THE LIFE-BOAT The Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution VOL. XXXIII APRIL, 1952 No. 360
THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 153 Motor Life-boats 1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to April 30th, 1952 77,697
The Great Exhibition of 1851: The Festival of Britain 1951 IN 1851 a prize of a hundred guineas on the South Bank of the Thames, for the model of a life-boat was offered the Life-boat Service was represented by Rear Admiral the Duke of North- by its latest life-boat, completed umberland, who that year had become shortly before the Festival opened. President of the Institution. The She was a Watson cabin life-boat, 46- life-boat must be capable of being feet 9-inches by 12-feet 6-inches, rowed in all weathers. That was the weighing 221 tons and driven by chief quality demanded. She must two 40 h.p. diesel engines. She cost also be able to do—what no life-boat £24,000. since the Institution was founded When this boat was chosen for the twenty-five years before had been Festival it was at the same time decid- able to do—to right herself if she ed that she should be named after Sir were capsized. No fewer than 280 Godfrey Baring, Bt., who has been a models were sent in, and the prize member of the Committee of Manage- was won by James Beeching of Great ment since 1911, the vice-chairman Yarmouth. from 1915 to 1923 and its chairman The boat which was built from his since 1923.* model was the first self-righting life- boat, and she determined the design A Commanding Position of the Institution's fleet for the next The life-boat was in the Seaside forty years. She was an open rowing Section, and stood in the open close boat, with 12 oars, and had two masts, to the Thames, near Waterloo Bridge, carrying jib, fore, lug, and mizzen sails. facing the pontoon at which visitors She was 36-feet long, with a beam of landed from the steamers. It was a 9|-feet, and weighed, with her gear, commanding position, and she could just under three and a half tons. be clearly seen from the bridge, and She cost £250. from the river. She was mounted Beeching's model and two others on concrete pillars with her bows entered for the competition—one made raised, pointing towards the river. by William Teasdel, of Great Yar- Close against her port side was a mouth, and the other by James and platform with a double flight of Edward Plenty, of Newbury, Berk- stairs to it. It was flush with the shire—-were shown in the Great Exhi- boat's deck and ran the full length bition of the Industry of All Nations of it, so that visitors could get a clear in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park in * Before tne festival it was intended tnat when it closed 1851. she would go to the station on The Humber, but it was At the Festival of Britain, of 1951, later decided to station her at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. 278 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 view of the whole deck. They could but during the second half of the look directly at the engine-room con- Festival a special leaflet describing trols under their canopy, and through the boat was given away. two mirrors, fixed at the open end of In only very exceptional cases were the canopy, they could see the inside visitors allowed on board. Of those of the wireless chamber, and the inside exceptions the most memorable was of the deck cabin. a party of four women and two men, nearly, or totally, blind. The boat Floodlit by Night was carefully explained to them, and The top of the engine-room casing the two men (who were totally blind) had been removed and replaced by a went over everything with their hands covering of perspex, through which and said that they could see it all. visitors could look down into the engine-room. Through another pers- 4,000,000 Visitors pex hatch they could look into one of Of over 8,000,000 visitors to the the fuel compartments and see the Festival it was reckoned that about tank for the diesel oil, and through half climbed the platform to see the another see the air cases under the life-boat. It was reckoned also that deck. The engine-room, the fuel com- about one visitor in twenty asked partment and the air cases were questions and that each asked on an lighted by day and night. By night average five questions, so that about the whole boat was lit up by a flood- a million questions were asked and light mounted nearby on her star- answered. board side, by flood lights built into Here is a letter from one visitor: the edge of the platform on her port "I am writing to you for three side, and by the boat's own masthead reasons: floodlight. Her navigation lights were Firstly to congratulate you on your lit at night, and by day in bad weather. exhibit of one of your life-boats From the ground there was a clear exactly as equipped for rescue work. view of the starboard side of the boat, I have been twice to the South Bank and of her propellers in their tunnels, Exhibition and each time I have felt and the bows were high enough above that this boat is the best part of it. the ground for people to walk under If visitors to England want to see them. something 'British made' then let Coxswains and life-boatmen from them admire your life-boat. stations all round the coast took • it Secondly to thank the anonymous in turn to be on board to explain the engineer who showed such enthusiasm boat and answer questions. By the and patience in answering our in- rules of the Festival no collecting numerable questions. I am sure he boxes were permitted though many has been a very good ambassador in people asked where they were, nor your cause. could souvenirs be sold. Nor was Thirdly to send the enclosed the distribution of literature permitted, cheque."
The Travelling Festival BESIDES the exhibition on the South sented in this exhibition, on the Bank of the Thames there were two Campania's flight-deck, by a life-boat travelling exhibitions. One by sea of the light Liverpool type, just and the other by land. The exhibition completed for Minehead, Somerset, by sea was mounted in the aircraft a boat 35-feet 6-inches, by 10-feet carrier H.M.S. Campania, which sailed 8-inches, weighing 8| tons, and driven from Southampton early in May, by two 18 h.p. petrol engines. visited Dundee, Newcastle, Hull, Ply- While the Campania was at Tyne- mouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Belfast, Bir- mouth an industrial exhibition was kenhead, spending from ten days to held in the town at which life-boat four weeks at each port, and ended its models and equipment were shown and journey at Glasgow in September. the life-boat films "Boats that Save The Life-boat Service was repre- Life "and "Shipshape". APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 279
His Majesty King George VI BY the death on the 6th of February, of His Majesty King George VI, the Life-boat Service lost not only a beloved Sovereign but its own Patron. He had carried on the tradition of over a century and a quarter that the reigning sovereign should be the head of the Life-boat Service, and was the seventh sovereign to give it his patronage. He first knew the Life- boat Service in 1911, when, as Prince Albert, he was a cadet at Dartmouth, visited the Newquay station, with his brother, the Prince of Wales, and saw a launch of the life-boat. In 1926, as Duke of York, he took part in the ceremony at the Montrose station when the new life-boat was named by the Duchess of York, and in 1929, when the illness of King George V prevented him, and Queen Mary, from attending the life-boat matinee at the Lyceum Theatre, at which Mr. Louis N. Parker's life-boat play Their Business in Great Waters, was first performed, with a very distinguished cast, the Duke of York came in their place. In 1939 the new life-boat at The Lizard, presented to the Institution by King George's Fund for Sailors, was named after him, Duke of York. In 1936 he became President of the Institution, on the accession to the throne of King Edward VIII, and on his own accession to the throne, before the end of the year, he became Patron. On the death of the King a telegram of sympathy was sent to the Queen, signed by the chairman, Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., from the Insti- tution "its committee, officers, staff, crews, and honorary workers," to which Her Majesty replied: "I am sincerely grateful for your message. Please assure all those for whom you speak that I deeply value their kindness and sympathy. Elizabeth R." At the first meeting of the Committee of Management after His Majesty's death it was proposed by the deputy chairman, Commodore the Earl Howe, seconded by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Oliver, and unanimously carried, that the following humble and loyal messages be presented to Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty the Queen Mother: "The Committee of Management and the officers and staff of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, the honorary officials of its branches and of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild throughout the British Isles, and the coxswains and crews of its life-boats round their coasts, desire to express to Your Majesty their profound grief at the death of His Most Gracious Majesty King George VI, the Institution's Patron, to offer to Your Majesty their loyal and deep sympathy and to assure you of the devotion of the Service to vour Person and Crown." "The Committee of Management and the officers and staff of the Royal National Life-boat Institution, the honorary officials of its branches and of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild throughout the British Isles, and the coxswains and crews of its life-boats round their coasts, desire to express to Your Majesty their profound grief at the death of His Most Gracious Majesty King George VI, to offer to Your Majesty their loyal and deep sympathy and to place on record the gratitude of the Life-boat Service of Great Britain and Ireland to his late'Majesty for his personal association with its work during the fifteen years of his reign." The Institution sent to the funeral a wreath in the colours of the Life-boat Service, red tulips and carnations, blue iris, and white carnations. On the wreath were the words: "In loyal and grateful memory from the Life-boat Service to its Patron." 280 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 A French Yacht Rescued on the Coast of Jersey THE night of the 27th of September, quarters of a mile from where the 1951, was very dark and overcast at ship lay—shone his headlights. St. Helier, in Jersey. A fresh wind The coxswain cast round the rocks was blowing from the south-south- in the darkness looking for the ship's west; there was a swell rising from six lights, and at midnight found the to eight feet; and heavy storms of rain French yacht Santa Maria, of Cartaret, made visibility very poor. At ten with three men on board. She was in minutes to nine a light was seen to the a small sheltered gutter between two eastward of the harbour flashing high ridges of rock, at anchor and SOS, and at 9.17 the life-boat with two ropes round a pinnacle of Elizabeth Rippon put out. The light rock. She was close to where the
SEZVICS 5Y St rj£L!£g LIFE.BOAT TO YACHT 'SANTA MAKtV Osl 27^ SEf^t I9SI
