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Click pictures to enlarge |
| ATHERFIELD |
| Lifeboat | Coxswain | ||||||||
| Catherine Swift | 1890 | - | 1892 | William (Rufus) Cotton | |||||
| Catherine Swift | 1892 | - | 1906 | William (Rufus) Cotton (to 1903) | Walter White | ||||
| Gem | 1906 | - | 1915 | Walter White |
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Atherfield Lifeboatmen In the picture below left, two men at the stern of the lifeboat are wearing medals. The two men are William (Rufus) Cotton b.1848 and David (Daff) Cotton b.1856. Both were awarded silver medals for conspicuous gallantry during the 'Sirenia' rescue in 1888. On 11th February 1892, William Cotton was awarded a second silver medal, in the form of a clasp for the first, for his part in the 'Eider' rescue a week or so earlier. (Rufus on the left, Daff on the right). Part of the Cotton family tree |
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The Atherfield Lifeboat Catherine Swift 1890 - 1892 Taken August 1891 (Illustrated London News Aug 22nd). Courtesy of Blackgang Chine Museum |
| The Atherfield Lifeboat Catherine Swift 1892 - 1906 Courtesy of Blackgang Chine Museum |
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The Atherfield Lifeboat Gem 1906 - 1915 Taken during a launch 30th April 1907. Courtesy of Blackgang Chine Museum |
| The Atherfield Rail The means of getting the lifeboat to and from the shore. Courtesy of Blackgang Chine Museum |
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The Atherfield Rail with Catherine Swift at the top. Courtesy of Blackgang Chine Museum |
| The Atherfield Lifeboat Catherine Swift Lowered to the shore on the rail Courtesy of Martin Woodward, Bembridge Maritime Museum |
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The Atherfield Lifeboat Catherine Swift Courtesy of Martin Woodward, Bembridge Maritime Museum |
| The Atherfield Lifeboat Gem Ceremony 30th April 1907 General Seely on right |
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The Atherfield Lifeboat Gem Ceremony 30th April 1907 |
| The Atherfield Lifeboat Gem Ceremony 30th April 1907 |
| Atherfield Station Record of lives saved by the 'Catherine Swift' (1890 - 92) Artist's impression |
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Numbers of Lives saved by three Atherfield
Lifeboats : Catherine Swift 112, Catherine Swift 45, Gem 0 Artist's impression |