Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sir William Hillary, bronze (E. Michael O. Williams - Voted 10th November 1971) with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, good very fine £400-£500

R.N.L.I. Bronze Medal to John Gilbert Voctor Burns, Helmsman, Trearddur Bay Inshore Lifeboat, and to Edmund Michael Owen Williams, Crew Member, Trearddur Bay Inshore Lifeboat. Voted 10 November 1971:

‘2nd September 1971: In bad weather conditions with a south-west wind, a dinghy capsized about 50-100 yards south-west of Cod Rocks, Trearddur Bay, Holy Island, Anglesey. The D class inflatable lifeboat left Porth Diana by the Northern Channel and by the time the casualty was reached it had been righted only to capsize again. With both survivors clinging to it, the dinghy was drifting towards Cod Rocks. An attempt made to pull her clear of the surf was unsuccessful, so the lifeboat turned and picked up one man without difficulty then, in spite of heavy backwash, brought out the second.’

The following was reported in the Holyhead & Anglesey Mail, Friday, November 19, 1971:
‘Two members of the Trearddur Bay Inshore Rescue Boat have been awarded bronze medals of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. They are Helmsman Mr John Burns of Uwch Y Don, and Mr Edmund Michael Owen Williams of Trearddur Bay Road, both of Trearddur Bay.

On September 2, Mr D. P. Pugh, of Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffs, reported that a G.P. dinghy had capsized west of Cod Rocks. At the time a force seven gale was blowing, with heavy seas and breaking rollers, and a big surge on and off the rocks. It was two hours flood, and at the time the seas were breaking well above high water mark.

The Inshore Rescue Boat proceeded at full speed to the scene, and found that the dinghy was in a water-logged condition with the two men clinging to the gunwale. One quick attempt to take the dinghy in tow was made but conditions made it impossible to achieve that.

John Burns, the Helmsman, shouted for the two men to get clear, and trying to gauge the seas and waves ran in for the innermost man. Mike Williams was able to grab him and haul him aboard.

The second man by this time had been swept into the same position where the first man had been rescued and where there was a platter. As the second man was pulled aboard a huge wave came and all that could be seen was the sky over the bows and the platters exposed astern and below.

At one stage the I.L.B. was so thrown about by the huge seas that the fan of the engine was damaged.

Both men were landed safely. They were A. S. Penn of Stourbridge, Worcs., and J. A. L. Wright, of Cookham Dean. Berkshire.

Lifeboat secretary, Mr Tudor Roberts, commented: “It was an excellent achievement, and only good seamanship and split second timing ensured success. Eye witnesses thought that the Inshore Rescue Boat was in danger of capsizing on two occasions, and more than once was completely airborne.”

The presentation of the medals will be early next year by the Duke of Kent.’

The two awards for this incident are the only recorded awards to the Trearddur Bay Lifeboat.

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