THEY were the quiet heroes who threw themselves into treacherous waters in the middle of the night to save drowning soldiers.
Seventy-two years later, five surf life savers have had their legacy etched into history with a shield commemorating their efforts during the deadly Stockton Bight disaster.
It was before dawn on March 8, 1954, when Stockton Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) members Frank Littlewood, Harry Rowlatt, Billy Arthur, Barry Jones and Col Whyte awoke and leapt into action.
A convoy of 20 amphibious vehicles on a training exercise had been caught in a sudden wind change with waves up to six metres high smashing them.
Eight of the "duckies" sank, about 100 soldiers were tipped overboard, and the convoy was scattered along Stockton beach. Corporal N Moran, Trooper N Mornement and Private R Blackie, died.
The surf club mates rushed to the scene just north of Stockton hospital and, some of them forced to shed their clothes, used a belt and reel in life-threatening conditions to get soldiers to safety.
Survivor Glan Willcox presented Stockton SLSC with a shield on Saturday, May 30, to recognise the role the club members played in the rescue, known as Operation Seagull.
Mr Littlewood's children, Gail and Richard Littlewood, attended the ceremony.
"Dad was one of the first to the call, he turned up with his clothes on but stripped off and was straight into the surf," Richard said.
"He said it was chaos and he said he was quite scared but something had to be done for everyone else, and in he went."
They said they were very proud of Mr Littlewood. He suffered a knee injury in the rescue that he carried for the rest of his life.
The men didn't talk about it much, and were unsung heroes for decades. Mr Arthur's daughter Wendy Lord remembered her mother talking about what a dreadful night it was.
Mr Arthur was secretary of the surf club and had a phone, so got the call for help then tried to rally rescuers.
"They got called out in the middle of the night in treacherous conditions and north Stockton is terrible, with sharks, and the surf conditions were always worse up there, but they went up and did what they were trained to do," Wendy said.
The ceremony brought together two survivors of the tragedy, and the families, friends and supporters of the Stockton SLSC members.