The Service to the Yacht Santo Maria The life-boat's course among the rocks is shown by the dotted line appeared to be among the rocks east- Maurice Georges had been found two ward of the Demie de Pas beacon, a years before. little over a mile from the harbour, where just two years before Coxswain The Search Described by Radio Thomas King won the Institution's Some idea of the problems and dan- gold medal for outstanding gallantry, gers of that search on a dark night, in and all his crew bronze medals, squalls of rain, with a six-feet swell, for rescuing the St. Helier yacht and a strong tide running across the Maurice Georges and the four men on swell, is given by the chart of that board. archipelago of rocks. Some idea of Coxswain Edward Larbalestier first them also is given by the wireless searched to the south-west of the messages passing between the life-boat island called La Ronde. He found and the radio station on shore. Here nothing and realised that the ship in is an hour and three-quarters of the distress must be on the other side of search as the radio telephone recorded the high ridge of rocks east of Tas de it, from 9.20 until 11.6. Pois. Meanwhile the harbour-master, 21.20. Radio Station to Life-boat.— Mr. W. G. Furzer, had gone round in Point searchlight into air so that his car, and from the shore—three we can plot your position. APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 281 21.21. Life-boat to Radio Station.— pinnacles sticking out of the water, and Can you see our searchlight? submerged rocks everywhere. While Answer. No. Alter to vertical making every allowance for the local position. knowledge of the coxswain, and all his 21.25. Radio Station to Life-boat.— crew, who, as he searched, warned Yes. See searchlight now. him of the breaking water which Judge you are one mile to west showed the rocks, I do not know how of gutter. he dared to take the life-boat where 21.26. Life-boat to Radio Station.— he did on such a night and in such Coxswain requests light to be weather, with that swell, and the shown from Green Island for lateral tide. It required great resolu- better bearing. tion to go into that narrow gutter 21.28. Radio Station to Life-boat.— where the yacht lay between the two Harbour master at Green Island high ridges of rock." to give you a bearing light. The Life-boat Strikes a Rock 21,46. Radio Station to Life-boat.— As it was, at one place, the life-boat You appear to be still one mile came down in the trough of the swell west of gutter. right on a rock, striking it hard with 21.58. Radio Station to Life-boat.— her keel, but fortunately without You are now east of casualty damage. It was low water when the and harbour master at Le Mare coxswain found the yacht, and he Slip using headlights. decided to wait an hour for the water 22.08.—Radio Station to Life-boat.— to flow before he went into the gutter. Casualty lights north of your There he took the yacht in tow. Had position inside Humets. the life-boat not come, or had she come 22.26. Radio Station to Life-boat.— later when the tide had risen, there is Car switching lights on and off no doubt that the yacht would have been destroyed. As the tide rose she ten second intervals. would have lost the shelter of the 22.29. Life-boat to Radio Station.— rocks and been broken on them. Can see lights now bearing With the yacht in tow the life-boat north-east by north. moved out of the other end of the 22.42. Life-boat to Radio Station.— gutter, and at once she had again to Are we nearing the light? contend with the full force of the 22.42. Radio Station to Life-boat.— wind and the heavy swell. Again the You appear to be getting much coxswain felt his perilous way in the nearer. darkness among the rocks, and brought 22.48. Radio Station to Life-boat.— the yacht into St. Helier Harbour at You are approaching casualty. ten minutes to two in the morning. The life-boat had then been out for 22.48. Life-boat to Radio Station.— four and a half hours. Can see casualty, but other side The rescue was carried out with of rocks. Will try to get through. great skill, determination and courage, 23.00. Life-boat to Radio Station.— and the Institution made the following We are now fifty yards off awards: casualty. Closing in. To COXSWAIN EDWAED C. LARBAL- 23.06. Life-boat to Radio Station.— ESTIER, the silver medal for gallantry, Going alongside. Appears three with a copy of the vote on vellum; men on deck. To each of the eight members of the crew, the thanks of the Institution on The dangers, however, are most vellum; clearly described by the district inspec- To the coxswain and each member tor who was taken at low water on a of the crew a special reward of £4 in fine day, to the place where the yacht addition to the reward on the ordinary was found: scale of 27«. Ordinary rewards to the "There was first the great rise and crew and shore attendant, £11 5s. Qd.; fall of the swell. There were rocks additional rewards, £36; total rewards, fifteen feet high, reefs of rocks awash, £47 5s. Qd. 282 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
Four Yachtsmen Rescued at Margate SHORTLY after midnight on the 2nd of on with the other. Twice he was September, 1951, the coastguard at almost rolled overboard, but hauled Margate called up the life-boat station himself back again. At last the tangle to say that he could see distress signals was unravelled; he cast off the cables; being flashed by a torch from a and the life-boat towed the yacht small yacht just outside the harbour. into the harbour. It was then quarter Quarter of an hour later the life-boat past two. North Foreland, Civil Service No. XI was launched. The night was very Out Again at Once dark; a strong north-west wind was Meanwhile the coastguard had seen blowing against the flood tide; there signals flashing near the Nayland was a backwash from the harbour wall; Rocks about quarter of a mile west of and wind, tide and backwash made a the harbour, and at 2.25 the life-boat very rough, confused sea. put out again. She found the sailing About a hundred yards north of the yacht Sir Gobbo, of Rochester, at harbour-wall the life-boat found the anchor. There were two men on Girlanda, of Chichester. She had two board, and as the life-boat came anchors down, and was rolling and within hailing distance, they asked to pitching violently. Two men were on be taken off. The life-boat went board, but they seemed unable to between the yacht and the rocks and move out of the cockpit, either to the men jumped on board. They jump into the life-boat or to seize a were given rum, and wrapped in line from her. The coxswain brought blankets, and when the life-boat the life-boat alongside and told one of arrived in harbour again at 3.30 were his crew, Alfred Wilson, to go aboard taken to hospital in an ambulance. the yacht. It was not easy, but he Next morning, when the weather had did it. The life-boat then anchored cleared and the sea was calm, the to windward and dropped down again life-boat took them back to their on her cable to the yacht. yacht, and they made for Ramsgate. To ALFRED R. WILSON, in recogni- A Very Perilous Task tion of his great skill and bravery, the Wilson was lying on the small fore- Institution awarded its bronze medal, castle in the darkness, with the seas a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, continually breaking over him. He and £3 in addition to the award of 15s. had one hand to hold on with, as the on the ordinary scale. yacht rolled and pitched, and the other He was also awarded the "Miss for his work. After several attempts Smith's reward for courage, in memory the life-boat threw a line to him. He of John, Seventh Earl of Hardwicke" hauled it on board and then a 4|-inch for the bravest act of life-saving by a cable attached to it. This he made life-boatman in 1950. fast round the mast and forestay. To the coxswain and other members Then he attacked the much more of the crew 15,?. each; scale rewards to difficult task of freeing the yacht from crew and launchers, £8 1*.; additional her two anchors. The chain and rope reward, £3; total rewards, £11 Is. of their cables were in a tangle round These were the rewards for the the yacht's bollards. Still lying on service to the Girlanda. For the the forecastle, Wilson worked at the service to the Sir Gobbo the rewards tangle with one hand, while he held were £12 7s.
Portrait on the Cover THE portrait on the cover is of Cox- from 1920 to 1925, and since 1925 he swain Matthew Lethbridge, of St. has been the coxswain. In October, Mary's, in the Scilly Isles. He has 1927, he won the Institution's silver been an officer of the life-boat for 32 medal for gallantry for rescuing four years. He served as second coxswain lives from the Italian steamer Isabo. APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 283
Dutch Yacht Saved at Dover AT twenty minutes past eleven on the boulders at their foot. Her cable had night of the 27th of September, 1951— parted. She was broadside on to wind a very dark night with heavy rain and sea. In a very little time she squalls—the coxswain of the Dover would be broken to pieces among the life-boat, when on his way along the boulders. Eastern Harbour Arm, on private busi- By the light of his searchlight the ness to the signal station at the end of coxswain turned the life-boat along- it, saw a small yacht, the Akeco, of side her. There was only one man on Amsterdam, anchored just outside the board. He showed no inclination to harbour arm. A strong southerly jump, but signalled that he expected a wind was blowing dead on shore; the line. This the bowman laid across yacht was anchored less than half a him by a neat throw. With the life- mile from the shore; and her anchor boat stopped, and the two boats rolling was dragging. The coxswain called ever closer to the shore, a tow rope out to the yacht "Hang on," and the was secured to the line and the man answer came, several times repeated, hauled it aboard and made it fast "Yes, please." As he hurried back round the mast. The life-boat went along the arm to call out the life-boat ahead, gradually towed the yacht he could see that the yacht had already round, and then slowly drew her away been carried half the short distance to from the shore. At half-past twelve the shore. they entered the harbour. At quarter to twelve the life-boat COXSWAIN JOHN WALKER had acted Southern Africa put out without wait- with great promptness from the ing for the last two men of her crew. moment when he saw the yacht and The wind was blowing against the her danger, and had carried out the ebbing tide, and wind and tide, and rescue with great speed and skill. The the rebound of the water from the Institution awarded him its bronze cliffs and the harbour arm, had raised medal for gallantry, with a copy of the a very confused, violent and dangerous vote inscribed on vellum. sea. The life-boat kept close to the It also gave him and each of the six harbour arm to avoid the worst of it. members of his crew a reward of 25s. in When she reached the yacht, a minute addition to the reward on the ordinary after midnight, she found her little scale of 15*. Scale rewards, £4; more than a hundred yards from the additional rewards, £7 10s.; total cliffs and nearly among the large rewards, £11 10s.
