The four gold medals were awarded as follows:- 1927 Gold Medal Service The Charles and Elizabeth Laura lifeboat, in the great gales of October 1927, carried out one of the most heroic services of the present century. The Moelfre boat was launched on the afternoon of 28th October and found the ketch 'Excel' of Poole waterlogged and just about to sink. The lifeboat chose the desperate course of sailing their boat right over the wreck. The three men on the ketch were hauled onboard her but the lifeboat herself was badly damaged. Her air cases kept her afloat but she was full of water. In this condition and with one of her sails blown away, she was beating against the gale all night. Two men, a member of the crew and one of the rescued, died on board. Second Coxswain William Roberts was completely blind for several hours after landing, from the sand and salt water. The following awards were granted by the Institution: Gold Medal to Second Coxswain William Roberts; Gold Medal to Captain Owen Jones, volunteer lifeboatman; and Bronze Medal to the rest of the crew and to the widow of lifeboatman William Roberts who died (13 Bronze Medals in all). Mrs Roberts was also granted a pension and an allowance for a grandchild dependent upon her.

1959 Gold Medal Service On 27th October 1959 the reserve lifeboat Edmund and Mary Robinson, on temporary duty at the station, was launched with a crew of five including one man, a helper, who had never been out on service in a lifeboat before. She put out to the MV 'Hindlea' of Cardiff, which was in distress in a hurricane force wind gusting to 104 miles per hour. The Coxswain found the 'Hindlea' with one anchor down, but not holding, in 48ft of water. The vessel was swinging from side to side and her engine, which was racing violently, did little to reduce the weight on the anchor chain. The chain was continually whipping clear of the water. The 'Hindlea' was being blown towards the rocks in shallow water and the master gave orders to abandon her. Coxswain Evans steered the lifeboat towards the vessel from the seaward side, but as he did so a tremendous breaking sea rolled the lifeboat over on to her side, putting her mast beneath the water. She was dangerously close to the 'Hindlea's' thrashing propeller, which was so far out of the water that it was above the heads of the crew. The Coxswain succeeded in taking the lifeboat alongside the wreck ten times. On eight of these occasions one man jumped into the lifeboat at a time and all were got safely aboard.

The Gold Medal of the Institution was awarded to Coxswain Richard Evans, and the other four members of the crew were also awarded medals, as follows:- Motor Mechanic E Owens - Silver Medal Mr D Francis Mr H Owen Bronze Medal Mr H Jones This was the first time for ten years that the Gold Medal, which is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's highest award for gallantry, was conferred. 1961 HM The Queen invested each of the five members of the crew of the Moelfre Lifeboat who took part in the service to the MV'Hindlea' on 27th October 1959, with the Silver Medal for Gallantry at Sea. The investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on 13th July 1961.

1966 Gold Medal Service On 2nd December the lifeboat Watkin Williams rescued ten of the crew of the Greek motor vessel 'Nafsiporos' which was in distress 400 yards west of the West Mouse rock in a north westerly hurricane with a very rough sea. For this service Coxswain Richard Evans was awarded a clasp to his Gold Medal. The following awards were made to the other members of the crew:- Motor Mechanic E Owens - Clasp to his Silver Medal Second Coxswain D M Francis ~ Clasp to his Bronze Medal Acting Bowman H Owen - Second clasp to his Bronze Medal Assistant Mechanic W H Davies - Bronze Medal Crew Member H Jones - Clasp to his Bronze Medal Crew Member D Evans - Bronze Medal Crew Member Captain J D Jeavons - Bronze Medal

Lifeboats have been launched down the slipway here in Moelfre since 1893, it was altered in 1899 and a new boathouse and slipway constructed in 1909, it appears that the boathouse remained unaltered until 1987 when it was adapted to accommodate the present lifeboat.

In 1965 a 'summer only' inshore rescue lifeboat was placed on service here, in 1994 this was extended to an 'all year round service'.

Lifeboats and lifeboat crews have changed dramatically over the years, in 1884 after 34 years as Coxswain at the age of 82, Coxswain Rowland Hugens resigned!!! Today's crew members of offshore lifeboats retire at 55 and inshore lifeboats at 45.

