HERO lifeboatmen who made the ultimate sacrifice saving others are being remembered at the royal unveiling of a new memorial.

Seven crew from Tendring are among almost 800 who died and are being commemorated by the RNLI.

The Duke of Kent is unveiling a memorial at RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset.

Four Clacton crew are honoured: l Second coxswain James Cross and crew member T Cattermole, who drowned after their lifeboat capsized in a gale on January 24, 1884. They were trying to help the barge, Jesse, which was anchored near the Heaps buoy with damaged sails.

l Benjamin Addis, who died of exposure a month after an incident in January, 1888.

l Second coxswain Frank Castle, who was killed on April 7, 1943, when the barge, Tam O’Shanter, capsized while being towed by the lifeboat.

Walton crew members Frederick Batchelor and John Downes are also on the roll of honour.

Mr Batchelor collapsed and died while rushing to the lifeboat station in 1889. Mr Downes was struck by his own lifeboat while it was being launched and died from his injuries in 1892.

Last of the seven is William Wink, who died in 1881 when the Harwich lifeboat capsized. His great, great, great grand-daughter Sally Wink is attending the unveiling, along with Mr Downes’s grand-daughter Pamela.

Mrs Downes said: “It is comforting to know the RNLI is commemorating my grandfather and all the other heroes who have died saving lives.”

The memorial is more than 4.5m tall and carries the motto of founder Sir William Hillary: “With courage, nothing is impossible”.

Clacton, Walton and Harwich RNLI stations will fly the flag at half mast as a mark of respect.

Divisional inspector Andrew Ashton said: “The memorial shows the crews and their families how grateful the RNLI and the public are for what they do. It celebrates their spirit and lifesaving deeds and reminds us that our lifesavers are not invincible.”