Falmouth Lifeboat Honors Historic 1914 Hera Shipwreck Rescue

Photographs: David Barnicoat collection.

In a commemorative reflection, the Falmouth Lifeboat service has paid tribute to a heroic rescue operation that took place 110 years ago, following the tragic Hera shipwreck, one of the worst sailing ship disasters in the Falmouth area. This event, described by the RNLI as a ‘commendable rescue’, remains a significant part of the region’s maritime history.

On February 1, 1914, the German steel barque Hera, a 1,994-ton vessel, met its fate near Falmouth. Carrying nitrate from Pisagua, Chile, the ship had been at sea for 91 days. Hindered by poor weather and a faulty chronometer, Captain Lorenz struggled with dead reckoning navigation. His decision to alter course towards St. Anthony’s lighthouse proved disastrous as the Hera overshot Falmouth and struck The Whelps Rocks near Gull Rock, off Portloe.

Minutes after distress rockets were fired, the Hera capsized, throwing crew members into the freezing sea. Six of the crew, including the first mate, clung to the rigging, braving heavy seas and bitter cold. Falmouth Lifeboat’s Honorary Secretary, Mr. F.A Lelean, upon receiving a message from the Coastguard Station, promptly initiated the rescue operation. The lifeboat, Bob Newbon, manned by coxswain Samuel Hingston and a 15-man crew, was towed to the shipwreck by the harbour tug Perran.

In a daring rescue amid gale-force winds and rough seas, five men clinging to a spar were saved. Tragically, the Hera’s Mate, just before losing his life, handed his pea whistle to a young able seaman, Bessier, a poignant symbol of the ordeal. Bowman William Leuty, despite suffering a severe hand injury during the rescue, insisted on continuing the search for survivors, an act of remarkable bravery highlighted in the May 1914 edition of The Lifeboat magazine.

The 19 German seamen who perished were laid to rest in Veryan Churchyard, near Portloe, in a uniquely shaped grave. Their memory is honored by the Falmouth community, reflecting the enduring bond between the sea and those who brave its dangers to save others.