NOTES

1875 New lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £160.

1884 Prince of Wales formally presented at Marlborough House the Silver medal and a gratuity of ?50 to Coxswain Rowland Hughes, who had resigned, aged 82, after nearly 34 years' service and assisted to save forty-nine lives.

1893 Slipway constructed. 1895 Flagstaff approved for station. 1899 Slipway altered.

1901 Silver medal awarded to Second Coxswain Richard Owen for services and for great courage on 6/7 November, 1890 when he jumped overboard, although a non-swimmer, to disentangle a net which had fouled the rudder of the lifeboat. 1902 Silver medal to Coxswain Thomas Owen in recognition of his gallant services during nineteen years, particularly on 28 March, 27 November 1888 and 22 December 1894.

1909 New lifeboat house and slipway constructed at a cost of £2,850. 1910 Whilst new lifeboat 'Charles and Eliza Laura' was being taken to her station from Liverpool, she rescued two men from a yacht in distress. The lifeboat was manned by a navigating party of members of the New Brighton crew.

1916 Two men were washed out of the lifeboat whilst on service but both rescued without a mishap. Lifeboat launched with a crew all over 65 years of age.

1927 The 'Charles and Elizabeth Laura'... 'Excel' rescue (see above).

1929 Coxswain John Matthews was awarded a Silver watch for his devotion to duty when the lifeboat broke from her moorings and was wrecked in a very heavy gale on the night of 11 February 1929. 1931 Centenary Vellum awarded.

1937 Voted Bronze medal to Coxswain John Matthews for the rescue of the crew of five of the steamer 'Lady Windsor' of Cardiff in a whole north easterly gale and very heavy sea. It was a fine service in which very good seamanship was shown by the coxswain, both in finding the steamer and in getting alongside in the very heavy sea and rescuing the crew without damage to the lifeboat. The service was carried out on 24 October.

1940 Voted Silver medal to Coxswain John Matthews and a Bronze medal to Motor Mechanic Robert Williams for a fine service in very bad weather to the ss 'Gleneden' of Glasgow when her crew of 60 were rescued on 28 January during a north easterly gale and very rough sea. The crew showed great endurance and the Coxswain handled his lifeboat with great skill during the service.

1943 Voted Silver medal to Coxswain John Matthews and the Bronze medal to Second Coxswain Richard M Evans and Motor Mechanic Robert Williams for the rescue of four airmen who had ditched from a Whitley aircraft on 21 October. This was a very gallant service in a wind of almost gale force, a dark night and a rough sea. 1948 Colonel Lawrence Williams was appointed an Honorary Life Governor of the Institution,

1959 Gold Medal Service... reserve lifeboat 'Edmund and Mary Robinson ,"Hindlea" (see Above).

1965 Inshore lifeboat station established in July with the placing on service of a `D' Class lifeboat.

1966 Gold Medal Service ... lifeboat 'Watkin Williams' , 'Nafsiporos' crew rescued

1969 Coxswain Richard Evans received the MBE

1970 Coxswain Richard Evans retired.

1975 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum accorded to Coxswain William Roberts in recognition of his courage, determination and seamanship when the lifeboat saved the yacht 'Heracles' and her crew of four and escorted the yacht 'Westralia', which were in difficulties on the western side of Porth Wen Bay in a northerly gale and a very rough sea on 30 August.

1978 Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman were awarded to Second Coxswain John Thomas and crew member Kenneth Roberts in recognition of their service in the ILB on 21 August when they went to the assistance of six people in difficulty in a rubber dinghy off Lligwy Beach. To reach the casualty they encountered rough breaking seas and a heavy swell in a near gale force south westerly wind and the inshore lifeboat was damaged.

1980 150th Anniversary Vellum awarded.1980 Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, The Duke of Atholl, awarded to Coxswain William Roberts and Second Coxswain John Thomas in recognition of their determination and seamanship when the yacht 'July Morn' with a crew of two was taken in tow. The service by the lifeboat was carried out in a north easterly gale and a very rough sea on 21 September and necessitated the reconnection of the towline on eleven occasions.

1982 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum accorded to Coxswain William Roberts in recognition of the leadership and seamanship displayed by him when the lifeboat 'The Vincent Nesfield', on temporary duty at Moelfre, rescued the crew of two from the trimaran 'Triple Jack' which had run aground on rocks off Dulas Island in a strong south westerly gale, rough seas and heavy rain on 29 August.

