Claim: William A Mogridge, Coxswain of Torbay Lifeboat Station, rescued several ships during storms throughout his career and received the RNLI award as well as silver and bronze medals for his courage and seamanship.
Evidence: William A Mogridge was appointed as Coxswain of the Torbay Lifeboat in October 1932. On the evening of 30 December 1935 he took the Lifeboat Gorge Shee through a gale to help the Satanicle, a French trawler that was 15 miles (24 km) east of Start Point. On 23 January 1937 the SS English Trader ran aground on the Checkstone Ledge near the mouth of the River Dart. Mogridge brought the lifeboat under the stern and alongside to take off the ship's 32 crew and also 20 people from the tugs that had gone aboard to help. The George Shee put to sea in the afternoon of 9 December 1939 to the aid of the disabled Channel Pride, a fishing boat that was racing for home as a gale blew up. It came right alongside and the two fishermen jumped on board, by which time the storm had blown the boats within 20 feet (6.1 m) of the shore. Mogridge was awarded a second silver medal, and bronze medals were given to William Pillar, his deputy, Richard Harris, the mechanic, and Frederick Sanders, the lifeboat's bowman. For his courage and superb seamanship Mogridge was awarded an RNLI bronze medal. Mogridge was subsequently awarded an RNLI silver medal for his tremendous courage and outstanding seamanship on this occasion.