Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare group of four awarded to Albert Sadler, 2nd Coxswain of the Sandgate Life-Boat, H.M. Coast Guard.

NAVAL LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT, V.R. (Ch. Boatn., H.M. Coast Guard); ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION, Silver Medal, V.R. (Voted 25th November 1891), in original case of issue; LLOYD'S MEDAL FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA, bronze, 1st type, 73mm diameter ('Benvenue', 11th Nov. 1891) in fitted case of issue; FOLKESTONE, HYTHE AND SANDGATE, SILVER MEDAL, 42mm diameter, the reverse engraved (To Albert Sadler, [2nd Coxn.] 11th November 1891, 'He bravely did his duty.'), in damaged case of issue; a quantity of original documents accompany the group including the R.N.L.I. Certificate, an original sepia photograph of the lifeboat crew, seaman's allotments, certificate of service and a Lloyd's forwarding letter. Good very fine (4)

Extract from the Times Thursday Nov. 12th, 1891:- A very sad scene occurred at Sandgate yesterday. The full-rigged ship Benvenue, 2,033 tons, laden with a general cargo and bound from London to Sydney, was proceeding down Channel in charge of a tug; when off Sandgate she parted her cable tow-rope, and the vessel rapidly drifted ashore. This was about 6 a.m., when it was blowing a hurricane and a fearful sea was running. Seeing that his vessel was drifting ashore, the captain dropped his anchor, but this was of no avail; the vessel struck and settled down hard on the bottom. The dropping of the anchor had, as it happened, a very disastrous effect, and has led to the whole of the crew being imprisoned in the rigging since the vessel struck, as it prevented her from drifting right in shore, when the crew could have been easily reached. The seashore at Sandgate, which is literally bestrewed with wreckage, had been crowded with thousands of spectators throughout the greater part of the day. When the vessel sank the captain and his crew took to the mizzen top, and here they have remained huddled together since 6 o'clock, so close to shore that they could see everything which was going on, and yet unable to obtain help of any kind. It has been almost impossible to ascertain the number of people in the rigging, but it is variously estimated at from 15 to 25. There are supposed to be two women and a child amongst the unfortunate people. Besides those in the mizzen top there appears to be some one rolled up in the yards above and a seaman outside. It is supposed that the women had been conveyed there for greater security. The hull of the vessel at low water is several feet under water, and at high water her lower yards are about 20 ft. out of the water. All her masts and spars are standing, but except those sails which were furled every stitch has been blown away. The vessel appears to be a fine craft as she lies there. The Sandgate Coastguard have been on duty since 4 o'clock, and until dark continued the use of the rocket apparatus. A great number of rockets have been fired, but from some cause or other every attempt failed. At midday Major O’Malley and a party of No. 52 Battery, Field Artillery, proceeded to the seashore with a 12-pounder breechloading field piece, and endeavoured by firing the gun to throw the rocket and line across the vessel, but the force of the discharge was so great that in each case the line was broken. At 3 o'clock any further attempts with the gun were abandoned, and the rocket apparatus was taken on to the foreshore and further attempts made. The first shot was well aimed. Two of the figures were seen to emerge from the position in which they were huddled together, and one man clambered down one of the ropes of the ship until he was almost washed away by the waves beneath him. Then some of the people were seen on the crosstrees hauling; but after hauling some time the line proved to be broken. All the subsequent attempts were unsuccessful in reaching the ship. The poor fellow who discovered the rope appeared to have great difficulty in returning, and was helped back by some of his shipmates as soon as he got within their reach. It is not known how many of the crew are still on board, but it is stated that three at least of the men were washed overboard, although no bodies have been washed ashore. A report, however, was current, but is not yet properly confirmed, that a man was washed ashore at Sandgare on a piece of wreckage, but before help could reach him; he lost his hold and was lost. Although thousands of anxious and willing hands were so near the vessel no help could reach the persons on board; the rockets fired all failed, and no lifeboat could be obtained. There was such a terrific sea running that it was impossible for any boat to approach the ship. The Sandgate lifeboat had capsized, and the Dungeness and Littlestone boats were engaged on other wrecks. A telegram was despatched to