The R.N.I.P.L.S. Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain John Storr, of the Whitby Lifeboat, who died in the ‘Whitby Disaster’ of 9 February 1861

Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver (John Storr, voted 7 July, 1853), with eyelet and ring suspension, edge bruise, good very fine £800-1000

John Storr, a Fisherman, from Whitby, North Yorkshire.

‘The Wreck and Reward Sub Committee on 30 May 1853 recommended a grant of two sovereigns be voted in aid of the fund being collected for the relief of John Storr who had been made a cripple by being thrown out of his boat while going to a wreck in September 1851. On advising the authorities of this award, the reply came that “Storr had on several occasions distinguished himself in saving life from wreck, and that £23 had been collected for him”. The Institution therefore decided to award the Silver Medal’ (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry, by B. Cox).

At Whitby, North Yorkshire, a fierce gale which at times had reached hurricane level, had whipped up the seas to a violent pitch. About an hour after dawn on 9 February 1861, the brig John and Ann, of Sunderland, was driven ashore at Sandsend to the north of Whitby. In the vicinity, but at some distance from where the Whitby lifeboat was stationed, were seven members of the Whitby lifeboat crew, including their coxswain, local fisherman, John Storr. These men at once launched a fishing coble and despite the prevailing conditions, succeeded in rescuing the crew of five. Having accomplished this, they then set off to the lifeboat station correctly assuming that their services would be required again before the day was out.

Having reached Whitby and the West Pier lifeboat Lucy, Storr and his crew of 11 men were, midmorning, called upon to go to aid the schooner Gamma, carrying coal, which had been driven ashore some 400 yards from the pier. Launched into the heavy surf, the lifeboat was able to take off the crew of four. Shortly afterwards the Lucy was called out to the barque Clara, en route from Newcastle to Madeira, which had been driven on to the beach just before noon. With great difficulty the last of her crew of 12 was removed to the lifeboat before the ship broke up. At about 1.00pm two more vessels were driven ashore, the brig Utility and the schooner Roe. The lifeboat was launched for the third time and both crews were rescued in one trip. At about 2.00pm the brigantine Flora succeeded in approaching the harbour but then ran aground in “Collier Hope”, resulting in another call for the lifeboat. Soon after, the schooner Merchant was driven ashore very close to where the Roe had come to grief. For the fifth time the lifeboat was launched and for Storr and many of his crew this was the seventh ship they were attempting to aid; largely without any rest or sustenance since the first rescue. Going out to the Merchant, the Lucy was some 60 or 70 yards from the pier when, to the horror of all watching from the land, the lifeboat was struck by two heavy waves and capsized, flinging the crew out into the violent maelstrom. One man, John Storr, succeeded in clambering onto and maintaining himself for a time on the upturned bottom of the boat. Life-buoys were flung and rocket bearing lines were fired out to the men in the sea. However, despite valiant efforts only one man from the lifeboat, Henry Freeman, was saved - notably he was the only man of the crew who was wearing a cork life-preserver belt. Of the men trying to rescue the lifeboat men, a Mr Thomas Robinson was most prominent. Getting onto the upturned boat he with others tried tried to break though the hull to possible survivors trapped beneath. But in trying to hack their way through with a hatchet, Mr Robinson’s hand was struck, disabling him for life. Both Freeman and Robinson were each awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal for their actions that day.

Meanwhile the crew of 5 of the Merchant were successfully brought ashore by a line from the shore. However the days’ shipping casualties mounted, when an hour later, the brig Urania was driven ashore. Fortunately her crew were able to maintain their precarious position aboard the vessel until the tide abated and they were able to get off. Some three or four hours later came the ninth shipwreck of the day, when the brig Tribune was driven ashore near the West Pier. In the darkness, several unsuccessful attempts were made to reach her with rocket lines. Then the old East Side lifeboat was brought into action, being rowed across the harbour, lifted on to the West Pier and launched with a crew of volunteers. Reaching the Tribune they were able to rescue all but one of the stricken ship’s crew.

The eleven brave lifeboat men whose lives were lost in the disaster, left behind them 44 fatherless children and two dependents. The Rev. W. Keane, incumbent of Whitby, wrote an appeal in The Times on behalf of the bereaved and in other ways drew attention to the disaster. As a result of this some £5,000 was raised. In addition, a commemorative monument was erected in the Parish Church of Whitby, bearing upon it the names of the gallant men who died that day. Sold with copied research.