James Haylett
Encyclopedia
James Henry Haylett was the most famous lifeboatman of his age. Decorated by King Edward VII with the RNLI gold medal for his efforts in the 1901 Caister Lifeboat Disaster
, which claimed the lives of nine men. Amongst those lost were two of his sons, Aaron and James Haylett, Charles Bonney George (his son in law) and his grandson Harry Knights.
, Norfolk
, England
the son of Samuel Haylett (1791-1879) and Sarah Sheales (1789-1872). Little is known about his childhood but according to parish records he married Sarah Smith (1825-1897) in August 1844 and went on to father 7 children. Somewhere between 1851 and 1861 he moved a few miles down the Norfolk coast (in common with many other Winterton boatmen and their families) to Caister-on-Sea
Where he became a shareholder in the Caister Beach Company. The Beach Company men, of which there were 40, made their living from the sea in whichever manner they could. Part of this work was to salvage vessels stranded on the notorious sands off of the North Norfolk coast and a decision was made collectively by the men to save people before property regardless of the impact this could make on their lucrative salvage fees. Despite this decision they were often looked upon as mercenary. The practicality of these men is perhaps summed up by Haylett in replying to a judge during an inquest, who suggested that the beachmen profited from the "misfortune of others". Haylett replied "No Sir, We profit from their mistakes!". This uncompromising attitude linked to a real knowledge of their waters provided one of the cornerstones for the modern lifeboat service.
Seconds later the whole crew were struggling in the water. They managed to cut free much of the yawl’s rigging and masts and this proved to be the salvation of the survivors. Haylett, the coxswain, supported himself on two oars before drifting close by the foremast, on which were his son Aaron, William Knowles and Joseph Haylett. They kept afloat for a time, but the mast kept rolling over in the swell. Aaron moved to his father’s oars but William and Joseph were drowned. John George, another of the crew, swam towards the shore and came across a shrimper, The Brothers, of Yarmouth. Which then led the search for the other beachmen. First to be picked up was Robert Plummer on a grating, then one after the other, Aaron Haylett, Isaiah Haylett, George Haylett, Harry Russell, and lastly Haylett, still on the foremast with an oar under one arm and a sett under the other. The remaining eight crewmen were drowned. Haylett's son Frederick was amongst the dead.
created lashing rain
and a heavy sea
. Shortly after 23:00 PM, flares
were seen from a vessel on the Barber sands. The Cockle light-ship
fired distress signal
s to indicate a vessel in trouble. The crew of the Lifeboat Beauchamp were alerted and an attempt was made to launch the Lifeboat. The heavy seas washed the boat off her skids and she was hauled back up the beach for another attempt. The crew fought until 2:00 AM in the dark and cold with warp and tackle to get the Lifeboat afloat.
After the launch most of the launching crew went home to change their wet clothing. James Haylett Snr., who had been the assistant Coxswain for many years and was now 78 years old, remained on watch despite being wet through and having no food. He had two sons, a son-in-law and two grandsons in the boat.
The Coxswain, Aaron Haylett, steered towards the stricken vessel but the sea conditions forced the boat back towards the beach and she struck the beach bow first about 50 yards from the launch point. The heavy sea struck the starboard quarter and capsized the boat. breaking off the masts and trapping the crew beneath the boat. The Beauchamp was a Norfolk and Suffolk class non-self righting boat, 36 feet in length, 10 and a half feet wide, and weighing 5 tons without her gear. When fully crewed and equipped and with ballast tanks full she needed 36 men to bring her ashore.
The time was now around 3.00 AM. Frederick Henry Haylett returned to the Lifeboat house after getting changed and alerted his grandfather James Haylett Snr. to the cries coming from the boat. They ran to where the Beauchamp lay keel up in the surf. James Haylett managed to pull his son-in-law Charles Knights from the boat. Frederick Haylett also ran into the surf and pulled John Hubbard clear. James Haylett returned to the water to pull his grandson Walter Haylett clear. Despite the bravery of these two men these three were the only survivors.
