This month’s ‘From the Archive’ includes awards for a dramatic fire rescue at Liverpool’s Prince’s Dock in April 1894 and a marine rescue that saved the lives of more than 60 people in April 1903.

April 1894
Fire Rescue
A Gold Fire Medal and Vote of Thanks, with £5 and travelling expenses, were awarded to Mr. Henry B. Haughton, Engineer of the steamer ‘Blackrock,’ which vessel was on fire in Prince’s Dock on the night of 6th April 1894. The ship was in charge of the fire police, and was burning fiercely in spite of the abundant supply of water which was thrown upon the flames. The vessel was a source of great danger to all at hand from the fact that her steam was up, and it was feared that the boilers would burst and cause great destruction to life and property. At the critical moment, Mr. Haughton, who had been absent from the ship temporarily on duty, returned, and immediately sought permission to go on board and relieve the boilers of the increasing pressure of steam. The Superintendent of Police gave him permission to go at his own risk, at the same time warning him of the imminent danger he would be running, which had no effect in deterring him from doing what he felt to be his duty. With great presence of mind he then promptly went on board the burning vessel, groped his way to the engine room and opened the cocks, which allowed the pent up steam to escape, thus enabling the fire brigade to proceed freely with their work of extinguishing the fire, and by his courage and coolness doubtless averting what might have been a terrible calamity.

April 1903
Marine Rescue
Gold medals and Vote of Thanks were awarded to Captain E.D. Fitzgerald and Mr. S.H. Hobbs, auxiliary 1st Officer, in charge of the boat the ‘s.s. St. Andrew’ for the rescue of 65 passengers and crew of the brig ‘Sans Souci’ of St. Servan. Silver Medals and Votes of Thanks were received by Mr. Arthur Edward Williams, second officer, and Mr. William O’Brien, boatswain; and £1 each per trip to the lifeboat’s crew. The brig, which was of 300 tons burden, was bound from St. Malo to Labrador to relieve the sick and wounded of the French fishing fleet on the Banks of Newfoundland. After passing through a series of gales, she collided with an iceberg, and sustained serious injuries to her bows. She next ran into a pack of floe ice, and narrowly escaped being crushed. A succession of gales took her far out of her course. On April 27th, 1903, the steering gave way, and the brig was in a sinking condition. Five men were washed overboard as they laboured at the pumps and were drowned, and two others were killed by falling spars. On April 28th the ‘St. Andrew’ was sighted, and, in spite of the heavy sea and tempestuous weather, her lifeboat in three trips succeeded in saving the whole of the survivors.

April 1905
General Rescue
A Silver medal and Vote of Thanks were awarded to Police Constable 176 Thomas Power, for praiseworthy conduct in rescuing two children in danger of being run over by a cyclist in Fairclough Lane on 21st April. Unfortunately, the constable was himself knocked down, and received injuries that necessitated his removal to the infirmary, where he remained for upwards of fifty days.

April 2017
Marine Rescue
Joseph Rogerson received a Bronze Marine Medal and Certificate of Thanks, for having, on 16th April 2017, entered the River Weaver at Northwich town centre to recover an unresponsive male floating in the river, bringing him to safety.

April 2018
Fire Rescue
A Bronze Fire Medal and Certificate were awarded to Louise Lee, for courageously entering a burning and smoke-filled house, at Sandbrook Road, Ainsdale, Southport on 2nd April 2018, her actions saved the life of the dazed and confused elderly resident. Certificates were awarded also to Christopher Lee, Simon Wood and Kirk Whitehead for their actions, at a neighbouring property on Sandbrook Road, where they saved the life of a woman and her two teenage daughters after rescuing them from a burning and smoke-filled house.

April 2018
General Rescue
Certificates were presented to Police Sergeant Helen Hayes and Constable Maurizio Lucchesi, and Letters of Commendation each to Constables Becky Millyard, Alastair Shields and Special Constable Jamie Lee of Cheshire Constabulary, for their actions in dealing with a suicidal man, whilst on the inside of a footbridge over the River Mersey at Warrington, on 22nd April 2018. Undoubtedly, by good teamwork, they ably assisted in the saving of a man’s life.

If you have details of an historical award that you would like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Email us: secretary@liverpoolshipwreckandhumanesoc.org