Lifeboat hero is honoured
A farmer who was a member of Kirkcudbright lifeboat crew and made the ultimate sacrifice while saving others at sea was among 28 names honoured by the RNLI at a special re-dedication ceremony of the memorial at Poole HQ.
The memorial at RNLI HQ is the only memorial to contain all the names of volunteer lifeboat crew, including volunteers from lifeboats predating the creation of the RNLI in 1824, as well as lifesavers from other organisations and private individuals.
It was formally unveiled in September 2009, commemorating 778 people. The additional names now bring the total number of people remembered to 806.
Ploughman Peter McGinn along with his employer, farmer Andrew Lusk and four other servants, attempted to rescue the crew of the schooner Havelock of Beston, which was wrecked on November 30, 1864, on its journey from Kingston in Ireland to Ardrossan. She was trapped in the Solway Firth at Raeberry, near Kirkcudbright.
Local accounts of the incident suggest Peter was first on the scene. He waded into the surf. Having managed to secure a rope thrown by the schooner, he was trying to haul a crewman ashore when a huge wave swept him and the crewman out to sea. Andrew and his four servants survived, but Peter died. Andrew was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal for Gallantry. The rededication ceremony on September 28 was attended by lifeboat crew and descendants.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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