
Remembering the ultimate sacrifice in Essex
Since the opening of the first Essex RNLI lifeboat station in 1876, seven RNLI volunteers have made the ultimate sacrifice responding to a call for help from those in peril at sea, the last being 80 years ago on 7 April, off Clacton.
The events leading up to the loss of Second Coxswain Frank Castle started just after midday on 6 April for the crew of the Clacton motor lifeboat Edward Z Dresden, when the Coastguard reported a barge some five miles off Clacton showing distress signals.
A north-westerly gale was blowing producing a very rough sea. It took the crew an hour to reach the barge Tam o’ Shanter, which was loaded with bricks bound for Maldon. On board was a boy, and the skipper, who said they were leaking, but refused to abandon the vessel, and asked to be towed to Brightlingsea, and for lifeboat crew to come over and help weigh anchor.
It took the skipper and the three lifeboat crew members aboard the barge 40 minutes to raise the anchor and ready the barge for towing. After only 1.5 miles, at the Swin Bell Buoy, the tow rope parted. It was decided to anchor for the night and wait for favourable weather.
The following morning on 7 April, there was an exceptionally strong gale from the west coupled with a heavy sea. The coxswain again tried to persuade the barge’s skipper to abandon it, but he still refused, and requested to be taken to Harwich.
After waiting until the afternoon for a favourable tide, they set off again, only for the line to part after three miles. The barge hoisted a sail and set off again with the lifeboat shadowing her. Both the barge and the lifeboat were rolling heavily, and they had only gone a short distance when suddenly, at 2:50pm, the barge capsized, throwing the skipper, the boy and the three lifeboat crew members into the sea.
The crew of the lifeboat were wearing lifejackets, but the other two were not. The lifeboat went at once to their rescue, but the boy had sunk almost immediately, and though the crew were able to get hold of second-coxswain Castle with a boathook, he appeared to be either dead or unconscious. They lost hold of him and could not find him again.
They then went to the help of the other men, who were seen to be alive, rescuing the bowman, and then the assistant motor-mechanic. The latter had been supporting the skipper of the barge, but before the lifeboat’s crew could get hold of the skipper, he lost his hold and disappeared.
The lifeboat searched for over an hour, but found nothing of the three who had been lost, and returned to her station, arriving at five in the afternoon, some 28 hours after setting out.
Frank Castle had served on the Clacton RNLI Lifeboat for 38 years, remaining unmarried, and left no dependants. His body was never recovered.
The further six names to die while responding to the call for help are:
- 1881 - William Wink, drowned when Harwich Lifeboat capsized
- 1884 - James Cross, died after Clacton lifeboat capsized
- 1884 - Thomas Cattermole, died after Clacton lifeboat capsized
- 1888 - Benjamin Addis, died from the effects of exposure, Clacton Lifeboat
- 1889 - Frederick Batchelor, died rushing to crew the Walton and Frinton lifeboat
- 1892 - John Downes, died from injuries sustained while launching Walton and Frinton lifeboat
These names join others, immortalised on the memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for others, at the RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset. Serving as a source of inspiration for current and future generations of lifeboat crew, lifeguards, supporters and fundraisers. It reminds us that there are still people who volunteer to carry out selfless acts of heroism to help others; and we will always remember their sacrifice.
Notes to Editor
1911 – C. Bambridge, knocked overboard while on service, Frinton independent lifeboat (not RNLI) also appears on memorial.
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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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