In 1908, Richard Short sadly drowned in the Tweed on the Spittle side. He had jumped in to save a young woman and a baby, but he couldn’t swim. He was just 27.
The funeral was one of the largest in Tweedmouth for many years. He is buried in Tweedmouth Cemetery.
I would like him to be remembered as he gave his life at such a young age.
At the time, the lifeboat station was moved to the Berwick side.
He was my grandad’s uncle and served in the Coldstream Guards.
Image: the dock at Tweedmouth © Jennifer Petrie (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/8145943
This story was collected at a Tweed Stories event held as part of Berwick Heritage Open Days [www.berwickhods.org.uk] in September 2026. With thanks to the HODs team and everyone who attended. Find out more about Berwick’s history at www.berwickfriends.org.uk and northumberlandarchives.com/berwick/.
