ROGER BARRETT, Curator, Salcombe Lifeboat Museum, writes:

One of the worst disasters in the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution occurred on October 27, 1916 when 13 Salcombe lifeboatmen drowned after the William and Emma lifeboat capsized, in near hurricane-force winds, on its return from a fruitless mission. Only two of the crew survived.

Salcombe RNLI are planning a number of events to commemorate the centenary of the disaster and are keen to trace the descendants of the 15 crew members, so that they can be invited to the special ceremonies to be held on October 27. 

The names of the crew members were: Samuel Distin, Albert Distin, Peter Foale senior, Peter Foale junior, William Foale, James Canham, James Cove, Ashley Cook, Frank Cudd, John Cudd, William Lamble, Thomas Putt, Albert Wood and the two survivors, Eddie Distin and William Johnson.

A number of descendants have already been traced but there are still some disaster victims who are not represented, so I would very much like to hear from anyone who believes that they are related, or who can help in our search.

Please e-mail me at [email protected] or phone me on 01548 854108.

May I also take the opportunity to remind your readers that my book about the Salcombe lifeboat disaster is on sale in local bookshops, from [email protected] or from Amazon, price £7.99, with all proceeds going to Salcombe RNLI.