Three False Alarms A Whale, a Bather, and a Meteorological Balloon ON the evening of the 2nd of Septem- September the coastguard at Clacton- ber, the coastguard at St. Anthony on-Sea reported a man in difficulties telephoned that he could see a small in a canoe, a mile off the pier. The sailing yacht which appeared to have sea was calm. The life-boat went out capsized and have a man clinging to and found the canoe and the man, but it. There was a heavy sea running. the man was bathing. Rewards of It was dark when the Falmouth life- £8 10s. 9d. were given to the crew. boat reached the position given, but On the 26th of November the Great by the light of her searchlight she Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boat found the "capsized yacht and the went out in answer to a message that a clinging man." They were a dead parachute had been seen coming down. whale. Rewards of £10 17s. were But it turned out to be a meteoro- given to the crew. logical balloon. Rewards of £10 were In the afternoon of the 17th of given to the crew. 284 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 Spanish Steamer Wrecked at Coverack ON the night of the 3rd of November, the other sixteen had followed him. 1951, a south-west gale was blowing on The life-boat made at once for Cover- the south coast of Cornwall, with heavy ack and landed the rescued men there rain. The night was very dark. A at 3.20. small Spanish steamer the Mina Cantiquin, of Gijon, with a crew of Attempt to Save the Steamer seventeen, was steaming before the Meanwhile the Mina Cantiquin had gale up the coast to shelter in Falmouth not struck on Chynhals Point. An Roads. Just after two o'clock next eddy in the ebb tide had caught her morning she struck on Black Rock and she had missed the rocks by a few Head. She pounded on the reef for feet. She continued to drift north- some minutes. Then she was washed wards across Coverack Cove towards off and blown north-eastwards, burn- Lowland Point. When she was half- ing flares and sounding her siren. way across the life-boat came out She had been badly holed forward and again, and attempted to take her in was starting to fill. It was low water, tow. But in that sea it was impos- but the tide was still running to the sible to put a man aboard her; a grapnel south-west, against the wind, and was thrown, but the line parted at making a very rough sea. The coast- once. The life-boat had to leave her guard on Black Rock saw and heard to her fate, and she went ashore. her signals. He rang up the coast- The life-boat herself, and her crew, guard at Porthoustock, and at ten passed a most uncomfortable night. minutes past two he in turn rang up They were in the inner harbour at the Coverack life-boat station. Coverack where the sea was so rough that several mooring ropes parted. In the end the life-boat was taken for Full Speed to the Rescue shelter to Falmouth Roads, 10 miles Nine and a half minutes later the away, and it was two days before she life-boat Three Sisters was launched, could return to Coverack and be put in and her coxswain made full speed her house. against the gale. There was every In recognition of the smartness of need of speed, for a mile south of the launch and the skill and prompt- Coverack was Chynhals Point. That ness of the rescue, the Institution point was only three quarters of a mile awarded its thanks on vellum to north of Black Rock, where the Mina COXSWAIN WILLIAM A. ROWE. Cantiquin had struck. The gale was To him and each of the six men of driving her northwards to Chynhals his crew it awarded £2 in addition Point, and the coxswain knew that she to the reward on the ordinary scale of would almost certainly strike on it. £4 14s. a man for the rescue, the As the life-boat rounded the point, passage to Falmouth and the rehousing twenty minutes after she was launched, of the life-boat. Scale rewards, to the coxswain saw the steamer. Her crew and helpers, £42 2s.; extra bow was pointing towards the shore rewards, £14; total rewards, £56 2s. and she was only fifty yards off the rocks where the seas were breaking The Gratitude of the Spaniards heavily. The coxswain was certain The Spanish Ambassador in London that in a few minutes, she would be on wrote to the Duchess of Kent, Presi- them. He must act at once. He took dent of the Institution, to thank her the life-boat as close inshore as he on behalf of the crew of the Mina dared go to the breaking seas, and Cantiquin. He also sent her from turning came out again towards the them a gift of flowers. To the secre- Mina Cantiquin to run along her lee tary of the Institution he wrote send- side. The waves were breaking right ing his "heartfelt" gratitude and a over her. Her forecastle was awash. gift of fifty guineas. The Spanish Life- She was almost hidden in the seas. The boat Society awarded its silver prize coxswain called on the crew to jump. medal to Coxswain Rowe, and They hesitated for a minute or two. diplomas to him and each of the six Then one jumped, and in a few seconds members of crew. APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 285
An All-Night Service at Selsey ON the afternoon of the 17th of Standing by All Night November, 1951, a south-westerly gale The minesweeper was still hove to, was blowing at Selsey and the seas were but at 2.30 next morning she left on very rough, particularly in the shallow the ebb tide. The life-boat remained water near the Owers Banks. At five all night. In that November gale it minutes past four the Selsey coast- was an arduous watch; and in the guard reported to the Selsey life-boat heavy seas, in shoal water, it needed station that a ship, twelve miles very good seamanship from the cox- south-east-by-south from the life-boat swain to keep her position near the house, was having trouble with her Swift. Twice during the night, when engine and had asked for a tug. She seas filled the cockpit, the coxswain was the M.V. Swift, of Costa Rica, of was carried off his feet, and but for his 163 tons, bound with a cargo of onions firm hold on the wheel he would have from Brittany to Boston in Lincoln- been washed overboard. When day shire. She had a crew of six. At broke it could be seen that the Swift 5.48 the coastguard reported that the had dragged a mile northwards and Swedish ship Aspen had taken her in was now on top of the Pullar Banks. tow, and that a naval tug had been The seas were very bad indeed, and in sent from Portsmouth at 4.23. At the first light the captain signalled 6.20 the Aspen sent a message that that he wished to abandon ship. The the tow had parted. They were then life-boat at once went alongside, the five miles south-west-by-south of the coxswain shouting for two men to life-boat house. At 6.59 the Aspen jump. Both boats were pitching sent another message. The Swift was violently, but the two men landed drifting towards the rocks and there safely in the life-boat. Again the was no sign of the tug. The honorary life-boat went alongside and two more secretary replied that the life-boat would men jumped. For the third time she go, and at seven minutes past seven the went alongside and the remaining two Canadian Pacific was launched. jumped. None was injured; the life- A Minesweeper's Attempt Fails boat was undamaged. She found the Swift, about 8.45, anchored to seaward of the Pullar The Coxswain Almost Blind Bank. At the same time H.M. Mine- At ten minutes past eight in the sweeper Marvel arrived. The mine- morning of the 18th the life-boat sweeper attempted to fire a line to the arrived back at her station. It was Swift by Coston gun, but failed. She then thirteen hours since she had gone then lay off to windward. At 9.15 out. She had stood by through seven the tug Alligator arrived. She was and a half hours of that night in the successful in passing a line to the Swift gale and heavy shoal seas. The crew which was still at anchor, and then a returned exhausted and for two days towing hawser, but she went too the coxswain was nearly blind from close to the Swift, fouled her cable and the spray. wrapped it round her own propeller. The cable parted and the tug slipped To COXSWAIN LESLIE C. PENNYCORD the tow, drifted across the Middle Bank the Institution awarded its bronze Grounds, and anchored. There she medal for gallantry; with a copy of stayed helpless, until, some days later, the vote inscribed on vellum. she was towed away with the cable To him, and each of the seven still round her propeller. The cable members of his crew, it gave a reward having parted, the Swift was no longer of £5, in addition to the reward on at anchor, but she still had her end the ordinary scale of £4 each; scale of the towing hawser, which the tug rewards to crew and launchers, £39 6s.; had slipped, and this hawser, lying on additional rewards, £40; total rewards the seabed, acted as an anchor. £79 65. 286 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
