The Mid North Coast Maritime Museum has recognised the 81st anniversary of the drowning of Captain Leslie Liley, Port Macquarie's 14th harbour pilot.
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With relatives of Cpt Liley travelling from around Australia for the event, the grandson of boatman James Fitchett, who was involved in the incident where Cpt Liley drowned, was also a guest at Sunday's ceremony.
Museum coordinator Ted Kasehagen said the event also marked 80 years since a memorial plinth was dedicated to the memory of Cpt Liley at Flagstaff Hill.
"That plinth has stood overlooking the mouth of the Hastings River where Captain Liley tragically drowned," he said.
"The captain and a Taree visitor Arthur Ridett were thrown overboard when a huge wave struck the pilot vessel, The Hastings, in 1937.
"The pilot boat was guiding the steamship Nambucca into the Hastings River at the time.
"The wave struck so violently that the Hastings’ mast dipped beneath the waves before the pilot boat righted itself and stayed afloat.
"Boatman Fitchett could not restart the stalled engines which meant that the pilot boat could not be used to help rescue the two men in the water.
"Putting on a life jacket and taking two life belts with him, James Fitchett began to swim - gallantly - toward the two men. However, he saw a large wave wash over both men. Unfortunately after the wave had surged on, he realised that only Mr Ridett was left. Captain Liley was gone."
Mr Kasehagen said boatman Fitchett and Mr Ridett were eventually pulled to shore by men who had been working on the southern breakwall. Members of the crew of Nambucca also assisted in the rescue.
During Sunday's ceremony Russell Fitchett presented the museum with his grandfather's bronze medal and certificate which were presented to the boatman for his bravery during the rescue.
Captain Leslie Gordon Liley was born on April 30, 1894 in Milton, England. His father, Edmund Liley was a pilot and his paternal grandfather Edmund John Liley was a mariner.
Lesley took to sea as a 14 year old ship's boy - an apprentice - sailing overseas on several square riggers as an ordinary seaman. At 17 years of age he was an able seaman on merchant ships that included the SS Tinterbar, an Australian registered vessel.
By 22 years of age he had advanced from second mate to first mate. In 1916 he married Jessie, in Dunedin, Newcastle and they raised five children.
He subsequently obtained unlimited pilotage exemptions for the ports of Sydney, Newcastle and the Nambucca River.
He eventually became chief officer for various steam ships of the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. That shipping company has strong links to much of Port Macquarie's maritime history.
Port Macquarie's first harbour pilot was Richard Neave from 1821 to 1828. Our last pilot was Captain Syd Wickham who served until 1944. He was replaced by district officers, including Max Morgan and David Meakin-Jones.