The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster
The Loss of an Entire Royal National Lifeboat Institution Crew
Jan 12, 2009
The Penlee lifeboat disaster, which occurred on the evening of December 19th, 1981, remains the last time the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lost an entire crew. The volunteers rushed to the aid of the stricken coaster Union Star, despite appalling conditions.
The Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne was based in the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole, on England’s south coast. The Union Star was a brand new vessel, carrying out its maiden voyage between Holland and Ireland with a cargo of fertiliser under the guidance of Michael "Henry" Moreton. Also on board was a crew of four, Moreton’s wife and her two teenage children.
The Origins of the Penlee Disaster
Despite receiving severe weather warnings during the day Moreton elected to continue as planned, hoping to escape the storm which was brooding. Late in the afternoon his plan suffered a setback when the ship’s engines stopped. The Union Star was several miles from the treacherous Cornish coastline and Moreton felt confident that the problem could be solved.
Moreton refused a tow from the tug Noord Holland under the salvage terms of the Lloyds Open Form. He was aware that accepting the offer would result in a costly bill for the owners of Union Star. While the crew made several unsuccessful attempts to re-start the engines the coaster drifted closer to the coastline in worsening seas.
Eventually a nearby radar station operator picked up the Union Star on screen and the gravity of the situation became apparent. Moreton’s ship was drifting quickly towards the rocky shore and a rescue effort was launched. A Sea King helicopter raced to the scene, as did the Noord Holland. In Mousehole the Solomon Browne was scrambled, under the command of experienced coxswain Trevelyan Richards.
Rescue Attempts by Air and Sea
The huge waves made getting a line aboard the Union Star impossible. The helicopter winchman made several unsuccessful attempts at picking up those on board the coaster, while the pilot struggled to stay airborne in hurricane force winds. Eventually, the helicopter had to retreat and watch on helplessly as the Solomon Browne moved in to attempt a rescue.
The American helicopter pilot would later recall watching the lifeboat as it was carried by a wave onto the deck of the Union Star. By this time the two boats were in a secluded bay, just yards from the rocks. Incredibly, some did make it across to the lifeboat. The Solomon Browne was then seen to turn and head seaward. The helicopter returned to base, but the Solomon Browne would never make it home.
The sinking of the Solomon Browne remains a mystery. It is unknown whether the lifeboat was consumed by the enormous waves, or if Richards turned around and tried to save the rest of the Union Star crew.
When daylight came the Union Star lay upside down on the rocks, but there was no sign of the Penlee lifeboat. Then, fragments started to wash ashore, and the Mousehole villagers had their worst fears realised. The entire crew of the Solomon Browne was lost, along with everyone from the Union Star. Of the 16 victims only eight bodies would be recovered.
The Aftermath of the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster
In the days and weeks that followed the maritime tragedy attracted worldwide press coverage, and a fund was established to help the families of those who had perished on the lifeboat.
There is still a lifeboat station at Mousehole. Until recently the boat was under the command of Neil Brockman, whose father died in the disaster. Brockman, who was only 17 at the time, volunteered to go along with his father, but Richards refused to take two members of the same family due to the perilous conditions. The crew of the Solomon Browne are remembered every December 19th in the village, when the Christmas lights are switched off for an hour. The tragedy is also recalled by popular musician Seth Lakeman in his song "Solomon Browne." The RNLI continues to be funded entirely by charitable donations and the lifeboat crews remain unpaid volunteers.
The Solomon Browne Crew
William Trevelyan Richards, James Stephen Madron, Nigel Brockman, John Blewett, Kevin Smith, Barrie Torrie, Charles Greenhaugh, Gary Wallis.
Union Star Crew and PassengersMichael Moreton, James Whittaker, George Sedgwick, Anghostino Verressimo,Manuel Lopez, Dawn Moreton and her two daughers, Sharon and Deanne.
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