Killed on Service Death of the Scarborough Bowman AT 11.14 on the morning of the 9th of ship, The coxswain thereupon took December, 1951, the news came to the the life-boat alongside—no easy task Scarborough life-boat station that a in that gale, with the heavv sea run- ship was sinking twenty-six and a half ning—and the ten men of the Westkust miles east by north of Scarborough. jumped into her. The Flamborough She was a Dutch motor vessel of 499 life-boat, which had arrived just before, tons, the Westkust, bound from Bo'ness stood by. The Scarborough life-boat to Hamburg, with a.cargo of coal-dust. came round again to take off her own Her cargo had shifted and she was list- two men. Mainprize jumped and ing 35 degrees. She was making water, landed safely, but at that moment a and her bilge pumps were choked with sea separated the two vessels, and Dalton coal-dust. One of her two life-boats was left hanging full length from the had been lost. The other was dam- Weslkusfs rail. With the weight of aged. She had anchored. his oilskins and his sea-boots he could Such was her plight when at 11.30 the not haul himself up. He remained Scarborough .life-boat E.C.J.E. was hanging1 while the coxswain brought the launched. A gale was then blowing life-boat round for the third time, but from the west, but later it veered to at the critical moment a sea flung her the north-west. The sea was rough; against the Westkust and Dalton was the tide setting south-west; the weather crushed between the two. He fell on was very cold, with squalls of snow. to the life-boat, with his pelvis frac- tured. The life-boat made at once for A New Position Given Bridlington, but before she arrived, at Just after half past two in the after- 1.30 next morning, Dalton was dead. noon, the Westkust sent out a wireless The life-boat had been out for four- message, giving her position. It was teen hours and her crew and the rescued twenty-one miles east by south of crew were suffering from their long Flamborough, which was twenty miles exposure. south of the position as first given. No ships, the message said, were in sight. Three Medals Awarded The new position was sent by radio- Frank Dalton and Thomas Main- telephone to the Scarborough life-boat. prize had shown great courage in board- It was received aLo at Flamborough, ing the Westkust and the coxswain had and the life-boat was launched at 2.30. handled his life-boat very skilfully in It was received at Bridlington, and a rescuing the Westkust's crew in that number of keelboats set out. At four bitterly cold gale and rough sea. The o'clock the Bridlington life-boat fol- Institution made the following awards: lowed for fear that thev would get into To FRANK DALTON, the bowman, trouble in that heavy sea. posthumously, the bronze medal for Just after five o'clock the British gallantry, and a certificate recording his steamer Ayton reached the Westkust, gallantry to his widow; and an hour later the Grimsby trawler To Coxswain JOHN N. SHEADER, the Ottlie. Guided by rockets sent up by bronze medal for gallantry and a copy the Ai/ton, the Scarborough life-boat of the vote inscribed on vellum; arrived about seven o'clock, and at To THOMAS J. MAINPRIZE, the assist- the request of the Westkust's captain, ant motor mechanic, the bronze medal she put two men on board her. They for gallantry, and a copy of the vote were the bowman, Frank Dalton, inscribed on vellum; aged 57, and the assistant motor To HOLDEN SHEADER, the motor mechanic, Thomas J. Mainprize. With mechanic, the thanks of the Institution their help, and with the life-boat escort- inscribed on vellum. ing him, the captain hoped to bring his To each of these four men and to ship into harbour, but soon after they each of the other three members of the came on board he decided to abandon crew, a reward of £5 in addition to the APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 287 reward on the ordinary scale of £4 10s., there at two o'clock next morning.— making a reward of £9 10s. to each Rewards: £57 5s. man. The Bridlington life-boat was re- Scale rewards, £53 Os. 6d.; addi- called and arrived at her station at tional rewards, £35; total rewards, 1.30 next morning. There she helped £88 Os. Qd. to moor the Scarborough life-boat, and The Flamborough life-boat made for towed in the Flamborough life-boat, Bridlington after the Scarborough life- which ran short of fuel a mile off shore. boat had completed the rescue, arriving —Rewards, £30 55.
The Navy Entertains Life-boatmen WHEN the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight at dinner on board the Portsmouth life-boat went to the help of the Flotilla's navigation instructional ship schooner Lamorna, on the 4th of H.M.S. Redpole, which anchored in the November, 1951, and rescued her crew Roads. Although co-operating closely of fourteen (as described on page 308), in the rescue work the crews of the H.M.S. Redpole, which had had the two vessels had previously seen one Lamorna in tow, was standing by. another only in the glare of search- Two months later the following para- lights, and their only communication graph appeared in the Isle of Wight had been by radio-telephone. The Press in its Yarmouth news: party included the coxswain (Mr. "The gallant rescue of the crew of Stanley Smith), who was unable to 14 from the ill-fated treasure ship take part in the rescue owing to an Lamorna off the Needles on November injured arm, and the second coxswain 4th, was recalled on Tuesday, when the (Mr. Harold Hayles), who was in charge crew of the life-boat were entertained of the life-boat on November 4th."
River Spectacle As part of the Festival of Britain the Greater London took part in the Daily Mirror arranged a river spectacle parade, and also cruised round all on the Chelsea Reach of the Thames, afternoon, ready to go to the rescue alongside the Fun Fair in Battersea in case of any accident. Park on the afternoon of the 18th of The Daily Mirror sent a donation August, 1951. It included races for to the Institution and wrote: "The motor boats, and a parade of all the superbly smart life-boat with its boats. distinguished crew was the admiration The Southend - on - Sea life - boat of every spectator."
In the New Year's Honours List IN the new year's honours list appeared work for the Life-boat Service for 30 three lifeboat names. Commander years. Philip Vaux, D.S.C., R.N., the late Commander J. M. Upton, R.D., chief inspector of life-boats, was made R.N.R., the superintendent of the de- an Officer of the Order of the British pot, was made a Member of the Order, Empire. Mr. John S. Duncan, the not for services to the Institution but honorary secretary of the Wick life- for his honorary work as chairman boat station, was made a Member of the Barnett and District Disable- of the Order in recognition of his ment Advisory Committee. 288 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
Twelve Hours at Night on the Goodwins By L. H. Shelvey, Honorary Secretary of the Walmer Station
ON the night of the 24th of November, anchors down, with 150 fathoms of 1951, a gale from the west-south-west chain, and to ease the strain on them was blowing across the Goodwin she was steaming hard ahead. She had. Sands. The seas were very heavy, however, some defect in her boiler and and the night very dark, with both mist could not raise a full head of steam. and rain squalls. At 6.48 the coast- She had, too, something wrong with guard rang up the Walmer life-boat her steering gear. The seas were station. A ship near the South Good- breaking over her bows, and sweeping- win Lightvessel was reported as man- her decks. Even at her best available oeuvring strangely. Eight minutes speed she could only just keep her posi- later another message came, this time tion. Had her engine failed the anchor from the North Foreland Radio. The cables would have snapped and she ship was calling for a tug from Dover. would have been swept at once on to She was the steamer Captain Andrew, the sands and disaster. of 1,300 tons, on her way from Hamburg to Swansea with a cargo Difficulties of Communication of scrap iron. The coxswain of the life-boat knew The Dover harbour tug arrived at that the steamer must be in con- the same time as the life-boat, but siderable danger and at seven o'clock in those seas it was impossible for her the maroons were fired. Most of the to go alongside. It was impossible crew were already standing by. The even for her to communicate with tide was high, a very heavy sea was the steamer. She could not get near breaking, and the launchers, thigh enough to communicate by loud hailer deep in the water, had to struggle to above the noise of the gale, and neither lay the launching skids in position. steamer nor tug, continually buried With the tide high the life-boat had in the seas, could see the other all too short a run into the water. long enough to signal by lamp. The She was in danger of being knocked steamer was fitted with wireless by round by the seas and thrown off the which she could signal in morse. The skids on to the beach, but as she tug and life-boat had radio telephones. hesitated the coxswain gave a quick They could speak to one another, but order to the mechanic; the engines all communication with the steamer were started up; and with the screws had to be through the North Foreland scattering shingle and spume, the Radio Station. life-boat was afloat. It was then ten The tug tried hard to get a line on minutes past seven. board the steamer, but faiJed. At times those on the life-boat could see no more than the tip of the tug's mast. " Not Under Control " Repeatedly she rolled and pitched so At full speed the life-boat headed for violently that they could see her bottom the South Goodwins Lightvessel four plates. Once she completely disap- and a half miles away. On her wireless peared and they thought that she had she heard the North Foreland Radio gone. sending out a general warning to shipping and repeating the call of Attempt to Tow Fails the Captain Andrew for a tug. She As her own efforts had failed, the herself called up the lightvessel for tug sent a message to the steamer the steamer's position. The answer through North Foreland Radio, asking came "Some distance astern of us her to try to pass a rope to the life- with 'not under control' lights up." boat, so that she in turn couid pass it to There the life-boat found her, on the the tug. With the rest of the crew edge of the sands. She had two holding on to his legs, for fear he should APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 289 be flung overboard, the motor mech- * tunity. It came at two o'clock when anic stood up with the Schermuly pistol the wind veered to the north-west, and fired a rocket to the steamer. The and gave him "a bit of a lee to get the rocket and its line travelled true. The men aboard." With the life-boat steamer fastened a heavy rope to festooned with fenders he brought