S.G.M. 'At 10.45 a.m. on 11 January 1913, during a very heavy gale, the Dunelm stranded on the Seaton Sea Rocks, Blyth and became a total wreck. The North Blyth Volunteer Life Saving Apparatus Company arrived at 11.20 a.m. but gear had to be carried over rocks for about 900 yards. The tide was running swiftly and eventually the gear had to be abandoned. A Seaman jumped overboard with a line attached to him and swam to a ledge of rocks which two members of the Life Saving Apparatus Company had reached. The line was used for the whip and the remaining 14 members of the crew were landed on the ledge. During the operations the whip fouled the rocks and Marsden plunged into the sea to clear it. He was twice washed away and nearly drowned, but was rescued by Gibney and Archbold. After reaching the rocks the men had to make their way or be assisted to the shore through the surf. The tide came in and marooned six men. Kelsey, Robertson and Scott were the last of the rescuers whose retreat was so cut off, but they remained on the rocks until all the crew were landed. Nixon went off to the ledge in a small boat and rescued two men. Macarthy then took out a small boat. The four remaining men got into it but it capsized and Macarthy was nearly drowned. Brown and Beading thereupon took out their boat and tried to reach one of the rescuers named Hurrell, but he sank before they could reach him. They, however, rescued the other three men' (P.R.O. BT261-6 refers).

Leading Boatman William Marsden received his S.G.M. from the hands of the King at an Investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 16.12.1913. His was the only Silver Medal for the incident, nine fellow rescuers receiving the Bronze Medal.