List of lifeboat disasters in Britain and Ireland

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The RNLI Memorial at Poole

Many lives have been lost by lifeboat crews going to the aid of people and vessels in distress at sea and around the coasts of Britain and Ireland (UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), mainly but not exclusively in the service of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). More than 600 names are inscribed on the RNLI Memorial at RNLI HQ, Poole. Some losses predate the RNLI (founded in 1824).

19th century

In the 19th century, lifeboats were almost exclusively oar and sail powered. Self-righting boats had been developed but were not yet widely adopted.

British Isles Lifeboat Disasters in the 19th century
Date	Lifeboat Station	Lifeboat crew lost	Memorial	Brief details and references
1810	Hoylake	8		The men drowned when the lifeboat capsized in heavy seas while trying to aid the grounded ship Traveller.
1821	Sandycove	4		The men drowned while the lifeboat was assisting the brig Ellen of Liverpool.
1836	Scarborough	10		Lifeboat turned over by exceptional sea; four of the 14 crew survived.
1859	Aldeburgh	3		Lifeboat capsized in December with the loss of three of her 15 crew.
1861	Scarborough	2		RNLI lifeboat Amelia wrecked on first service. Three members of the public who waded in also died, including Lord Charles Beauclerk.
1871	Bridlington	6		RNLI lifeboat Harbinger lost in the Great Gale of 1871.
1874	Stonehaven	4		Four of the crew of the lifeboat St George drowned while trying to enter Aberdeen Harbour after going to assist Grace Darling of Blyth, which foundered between Stonehaven and Aberdeen.
1877	Aberystwyth	1		John James, a member of the crew, died from exhaustion after a long service to a Schooner on 20 February.
1880	Wells-next-the-Sea	11		Wells lifeboat disaster 11 of the 13 crew of RNLI lifeboat Eliza Adams were lost when she capsized after an abortive attempt to go to the aid of the brig Ocean Queen in heavy seas. The crew of the brig survived.
1883	The Mumbles	4		The lifeboat Wolverhampton was lost on service to the barque Admiral Prinz Adalbert of Danzig on 27 January; the tragedy was the inspiration for Clement Scott's poem The Women of Mumbles Head.
1885	Caister	8		The yawl Zephyr struck a sunken wreck on a distress call to a schooner on the Barber Sands. Eight of the 15 crew were lost.
1886	Southport	14		14 of the 16 crew of Southport's lifeboat Eliza Fernley, and the whole crew of St Anne's lifeboat (see below) died while trying to aid the barque Mexico in heavy seas. It remains the worst lifeboat loss in history. Main article: Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster
1886	Lytham St. Annes	13		The crew of the St Anne's lifeboat Laura Janet, along with most of Southport's crew died in the same incident (see above). The crew of Mexico were rescued by Lytham's lifeboat. Main article: Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster
1889	Portrush	3		Lifeboat The Robert and Agnes Blair went to the aid of the schooner Dryad and capsized off the coast off Portballintrae with the loss of three of the 13 crew.
1895	Kingstown	15		Kingstown's (now Dún Laoghaire) lifeboat Civil Service No. 7 (ON 409) capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the stricken SS Palme. All 15 crew died. Main article: Kingstown Lifeboat Disaster
1899	Aldeburgh	7		The lifeboat Aldeburgh capsized with the loss of seven of the 18 crew.

20th century

During the 20th century many advances were made in safety and durability of lifeboats, including self-righting and motor power. Life jackets were continuously being improved.