the line, and the life-boat hauled it her alongside on top of a sea which aboard. She then signalled by lamp lifted her high above the steamer's to the tug, which came as close as she deck, and as she stood on the dared. Another rocket was fired from crest of the sea the second-coxswain the life-boat and fell between the tug's and the bowman jumped. The masts, but the line broke. The tug life-boat moved out again, un- next made a circuit and came in for a damaged, but with her fenders torn second attempt. This time the line fell away. across her upper deck and her crew seized it, but it slipped through their Nearly a Collision fingers. The life-boat men hauled it in, Then came another time of waiting, made it fast to the remains of the first while the life-boat lay off. At 3.40 line, and. as the tug made another circle the steamer at last got under way. At and again came within range, a third once things began to go wrong. She rocket was fired. Again it travelled would not answer her helm, and her true, the line was seized, and the captain went full speed astern. Then steamer's rope was hauled from the shouts were heard from the light- life-boat to the tug. On the tug the vessel. Her master had all his crew rope was made fast to a wire, but lined up on deck, and was burning their first attempt to get the wire over flares as he watched the steamer, to the steamer failed. The tug then with little power, with no control of steamed by, close to the steamer's her rudder, and in no place where she stern, and managed to get a heaving could drop anchor, being carried by line aboard her but, because of the the tide closer and closer to the light- still heavy seas and wind, she had to vessel. As she was swept by, the keep so much way on that she con- life-boat going ahead of her, she was tinued to steam ahead, and the steamer only half her own length from 'the lost the line before her crew could lightvessel. secure it. The tug steamed on, dis- Once past this danger, though still appeared, and did not return. scarcely under control, the steamer reached the comparative safety of the Two Life-boatmen Go On Board Downs. The tug was lying there and It was now one in the morning, and the life-boat called her to come and take the steamer's captain asked if the her in tow. This she did. Wind and life-boat would put a man on board. sea were going down; and at 5.52 the He would not abandon ship. He was North Foreland Radio cancelled its carrying out repairs. He still hoped warning to all shipping. At the same to be able to bring the steamer into time the tug brought the steamer to the shelter of the Downs even without a safe anchorage. his steering gear working; but he was At 6.45 the life-boat was back at doubtful what room he had in which her station, and it was found that she to manoeuvre. He wanted advice; had a line wrapped round the shaft of and a man from the life-boat would one of her screws. She had been out reassure his crew. The coxswain a- for nearly twelve hours, and her greed. If he had continued to stand coxswain said that it was one of by until the cables parted—as one did the most unpleasant and formidable later—and the ship were carried on to nights that he had had on the Good- the sands, he had little hope of saving wins. any of her crew; and the steamer was taking such heavy punishment As the owners of the Captain that he feared that, even if her cables Andrew paid salvage to the life-boat's held, she might founder at any crew, the Institution gave no rewards, moment. He kept the life-boat mov- but sent a letter of appreciation to the ing round, as he waited for his oppor- coxswain and crew. 290 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
Services of the Life-boats in September, October and November, 1951 65 Lives Rescued
DURING September life-boats went out and her crew of two and rescued two on service 68 times and rescued 25 more from another yacht. For a full lives. account of these services, and the TWICE AGROUND rewards, see page 282. Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—At 5.50 in the evening of the 1st of September, A YACHT ON FIRE 1951, the coastguard reported that the Walmer, Kent.—At 7.34 in the morn- yacht Alethea II, of Harwich, was ing of the 4th of September, 1951, aground at the mouth of the River the East Goodwin Lightvessel wire- Aide. Her crew of three were able to lessed that the crew of three of the walk ashore. Later she refloated, but motor yacht Buccaboo, one of them at 7.35 the following morning the injured, had made fast to the light- coastguard telephoned that she had vessel in the yacht's dinghy and had grounded again and was high and dry asked for the life-boat. There was a on the main beach. The owner then very rough sea, with a moderate asked for the life-boat, and at ten south-west gale blowing. At 7.45 the o'clock the No. 1 life-boat, Abdy Beau- life-boat Charles Dibdin, Civil Service clerk, was launched with the second No. 2 was launched with a doctor on coxswain in command. There was a board. Meanwhile, the lightvessel had moderate swell, with a light west- taken the three men on board. The north-west breeze blowing. The life- injured man remained there, but the boat pulled the yacht clear, towed her other two returned to their yacht in to Waldringfield and arrived back at the dinghy. They started the engine, her station at 4.0 that afternoon.— but the yacht caught fire and they Property Salvage Case. jumped overboard, got into the dinghy and returned to the lightvessel. A AN EXHAUSTED COUPLE little later the life-boat arrived, and Southend - on - Sea, Essex. — About when the doctor had attended to the 10.25 on the night of the 1st of Sep- injured man, she took him and the tember, 1951, the coastguard reported three men ashore, reaching her station that flares and a rocket had been seen again at 1.15 that afternoon. The off Shell Ness Point, and at 10.46 the yacht sank.—Rewards, £28 9s. life-boat Greater London, Civil Service No. 3, was launched. The sea was FISHING BOAT BROKEN DOWN very rough, with a north - westerly Hoylake, Cheshire.—At 5.30 in the gale blowing. The life-boat found evening of the 4th of September, 1951, the motor yacht Joles II, of London, the life-boat bowman reported that a on fire, damaged and making water. ship had been seen in a dangerous The sea swamped the blaze and the position about one mile north-west of life-boat went alongside and hauled the Rock Channel's outer buoys. A aboard the owner and his wife. They strong south-westerly breeze was blow- were both exhausted. The life-boat ing, and the sea was rough. Watch landed them at 3.15 next morning. was kept on her. She was seen to be They were taken to the coxswain's anchored and rolling heavilv, and then house and given food and dry clothes. was identified as the local motor The owner expressed his thanks.—• fishing boat Lanie. At 7.35 the life- Rewards, £13 135. boat Oldham was launched and found the Lanie three quarters of a mile MEDAL SERVICE AT MARGATE north-west of R.I Buoy with her On the 2nd of September, 1951, the engine broken down and one man on Margate life-boat towed in a yacht board. She towed her to Hoylake APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 291 and reached her station again at Cannis Rock and was in danger of midnight.—Rewards, £17 11s. dragging ashore on Gibben Head. The life-boat tried to tow her, but failed, ON THE ROCKS for the yacht's anchor cable had Douglas, and Port St. Mary, Isle of jammed and it was impossible either Man.—At eight o'clock in the morn- to get the anchor up or slip it. So the ing of the 5th of September, 1951, the life-boat took off the crew of four and Douglas police reported to the Douglas landed them at Fowey at 12.46 the life-boat station that the local fishing next morning. The rescued men sent coble Silver Night was on the rocks at letters and contributions in gratitude Port Grenaugh. One man had got for their rescue.—Rewards, £5 5s. ashore, but another man was still on board. There was a heavy swell and IN DISTRESS OFF BRIGHTON PIER dense fog. At 8.20 the Douglas life- Newhaven, Sussex.—At 11.0 on the boat Millie Walton was launched. At night of the 8th of September, 1951, 8.1 the Castletown coastguard had the coastguard telephoned that the reported the stranding to the Port St. sailing dinghy Kittiwake had put out Mary station and the life-boat on a fishing trip that afternoon, but K.T.J.S., on temporary duty at the had not returned. At 11.15 the life- station, was launched at 8.30. The boat Jane Holland, on temporary duty Douglas life-boat put a life-boatman at the station, was launched. There on board the coble to help the one man was a heavy swell, with a strong north- there, and escorted her to Douglas, easterly breeze blowing. A yacht arriving back at her station at ten in reported that she had seen white the morning. The Port St. Mary life- flares between two and three miles boat was recalled and reached her west of the harbour and guided the station at 9.5.—Rewards, Douglas, £8; life-boat until, with her searchlight, Port St. Mary, £5 175. 6d. she found the Kittiwake between two and three miles south-east of Brighton CABIN CRUISER IN DISTRESS Palace Pier. Her sails were damaged Douglas, Isle of Man.—At 5.40 in and her crew of two were burning the evening of the 7th of September, pieces of oilskin and boxes to attract 1951, the S.S. Lady of Man reported attention. The life-boat rescued them to the Ramsey coastguard that she and towed the dinghy to Newhaven, had seen a cabin cruiser in distress reaching her station again at 2.50.— about thirteen miles south-east of Rewards, £10 19s. Douglas and that the cruiser had asked for help. At 6.10 the life-boat Millie SAILS TORN: ENGINE FAILED Walton was launched in a smooth Falmouth, Cornwall. — At 9.15 on sea, found the cabin cruiser, the the night of the 9th of September, Carron, of Port St. Mary, with a crew 1951, the St. Anthony coastguard of three, eleven miles east-south-east telephoned that a yacht three miles of Douglas Head, with her engine south-east-by-south of St. Anthony broken down, and towed her to Point was flying a flag and using only Douglas, arriving back at her station one of her sails. At 9.30 the life-boat again at 9.40 that night.