Thomas Cocking died in the St Ives lifeboat tragedy of 1939.

 Barnoon Cemetery, St Ives, Cornwall
(Click on an image for a larger version)


We surveyed this cemetery in two visits - one before breakfast and one between breakfast and meeting up with family members at 10:30AM. What dedication!
 
 
Thomas Cocking was one of seven crewmen who died in the St Ives lifeboat tragedy of 1939. In the early hours of 23 January 1939 there was a Force 10 storm blowing with gusts up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). The lifeboat John and Sara Eliza Stych was launched at 3 o'clock to search for a ship reported in trouble off Cape Cornwall. It rounded The Island where it met the full force of the storm as it headed westwards. It capsized three times and drifted across St Ives Bay when its propeller was fouled. The first time it turned over four men were lost; the second time one more; the third time left only one man alive. He scrambled ashore when the boat was wrecked on rocks near Godrevy Point. 
 
Visited - June 2014

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