Eighty years on St Ives remembers

Wednesday 23 January 2019 marks 80 years since the John and Sarah Eliza Stych lifeboat launched in a violent gale to the aid of an unknown vessel.

On a night of phenomenally bad weather, with a wind speed in excess of 100 miles an hour, distress signals were reported a mile out to sea shortly after midnight. So strong was the wind that it took more than 8090 volunteer men and women to launch the lifeboat from St. Ives Point at 3am.

Coxswain Thomas Cocking was in command of an eight man crew, including volunteer Will Freeman, who took the place of a crew member who hadn’t heard the sound of the maroons such was the wind, to serve aboard a lifeboat for the very first time. St Ives had not replaced their lifeboat which was lost the previous and therefore had Padstow’s on loan.

Such was the ferocity of the storm that the lifeboat had only travelled a mile or two before disaster struck. Despite coxswain Cocking’s best efforts the gale took control and a huge wave capsized the lifeboat. She was able to self-right but when she re-appeared four of the crew including the coxswain had vanished. Two others were clinging onto rope grips on the side of the boat and managed to haul themselves back onboard.

With a crew of four they had no other choice than to turn back, but further tragedy was still to come. The gale had torn the sail to tatters and the propeller had been damaged leaving the four remaining crew at the mercy of the sea. Exhausted, they managed to launch a red flare which was seen from the town, but the horrendous conditions meant it was impossible for anyone to help. A huge wave capsized the lifeboat for a second time.

For a second time the lifeboat self righted herself but they had lost another man who had been swept overboard. The remaining three crew members were clinging as best they could to the battered lifeboat, as every attempt to make it back to the safety of the shore was thwarted by the storm.

A huge wave lifted the lifeboat and the slammed her down on the water, as she capsized for a third time and self-righted once again, the lifeboat was thrown onto the rocks. This time leaving sole survivor, Will Freeman, the man who was aboard a lifeboat for the first time.

When the storm subsided the remains of the vessel the lifeboat launched to, SS Wilton, was found washed up on the shore with no survivors of the 30 man crew. Will Freeman passed away on January 23 1979 exactly 40 years to the day of that fateful night.

Bronze Medals were awarded to William Freeman and posthumously to Coxswain Thomas Cocking, Matthew Barber, William Barber, Richard Stevens, John Cocking, John Thomas, and Edgar Bassett.

Rob Cocking, whose great great grandfather and great uncle lost their lives in the disaster, has been coxswain of St Ives’ lifeboat since 2015. He continued a long family tradition when he took on the role, following them, his father and brother.

St Ives lifeboat coxswain, Rob Cocking, said:

‘These men were local St Ives men. they went out in the most appalling weather conditions regardless of what could happen and what the outcome would be. They went out to save the lives of others – and in doing so tragically and selflessly lost their own lives. Every one of those men should be remembered always for what they gave and sacrificed that night. I know that I will always remember what they gave, and I hope as time goes on, we always take time to remember the ultimate sacrifice.’

St Ives’ current lifeboat fleet includes the D class lifeboat and the Shannon, the latest class of all-weather lifeboat. The Shannon is the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making her our most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet. It was designed entirely in-house, with the safety and welfare of our crews a key priority in its development.

Alongside it, a new faster and safer launch and recovery system was designed to make sure the lifeboat can safely get back to shore, no matter what the conditions.

While our modern day lifeboats may be more sophisticated and technologically advanced than those used in the past, such as on that tragic night in 1939, the bravery and courage shown by RNLI volunteers then continues to be shown today.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

• An 11am service will take place on Wednesday 23 January in the Salvation Army hall opposite the lifeboat station, remembering the seven men who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
• The St Ives all-weather lifeboat will launch at 12.30 and follow the same route the lifeboat took on that night in 1939 and two wreaths will be laid.
• Coxswain of St Ives lifeboat, Rob Cocking, is available for interview between 10am - 10.30am on the day.
• There will be an opportunity to film the service and the lifeboat launch.
• Footage will be available from the lifeboat once it has returned from the station
• Further photos are available upon request.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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