Descendants of heroes sought

THE RNLI is searching for the families of three former Exmouth lifeboat men who lost their lives, while selflessly helping others. The names of four men who died while on active duty for the Exmouth lifeboat have been added to an RNLI memorial, due to be

THE RNLI is searching for the families of three former Exmouth lifeboat men who lost their lives, while selflessly helping others.

The names of four men who died while on active duty for the Exmouth lifeboat have been added to an RNLI memorial, due to be unveiled at the charity's HQ in Poole.

The RNLI has details of family members of Exmouth lifeboat man Will Carder, who died on Christmas Day 1956, amid heavy storms after falling overboard lifeboat Maria Noble, but is appealing for direct descendants of FH Horne, HC Squire and Samuel Gifford to get in touch.

In 1905, signalman FH Horne left for home after the Joseph Soames lifeboat had launched - but he never arrived.

Some time later his body was found under trees, not far from the lifeboat house, where it was thought he had died of a heart attack.

In 1907, coxswain HC Squire collapsed and died as he helped to launch the Joseph Soames lifeboat.

And on July 6, 1952, signalman Samuel Gifford suffered a stroke and died after falling from his bicycle en-route to the boathouse when the Catherine Harriet Eaton lifeboat was launched in the early hours of the morning to search for two missing men from a liberty boat heading back to their ship, HMS Battleaxe.

Exmouth lifeboat spokeswoman Jo Damsell said: "The memorial sculpture is a fitting way to honour those volunteers who lost their lives, while on service to the RNLI.

"We are hoping there are direct family members to these three men still living in the East Devon area, so we can issue them an invite to the unveiling, on Thursday, September 3, in Poole."

l Contact Jo on 07551635363 or email her on press@exmouth-lifeboat.org.uk