Lifebelts Collection

Seaside shops at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
Seaside shops at The Albion corner in Walton-on-the-Naze, on the north Essex coast. 1970

Bryan Gould, Labour politician and MP
Bryan Charles Gould (b 1939), UK Labour politician and MP, born in New Zealand, where he returned in the early 1990s. Seen here (just left of centre)

Man wearing lifebelt around body, designed by Admiral J. R Ward in 1854. Date: 1881

Nautragio of a large German sailing ship, crewmen climbing trees in tragic... (colour litho)
2815621 Nautragio of a large German sailing ship, crewmen climbing trees in tragic... (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

The End of the World, 1910 (litho)
3091225 The End of the World, 1910 (litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The End of the World, 1910. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Steamer, Resolute, with passengers at Great Yarmouth
Steamer (double-ended ferry), Resolute, with passengers at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, owned by the Yarmouth & Gorleston Steamboat Company. Date: circa 1920

The Cable Car That Saves (Colour Litho)
2777814 The Cable Car That Saves (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The zip line that saves)

Life on a Troopship bound for the Middle East. Evacuees from Crete who were taken abroad for the destination to South Africa, receiving instructions in the use of lifebelts. Circa 1940s

Prime Minister John Major seen here at the Royal Navy Base Fraslane for the decommissioning of HMS Repulse

Studio photo, three people on board ship, The Fern
Studio photo, three people on a mockup of a ship, The Fern, with a painted backdrop. Date: circa 1910s

Two women with lifebelt and sailors caps
Two women wearing sailors caps, posing inside a lifebelt from the passenger steamer, the Queen of Thanet-- NMSPC stands for the New Medway Steam Packet Company. Date: circa 1930s

Tea dance at Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Tea dance at the Cavalier Beach Club, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Date: circa 1930s

Boy scouts in swimming race, British Honduras
Boy scouts in a swimming race, wearing lifebelts, British Honduras (now Belize), Central America. Date: 1951

Men on board the DW27 of Chatham, Kent, with two lifebelts

View of a boat, River Thames, London
View of a boat, the Peter Piper, on the River Thames, London. Date: 20th century

Allied troops landing for the Western Front, WW1
Allied troops (probably Belgian) landing in preparation for the Western Front in the early days of the First World War. The ship is the Princesse Clementine of Ostende. Date: 1914

Lifeboat men in a rough sea
Lifeboat men rowing their boat in a rough sea, wearing cork lifebelts

Picture No. 11051064
Dog Cavapoo puppy ( 7 wks old ) in lifebelt Date:

True to the Core lifeboat crew, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
The crew of the True to the Core lifeboat at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, seen here wearing their cork lifebelts and souwesters. circa 1895

Honourable Artillery Company lifeboat, Walton, Essex
The first National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, donated by and named after The Honourable Artillery Company whose Drama Club sponsored it, was launched in 1884

Crew of the Honourable Artillery Company lifeboat, Walton
Crew members of the Honourable Artillery Company lifeboat at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. Seen here at the boathouse, wearing their cork lifebelts with the lifeboat behind them

True to the Core lifeboat, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
The lifeboat of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, named True to the Core, seen here under sail with her crew on board wearing their cork lifebelts. circa 1898

Lifeboat crew, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
The crew of the first voluntary lifeboat of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, named True to the Core. They are seen here wearing their cork lifebelts. circa 1905

British Army on board ship on the way to France, 1939
British soldiers on board a Channel steamer on their way to France, all wearing lifebelts around their necks in case of an emergency. Date: 1939

Page from The Sphere, 4th May 1912, called The Newsletter, Week by Week. It features images of Indian students who have studied at the London School of Economics; Signor Murri

German troops at Oesel Island
German troops, wearing lifebelts, in a small boat having disembarked from the larger troopship alongside, prepare to make an amphibious landing on Oesel Island (Saaremaa)

Aboard a sinking ship
Aboard the sinking Vesris; a photograph taken on deck just seconds before the liner went down, showing people in lifebelts heading for the lifeboats

Norfolk Terrier Dog - puppy in rubber ring
JD-20830 Norfolk Terrier Dog - puppy in rubber ring John Daniels Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

Duckling - with lifebelt
JD-20218 Duckling - with lifebelt John Daniels Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

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Lifebelts have played a crucial role in maritime safety throughout history. From the picturesque seaside shops at Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, to the heroic tales of lifeboatman Henry Freeman, who emerged as the sole survivor of the devastating Whitby Lifeboat disaster in 1861, these essential devices have saved countless lives. In 1881, a man wearing a lifebelt designed by Admiral J. R Ward showcased its effectiveness and innovation. This early design paved the way for future advancements in life-saving equipment. The sinking of the Titanic remains one of history's most tragic events. A timeline of events and articles about this fateful night highlights how they were instrumental in saving lives amidst chaos and despair. The principle "Woman and Children First" was upheld as passengers and crew faced unimaginable circumstances on that ill-fated voyage. Captured in lithographs from various eras are poignant scenes depicting maritime disasters such as the Nautragio of a large German sailing ship where desperate crewmen resorted to climbing trees for survival. Another lithograph titled "The End of the World" from 1910 serves as a haunting reminder of humanity's vulnerability against nature's wrath. However, it is not all doom and gloom when it comes to lifebelts. The uplifting image of survivors being picked up by RMS Carpathia after their ordeal on board Titanic showcases hope amid tragedy. Similarly, steamers like Resolute with passengers at Great Yarmouth symbolize safe journeys made possible through proper safety measures. Lifebelts extend beyond sea voyages; they also play an important role in land transportation systems like cable cars depicted vividly in colorful lithographs that highlight their lifesaving capabilities during emergencies. Throughout history, they have been constant companions ensuring our safety amidst unpredictable waters or unforeseen calamities. They serve as reminders that even during our darkest moments, there is always hope clinging onto us tightly – just like a lifebelt.