captain Martin had under Providence been the means of rescuing five crews. The Silver Medal of the Institution is awarded to Captain Abraham Martin for the humanity and courage displayed by him on these occasions.

Barometer 1884/85

The Society Marine Aneroid Barometer was awarded to the Master of fishing vessel Victory of Ramsgate for the rescue of 5 crew from the sinking Norwegian brigantine Magda, on 26 October 1884 during a heavy sea.  Mate Henry P Britton and third hand John Blackman who manned the boat the sum of £2 each.

In the case of the fv Victory, for rescue of five of the crew of the Norwegian brigantine Magda, about 55 miles W by N of Lowestoft, on October 26 1884, during a heavy sea, the Norwegian vessel being in danger of foundering, with pumps choked, and since supposed to have gone down with Captain and Mate.  To the Master, John Turner – the Society’s Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometer; to the Mate, Henry Parker Britton, in boat – the pecuniary reward of the sum of three pounds; to the third hand John Blackman, also in boat, the pecuniary reward of the sum of two pounds.