People from the village arrived and struggled through the night and next day with block & tackle to right the stricken Beauchamp and retrieve the remaining bodies with the exception of that of Charles Bonney George which was not recovered until the following April.
crews but those of lifeboatmen throughout the RNLI. During the inquest "Old Jimmy" was asked whether the lifeboatmen of the Beauchamp might have abandoned the rescue and returned for shore. James' reply was unequivocal; "They would never give up the ship. If they had to keep at it ‘til now, they would have sailed about until daylight to help her, Going back is against the rules when we see distress signals like that." These words, when reported by journalists, became the famous "Never turn Back" motto adopted by lifeboatmen to this day.
to meet with King Edward VII
and be presented with the RNLI Gold Medal. A special train brought him from Caister to the royal palace and he was received by the Prince of Wales at York Cottage
on the Sandringham estate where they swapped sailing stories (The future King George V
being an avid sailor himself). From there James Haylett was taken to the main house to lunch with the King. He delighted the King and onlookers when in response to the King's greeting of "Hello Mr.Haylett", he replied (in his rich Norfolk accent) " Hello, Mr. King". According to reports from the time they spent a few hours together exchanging tales of the sea before James was returned to Caister by train with a hamper each for every family of his lost crew mates courtesy of the King.
1901 Caister Lifeboat Disaster
The Caister Lifeboat Disaster of 13 November 1901 occurred off the coast of Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England. Events took place during what became known as the "Great Storm" which caused havoc down the East coasts of England and Scotland....
, which claimed the lives of nine men. Amongst those lost were two of his sons, Aaron and James Haylett, Charles Bonney George (his son in law) and his grandson Harry Knights.
Early life
Haylett was born in 1825 in Winterton-on-SeaWinterton-on-Sea
Winterton-on-Sea is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. As its name suggests, it is situated on the coast some north of the town of Great Yarmouth and east of the city of Norwich.Ordnance Survey . OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the son of Samuel Haylett (1791-1879) and Sarah Sheales (1789-1872). Little is known about his childhood but according to parish records he married Sarah Smith (1825-1897) in August 1844 and went on to father 7 children. Somewhere between 1851 and 1861 he moved a few miles down the Norfolk coast (in common with many other Winterton boatmen and their families) to Caister-on-Sea
Caister-on-Sea
Caister-on-Sea, also known colloquially as Caister, is a settlement in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, close to the large town of Great Yarmouth. It is a seaside resort and busy holiday destination on the "Golden Mile", with its main attraction being its sandy "Georgian Beach". It is home to Great...
Where he became a shareholder in the Caister Beach Company. The Beach Company men, of which there were 40, made their living from the sea in whichever manner they could. Part of this work was to salvage vessels stranded on the notorious sands off of the North Norfolk coast and a decision was made collectively by the men to save people before property regardless of the impact this could make on their lucrative salvage fees. Despite this decision they were often looked upon as mercenary. The practicality of these men is perhaps summed up by Haylett in replying to a judge during an inquest, who suggested that the beachmen profited from the "misfortune of others". Haylett replied "No Sir, We profit from their mistakes!". This uncompromising attitude linked to a real knowledge of their waters provided one of the cornerstones for the modern lifeboat service.
The Sinking Of The Zephyr
Haylett became Assistant Coxswain of the Caister lifeboat. His mettle was tested at around midnight on 22 July, 1885. The yawl Zephyr was launched to the aid of a stranded schooner on the Lower Barber Sand. On a calm and moonlit night the crew of fifteen were on what they felt was a routine call. Haylett was at the helm and as the yawl neared the Barber he called out "now dear boys, keep a lookout for that old stump", referring to the mast of a stone-laden schooner, the crew of which had been saved by the Caister men some nine years earlier. His warnings came too late however when the yawl’s port bow struck the mast and the boat was ripped apart.Seconds later the whole crew were struggling in the water. They managed to cut free much of the yawl’s rigging and masts and this proved to be the salvation of the survivors. Haylett, the coxswain, supported himself on two oars before drifting close by the foremast, on which were his son Aaron, William Knowles and Joseph Haylett. They kept afloat for a time, but the mast kept rolling over in the swell. Aaron moved to his father’s oars but William and Joseph were drowned. John George, another of the crew, swam towards the shore and came across a shrimper, The Brothers, of Yarmouth. Which then led the search for the other beachmen. First to be picked up was Robert Plummer on a grating, then one after the other, Aaron Haylett, Isaiah Haylett, George Haylett, Harry Russell, and lastly Haylett, still on the foremast with an oar under one arm and a sett under the other. The remaining eight crewmen were drowned. Haylett's son Frederick was amongst the dead.
