Some time ago we posted a query to the list concerning my great grandfather Coast Guard John BITTLE (boatman) (aka GEIL taken from his mother’s maiden name GILL and used throughout his Royal Navy and later Coast Guard career), b.1839 Kenton, Devon. Tony Davey gave great assistance trying to trace his death in Claggan, Ireland. Ultimately this proved to be near Belmullet and we were fortunate that a local library found a newspaper cutting relating the circumstances of his drowning on the 27th August 1877 whilst manning a Coast Guard Galley with two others, Walsh and Harwood (chief boatman), who also drowned. The question is, surely there would have been an official coast guard record of this event as they were ostensibly on duty at the time sailing from Belmullet down to the coast guard base at Claggan? Perhaps there should be pension records for the widows? A couple of years ago we visited the archives at Kew and asked this same question but unfortunately they were unable to find or suggest any further information. Happy to send off list the newspaper cutting if anyone can help? Thank you, Joan Gibbs, Queensland, Australia.

Hi Joan & Peter You may already have checked this one http://www.coastguardsofyesteryear.org/ this site is dedicated to the Coast Guards of Ireland . Mick O Rourke Mariners List ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan & Peter Gibbs To: mariners@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 2:08 AM Subject: [MAR] Coast guard.