The 1903 Mumbles Lifeboat Disaster

by Fred Gammon

Header: Lifeboat James Stevens 12 launching -by Odo Vivian

February 2003 marks the centenary of the lifeboat disaster when on Sunday 1st February in 1903 the 14 strong crew of the Mumbles lifeboat the James Stevens went to the aid of the S.S. Christina off Port Talbot, during a south-westerly gale.

At that time the Head Launcher was John Libby, a blacksmith, (father of Harry Libby, later Mayor of Swansea) and the crew were Sam Gammon, William Jenkins, Tom Michael, Hedley Davies, David J. Howell, Richard Gammon, Charles Sully Davies, David John Gammon and Tom Rogers (coxswain); Daniel Claypitt, (2nd Coxswain); George Michael, James Gammon, Robert Smith and David John Morgan, a survivor of the 1883 disaster. The latter six of those brave men perished on that terrible day.

The Lifeboat Crew who lost their lives, February 1st 1903

Error: Mr Thomas and others, have confused the date which the ship, The SS Christina went aground at Port Talbot: and the following day, when it was hoped to re-float her. Let me be clear, the day the disaster happened was 1st February 1903.

On the last day of January 1903, [sic]

The Mumbles Lifeboat launched out to sea

With a crew of fourteen men all told

With a grip of iron and hearts of gold.

To stand by the Christina in case of need,

But this is a very sad case indeed,

For when they had crossed the restless wave,

There was not a life to save.

The crew of the ship had been landed before

And six of the Lifeboat crew are no more.

God grant that they have met on the eternal shore.

May they rest in peace for they are laid to rest

In Oystermouth Cemetery breast to breast.

One's left a baby six weeks old,

Thirty‑nine more fatherless children I am told

Lets all do our best, be honest and true

And help those that's left of our Lifeboat crew.

by Mr. Thomas of the ‘Ship and Castle’ at Newton.

I understand that the lifeboat capsized and when it had righted itself, four of the crew had managed to hang on, including Samuel Gammon. Ten of the crew were fighting for their lives in rough icy seas and Samuel dived back into the water and rescued a number of them. They included David John Gammon, the grandfather of Neil Gammon and Richard Gammon, the father of William Gammon, who would one day be the coxswain of the ill-fated lifeboat, ‘The Edward Prince of Wales’ in the disaster of 1947.

A number of French seamen and the Harbour Master, Captain Humphrey Jones had attempted the rescue of those in the water. Captain Jones was lowered down to the water by two of his staff and managed to catch hold of one man by his coat, but in the conditions at the time, he lost his grasp.

The All Saints' Church Parish magazine of March 1903, graphically described the scene in the village when ‘ On Wednesday February 4th, the bodies of the brave men were brought from Port Talbot, by road, to the Mumbles. Crowds of people, of all classes, met the bodies as they entered the village, to show sympathy and respect. Slowly, quietly and reverently each body was taken out of the hearse and carried on stalwart shoulders to its respective home . . . The piteous grief of the widows and orphans brought tears to the eyes of the strongest . . .’

The funerals took place in the Parish Church on Thursday 5th February at 3.30p.m. The music was provided by the Swansea Postal and Telegraph Band, which, with the Choir, Clergy and Ministers, preceded the bodies to the cemetery, where 1000s had gathered to witness the interments. The survivors of the disaster, clad in their life-belts, stood by the open graves. The service concluded with the hymn ‘Nearer my God to Thee’.

Shortly after, Sam Gammon was made temporary coxswain, with William Jenkins as temporary 2nd coxswain.

There were always volunteers ready to step forward, even after such a terrible catastrophe. The new crew appointed in July 1903 were William Davies, (Coxswain), George Powell, (2nd coxswain); William Davies, bowman, son of the coxswain; William Brace, John Bail, Charlie Davies, William Morgan, George Webborn, William Gibbs, Tom Kift, David Thomas and Alfred Michael.

The Port Talbot harbourmaster, Captain Humphrey Jones, received a framed picture of the S.S. Christina, but as far as I know, Samuel’s deeds went unrecognised. This is the man who I am proud to call my Grandfather.

More: Lifeboat collection

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Lifeboatmen's Graves at Oystermouth Cemetery

The graves of the six men who lost their lives in the 1903 disaster, can be found in a row, lining the main footpath i the lower part of the cemetery. Photos of four of the graves are added here