St Ives lifeboat tragedy:

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Seven crewmen died in the St Ives lifeboat tragedy of 1939. In the early hours of 23 January 1939 there was a Force 10 storm blowing with gusts up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). The lifeboat John and Sara Eliza Stych was launched at 3 o'clock to search for a ship reported in trouble off Cape Cornwall. It rounded The Island where it met the full force of the storm as it headed westwards. It capsized three times and drifted across St Ives Bay when its propeller was fouled. The first time it turned over four men were lost; the second time one more; the third time left only one man alive. He scrambled ashore when the boat was wrecked on rocks near Godrevy Point.

LINK: www.britishpathe.com/video/lifeboat-tragedy-at-st-ives

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21 - 24 January – Wilston ( United Kingdom) ran aground at Wicca Pool, Zennor. All crew lost. The unnamed steamer mentioned below may be this ship.

23 January – St Ives lifeboat John and Sara Eliza Stych ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution) launched to go to the aid of a ship off Cape Cornwall. She capsized three times off Clodgy Point, The Island and Godrevy Point. Only one member of her eight crew survived.

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George Coulthard was one of the casualties from the SS Wilston there were a few others from Barry.

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St Ives Remembers:

Seventy years ago seven lifeboat men from St Ives were drowned when their boat was lost in a ferocious storm. Some people have called the loss of the 'John and Sarah Eliza Stych' the forgotten lifeboat disaster. See our gallery from the day.

LINK: www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/content/articles/2009/01/19/places_stiveslifeboatdisaster_feature.shtml