Warriors of the Sea remembered on 125th anniversary of Mexico disaster
COURAGEOUS men who lost their lives in the worst lifeboat disaster in British history were remembered at a special service.
Crowds gathered at the lifeboat memorial on the Southport Promenade on Saturday morning for the service, which marked 125 years since the tragedy in 1886.
Prayers were said and hymns were sung in memory of the 27 men. Southport Lifeboat crewman James Foster read an extract from the poem, Warriors of the Sea, to the gathered crowd, before a wreath was laid and the names of the men who died were read out.
On December 9, 1886, crew members from Southport, Lytham and St Anne’s battled against hurricane conditions to rescue 12 men trapped aboard the German ship, the Mexico.
The Lytham crew saved the lives of those onboard the stricken barge, while all 13 of the St Anne’s lifeboat crew, and 14 of the 16 from the Southport lifeboat perished, leaving behind 16 widows and 50 children.
