Bridlington to Remember the Great Gale Victims

Bridlington RNLI volunteer crew are preparing to mark the 152nd anniversary of the Great Gale on Sunday 12 February 2023.

The tragedy occurred on February 10, 1871, when a storm hit the East Yorkshire coast, and it was estimated that over 100 vessels were lost along the east coast during the storm. Many ships were using an area known as the ‘Bay of Refuge’ in Bridlington Bay, to shelter from the bad weather but when the wind suddenly changed direction, at least 23 ships ran aground or were wrecked against the harbour walls. It is thought as many as 70 seamen perished on that awful day. Most of the vessels lost were carrying overloaded cargoes of coal.

At the time Bridlington had two separate lifeboats, the RNLI’s Robert Whitworth and a locally owned vessel named the Harbinger. Both boats were launched multiple times, with both crews succeeding in saving several lives. Tragically, the Harbinger was attempting to save the crew of the brig Delta. However, as the Harbinger approached the brig a huge wave engulfed both boats, as the raging sea fell away it was seen that the Harbinger had capsized and tragically six of the nine local lifeboat men aboard were drowned along with numerous seamen on the vessels lost that tragic day.

The following morning piles of debris were strewn across the beach covering several miles, including ropes, chains, sails, timber along with many personal belongings. In places the broken timbers stood some nine feet high and the beach was littered with coal from the colliers lost during the storm, many locals descended on the beach to collect the coal to use on their open fires at home. To this day traces of coal can be found on the beach and it is suspected that these date back to the Great Gale.

A number of the victims were taken to ‘The Albion’ public house on Hilderthorpe Road which was used as a temporary mortuary where the deceased where undressed, carefully cleaned and photographed for identification before relatives attended to reclaim their loved ones. Many of the victims are buried in a mass grave at Priory Church and a service has been held at the church every February since the tragedy.

The disaster led MP and social reformer Samuel Plimsoll to petition parliament to introduce a new law to prevent ships being dangerously overladen, by introducing the painting of a ­­­­load line on the hull. ‘Plimsoll Lines’, as they became known, are still used in international shipping to this day.

The service to mark the 1871 tragedy will be held again this year at Bridlington Priory Church at 10.30am on Sunday February 12, when volunteers from RNLI Bridlington will lay a wreath at the Great Gale Memorial. The Reverend Christine Strand, Associate Minister of Bridlington Priory, who will conduct the service said

‘Bridlington Priory is privileged to be holding the annual Great Gale Service Sunday 12th February at 10.30am. An opportunity to remember those who died that fateful day in February 1871, and to acknowledge the challenging work of our Bridlington RNLI volunteers who continue to risk their lives to save others. It is an honour to welcome the local RNLI team to the service and to learn more about the RNLI through their displays’.

Steve Emmerson, Bridlington RNLI Coxswain, added:

‘There have been many rescues over the years for the numerous lifeboat stations along the east coast, some of which sadly resulted in the loss of lives. The Great Gale of 1871 was one of the worst storms along this coast in maritime history and hopefully will never be repeated. It is important to remember those that died that fateful day, not only for the lifeboat crews who perished but also the many sailors who were never to return to their loved ones. It is hoped that we never see such a tragedy ever again. At Bridlington RNLI we continue, like all the lifeboat crews before us, to save lives at sea’.