This article was provided by Carol and Malcolm Appleby who found a reference to the lifeboat disaster of 1861. It was in the Scarborough Mercury of Friday, August 11th, 1911.
This year, on the 2nd of November, will occur the solemn anniversary of the death of Lord Charles Beauclerk, who was drowned on the memorable occasion in 1861, when the Scarborough lifeboat was wrecked near the Spa in a terrible storm. Lord Charles was heroically endeavouring to save life in that disaster when he was carried out to sea. The body is intered in the Scarborough cemetery and the grass grown grave a little below the chapel in the old portion is marked by a tombstone which by the lapse of time has become so weather worn and decayed that the inscription upon it is not easily decipherable.
This year witnessing the fiftieth anniversary of the sacrifice of life in a brave attempt to save life it would afford a fitting occasion for the placing of a more permanent memorial over the grave. The present stone had already been erected when Mr Leonard Thompson, the veteran superintendent of the cemetery, took office so many years ago, but he was assured by the late Mr Dove, who erected it, that it was only put up as a temporary mark to be replaced later by something of a more permanent character.
The daughter of Lord Charles was subsequently married to Lord Milton whilst he was a liberal member for the West Riding. They were staying at the Grand Hotel, Scarborough, on the honeymoon and Lord Milton wrote to Mr Thompson to the effect that Lady Milton and himself would be at the cemetery the following Sunday afternoon and wanted to see the grave of Charles.
The visit was duly paid. Lord Milton was extremely pleasant and greatly interested, and enquired if ground adjoining could be purchased. He was informed that there was one grave space. Since then, however, that has been taken. Lord Milton said that Mr Thompson would hear from him again in the autumn, he was going abroad, but after that something would be done at the grave.
Unfortunately, Lord Milton was in ill health, which continued and he died, and Mr Thompson has heard no more with regard to the grave of Lord Charles. People not infrequently visit the cemetery and inquire for the grave, and it would be very fitting if the fiftieth anniversary of the sad event could be marked by the placing of a memorial on the grave of a more impressive and permanent character.
The inscription on the present tombstone should be read as follows: "To the memory of Lord Charles Beauclerk, fourth son of the Duke of St Albans, who was drowned at Scarborough on the 2nd of November, 1861, whilst nobly attempting to save the lives of some shipwrecked sailors. He was 46 years of age.
