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Salcombe lifeboat disaster: How sand bar claimed 13 lives in 1916 Salcombe lifeboat disaster: How sand bar claimed 13 lives in 1916
(about 9 hours later)
Fifteen men launched the Salcombe lifeboat into a severe gale on 27 October 1916 - but only two survived.Fifteen men launched the Salcombe lifeboat into a severe gale on 27 October 1916 - but only two survived.
Their boat, the William and Emma, was flipped over on to the sand of the notorious Salcombe Bar by a massive wave.Their boat, the William and Emma, was flipped over on to the sand of the notorious Salcombe Bar by a massive wave.
James Cooper, 33, whose great grandfather Eddy Distin was one of the two survivors, looks out over the Salcombe Bar from South Sands, where the old lifeboat station still stands.James Cooper, 33, whose great grandfather Eddy Distin was one of the two survivors, looks out over the Salcombe Bar from South Sands, where the old lifeboat station still stands.
A century after the tragedy the dangers of the sandy ridge at the mouth of the Salcombe estuary are the same and sailors coming in and out mess with it at their peril.A century after the tragedy the dangers of the sandy ridge at the mouth of the Salcombe estuary are the same and sailors coming in and out mess with it at their peril.
More on the Salcombe lifeboat disaster story, and other news in Devon and Cornwall
"The bar can be a horrendous stretch of water if all the conditions such as wind and tide come together at the same time," said Mr Cooper, known as "Coops", who is maintaining the family tradition of crewing the Salcombe RNLI lifeboat."The bar can be a horrendous stretch of water if all the conditions such as wind and tide come together at the same time," said Mr Cooper, known as "Coops", who is maintaining the family tradition of crewing the Salcombe RNLI lifeboat.
"Even with the bigger boat we have now you know you are on some big seas."Even with the bigger boat we have now you know you are on some big seas.
"For the crew back then, who only had oars in an open boat and without the safety equipment we have now, that was some going.""For the crew back then, who only had oars in an open boat and without the safety equipment we have now, that was some going."
Even with the modern lifeboat, the crew might have to take shelter in Dartmouth or Plymouth "if the conditions are that bad over the bar".Even with the modern lifeboat, the crew might have to take shelter in Dartmouth or Plymouth "if the conditions are that bad over the bar".
"That's the nature of the beast - you can't underestimate the sea because it will come and bite you," he said."That's the nature of the beast - you can't underestimate the sea because it will come and bite you," he said.
And reflecting on what happened to his 26-year-old great grandfather and crew, Mr Cooper said: "There was nothing they could do do about it."And reflecting on what happened to his 26-year-old great grandfather and crew, Mr Cooper said: "There was nothing they could do do about it."
At the time the lifeboat men of the William and Emma faced some of the most terrifying seas they had ever witnessed, according to local historian Roger Barrett.At the time the lifeboat men of the William and Emma faced some of the most terrifying seas they had ever witnessed, according to local historian Roger Barrett.
The men had launched from the lifeboat station at South Sands at 06:50, to reach the crew of the Western Lass, which had been wrecked in a storm near Prawle Point, less then four miles to the east.The men had launched from the lifeboat station at South Sands at 06:50, to reach the crew of the Western Lass, which had been wrecked in a storm near Prawle Point, less then four miles to the east.
How is the Salcombe Sandbar created?How is the Salcombe Sandbar created?
Paul Russell, professor of coastal dynamics, Plymouth UniversityPaul Russell, professor of coastal dynamics, Plymouth University
But when they got there they found the crew had been rescued by a breeches buoy, which consists of a rope and winch fired by rocket to the Western Lass crew by coastguards.But when they got there they found the crew had been rescued by a breeches buoy, which consists of a rope and winch fired by rocket to the Western Lass crew by coastguards.
So the crew of the William and Emma faced a gruelling return against a force nine gale, with the prospect of crossing the Salcombe Bar at the end of their journey.So the crew of the William and Emma faced a gruelling return against a force nine gale, with the prospect of crossing the Salcombe Bar at the end of their journey.
About three hours later, soaked through and exhausted, they were facing the bar and sailed back and forth debating whether to cross it or head back east to the shelter of Dartmouth.About three hours later, soaked through and exhausted, they were facing the bar and sailed back and forth debating whether to cross it or head back east to the shelter of Dartmouth.
They decided Dartmouth would be too far and, according to Mr Barrett, the coxswain sailed into deeper ground to avoid the worst of the swell.They decided Dartmouth would be too far and, according to Mr Barrett, the coxswain sailed into deeper ground to avoid the worst of the swell.
"It was at this point that a mountainous wave towered up behind them," said Mr Barrett."It was at this point that a mountainous wave towered up behind them," said Mr Barrett.
"It hit the port quarter, lifted the stern high in the air and pitch-poled the lifeboat stern over bow.""It hit the port quarter, lifted the stern high in the air and pitch-poled the lifeboat stern over bow."
The loss of the crew was then the joint fourth largest loss of life in the RNLI's history.The loss of the crew was then the joint fourth largest loss of life in the RNLI's history.
The centenary of the disaster is being marked with a wreath laying on the bar by the RNLI crew, a church service and dedication of a plaque by the Bishop of Plymouth.The centenary of the disaster is being marked with a wreath laying on the bar by the RNLI crew, a church service and dedication of a plaque by the Bishop of Plymouth.