page_title: Bembridge Lifeboat Station
section_title: 1919 RNLB Queen Victoria
hierarchical_section_title: Bembridge Lifeboat Station / Notable rescues / 1919 RNLB Queen Victoria
caption_attribution_description: English: United States Navy cargo ship USS Wakulla (ID-3147), probably in United States West Coast waters at the time of her commissioning in June 1918
context_page_description: Bembridge Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the village of Bembridge in the English county and island of the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom.
context_section_description: On the morning of 28 August 1919 there was heavy rain in a strong southerly gale. Into very heavy seas the lifeboat Queen Victoria  was sent out on a service. An American ship called the USS Wakulla (ID-3147) of Los Angeles, had been driven ashore onto a shoal at West Wittering, near Chichester. At the scene, the lifeboat noted that the Wakulla had been taken into tow by a government tug which had progressed to the windward side of the ship. In heavy seas the Queen Victoria with great courage and skill got alongside the vessel and was able to take off 13 men of the crew, and landed them safely to land. The lifeboat then returned to the Wakulla and stood by until 4:00 am. By that time the weather had moderated and the wind had shifted. By this time Coxswain John Holbrook had been at the helm for 19 hours. For his part in this rescue he was awarded an RNLI silver medal.
caption: The USS Wakulla, The Bembridge lifeboat saved thirteen of her crew
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