'SIR, As I was an eyewitness of them, I think it may be of interest to you to have a narrative of the events which led up to – what I have no hesitation in calling – one of the most gallant rescues in the annals of the lifeboat service …'

In February 2014, the Hope in the Great War exhibition will begin at the museum dedicated to the most decorated lifeboat crew member of them all: Henry Blogg, of Cromer.

Among the RNLI rescues celebrated in the exhibition is a rescue that he led in January 1917. Blogg was 40 and deemed too old for active service as a soldier. But – as the Cromer coxswain showed that year and many after – his courage was timeless.

On the afternoon of 9 January, the lifeboat crew were soaked to the skin and exhausted after rowing to the aid of 16 people aboard a Greek steamer in a gale. But their lifesaving labours were not over for the day.

Extracts from the following letter, printed in the Winter 1917 edition of this magazine, reveal how Blogg’s bravery, skill and strength offered hope in the midst of the Great War.

'… it was just as she [the lifeboat] was reaching the shore that an explosion took place on board the SS Fernebo. The terrific force of it broke the vessel clean in half, and the remarkable spectacle was presented of the two halves of the vessel separating and floating off independently. The lifeboatmen were much exhausted after their long struggle … but they pluckily determined to make another attempt, and the boat was once more launched.

For half an hour they strove in vain to get beyond the breakers, but were eventually beaten back. By this time the two halves of the vessel had approached the shore … but owing to the force of the wind and the comparative smallness of the target, [rocket] line after line was fired in vain. When the twelfth rocket had been fired, shortly after 9pm the Coxswain consulted me about making another attempt with the Life-Boat.

I gave my consent with some reluctance, as I feared the crew had not sufficiently recovered from their earlier exertions. However, they themselves were eager to make the attempt, and the boat was launched about 9.30pm. For half an hour these splendid men made the most gallant attempt to reach the vessel … bathed in the brilliant beam of the searchlight, one moment standing on end as she mounted the crest of a huge breaker, at another with her nose buried in the trough of the sea, or completely lost to sight as a sea broke right over her, the lifeboat made a sight which will never be forgotten by the hundreds of spellbound spectators who lined the beach. I myself would not have believed it possible for even a strong and young crew to do so much with this heavy boat.

It was not till five oars had been broken and three more washed ashore … that the Coxswain gave up. They decided to make another attempt as soon as they had rested a little and spare oars had been procured. Once more the boat was launched, once more the hard struggle began, this time to end in success, and the lifeboat returned to the shore with the crew of eleven men, which it was then stated were the whole complement.

It is necessary to bear in mind the age of the men. The flower of the Cromer fishermen have gone to serve their country elsewhere, and with three exceptions the men who formed the crew were all over military age – more than one, indeed, was approaching the age of 70.

In conclusion, I am particularly anxious to call your attention to the share borne by the Coxswain of the lifeboat, Henry Blogg. It was his own remarkable personality and really great qualities of leadership that magnetised tired and somewhat dispirited men into launching, and when the boat was launched it was the consummate skill with which he managed her and the encouragement he gave his crew which brought their efforts to such a successful conclusion.

Your obedient servant,
BASIL HALL,
Commander, RN