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Wartime Lifeboat Crew after a dramatic rescue, Walton
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Wartime Lifeboat Crew after a dramatic rescue, Walton
Eight members of the lifeboat crew at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, pictured on the day they rescued three men from the barge Martha. Sandbags and barbed wire to protect the boathouse can be seen at the right, a reminder of the Second World War. Coxswain Thomas Puggy Bloom (front row centre) was awarded a RNLI Bronze Medal for this rescue.
19 January 1941
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Media ID 7247217
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10576361
1941 Barbed Barge Bicycle Bloom Boat House Brave Bronze Courage Coxswain Crew Essex Life Boat Martha Medal Members Naze Protect Rescue Rescued Rnli Sea Side Sou Wester Walton Wire Ww 2 Ww Ii January War Time
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, eight brave members of the Walton-on-the-Naze lifeboat crew are seen gathered together on the day they rescued three men from the stricken barge Martha, off the coast of Essex, in the midst of the Second World War. The date was 19 January 1941, and the scene is one of both triumph and tension. The crew, dressed in their distinctive RNLI uniforms and wearing sou'westers and hats to protect against the wind and waves, stand proudly in front of their lifeboat, which had been successfully launched to save the lives of the men on the Martha. The backdrop to this heroic scene is one of wartime fortification. Sandbags and barbed wire can be seen protecting the boathouse, a reminder of the ongoing conflict that threatened the very existence of this coastal community. The bicycles leaning against the wall add a sense of the everyday, a reminder that life went on amidst the chaos of war. At the center of the photograph is Coxswain Thomas "Puggy" Bloom, who was later awarded a RNLI Bronze Medal for his bravery and leadership during this rescue. His face is etched with the lines of a man who has seen his fair share of hardships, but his eyes shine with the pride and relief that comes from saving lives. This powerful image captures the spirit of the Walton-on-the-Naze lifeboat crew during the war years, a time when courage, resilience, and community spirit were essential for survival. The photograph is a testament to the bravery and selflessness of these men, who risked their own lives to save others in the face of danger and adversity.
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