A Blog about Blogg
‘He knew what his boat could do and, as nearly as a man may, what the sea could do.’
Henry Blogg was probably the most famous lifeboatman that ever was. In his 53 year service to the RNLI he helped save 873 lives.
He was awarded three gold medals, and 4 silver by the RNLI plus the George Cross and the British Empire medal.
Henry lived all his life in Cromer, born to the sea, his stepfather was a crab fisherman and Henry left school at aged 11 to learn the ropes.
He served tirelessly until he was aged 71 over ten years over retirement age.
At the end of the 19th century and into the beginning of the 20th, lifeboats relied on the raw strength and courage of the oarsmen who rowed the huge heavy boats. They were launched from the beach and had to be dragged into the shallows.
Probably one of the most courageous and incredible acts of bravery by Henry Blogg occurred in the early hours of a cold and fierce January morning in 1917.
The Cromer lifeboat was launched to aid a vessel just in sight off Cromer, the Pyrin. The Cromer men rowed their boat through the breakers, succeeding in coming alongside the stricken vessel, and taking off her crew. They rowed back to Cromer. As they reached the beach the Swedish vessel the Fernebo struck a naval mine and was blown in half. The two halves drifted towards the beach.
From one half, about 16 men set out in a ship’s boat. As they reached the edge of the breakers onto the beach, their boat was capsized. Teams of men, grasping each other’s arms, had walked into the water, and they were able to help the men from the boat, and aid them ashore. Meanwhile the lifeboat was rehoused on its trailer and was pushed again into the breakers, to launch to the other half of the Fernebo.
The ferocity of the sea threw the boat back onto the beach. This happened at least three times. It was not until midnight, under the light of searchlights from the clifftop, that the lifeboat finally reached the stricken half-vessel and took off its crew. Blogg had led his men for nearly 24 hours of heroic effort.
11 crewman were rescued from the shattered hulk of the SS Fernebo. Henry was awarded one of his gold medals for this action.
Henry’s remarkable story and some wonderful artefacts are available to view in the Cromer RNLI Henry Blogg Museum and is well worth a visit. There is also a bust of Henry up on the cliff top overlooking the sea. His bronze nose shiny with all the people who have paid him a visit. You will often find visitors have left flowers or other little gifts on his statue. He is buried in Cromer Cemetary.
No holiday to Cromer is complete without learning about this true Norfolk Hero.
The RNLI
RNLI Henry Blogg Museum
The Rocket House The Gangway Cromer
Norfolk
NR27 9ET
Tel: 01263 511294
Fax: 01263 513047
Website: rnli.org.uk/henrybloggHenry Blogg