A LIFEBOAT volunteer who drowned while on a rescue mission has been honoured 175 years on.

William Guy lost his life on Christmas Day, in 1836, when he was washed overboard from the Zetland lifeboat during the attempted rescue of the crew of Danish brig Caroline, which had run into trouble in treacherous conditions off the Redcar coast.

Mr Guy is the only Redcar lifeboat volunteer ever to give his life while trying to save others.

For many years, a gravestone in St Peter’s churchyard was believed to have marked the final resting place of Mr Guy.

However, research by volunteers at the RNLI Zetland Lifeboat Museum, in Redcar, discovered that his grave was, in fact, in another part of the churchyard.

As a result, a memorial plaque and grave marker were unveiled at a service in Redcar on Friday.

During the service, at St Peter’s Church, conducted by the Rural Dean of Guisborough, Mr Guy’s life was recounted in a eulogy given by a direct descendant of his family.

Margaret Rowe said: “At last, after it being 175 years since William Guy lost his life while trying to save others, he is finally being recognised.

“I am honoured to be giving this tribute to him as a distant family relative.

“My grandmother, Nora Guy, was a direct descendent of William’s brother Henry.”

The commemorative plaque was unveiled in the church by the Marquess of Zetland.

Redcar RNLI senior helmsman Mike Picknett also spoke at the service.

He told the congregation: “The lifeboats we use today are somewhat different to the Zetland.

“Our Atlantic class lifeboat Leicester Challenge II bristles with modern technology. The Zetland and her crew had none.

“William Guy would not recognise the boat we operate today.

“However, the one thing that he would be familiar with and recognise is the selfless dedication, commitment and skill of my crew, who, as individuals, do exactly the same job as he did all those years ago.”

Mr Guy’s body was washed up at Sandy Wyke, near Staithes, North Yorkshire, six weeks after the tragedy.

He was recognised by a former Redcar woman and his body brought back to Redcar for burial in St Peter’s churchyard on March 9, 1837.

The Zetland was eventually washed up a long way away from where she had been launched.