—Rewards, Crawford and Constance Conybeare was £11 6s. launched. The sea was heavy with an easterly wind blowing. The life- JAMMED ANCHOR CABLE boat found the yawl Sorata, with a Fowey, Cornwall.—At 10.55 on the crew of three, bound for Shoreham, night of the 8th of September, 1951, her sails torn and her engine broken the Polruan coastguard reported red down. She towed her to Falmouth flares one and a half miles south of harbour and reached her station again Fowey Harbour, and at 11.15 the at 11.30.—Rewards, £5 5s. life-boat C.D.E.C. was launched. A moderate sea was running with a AGROUND IN THE SCILLIES south-east breeze blowing. The life- St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly.—On the boat found the yacht Englyn I, of 10th of September, 1951, the S.S. Southampton. She had anchored near Scillonian was bound from Penzance 292 THE LtFE-BOAT [APKIL, 1952 for St. Mary's with eighty-three people. the shore at Herne Bay in the motor The sea was smooth, but there was a boat, and had been missing for over very thick fog and the life-boat's an hour. The life-boat searched for motor mechanic kept in contact with the boat, found her a mile away and her by wireless. About 1.0 in the escorted her back to the Cleevely. afternoon she informed him that she Then she gave the Cleevely bearings was near St. Agnes, having missed the and a course for London, and returned entrance to St. Mary's Sound, and at to her station, arriving at 6.45.— 2.0 she reported she had gone aground Rewards, £11 4s. on Wingletang Ledge. At 2.16 the life-boat Cunard was launched, with ENGINE FAILED IN A GALE the honorary secretary, Mr. Trevellick Falmouth, Cornwall.—At 8.15 in the Moyle, on board. She found the morning of the 13th of September, launch Kittern, belonging to the owner 1951, the St. Anthony coastguard of the steamer, off Dropnose Point. telephoned that a ship seemed to be The Kittern had taken on board in difficulties off Swanpool beach in seventy passengers from the steamer Falmouth Bay, and at 9.0 the life-boat and asked the life-boat to take over Crawford and Constance Conybeare was half of them. The Cunard took thirty launched. The sea was rough, with a and, with the Kittern, made for St. southerly gale blowing. The life-boat Mary's, but on the way the Kittern found the motor vessel Carpo, of bumped on some rocks and lost her Rotterdam, anchored, with her engines rudder. The life-boat towed her clear broken down, but the anchors were and took her to the pier. There the dragging. She repaired her engines. boats landed the seventy passengers The life-boat's second coxswain then and the life-boat made for the Soil- boarded her and piloted her to Ionian again. She found her lying Falmouth harbour. The life-boat with her bows between two rocks, and reached her station again at 11.0.—- stood by her until 11.10 that night. Rewards, £5 14s. She then took a rope from her stern YACHT TOWED IN and started towing, and the Scillonian working her engines at the same time Walton and Frinton, Essex. —• At refloated. Guided by the life-boat's 7.44 in the evening of the 13th of searchlight, she reached St. Mary's September, 1951, the Walton-on-the- and berthed at the pier at one o'clock Naze coastguard telephoned a wire- next morning. The owners thanked less message from the S.S. Gaslight the Institution and made gifts to the that she had taken in tow the yacht life-boatmen.—Rewards, £26 Is. Las.iiette, of Burnham - on - Crouch, which had been in difficulties, and TWENTY PEOPLE IN DISTRESS would like the life-boat to meet her at the Cork Lightvessel. At 8.12 the Margate, Kent. — At 3.24 in the life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched in a afternoon of the 10th of September, moderate sea, with a moderate south- 1951, the coastguard telephoned that westerly breeze blowing, and met the a ship had anchored three hundred two ships quarter of a mile south of yards off Reculver near the Black the lightvessel. There she took over Rock, but that she had not made any the yacht and towed her to Harwich distress signals. A motor boat was Harbour, arriving at 11.0 that night. then seen to leave her and make for She stayed there until next morning, the shore, but it turned back. It was and then returned to her station, thought that she needed help, and at arriving at 6.30. The owner made a 4.10 the life-boat North Foreland, gift to the life-boatmen.—Rewards, Civil Service No. XI, was launched, £30 13s. with the honorary secretary, Mr. A. C. Robinson, on board. The sea was ANOTHER ENGINE FAILED smooth, with a light breeze and fog. Blyth, Northumberland.—At 5.36 in The life-boat found the motor launch the evening of the 15th of September, Cleevely, of London. She had had 1951, the coastguard telephoned that twenty people on board, but the owner a small boat seemed to be in trouble in said that two of them had made for Cambois Bay, and at 5.50 the life-boat APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 293
LJy courtesy of] [Graphic Photo Union SERVICE ON LAND The Aberdeen life-boat going into action at a flooded camp (See page 312}
By courtesy of] \_Fox Photos LANDING THE RESCUED Seventy passengers from the Scillonian which went aground in a fog (See page 291) 294 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
AT THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851
Beeching's model of the first self-righting life-boat
AT THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851
Teasdel's model on its launching carriage APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 295
AT THE FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN: 1951 The Sir Godfrey Baring, a 46-feet 9-inches Watson motor life-boat with two 40 h.p. engines and a deck cabin (See page 277) 296 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
By courtesy of] [P.A •—'
A TREASURE SHIP IN ALL HER PRIDE The schooner Lamorna ready to sail for the South China Seas in search of Captain Kidd's treasure THE LIFE-BOAT
courtesy of] [P.A.—Reuta
AFTER THE GALE
The Lamorna ashore at Christchurch. Her crew of fourteen had been rescued near The Needles by the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight life-boat (See page 308) 298 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
By courtesy nf] SCARBOROUGH NAMING CEREMONY (See page 314}
* courtesy of~\ [XcwcasHe Chronicle an 1 Journal Limited
NEWBIGGIN NAMING CEREMONY (See page 315) APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 299
By courtesy of] [Photo fen-ices. Hrlyhaul
HOLYHEAD NAMING CEREMONY (See page 314)
Z?y courtesy o/] [Evening Dispatch, Edinburgh
ANSTRUTHER NAMING CEREMONY (See page 316) 300 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
By courtesy of} [Festival of Britain
GOING ON BOARD THE FESTIVAL SHIP The 8i-ton Minehead life-boat being lifted into the Campania (See page 278) APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 301 Winston Churchill, Civil Service No. 8 1951, returning fishermen reported was launched. The sea was moderate that a converted motor torpedo boat with a strong westerly breeze blowing. was moored to the Ledge Buoy three The life-boat found the motor boat miles south of Bracklesham, with her Mono. Lisa, of Cambois, with a crew engines broken down, and had burnt of four. Her engine had broken down a distress flare. At 9.27 the life-boat and she was drifting seawards. The Canadian Pacific was launched. The life-boat took off the four men and sea was moderate with a light west- towed the boat to Blyth harbour, north-west breeze blowing. The life- arriving back at her station again at boat found the M.T.B. No 102 with a 7.10.—Rewards, £6 17*. crew of two and towed her to Ports- mouth; but because of shallow water ANOTHER YACHT IN DISTRESS at the harbour mouth she took her on Dungeness, Kent.—At 5.30 in the to Birdham Pool. Then she returned evening of the 16th of September, 1951, to her station, arriving at 3.0 that a yacht was seen flying distress signals afternoon.—Rewards, £18 2s. one mile east of the life-boat station, CAUGHT ON THE CLIFFS and the life-boat coxswain and three other men put out at once in a fishing Wick, Caithness-shire.—At 8.30 in the boat. A strong south-westerly breeze evening of the 22nd of September, was blowing, but the sea was smooth. 1951, a man telephoned from Helms- They found the yacht Memory, of dale that he had taken three men out Newhaven, with a crew of four, broken in a coble to shoot sea birds and down. The skipper asked for a tow landed them on a cliff west of Berrie- to Dover. The fishing boat was not dale Head. A fresh southerly breeze powerful enough for this, but she took was blowing, the sea was rough, and the yacht to smooth water and he had been unable to take them off. anchored her there. She then returned One of the marooned men succeeded to Dungeness, and at 9.30 the life- in climbing to the top of the cliff and boat Charles Cooper Henderson was the coastguard's shore life - saving launched. She took the yacht in tow company went to rescue the other two. and made for Dover, but two and a They were unable to do it, and at half miles south-west of Folkestone 11.15 the life-boat, City of Edinburgh she came up with the Dover life-boat, was launched. A shore boat also put on passage to Dover. The Dover out from Helmsdale. There was a life-boat took over the tow and the thick fog, and in that, and the dark- Dungeness life-boat returned to her ness, the two boats could not find the station, arriving at 1.15 the next men. They waited until daylight and morning.