It's 27 March 1941. Two days after being attacked by a squadron of Luftwaffe bombers, the SS Somali, a large convoy ship, burns a mile off the Northumberland coast. Intent on saving her cargo, crew from a salvage tug board to assess the damage – while Boulmer lifeboat Clarissa Langdon stands by.

At exactly 1pm, a sudden and colossal explosion splits the ship’s hull in two. Only 60m away, Boulmer's crew are slammed to the deck as their lifeboat is blown out of the water. Without hesitation, Coxswain James Campbell battles through the smoke and fumes to rescue the salvage tug crew. Incredibly, they are still alive and all make it to open water. Five minutes later the SS Somali surrenders to the sea.

Campbell's heroism was rightly recognised with a Bronze Medal for Gallantry but there is an unsung hero in this story. A man whose simple act of love ensured the brave Boulmer crew could go to the rescue that night: Mr Walter Langdon of Middlesex. His £2,000 legacy gift – a dedication to his beloved wife – meant the Clarissa Langdon was there to rescue and safely return those fathers to their
families. From her inaugural ceremony in 1937 to her decommissioning in 1965, the Clarissa Langdon helped our crews
save countless lives. A legacy to be proud of. Today 6 out of 10 rescues are only possible thanks to generous gifts left to the RNLI in supporters’ Wills.

LEGACIES SAVE LIVES

The RNLI is proud of its legacy of lifesaving. Now, as in Walter Langdon’s time, legacies are crucial to our lifesaving work. Your legacy is our lifeline. To find out how your legacy could save lives visit RNLI.org/Legacy or contact our Gifts in Wills team on 0300 300 0124 or [email protected]