A lifeboat man, who was killed on Christmas Day 50 years ago in a daring rescue mission, will be honoured at last - following a campaign by the Exmouth Journal.

When editor Phil Griffin learned about the tragic story of Will Carder during the summer, he set the wheels in motion to ensure the unrecognised local hero would have a fitting tribute before his memory was lost forever.

Will Carder and his fellow lifeboat men answered an SOS at 5.20pm on Christmas Day 1956 from a Dutch vessel four miles off Exmouth - and braved horrendous storms. But Carder paid the ultimate price with his life when he was swept overboard.

Chief reporter on the Archant South West title, Becca Gliddon, was assigned to research the story and she compiled a series of feature articles, using archives and speaking to a survivor of the lifeboat, Maria Noble.

She even tracked down a long-time retired journalist from the Exmouth Journal who had covered the original tragedy.