From the start of the Second World War in 1939 until VE Day on 8 May 1945, the RNLI’s volunteer crew launched 3,760 lifeboats and saved 6,376 lives. To this day, incredible stories are still being uncovered.
This year, as part of the RNLI’s Stories of Courage 1939-45 project, we’ve been honoured to tell one of them.
Watch Four Shouts in One Day
“Four Shouts in One Day” tells the story of a day when the Lytham Lifeboat carried out four service calls, saving 15 lives from the armed naval trawler HMT Gaul, aground in the Ribble Estuary. This was followed by searching for, then later setting out again, finding and getting alongside the Liverpool Pilot vessel Charles Livingston, wrecked on Ainsdale beach. They finally returned to the Gaul to help save the vessel.
Throughout the day, 19-year-old George “Ginger” Harrison tirelessly worked the engine of the Lifeboat Dunleary despite the at times appalling sea conditions encountered. George went on to serve the RNLI as the Lytham St Annes Mechanic for 40 years. He is believed to be the longest ever serving RNLI Station Mechanic.
George received the RNLI Bronze medal for gallantry for his efforts that day (there was also a Silver medal for the Coxswain John James “Mon” Parkinson and medals for the Blackpool Lifeboat Coxswain and Mechanic).
On top of his Bronze medal, George was deservedly awarded two “Thanks of the RNLI” inscribed on Vellum, and two “RNLI Letters of Thanks” for later acts of bravery.
Writing ‘Four Shouts’
It was winter 2025 when we were asked to write a song as part of the RNLI’s Stories of Courage project. The project set out to unearth accounts of bravery and sacrifice that might otherwise be lost, ensuring they can be heard for generations to come. Researching and gathering these stories has been made possible with the help of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Clive Marquis Carr and Steve Green wrote the song, inspired by the stories of David Forshaw, Lifeboat Press Officer, local historian and friend of the shanty crew, in his book On Those Infernal Ribble Banks.
We recorded the song at Helical Technology, Lytham (also long-time supporters of the Lytham St Annes RNLI), and it was mastered by our brilliant sound engineer, Oli Buchanan.
Alison Hulme, the RNLI Heritage Project Officer said, “Thank you to the Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew for their hard work on the Four Shouts in One Day song. I am really pleased that we can celebrate and commemorate our wartime stories through music. It is a wonderful tribute to George Harrison and the volunteer crew who went out in extraordinary conditions to save lives at sea”
The War, with its many restrictions on navigation aids and war time forces call ups of the younger men caused great problems for the Volunteer Lifeboat Crews all around the coast but all carried out their duties for the Sea Charity with skill, modesty and little direct public recognition as was typified by this one day at Lytham in 1939 and the dedicated service of a 19-year-old to help others whose lives were in danger.
To learn more about the RNLI in the Second World War, visit RNLI Stories of Courage 1939-1945. If you have your own wartime RNLI story, share a tribute at RNLI.org/YourStories.
Photos in the video:
1) Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Mechanic George “Ginger” Harrison (photo Lytham St Annes RNLI)
2) Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew 2026 (photo David Forshaw)
3) Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew 2026 (photo David Forshaw)
4) Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station 175 years (photo Martin Fish)