Heroes of Penlee: The Lifeboat Crew Who Risked Everything

A Night of Tragedy and Bravery

On 19th December 1981, the crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne embarked on a rescue mission that would become one of the most harrowing events in RNLI history. Battling hurricane-force winds and towering waves, the crew launched into the storm to save the passengers and crew of the stricken coaster Union Star.

The Union Star, on its maiden voyage from Holland to Ireland, carried a cargo of fertiliser, along with Captain Henry Morton, his crew of four, and the captain’s wife and two teenage stepdaughters, who had joined for the holiday season. Disaster struck when the ship’s engines failed due to contaminated fuel, leaving it drifting dangerously close to Cornwall’s treacherous coastline.

At 6pm, the Falmouth Coastguard received the Union Star’s distress call. While an RNAS Sea King helicopter attempted to assist, the extreme weather rendered aerial rescue impossible. It fell to the Penlee lifeboat, Solomon Browne, to undertake the perilous mission.

A Crew of Heroes

In Mousehole, word spread that the lifeboat might be needed, and Penlee’s volunteer crew gathered. A dozen men answered the call, but only eight were required for the mission. Coxswain Trevelyan Richards selected his team: James Stephen Madron, Nigel Brockman, John Blewett, Charles Greenhaugh, Kevin Smith, Barrie Torrie, and Gary Wallis.

Launching into hurricane-force 12 winds, with gusts over 90 knots and waves reaching up to 18 metres, the Solomon Browne fought its way to the Union Star. The crew made several attempts to come alongside the coaster, each time risking their lives as the lifeboat struck against the larger vessel’s hull.

According to Lieutenant Commander Russell Smith, piloting the Sea King helicopter, the lifeboat’s crew exhibited extraordinary bravery. “The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, and am ever likely to see, was the penultimate courage and dedication shown by the Penlee [crew] … They were truly the bravest eight men I’ve ever seen, who were also totally dedicated to upholding the highest standards of the RNLI.”

The Final Rescue Attempt

After half an hour of valiant efforts, the lifeboat crew managed to rescue four of the eight people onboard the Union Star. Their radio message back to the Coastguard, “We’ve got four off,” was the last communication from the Solomon Browne.

Rather than return to shore, the crew chose to attempt one final rescue for the remaining passengers. Tragically, all radio contact was lost, and the lights of the lifeboat disappeared ten minutes later.

At daybreak, the Union Star was found capsized on the rocks near Tater Du Lighthouse. Debris from the Solomon Browne began washing ashore, marking the heartbreaking loss of all 16 lives onboard both vessels.

A Community in Mourning

This disaster was the last time the RNLI lost an entire crew in action. It left an indelible mark on the village of Mousehole and the wider maritime community. A public appeal raised over £3 million—the equivalent of £10 million today.

Coxswain Trevelyan Richards was posthumously awarded the RNLI’s Gold Medal for Gallantry, while the remaining crew members received Bronze Medals. Their names are now inscribed on the RNLI Memorial in Poole, serving as a lasting tribute to their courage and selflessness.

Annual Tribute to Heroes

Each year, on the evening of 19th December, Mousehole’s famous Christmas lights are dimmed between 8pm and 9pm. Only the Cross and Angels remain illuminated, casting a solemn glow over the village and the sea beyond.

For more information about the RNLI and its memorials, visit RNLI’s website.