—Rewards, £25 11s. then the shore boat rescued one and the life-boat the other. She landed him FISHING BOAT TOWED IN at Helmsdale and arrived back at her station at 12.30 in the afternoon of Redcar, Yorkshire.—At 4.20 in the the 23rd.—Rewards, £27 3*. afternoon of the 17th of September, 1951, the Salt burn coastguard tele- A SWAMPED ENGINE phoned that a fishing boat had Dover, Kent.—About 10.15 in the anchored in a dangerous position in morning of the 24th of September, Pennyhole, and at 4.47 the life-boat 1951, Lloyds signal station on the City of Leeds was launched. The sea Eastern Harbour Arm reported that a was moderate with a north-westerly yacht was driving towards the Arm, breeze blowing. The life-boat found the and at 10.25 the life-boat Southern fishing boat lolanthe, of Saltburn, with Africa was launched. A moderate a crew of two, and towed her to Redcar. south-south-west gale was blowing She got back to her station again at 6.0 with a rough sea. The life-boat found that evening.—Rewards, £10. the yacht Elsa, with one man in her. Seas breaking right over her had A MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT IN swamped her engine. The life-boat DISTRESS towed her to the harbour and reached Selsey, Sussex. — At 9.12 in the her station again at noon.—Rewards, morning of the 19th of September, £5 10s. 802 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 BURNT MEN LANDED Thallata, of Harwich, fast ashore. She Clovelly, Devon. — At 9.20 in the was laden with wheat, bound from morning of the 25th of September, London to Ramsgate, and carried a 1951, the S.S. Rocquaine, of Guernsey; crew of three. In her efforts to get bound from Newport for Guernsey, off, the barge had disabled her engine signalled that three of her crew had and her master asked for help. The been badly burnt by an explosion in life-boat stood by until the tide flowed. her hold, and asked for the life-boat. She then got a tow rope aboard, pulled At 9.50 the life-boat William Cantrell the barge clear of the sands at 6.45, Ashley was launched, in a rough sea towed her to Ramsgate and moored with a strong west-south-west breeze her in the harbour. She reached her blowing. She met the Rocquaine station again before midnight.— approaching Clovelly Bay and guided Property Salvage Case. her to Clovelly Roads. There she took off the injured men and landed MEDAL SERVICE AT ST. HELIER them at Clovelly where a doctor and On the 27th of September, 1951, ambulance were waiting. She reached the St. Helier life-boat towed in a her station again at 12.35 that after- French yacht and her crew of three. noon.—Rewards, £13 15s. 6d. For a full account of this service, and the rewards, see page 280. YACHT TRAPPED ON THE SANDS Clacton - on - Sea, Essex.—At 11.6 in SICK STEWARD LANDED the morning of the 25th of Septem- Wick, Caithness-shire.—At 8.55 on ber, 1951, the coastguard telephoned the night of the 27th of September, that a yacht was reported ashore on 1951, a wireless message was received the Barrow Sands, flying a distress through the harbour master, from the signal, and at 11.30 the life-boat captain of the Norwegian motor vessel Edward Z. Dresden was launched with Skagerak that he needed a doctor for the honorary secretary, Mr. E. C. a very sick man. As no other suitable Shergold, on board. There was a boat was available the life-boat City moderate swell with a moderate south- of Edinburgh put out at 9.15, accom- westerly breeze blowing. The life- panied by the medical officer. The boat found the yacht Ayesha, of sea was moderate with a light south- Brightlingsea, between No. 9 and No. westerly breeze blowing. Twenty 11 Barrow Buoys. She had anchored minutes later the life-boat reached the on the sands and when she refloated on vessel, off Wick. The doctor decided the rising tide her anchor chain had to land the man, a steward, and the parted. Then a heavy sea drove her life-boat brought him ashore at \0.35. aground again. With difficulty the An ambulance took him to hospital.—• life-boat passed a rope to her, but the Rewards, £3 15,y. rope parted. After two more attempts she made a rope fast to her and towed her to Brightlingsea. The life-boat MEDAL SERVICE AT DOVER stayed there for the night and returned On the 27th of September, 1951, the to her station next morning, arriving Dover life-boat rescued one man from at 9.0. The owner thanked the life- a Dutch yacht. For a full account of boatmen.—Rewards, £30 18s. 6d. this service, and the rewards, see page 283. A BARGE ON MARGATE SANDS Margate, Kent. — At 2.35 in the A CONCERT PARTY IN A LEAKING afternoon of the 26th of September, LAUNCH 1951, the coastguard telephoned that Ramsgate, Kent. — At 5.50 in the a barge was ashore on the outer edge of morning of the 28th of September, the Margate Sands and at three 1951, the coastguard telephoned that o'clock the life-boat North Foreland, a ship between North Foreland and Civil Service No. XI was launched. Broadstairs, making for Ramsgate, A fresh south-westerly breeze was had signalled by lamp that water was blowing, with a heavy swell. The entering her engine room and that she life-boat found the motor barge needed help. At 6.4 the life-boat A.PRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 303 Prudential left her moorings in a slight The following life-boats went out on sea, with a light south-westerly breeze service but could find no ships in blowing. She found the motor launch distress, were not needed, or could do Karagola, of Plymouth, leaking badly. nothing: The owner, a erew of three, and seven members of a concert party were on Torbay, Devon.—September 1st.— board, bound for Bognor. Two life- Rewards, £7 14s. boatmen boarded her and the life-boat Whitby, Yorkshire.—September 1st. then escorted her to Ramsgate. berthed —Rewards, £10 13.9. her and got back to her station at 7.15. Falmouth, Cornwall.—September —Property Salvage Case; Rewards, 2nd.—Rewards, £10 17s. 13s. FIVE BOYS DROWNED FOUNDERED AFTER COLLISION Barmouth, Merionethshire.—Shortly Whitby, Yorkshire. — About 8.45 after two o'clock in the afternoon on the night of the 28th of September, of the 3rd of September, 1951, the 1951, news was picked up by wireless sailing boat Dorothy was seen to cap- that two fishing boats had been in size one and a half miles off Cric- collision eight miles off Whitby to the cieth. She belonged to the Morfa east. They needed help; and at nine Bychan Public Schools Camp, and was o'clock the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann manned by an officer and eight boys. Hepu-orth was launched in a calm sea The Pwllheli life-boat station was the with a light southerly breeze blowing. nearest, but owing to the low tide the When she got to the spot she found life-boat was unable to launch, and that the motor fishing vessel Elizabeth the Barmouth life-boat, The Chieftain, Taylor, of Hull, had foundered after was called out. She left at 3.40 in a being in collision with the motor rough sea with a strong south-south- fishing vessel Incentive, of Fraserburgh, westerly breeze blowing, and reached and that the Incentive had rescued her the scene of the capsize at 5.25. She crew. The life-boatmen gave one of 'searched for hours, but found no one them first aid, and all of them rum, and and returned to her station again at transferred them to another ship, the 10.30 that night. Four of the boys Dainty Lady, which took them to had been rescued by other boats, but Scarborough. A life - boatman was the officer and the other four boys then put aboard the Incentive, and the were drowned.—Rewards, £14 2s. Qd. life-boat escorted her to Whitby, arriving at 12.34 next morning.— Donaghadee, Co. Down. — Septem- Rewards, £10 8s. ber 5th.—Rewards, £6 13s. Portrush, Co. Antrim. — September ASHORE IN THE THAMES 6th.—Rewards, £6 9s. Southend-on-Sea, Essex. — At 8.35 Salcombe, Devon. — September 6th. on the night of the 30th of September, —Rewards, £5 12s. 1951, the coastguard reported that a Weymouth, Dorset. — September 8th. forty-feet yacht was ashore about a —Rewards, £5 5s. mile off Scrapsgate, Isle of Sheppey, Fowey, Cornwall. — September 9th. and at 8.45 the life-boat, Greater —Rewards, £11 8s. London, Civil Service No. 3, was Cromer, Norfolk. — September 9th. launched. A rough sea was running —Rewards, £19 3s. with a strong easterly wind. The life- Redcar, Yorkshire. — September 9th. boat found the motor yacht Snafelle, —Rewards, £11 5s. of London, with a crew of two. They had no food aboard so were given bis- SEARCH FOR AN AMERICAN cuits from the life-boat's stores. The AEROPLANE Snafelle had refloated unaided, but her Ramsgate, Walmer, and Dover, Kent. owner asked to be escorted to Sheer- —At 10.8 in the morning of the 13th ness Harbour. This the life-boat did of September, 1951, the Ramsgate and, after leaving the yacht at a safe coastguard telephoned to the Rams- anchorage, returned to Southend, gate life-boat station that an aeroplane, arriving at 11.35.—Rewards £8 14s. an American Thunderjet fighter, had 304 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 crashed on the Goodwin Sands. Later Dungeness, Kent — September 21st. a report came that the pilot had been —Rewards. £20 4s. seen in the sea between ten and twelve St. David's Pembrokeshire. — Sep- miles south of Manston. At 10.12 the tember 21st.—-Rewards, £21 4s. Ramsgate life-boat Prudential put out. Fowey, Cornwall. — September 21st. The Ramsgate coastguard, meanwhile, —Rewards, £6 13s. had passed the news to the coastguard Stromness, Orkneys.—September at Deal and Sandgate, and at 10.20 the 22nd.—Rewards, £6 18s. Walmer life-boat, Charles Dibdin, Civil Tynemouth Northumberland. — Sep- Service No. 2 was launched followed by tember 24th.—Rewards, £18 8s. the Dover life-boat, Southern Africa at The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.—Sep- 10.40. The sea was very rough, with tember 25th.—Rewards, £10 10s. a fresh south-west breeze blowing, and Sunderland, Durham. —• September the three life-boats searched all day. 26th.