Dover for assistance, and a gallant attempt was made in the face of a terrible sea to get the lifeboat off, the Granville tug (Captain Lambert), acting under the orders of Mr. James Durden, the harbour master, taking the boat in tow. Upon reaching the Admiralty Pier it was found impossible to face the heavy seas, and both boats were driven away to the eastward, returning to the harbour later in the afternoon. At night the greatest excitement prevailed on the seashore at Sandgate. A crew was again mustered to Dover, and Mr. Durden again sent the lifeboat down in charge of the tug to make another attempt to rescue the crew. If they succeed, they will bring them to Dover. A French schooner, the Eiden, was dashed against the Scabrook sea-wall and became a total wreck just before the Benvenue ran ashore. Four of the crew succeeded in reaching the shore, and were subsequently forwarded to the Dover Sailors' Home. The captain, his wife, and nephew were drowned. Shortly after mid-day the body of the captain's wife, a woman apparently about 35 years of age, was washed ashore at Sandgate opposite Gloucester-terrace. The face was much bruised. The body was removed to Darnford-cottage, Sandgate, where it was subsequently identified by the survivors. The scene at the identification was a truly affecting one and those present were deeply moved. The body was taken charge of by Mr. Maxted, the superintendent of the Kent County Constabulary, stationed at Sandgate, who stated that during the 15 years he had been stationed there he had never experienced a storm of such violence. The rocket apparatus was in charge of Chief Officer Onslow, stationed at Sandgate. Albert Sadler, the second coxwain of the Sandgare lifeboat, which was launched at Hythe with such disastrous results, made the following statement:- 'We were called out early this morning by signals of distress from a schooner which subsequently became a total wreck at Scabrook. We found that we could not launch the boat at Ii I V SECOND CoxwAIN SADLER second trom right Sandgate, so we took her to Hythe. After getting a crew together we attempted to launch the boat. Most of us were coastguardsmen, but there were six civilians who volunteered their help. There was a fearful sea running, but we launched into the teeth of it as the huge waves rolled in upon us. We had just got clear of the off rope, about 150 yards from the shore, when a tremendous sea struck us and the boat capsized, All of us were thrown into the water, but I managed to hang on by the weather side of the boat; two managed to get into the boat when she righted herself. The rest of us made the best attempts we could to get to the shore. All of us were greatly exhausted, and two men were almost gone and restoratives had to be applied. The sea turned me over just as I reached the shore, the waves doubling me up and hurling me upon the beach with great force. I was nearly gone and must have been lost but for several persons running into the surf and catching hold of me. One of our crew, a man named Fags, was drowned. He was overpowered after reaching the shore, and was dragged out onto the surf again by the suction of the sea and could not be recovered. The lifeboat was recovered.' A later telegram says:- 'The crew of the Benvenue have just (9.50 p.m.) been rescued by the Sandgate lifeboat. A fresh crew was obtained about an hour ago, and, after considerable delay in launching, the boat was got into the water precisely at 9 o'clock. The rescue party was a scratch one, made up of fishermen from Folkestone and other places round here and some coastguards. She stuck to the beach for some time, but there were hundreds of willing hands at the ropes and behind her, and as she at last glided into the water a cheer was given by some thousands of voices, so loud and hearty was it that the poor fellows in the rigging must have heard it and been reassured by it. The lifeboat weathered one or two terrific seas, but within ten minutes she was alongside the wreck, and the work of rescue was begun. All the survivors are now on board the lifeboat, which has left the sunken vessel, and it is probable that they will effect a landing at Folkestone. The Dover lifeboat has just arrived, in charge of a tug, but too late to be of use. The shipwrecked crew had been in the rigging exactly 16 hours. The enthusiasm here is intense at the happy termination of a most exciting day. The gale has now quite subsided. The Calais mail packet, which should have arrived here at 5.20, reached here at 11.30 p.m. The Dover lifeboat crew returned here at 11 o'clock, and have been entertained at the Sailors' Home. After making two very gallant attempts to reach the Benvenue they arrived there just in time to see the survivors taken off by the Sandgate lifeboat. The men were landed at Folkestone in an exhausted state, and were received by an enormous crowd. The captain and four men were reported drowned.