A huge anchor from the Empress Queen paddle steamer, which was lost off Bembridge Ledge whilst bringing troops back to home soil in 1916, has been recovered and put on display in the village.
Lengthsmen working for Bembridge Parish Council have created a beautiful monument displaying the recovered anchor on the green beside Bembridge Coastguard Station at the end of Beachfield Road.
The line of the anchor shaft directly points to the wreck site, of which a little can still be observed at very low tides.
PS (RMS) Empress Queen was a steel paddle steamer – the last of its type ordered by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in the late 1890’s.. She was chartered by the Admiralty in 1915 and was used for trooping duties. She ran aground off the coast of the Isle of Wight on 1st February 1916 with 1,300 souls on board.
Although the troops were successfully taken off the stricken vessel by naval destroyers, the crew remained on board. When the weather turned and the order was given to abandon ship, Bembridge RNLI’s ‘Queen Victoria’ lifeboat was launched and conducted 4 trips between the ship and shore, rescuing a total of 110 people. Bembridge Lifeboat’s coxswain, John Holbrook, was awarded a Silver medal for his actions.
The new display can be found on the Coastguard green at the far end of Beachfield Road, next to the Crab & Lobster Pub and Bembridge Coastguard Station.
How lovely to see such a splendid piece of our history saved and preserved in such a beautiful location and so close to where the ship ran aground on the notorious Bembridge ledge.
Well done all those involved..
How fortunate those returning brave soldiers were to have Island lifeboat crews available to save them all.
Certainly a wonderful addition to the Islands and Bembridge’s wonderful history and a lasting tribute to the Lifeboat crews who save so many lives around our shores.
A great achievement by BPC and Martin Woodford who I understand located and raised this super, yet extremely heavy anchor.
A fantastic addition to all of us Islander’s history. Many Island families have, or are, involved in the RNLI and this is a wonderful tribute to the work they have, and continue to do voluntarily.
Nothing more pleasing than reading of a rescue where all lives were saved even a cat and dog apparently were bought safely ashore.
As this will be an object of much interest for many people, surely an ideal location to place a collection box for the RNLI?
For the mindless vandals to nick?
plato, No, for the collection boxes as the National Trust use on some of their sites by having a secure metal lockable box built into the splendid monument/support for the anchor by just removing one stone.
Hardly a hot bed of wayward youth in Bembridge.
People are more likely to donate when their interest is aroused.
Saw this yesterday. Really lovely to see something of this ship preserved and displayed in such a fitting place and so beautifully.
My family came from the IOM so I shall be sending the photographs to those still living there.
A big thank you to all concerned in linking our two Isles so wonderfully.