St Davids History

1867 A Silver Medal was awarded to Thomas Rees for rescuing four men from the wrecked schooner Two Brothers.

1869 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and a boathouse was built at Porth Stinian.

1886  The boathouse was extended.

1892 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain David Hicks on his retirement for ‘his long and gallant services in saving life from shipwreck’.

1903 A Silver Medal was awarded to Acting Coxswain William Narbett for rescuing six crew from the steamship Graffoe aground at Ramsey Island.

1910 On 12 October the lifeboat launched to the ketch Democrat and rescued three people. The lifeboat was then wrecked in the gale and heavy seas and Coxswain John Stephens and Crew Members Henry Rowlands and James Price drowned. Fifteen men had scrambled onto rocks at The Bitches and they were eventually rescued by three people including Sydney Mortimer, who was awarded a Silver Medal. Sydney Mortimer was then appointed coxswain at the age of 18 to succeed Coxswain John Stephens.
 
1911 A new boathouse was built for the station’s first motor lifeboat.

1912 The first motor lifeboat was placed on service.

1943 Bronze Medals were awarded to Honorary Secretary Dr Joseph Soar and Crew Member Gwilym Davies for rescuing a man trapped on the cliffs near Llanunwas on 28 February.

A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain William Watts Williams for a service over 10 hours to a tank landing craft on 25 April.

1955 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain William Watts Williams, Bronze Medals to Mechanic George Jordan and Assistant Mechanic Gwilym J Davies, and Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Second Coxswain David Lewis, Acting Bowman William Rowlands, Emergency Mechanic Howell H Roberts and Crew Members William Morris and Richard Chisholm for rescuing 35 people from the tanker World Concord, which broke in two during exceptional storms on 27 November 1954.

1956 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain David Lewis for rescuing eight crew from the French trawler Notre Dame de Fatima. Approaching St. Ann’s Head in heavy seas, Crew Member Ieuan Bateman was lost overboard and his body was recovered the next day. The French Government posthumously awarded him the lifesaving Silver Medal and the French Lifeboat Society awarded him the Bronze Medal.

1969 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1978 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain William Morris for rescuing seven crew and saving the Royal Naval tender MFV 7.

1982 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Frederick John for rescuing three crew from the tug Vernicos Giorgos on 18 October 1981.

1985 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Frederick John for rescuing the two crew from the fishing vessel Miss Ali Jane.

1987 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Frederick John for rescuing the two crew from the fishing vessel Marigold A on 11 December 1986.

 The boathouse was adapted for a Tyne class lifeboat.

1988 The Tyne class lifeboat, ON-1139 Garside, was placed on service in May.

1989 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic David Chant for rescuing the four crew from the fishing vessel Stephanie Jane.

1997 An inshore D class lifeboat was sent to the station for evaluation and was kept in the 1869 boathouse.

1998 The D class lifeboat, D-543 Saint David Dewi Sant, was placed on service on 9 December.

1999 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Malcolm Gray for saving the tanker Blackfriars, which had been swept ashore after the anchor cable had broken. The lifeboat was at sea for over eight hours.

2002  A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Helmsman Neil Thomas for rescuing three surfers trapped in heavy surf off Newgale Beach.

2005  The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Malcolm Gray MBE for taking the lifeboat alongside a burning fishing vessel in gale force winds, with three to four metre breaking seas and in total darkness. The six crew members received Vellum service certificates and a Letter of Appreciation signed from the Operations Director. Captain Michael Poole, Master of the Isle of Inishmore ferry also received a Letter of Appreciation for locating the fishing boat, illuminating the area and manoeuvring his vessel to provide protection.

Station honours

At St Davids lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 1
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 9
Bronze Medal 9
Silver Medal 5