A bit of history (which I have only just learned)

This memorial is to thirteen men who lost their lives attempting to rescue a German ship in the 1880's. The huge loss of life apparently resulted in the founding of the RNLI. I didn't know any of this, which is a bit surprising as the memorial is in St. Annes on Sea which I visited as a child to see my grandmothers. Today I was there with the Cockermouth Civic Trust - it was our 'Grand Day Out'.