Wolraad Woltemade drowns at sea after saving 14 people from a sinking ship

On 1 June 1773, the Jonge Thomas, a Dutch East India ship, was anchored at the mouth of the Salt River in Table Bay. In the early hours of the morning, a storm that had been raging through the night intensified and the Jonge Thomas' Captain, Barend Lameren, ordered the ship's cannon fired to warn the people on shore that they may need help. Shortly after 5 am the ship broke loose from its anchor and hit the jagged rocks of Salt River, breaking the ship in half.  The passengers and sailors on board began falling into the raging sea, and many drowned attempting to swim to shore. Approximately 30 soldiers were grouped along the nearby shoreline, but the officer in charge warned people who had gathered on shore not to go near the turbulent waters. Wolraad Woltemade, passing by on horseback, did attempt a rescue. He and his horse swam out to the wreck. As he and his horse reached the ship he threw out a rope and made for shore towing two men behind. Seven times, he rode and swam out to the ship rescuing 14 people. On his eighth trip, he and his horse were drowned when others, frantic in their efforts to be saved, grabbed hold of the animal and pulled both horse and rider under the waves. Woltemade immediately became a hero. The Dutch East India Company named a ship after him: De Held Woltemade. Later, the Union of South Africa instituted the King's Medal for Bravery (1939). In 1970, the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery was instituted as the highest civilian decoration for bravery in South Africa. This was replaced in 1988 by the Woltemade Cross for Bravery. The Woltemade Cross was discontinued in 2002, as part of the move towards establishing a new South African honours system.