About 1.30 in the morning of 31st August, in very thick weather, with a moderate sea, the White Star cargo vessel, the Bardic, of 7,000 tons, ran on the Maenheck Rock, about half a mile south-west of the Life-boat Station at The Lizard. The vessel was going at half-speed at the time, but when she struck she was so badly holed that the stoke-hold and engine-room were flooded.

She sent out a wireless SOS, and fired rockets of distress, which were seen ashore, and at 2.10 the Lizard Motor Life-boat was launched. When she reached the Bardic, two of the ship's boats had been launched and were alongside her with part of the crew on board. A member of the Life-boat's crew was put on board each of these boats, and the Life-boat piloted them into Polfoar Cove. The Life-boat then returned to the vessel, and took off the Captain, officers, and engine-room staff, reaching shore again at 10.45 in the morning. The whole of the crew of ninety-three had been brought safely ashore.

This part of the coast is unlucky for the White Star line. The Bardic went ashore only a few hundred yards from the spot where, in March 1907, the Life-boats of the Institution took off 456 persons from the stranded White Star liner Suevic.

The thanks of the White Star Line were sent in the following letter, signed by Colonel Concanon, one of the Joint Managers, to the Hon. Secretary of the Station at The Lizard :— " Captain Graeme, the commander of the Bardic, has written to us an account of the valuable assistance given to him on the night of 31st August by the Lizard Life-boat, whereby the crew were landed and, later, the Life-boat placed at the commander's disposal to enable communication to be maintained with the steamer. We feel that the prompt action taken, which was in keeping with the highest tradition of the Life-boat Service, was the means of removing any possibility of a disaster of greater magni- tude, and we desire, on behalf of the White Star Line and Commander Graeme, to tender to you and to all con- cerned our thanks for services so efficiently rendered." Only two months after this mis- fortune, Commander Graeme met his death on land in a tragic but most heroic way. He was in the express train from Liverpool to Lytham and Blackpool, which was wrecked at Moss Side on 3rd November. Commander Graeme was very severely injured, both his feet being nearly cut off, but he refused all aid until the other injured had been attended to. All he asked for was a cup of tea, and to be remembered to his people in Blackpool.

Six hours later he died in Lytham Hospital, after having one foot ampu- tated. One of the witnesses of the scene at Moss Side said afterwards, " If ever there was a brave man, that man was Commander Graeme.".