Gallant Rescue at Ramsgate Thrilling scenes of shipwreck and heroism were witnessed by thousands of spectators at Ramsgate on Saturday afternoon. A great gale was blowing from the North East and a rough water extended from the Harbour wall to the dreaded Goodwin's, when the fishing smack "Lottie" endeavoured to return to port. She had onboard her owner and skipper Thomas Foster and a crew of two mean and a boy. At Lat the "Lottie" struck stern first and drove up under a cliff, the skipper and crew took to a small boat and managed to reach the Pier where the second hand and cabin boy were safely dragged to land. As Skipper Foster was attempting to grasp the rope, however, a heavy sea swamped the boat and swept him away. Attired in oil skins and heavy sea boots and already exhausted from cold and fatigue, his fate seemed to be sealed when a Corporal of the Royal Engineers, belonging to Ramsgate, named Frederick Taylor, went to the rescue. The plucky young fellow at first essayed to jump over the Pier without any rope about him but was restrained until a line had been made fast under his armpits. He then sprang into the boiling surf and came up just behind the drowning man and swam with him to the Pier amid much excitement. Another rope was thrown but Taylor's hands were too numb to make it fast, and all he could do was twist his won rope round Foster. The two men were then hauled up, but Foster being insecurely fastened, slipped back with his who;le weight onto the rescuer and both were precipitated back into the boiling surf again. An agonizing period followed. There is a projection from the wall. beyond which it was found impossible to drag the two men round, whose strength was nearly gone. Some plucky smacksmen however, climbed over and secured Foster properly and then both were hoisted onto the Pier amid loud cheers. Subscriptions are being collected to suitably reward the gallant young lance corporal for his heroic feat. Taylor has only just recently returned from South Africa where he had been invalided home suffering from the effects of Enteric, and this makes his conspicuous act of gallantry all the more heroic. It is to be hoped he will suffer no ill effects from the immersion and exposure and the medical gentleman in charge of him has written to the authorities declining to let him return to his Regiment, his leave having expired on Sunday, for at least another 14 days. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Taylor" <trees.taylor@sympatico.ca> To: "suzannah.foad" <suzannah.foad@btopenworld.com> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 8:19 PM Subject: RE: [IoT] Thomas Foster Incident 1902 > Suzannah you're a gem! I'd love the write-up. I think I have solved which > Thomas it was from another source, but it would be great to see the Gazette > info. > > Many thanks, > > Terry > > -----Original Message----- > From: suzannah.foad [mailto:suzannah.foad@btopenworld.com] > Sent: May 8, 2006 11:48 > To: Terry Taylor > Cc: Isle Thanet > Subject: Re: [IoT] Thomas Foster Incident 1902 > > > Unfortunately no ages or family mentioned. > Would you still like the write up from the Gazette for the incident? > Suzannah > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Terry Taylor" <trees.taylor@sympatico.ca> > > To: <Isle-of-Thanet-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 3:03 PM > > Subject: [IoT] Thomas Foster Incident > > > > > > > Hi Suzannah, > > > > > > Would it be possible for you to see if you have anything in your fund of > > > knowledge on the incident below? What I would really like to know is > the > > > age of Thomas. We have 2 Thomas' in the family (uncle and nephew), both > > > smack owners and we'd like to know which this was. > > > > > > Thank you (and anyone else) for any information you can give. > > > > > > Best wishes, > > > > > > Terry > > > > > > > > > Taylor, F.J. Lance-Corpl. RE. Case 31815 > > > On the 1st February 1902, owing to the capsizing of a boat in which he > was > > > leaving his wrecked smack, Thomas Foster was thrown into the sea at > > > Ramsgate. It was very cold and rough at the time. Taylor, at great risk, > > > jumped in and was successful in saving him. > > > > > > >From ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY BRONZE MEDALS CITATIONS > > > TAKEN FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT 1902 > > > Compiled by Peter Helmore > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.4/332 - Release Date: 5/4/06 > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/333 - Release Date: 5/5/06 > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/333 - Release Date: 5/5/06 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/335 - Release Date: 5/9/06