The 1901 Caister Lifeboat Disaster
Poor weather conditions on November 13 contributed to the disaster. A galeGale
A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots of sustained surface winds. Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are...
created lashing rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
and a heavy sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
. Shortly after 23:00 PM, flares
Flare (pyrotechnic)
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...
were seen from a vessel on the Barber sands. The Cockle light-ship
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
fired distress signal
Distress signal
A distress signal is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help. Distress signals take the form of or are commonly made by using radio signals, displaying a visually detected item or illumination, or making an audible sound, from a distance....
s to indicate a vessel in trouble. The crew of the Lifeboat Beauchamp were alerted and an attempt was made to launch the Lifeboat. The heavy seas washed the boat off her skids and she was hauled back up the beach for another attempt. The crew fought until 2:00 AM in the dark and cold with warp and tackle to get the Lifeboat afloat.
After the launch most of the launching crew went home to change their wet clothing. James Haylett Snr., who had been the assistant Coxswain for many years and was now 78 years old, remained on watch despite being wet through and having no food. He had two sons, a son-in-law and two grandsons in the boat.
The Coxswain, Aaron Haylett, steered towards the stricken vessel but the sea conditions forced the boat back towards the beach and she struck the beach bow first about 50 yards from the launch point. The heavy sea struck the starboard quarter and capsized the boat. breaking off the masts and trapping the crew beneath the boat. The Beauchamp was a Norfolk and Suffolk class non-self righting boat, 36 feet in length, 10 and a half feet wide, and weighing 5 tons without her gear. When fully crewed and equipped and with ballast tanks full she needed 36 men to bring her ashore.
The time was now around 3.00 AM. Frederick Henry Haylett returned to the Lifeboat house after getting changed and alerted his grandfather James Haylett Snr. to the cries coming from the boat. They ran to where the Beauchamp lay keel up in the surf. James Haylett managed to pull his son-in-law Charles Knights from the boat. Frederick Haylett also ran into the surf and pulled John Hubbard clear. James Haylett returned to the water to pull his grandson Walter Haylett clear. Despite the bravery of these two men these three were the only survivors.
People from the village arrived and struggled through the night and next day with block & tackle to right the stricken Beauchamp and retrieve the remaining bodies with the exception of that of Charles Bonney George which was not recovered until the following April.
Never Turn Back
Although incorrectly quoted from his testimony to the coroner at the inquest into the disaster, the phrase "Caister men never turn back" has endured through the years to represent not only the spirit of the Caister LifeboatCaister Lifeboat
Caister is the home to only one of three offshore lifeboats in the UK that is independent of the RNLI. A lifeboat at Caister was first documented in 1791, being used by the Caister Beach Company to salvage ships wrecked on the sand banks offshore from Caister. Between 1856 and 1969 lifeboats at...
crews but those of lifeboatmen throughout the RNLI. During the inquest "Old Jimmy" was asked whether the lifeboatmen of the Beauchamp might have abandoned the rescue and returned for shore. James' reply was unequivocal; "They would never give up the ship. If they had to keep at it ‘til now, they would have sailed about until daylight to help her, Going back is against the rules when we see distress signals like that." These words, when reported by journalists, became the famous "Never turn Back" motto adopted by lifeboatmen to this day.
Old Jimmy & The King
Following the disaster, Jimmy was invited to Sandringham HouseSandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
to meet with King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
and be presented with the RNLI Gold Medal. A special train brought him from Caister to the royal palace and he was received by the Prince of Wales at York Cottage
York Cottage
York Cottage is the former home of the Duke and Duchess of York , who lived in the house after their marriage in 1893. It is currently used as the Estate Office for Sandringham House. Some of the building is also used as flats for estate employees and holiday accommodation....
on the Sandringham estate where they swapped sailing stories (The future King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
being an avid sailor himself). From there James Haylett was taken to the main house to lunch with the King. He delighted the King and onlookers when in response to the King's greeting of "Hello Mr.Haylett", he replied (in his rich Norfolk accent) " Hello, Mr. King". According to reports from the time they spent a few hours together exchanging tales of the sea before James was returned to Caister by train with a hamper each for every family of his lost crew mates courtesy of the King.
External links
- The Caister Lifeboat at www.caister-lifeboat.org.uk
- BBC Online - Norfolk - Extra - Caister Lifeboat at www.bbc.co.uk