1987 Boathouse adapted to accommodate the Tyne Class lifeboat. This included an extension to the slipway, new boathouse doors, a boarding Platform, a new fuel storage tank and a new main lifeboat winch.

1990 Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Michael Vernon, awarded to Helmsman R Pace and Crew Member A Barclay in recognition of their courage and seamanship for a service on 22 July, when the Inshore lifeboat launched at 0644 stern first from its carriage into breaking waves and went to the assistance of the Fishing Vessel 'Sea Venture', which was aground on rocks just north of Benllech. In an easterly fresh to strong breeze and a moderate sea, with a 4-5 metre swell, a line from the fishing vessel 'With Integrity', which was standing by, was taken by the lifeboat to the 'Steel Venture' and, despite a large wave which drove the lifeboat into the casualty, a tow was established. The fishing vessel 'With Integrity' towed the 'Steel Venture' clear off the rocks and towards the Menai Straits with the All-weather lifeboat in company.

1996 Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Michael Vernon were presented to Crew members Rod Pace and David Massey in recognition of their efforts on 1 July 1995, when the 'Robert and Violet' lifeboat rescued two and saved the catamaran 'Alleycat', which was lying inside the surf line and in danger of being driven onto rocks at Traeth Bychan, in moderate seas and force 5 winds. Both men were injured during this service.

The RNLI is a voluntary organisation which exists to save life at sea. It provides, on call, the 24-hour lifeboat service necessary to cover search and rescue requirements up to 50 miles out from the coast of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Since its foundation in 1824, over 127,000 people have been rescued. There are 215 lifeboat stations, 288 lifeboats on station and a further 100 lifeboats in the relief fleet. Modern lifeboats, designed to the highest standards and fitted with sophisticated equipment, cost thousands of pounds to build and maintain. Lifeboatmen are all volunteers although the mechanic is usually a full-time employee of the RNLI. Teachers, engineers, fishermen, doctors, men and women from all walks of life - are lifeboat crew members. In addition to their everyday jobs, they are ready to exchange the comforts of home for cold, wet, fatigue and possible danger. Whatever the weather, or the time of day or night, distress calls are always answered. One very important reason for a voluntary service is that each lifeboat station attracts the support of a number of able and active people from the community whose interest is the sea. They devote considerable time and energy to the efficiency and well-being of the station and often their local knowledge is vital. Whenever the lifeboat crews put to sea and whatever they are required to face, they can always rely on the loyalty and support of the community.

Station History

1830-1854 Institution's records commenced

1850 A lifeboat 1854-1867 (Previously stationed at Cemlyn) - Renamed LONDON SUNDAY SCHOOL1867-1874 AND CHARLES SEARE Gift of the London Sunday School's Lifeboat Fund - LADY VIVIAN 1874-1884 Cost collected by Lady Vivian of Beaumaris STAR OF HOPE 1884-1892 (Self-righting) Gift of Mrs Atherton Howard of Cheltenham A second STAR OF HOPE 1892-1910 (Self-righting) CHARLES AND ELIZA LAURA 1910-1930 (Watson) Legacy of Mrs S R Clark of London 724 G.W. 1930-1956 (Watson - motor) Legacies of Mrs E H Smith of Middlesex and Dr T Richards of Llangadoch. Engine was the gift of the Northampton Lifeboat Centenary FundTemporary lifeboat 1892-1910 CHARLES AND ELIZA LAURA 1910-1930 (Watson) Legacy of Mrs S R Clark of LondonG.W. 1930-1956 (Watson - motor) Legacies of Mrs E H Smith of Middlesex and Dr T Richards of Llangadoch. Engine was the gift of the Northampton Lifeboat Centenary Fund WATKIN WILLIAMS 1956-1977 (Watson - motor) Legacy of Miss Mary Eames Williams of Deganwy, Caernarvonshire B/F Temporary lifeboats 1956-1977 HORACE CLARKSON 1977-1988 (Rother) Gift of the Clarkson approx Shipping and InsuranceTemporary lifeboats 1977-1988 Present lifeboat ROBERT AND VIOLET 1988 to present day.(Tyne) Provided by a gift from date an anonymous donor