1909 Flamborough coble tragedy commemorated
During a bleak, raw and windy morning on Thursday, February 5, the annual wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the coble tragedy of 1909 took place at the Fishermen’s Monument in Flamborough.
A short account of that tragic day was given by Paul Arro, before wreaths were laid by Neil Brooke on behalf of the Flamborough Fishermen's Memorial Group and by Vic Leppington (Flamborough Parish Council).
Children from Flamborough CofE Primary School read a poem entitled The Fisherman's Prayer and the commemoration was attended by a number of local residents.
February 5 is a very significant date etched in the annals of history at Flamborough. One hundred and seventeen years ago, the small community was shaken by the tragedy which resulted in the loss of six fishermen when two local sailing cobles were overcome by a gale of great magnitude.
The coble Gleaner struck by a heavy sea which knocked her completely down. The Two Brothers managed to go about and get alongside the disabled coble, which was full of water, and her crew clicked hold of John Cross (44) and his two sons Robert (19) and Richard (17). A mountainous sea then struck the Two Brothers turning her head towards the cliffs before another heavy sea swamped her completely. All six fishermen were lost.
Melchior Chadwick (37), George Gibbon (34) and Thomas Leng Major (18) sacrificed their lives trying to save John Cross and his sons.
All but one of those lost were laid to rest in St Oswald’s Churchyard with identical headstones. Sadly the body of Robert Cross was never given up by the sea.
The Fishermen’s Monument, paid for by public subscription, was erected on Chapel Street to commemorate the tragedy and on that is the inscription ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’.
The Flamborough Fishermen’s Memorial Group was formed to commemorate the 1909 tragedy and that of May 7, 1984. A self-funding group, it is supported entirely by donations from its members.