British Isles Lifeboat Disasters in the 20th century
Date	Lifeboat Station	Lifeboat crew lost	Memorial	Brief details and references
1900	Padstow	8		RNLB James Stevens No. 4 (ON 421)
1901	Caister	9		RNLB Beauchamp (ON 327) capsized in heavy seas during the "Great Storm" of 1901. Asked why they had persisted in their rescue attempts the retired coxswain was reported as saying "Caister men never turn back". Main article: 1901 Caister Lifeboat Disaster
1903	The Mumbles	6		RNLB James Stevens No. 12 (ON 436) capsized while aiding the grounded Waterford steamer Christina near Port Talbot harbour.
1907	Ryde	2		On 1 January, the lifeboat Selina capsized in a squall while searching for a missing sailor, throwing the crew into the sea. The survivors were washed ashore with the lifeboat at Southsea.
1908	Newquay	1		RNLB James Stevens No 5 capsized.
1910	St Davids	3		RNLB Gem (ON 59) was wrecked on The Bitches in Ramsey Sound near Ramsey Island.
1914	Fethard	9		RNLB Helen Blake (ON 546) capsized and was totally wrecked on South Keeragh Island while going to the aid of the schooner Mexico.
1914	Peterhead	3		RNLB Alexander Tulloch (ON 622), attempting to assist grounded Hull trawler Tom Tit in a storm, was wrecked.
1915	Bridlington	1		During a launch to the aid of the minesweeping trawler Lord Airedale (HMT No. 847), the carriage carrying the lifeboat collapsed, resulting in the death by drowning of horse driver Robert Carr.
1915	Worthing	1		While going to the aid of the schooner Kingshill the lifeboat capsized in rough seas.
1916	Horton and Port Eynon	3		The lifeboat Janet, responding to a distress signal from the S.S. Dunvegan, capsized twice in rough seas.
1916	Salcombe	13		RNLB William and Emma (ON 524) capsized while going to the aid of the schooner Western Lass, ashore beyond Prawle Point.
1919	Fraserburgh	2		RNLB Lady Rothes (ON 641) capsized while assisting H.M. Drifter Eminent.
1920	Rhoscolyn	5		Crewmen lost in the attempt to rescue the crew of the SS Timbo in Caernarfon Bay
1928	Rye Harbour	17		RNLB Mary Stanford (ON 661) capsized whilst coming into harbour after going to the aid of the Latvian steamer Alice of Riga.
1939	St Ives	7		RNLB John and Sara Eliza Styche (ON 743) capsized and self-righted three times, each time losing some of her crew. Only one crew member survived; the boat was wrecked.
1939	Cullercoats	6		RNLB Richard Silver Oliver (ON 794) was overwhelmed by a freak wave while training off Sharpness Point near Tynemouth Pier.
1942	Newburgh	2
1947	The Mumbles	8		RNLB Edward, Prince of Wales (ON 678) capsized while trying to assist SS Samtampa which had run aground and broken up at Sker Point during a storm. A total of 47 lives were lost.
1951	Scarborough	1		RNLB E.C.J.R. (ON 879). Whilst transferring from the casualty vessel to the lifeboat one crew member was trapped between the boats.
1952	Bridlington	1		RNLB Tillie Morrison, Sheffield (ON 851) capsized.
1953	Fraserburgh	6		RNLB John and Charles Kennedy (ON 790) capsized while escorting fishing vessels; one crew member survived.
1953	Arbroath	6		RNLB Robert Lindsay (ON 874) was sideswiped by a huge wave and flung on the rocks at Inchcape Park.
1954	Scarborough	3		RNLB E.C.J.R. (ON 879) capsized near the harbour mouth.
1959	Broughty Ferry	8		RNLB Mona (ON 775) capsized with the loss of the whole crew while attempting to rescue the crew of the North Carr Lightship.
1962	Seaham	5		RNLB George Elmy (ON 873) capsized yards from the harbour entrance after being struck by a wave, with the loss of the whole crew and four of the five people they had rescued from the coble Economy.
1969	Longhope	8		RNLB T.G.B. (ON 962) capsized in storm force seas when going to the aid of the Irene.
1970	Fraserburgh	5		RNLB Duchess of Kent (ON 908) capsized after being struck by a wave more than 30ft high when assisting Danish fishing vessel Opal; one crew member survived.
1977	Kilmore Quay	1		Oakley-class lifeboat RNLB Lady Murphy (ON 997) launched to red flares but found nothing; on their return they capsized twice.
1981	Penlee	8		RNLB Solomon Browne (ON 954) was lost with all hands while assisting MV Union Star in a severe storm; the five crew and three passengers from Union Star also died. Main article: Penlee lifeboat disaster

See also

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• List of RNLI stations
• Independent lifeboats in Britain and Ireland