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On the evening of 19 December, 1981, off the southern coast of Cornwall, a group of locals from the fishing community of Mousehole were socializing at the British Legion Club. It was Saturday night, a mere 5 days before Christmas. As the evening wore on, the tight knit villagers heard the howling winds, and above the din, the distress alarm peeled, signaling the nearby presence of a distressed vessel.

The fishing village was used to such signals; small, boat shaped collection boxes were placed at various points in the town to help fund the rescue station. The crew was well known and respected as seasoned fishermen with years of collective service. The Penlee lifeboat house had been on station for 21 years.

Yet despite the expertise of the volunteers and the longevity of the station, the severity of the weather conditions prompted a decision that only one volunteer per family should venture into the treacherous sea with the 47 foot wooden lifeboat, the Solomon Browne.

They knew the situation was dire, as the coastguard had already reported that the Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter had been unable to get to the crew members of the distressed vessel.

A Ship in Distress

Just a few weeks prior, the Union Star set out on its maiden voyage from Denmark with a load of fertilizer, bound for Arklow, Ireland. The captain, Henry Morton, his wife Dawn, their two teenage daughters, and four crew members were on board. Dawn and the girls made the trip so the family could be together for Christmas.

On the evening of the 19th, the vessel reportedly had engine trouble and became stranded off the southern coast of Cornwall. A tug came to the rescue, but Morton refused their help; an undetermined salvage fee was presumably the reason.

Subsequently, the engine took on sea water, and the captain sent a distress signal as the winds reached hurricane force of 80 mph with 95 mph gusts. Swells crested at 60 feet. And the storm grew worse as the night wore on.

Heroic Effort

As the Union Star was tossed perilously close to the cliffs, the 8 crew members aboard the Solomon Brown headed straight into the behemoth storm, having launched at 12 minutes past 8:00. One helicopter reported seeing the lifeboat along side Union Star where, unbelievably, they managed to retrieve and rescue four people.

Only 50 yards from shore, the helicopter saw the Solomon Browne turn back around, probably in an attempt to rescue the remaining four crewmembers who had been left. Ten minutes later, the Solomon Browne's lights went out of sight, and their radio transmission stopped abruptly as the boat broke apart. It was found in pieces the following morning.

Aftermath

The Coxswain's son, who was turned away that night because of the "one per family" decision, is now the current Coxswain on an upgraded life boat near the old Penlee station, which now stands empty. Near the Parish Church of Paul was erected a granite stone, serving as a testament to the unrelenting valor and bravery of Solomon Browne's crew; atop sits a lantern containing a crystal chalice, in memoriam.

Learn more about this author, Rachel Stockton.
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