Family of UK sailor rescued on JvD in 1943 visits to show gratitude
16 sailors were rescued on JvD
The late Mr King was one of 70 sailors aboard The HMS Rhexenor, when it was torpedoed on February 3, 1943, during World War II, by a German submarine in the Atlantic Ocean. The Rhexenor was 1,200 miles from the West Indies, and the crew divided into four 20-foot wooden sailing lifeboats. On February 23, 1943, Mr King’s lifeboat landed at Saddle Bay on Jost van Dyke.
Mr King and 15 other sailors were rescued by JvD residents who gave them food, drink, clothing and shelter.
Mr King and his wife, Frances, had visited Jvd on November 16, 2006, to show their deep gratitude to the Jost van Dyke community.
‘Forever indebted’
On November 6, 2021, the son of Mr King, Christopher King, along with his family, organised a memorial and appreciation ceremony on Jost van Dyke.
Among those at the ceremony was Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, who quoted a 2014 publication of the rescue incident.
“Two had died during the ordeal and their bodies were thrown into the sea. Their lifeboat had approached Saddle Bay on the Northwest Coast of Jost van Dyke during the night. It was winter and the ground seas were creating large breaking waves along the rocky and treacherous north shore of the island. Their boat crashed onto the shore and several were injured but no one was killed,” Governor Rankin read.
Meanwhile, the King’s family made a financial donation to the Jost van Dyke Primary School as part of their appreciation.
It was then Christopher King was called up to speak on the memory of his dad when he broke down. His son Matthew; however, came to his father’s side and reiterated his family’s gratitude to the people of the island.
“If your people hadn’t rescued my grandfather and the others I would not have been in this world, my dad would not have been in this world. We are forever, indebted to the people of this island,” Matthew stated.
Gifts of gratitude
The younger children of the King’s family also walked with special gifts for each child of the Jost van Dyke Primary School.
Also present at the simple ceremony were Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) and Second District Representative Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull, both of whom expressed gratitude to the family for their show of gratitude.
On November 8, 2021, the King’s family, along with some members of the community, visited the Saddle Bay area where they laid wreaths in memory of those who had perished.
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19 Responses to “Family of UK sailor rescued on JvD in 1943 visits to show gratitude”
It only lil fools like we who can't see that to this COVID sh** is played out
For the 12yrs I was in school, every year it was 1492 and slavery. As if the VI stopped existing outside those times.
I remember the first time I learnt that there were Caribbean soldiers who fought in the World Wars or how many famous politicians around the world were born/raided in the Caribbean. My mind was blown.
We are being done a disservice by bot being taught our own history.
Does the heading of the story read correctly though?
We were truly each others keepers we had homes not houses, and every child in the village belonged to the entire village. When we built homes the neighbours would all pitch in and lend a helping hand no money was exchanged, the only exchange was a hot plate of mutton, or a bowl of peas soup, or some Bonito fish (if you lived in west end like me where Bonito was in abundance) ,I truly miss those days of kindness and love in the BVI, if only we can change the hand of time !!! #hope#pray#bvilove
All ah we are one can never be,in all honesty.
This story shows the independence is not the answer for us, but united acceptance of each others diversity, and that cooperation is our greatest key of servival in this world of divers complexities of problemic need-to-be-solve. Love has no particular colour, neither hate. Let us cooperate in love by sharing love with others.
Amen.