The RNLI marks Remembrance Day with a special service

The occasion honoured the memory of 15 RNLI volunteer crew members and two staff members that gave their lives during the Second World War, as well as its then President, HRH Prince George, The Duke of Kent, who died in active service.

The Service of Remembrance was led by Reverend Peter Myres, Chaplain of the Lifeboat Support Centre, and was attended by volunteers and staff as well as Admiral Sir George Zambellas, Deputy Lieutenant for Dorset, who unveiled a new commemorative plaque on behalf of the RNLI’s President, HRH The Duke of Kent.

The new plaque names two RNLI staff members and HRH Prince George, Duke of Kent, who all lost their lives during the Second World War. It also honours 15 crew members and those from the RNLI on active military service who lost their lives. The plaque will soon be on permanent display on the wall by the RNLI Memorial in Poole.

Representatives from the 12 stations that lost crew members in RNLI service during the Second World War attended on behalf of those who tragically lost their lives. Those stations were: Barra Island, Clacton-on-Sea, Cromer, Falmouth, Fishguard, Fleetwood, Minehead, Newburgh (represented by Aberdeen), Newhaven, St Peter Port, Torbay, Whitby.

Each station representative read the name and station of their colleagues and laid a poppy of remembrance at the RNLI Memorial. These poppies will be on permanent display at the 12 lifeboat stations.

Speaking on behalf of HRH The Duke of Kent, Admiral Sir George Zambellas said: ‘I was honoured to unveil the plaque to commemorate His Royal Highness Prince George, Duke of Kent, the two RNLI staff members, and the contribution of all RNLI volunteers during the Second World War.

‘Prince George’s death in a military air crash in 1942, marked the loss of not only a Royal figure, but a devoted President whose leadership and compassion left an indelible mark on the RNLI and its wartime mission.

‘His Royal Highness’ legacy lives on in the lifeboat stations The late Duke championed, the crews that were inspired, the enduring values of selflessness and sacrifice that define the RNLI, and now this commemorative plaque here at the RNLI Memorial in Poole.’

Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive of the RNLI, said: ‘It was important to come together and mark Remembrance Day on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

‘The RNLI saved 6,376 lives at sea during the war, as well as supporting the evacuation of 3,400 people from Dunkirk onboard the Ramsgate and Margate lifeboats as part of Operation Dynamo.

‘Tragically, we lost 15 crew members in RNLI service, plus many more in active service. We will never know the true impact of the Second World War on our people but yesterday was a poignant reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and selflessness of all those associated with the RNLI who served during the war.’

The RNLI has also released a new podcast, Stories of Courage, which covers its Second World War story and is narrated by historian, Dan Jones, to mark Remembrance Day. The Stories of Courage podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and online here.

Ends

Notes to editor

· The names of the RNLI volunteer crew members and staff that were lost during the Second World War are listed below:

o Benjamin J Clark, Newhaven Lifeboat Station (1943)

o Christopher Wale, Whitby Lifeboat Station (1940)

o Edward W Allen, Cromer Lifeboat Station (1941)

o Frank Castle, Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station (1943)

o Frederick R Tucker, Torbay Lifeboat Station (March 1940)

o George Whyte, Newburgh Lifeboat Station (1942)

o Harold F Hobbs, St Peter Port Lifeboat Station (1940)

o James Walker, Newburgh Lifeboat Station (1942)

o John (Jack) Slade, Minehead Lifeboat Station (1941)

o John Dryden, Whitby Lifeboat Station (1940)

o John MacNeil, Barra Island Lifeboat Station (1942)

o T M Neal, Fishguard Lifeboat Station (1944)

o Thomas Escott, Minehead Lifeboat Station (1941)

o Thomas Pratt, Falmouth Lifeboat Station (1941)

o William Wright, Fleetwood Lifeboat Station (1945)

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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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