Dearest Darling

In the early hours of 7 September 1838 the SS Forfarshire, a paddlesteamer with brigantine rigging, struck and subsequently foundered on the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland. A group of eight sailors and one passenger managed to lower and escape in a lifeboat, to be picked up the following morning by a passing schooner. The remaining passengers and crew were left on board as the ship broke up in rough seas.

At first light of morning their plight was spotted by Grace Darling the 22 year old daughter of William Darling, keeper of the nearby Longstone Lighthouse. Deciding that the seas were too rough for a rescue from the mainland Grace and her father rowed a 21' coble through heavy seas in the lee of the islands to effect a rescue. Grace kept the coble steady in the water while her father helped four men and a lone surviving woman into the rowing boat. Although she survived the sinking Mrs Dawson lost her two young children during the night.

Returning to the lighthouse Grace remained there while William and three of the rescued crew members rowed back and recovered four more survivors. The weather then deteriorated to the extent that everyone was obliged to remain at the lighthouse for three days before returning to shore.

Of the 62 on board 42 people, including the captain and his wife, perished. Both William and Grace received the RNLI’s Silver Medal in 1838 - the first recipients of this new award. They also received the Gold Medallion from the Royal Humane Society, while Grace additionally received silver medals from the Glasgow Humane Society and the Edinburgh and Leith Humane Society

Grace Darling died of tuberculosis in 1842, she was 26.

 
Grace Darling at the Forfarshire by Thomas Musgrave Joy (9 July, 1812 – 7 April, 1866) - a painter known principally for his portraits
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gra…


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