—Rewards, £6 19s. 6d. The Ramsgate life-boat picked up a Wells, Norfolk. — September 27th. piece of the aeroplane, but there was —Rewards, £14 6s. no trace of the pilot, and in the even- ing the life-boats returned to their A NINETEEN HOURS' SEARCH IN A stations, Walmer arriving at 5.45, GALE Ramsgate at 6.15 and Dover at 6.30. Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 8.5 in the On her way back the Ramsgate life- morning of the 29th of September, boat warned a French steamer that 1951, Valentia Radio reported that a it was heading for the Sands.— man was adrift in a ship's boat off the Rewards, Ramsgate, £20 11s. 6d.; Bull Rock Lighthouse, and the life- Walmer, £31 6s.; Dover, £14 7s. boat A.E.D. was launched at 8.20. A south-easterly gale was blowing with Ramsgate, Kent.—September, 13th. a very rough sea. The life-boat —Rewards, £20 11s. 6d. reached the position given at eleven Walmer, Kent. — September, 13th. o'clock and searched until dusk, but —Rewards, £31 6s. all that she found was some wreckage. Dover, Kent. -— September 13th.—• She arrived back at her station at Rewards, £14 7s. 8.38 that night. Next morning at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. — Septem- seven o'clock she put out again, but ber 13th.—Rewards, £7 Is. 6d. again found nothing and returned to Selsey, Sussex. — September 13th. her station at 2.30 in the afternoon. —Rewards, £16 9s. 6d. It was learnt that the Spanish trawler Newcastle, Co. Down. — September Maria Natividad, of Pasajes, had 13th.—Rewards, £13 18s. struck a submerged rock and had Port Erin, Isle of Man. — September sunk. Six of her crew of thirteen 13th.—Rewards, £17 3s. were lost but the other seven had been St. Helier, Jersey. — September 14th. rescued by another trawler. The —Rewards, £7 Is. 6d. Spanish government sent its special Humber, Yorkshire — September thanks to the Institution.—Rewards, 14th.—Paid permanent crew. £36 18s. 6d. Clacton- on- Sea, Essex. — September, 17th.—Rewards, £8 10s. Qd. Hartlepool, Durham.—September OCTOBER 17th.—Rewards, £5 11s. DURING October, life-boats went out Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — Sep- on service 29 times, but no lives were tember 18th.—Rewards, £8 10s. 6d. rescued. Torbay, Devon. — September 20th. —Rewards, £4 13s. ASHORE IN THE MOUTH OF THE Caister, Norfolk. — September 20th. THAMES —Rewards, £12 17s. 6d. Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 8.15 in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, the morning of the 3rd of October, Norfolk.—September 20th.—Rewards 1951, the Southend coastguard tele- £8 12s. 6d. phoned that a ship was ashore close to Dover, Kent. — September 21st.— the Shoeburyness Boom, but had not Rewards, £6. replied to signals made to her. At APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 305 9.45 the life-boat Greater London, Civil at the foot of the cliff. The rescue Service No. 3, was launched, in a slight launch came up and transferred several sea with a light easterly breeze blow- R.A.F. officers to the life-boat, which ing. She found the S.S. Yewcroft, of took them close inshore to show them Glasgow, in ballast, in a dangerous the position and then returned with position. Her captain thought he them to her station, arriving at 6.0 would be all right, but the life-boat that evening.—Rewards, £29 15s. stood by until the steamer refloated just before high water. Then she ACROSS THE GOODWINS made for her station, getting there Ramsgate, Kent. — At 4.57 in the at 2.40 in the afternoon. — Rewards, afternoon of the 9th of October, 1951, £17 105. the coastguard telephoned that the North Goodwin Lightvessel had LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER ILL warned off a steamer which was in a Newcastle, Co. Down.—At 11.40 on dangerous place, and at 5.17 he tele- the night of the 3rd of October, 1951, phoned again that she had grounded the head keeper of Haulbowline Light- two and a half miles south-west-by- house telephoned that one of the south of the lightvessel. At 5.28 the keepers was very ill. No other suit- life-boat Prudential left her moorings able boat was available, and at mid- in a moderate sea with a light east- night the life-boat William and Laura south-east breeze blowing, and found was launched, in calm weather. She the S.S. Kardesler, of Istanbul, bound reached the lighthouse at 2.40 and took for Cannes from Amsterdam. The the sick man aboard. In the mean- steamer refloated on the rising tide time arrangements had been made for and made her way over the Sands a doctor and an ambulance to be accompanied by the life-boat. She waiting. The life-boat landed the touched bottom several times, but man on Greencastle pier at 3.10 and she reached deep water. The master reached her station again at 6.30.— •then asked for two life-boatmen to Rewards, £22 5s. 6d. No expense to go on board to guide her to a navigable the Institution. channel. The life-boat led her to the Downs, where the two life-boat- TWO AEROPLANES CRASH ON THE men rejoined her, and the steamer CLIFFS went on her way. The life-boat Flamborough, Yorkshire.—About 1.0 returned to her station at 9.0 that in the afternoon of the 5th of night.—Rewards, £12 14s. October, 1951, the Flamborough Head coastguard telephoned that two Meteor SICK MAN LANDED jet aeroplanes had crashed into the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, cliffs at Bempton in a mist. Later, he Norfolk.—At 4.55 in the afternoon of said it was between the North Landing the 9th of October, 1951, Lloyd's and Flamborough Head. At 1.10 the agent reported that the S.S. Matching, life-boat Howard D. was launched, in of London, due off Gorleston at 6.0 a smooth sea with a light northerly that evening, had a sick man on board breeze blowing. An air sea rescue and had asked for a doctor. At 6.4 the launch also put out. They saw a life-boat Louise Stephens was launched mark where an aeroplane had struck with a doctor, in a moderate swell on the cliff three miles from the Land- with a moderate south - south - east ing and about three hundred yards breeze. She met the steamer quarter north of this point the life-boat picked of a mile off the harbour, took the up a body. She transferred it to the patient on board and landed him at rescue launch and went back to her her station, where an ambulance was station for news. She was asked to waiting, at 6.59.—Rewards, £11 5s. 6d. look for the other aeroplane so she put out again and after a wide search A YACHT AGROUND found where the second crash had Rams gate, Kent.—At one o'clock in taken place, three hundred yards south the afternoon of the 10th of October, of the first. She saw pieces of metal 1951, the life-boat shore attendant on sticking in the cliff face and found oil the East Pier reported a yacht aground 306 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 in Pegwell Bay. He said that some three miles south-south-east of Shore- of her crew were in the water trying to ham Harbour, took the body on board move her. Quarter of an hour later he and signalled for an ambulance to said that the yacht was still aground, meet her at the lock gates. There so at 1.20 the life-boat Prudential left she landed the body and got back her moorings with her boarding boat to her station at 11.52. — Rewards, in tow. The sea was moderate, with £6 15s. a light south-easterly breeze blowing. She found the motor cruiser Yamilly, UNABLE TO MAKE HARBOUR of Brightlingsea, with a crew of four, Portrush, Co. Antrim.—At 7.17 on on Sandwich Flats. She was listing the night of the 17th of October, 1951, badly. Using the boarding boat, the the coastguard telephoned that a life-boatmen attached a long rope to Ballycastle fishing boat, with a crew her and when the tide had risen of four, could not enter Ballycastle enough the life-boat pulled her clear. Harbour because of a heavy swell and The Yamilly then went on her way was making for a port to the westward. and the life-boat got back to her At 8.13 he reported that the boat was station again at 5.37 that evening.— sheltering off Ken bane Head and Property Salvage Case. — Rewards, needed help, and at 8.26 the life-boat 14s. 6d." Lady Scott, Civil Service No. 4, was launched in a light south-south-west NORWEGIAN STEAMER ON THE breeze. She found the fishing boat GOODWINS off the Head, towed her to Portrush, Ramsgate, Kent.—At 5.50 in the and reached her station again at evening of the 12th of October, 1951, 2.55 the next morning. •— Rewards, the North Goodwin Lightvessel wire- £19 11s. 6d. lessed that she had warned off a vessel in a dangerous position one and a half FISHING NET FOULS PROPELLER miles south by west of the Goodwin Longhope, Orkneys.—At 8.26 in the Lightvessel, and at 6.16 the life-boat morning of the 19th of October, 1951, Prudential left her moorings. The sea the Kirkwall coastguard telephoned was very rough, with a fresh south- that a motor fishing vessel had anchor- easterly breeze blowing. The life-boat ed half a mile off shore in Rackwick found the S.S. Mathilda, of Bergen, Bay and was blowing her siren. At aground about two miles south by 8.50 the life-boat Thomas McCunn was west of the lightvessel. She went launched. The sea was heavy, with a alongside, passed a rope to her and light west-south-west breeze blowing. put two life-boatmen on board. They The life-boat found the Blenheim, of made preparations for laying a kedge Wick, quarter of a mile off shore with anchor and wires, but the steamer a crew of four. Her net had fouled refloated. The life-boat guided her her propeller. The life-boat towed her through the sandbanks to deeper water to Stromness and returned to her took the two life-boatmen on board station, arriving at 4.45 that evening. again, gave the Mathilda a course to —Property Salvage Case. steer, and returned to her station, arriving at 10.45 that night.—Property STOLEN DINGHY IN DISTRESS Salvage Case.—Rewards, 14s. 6d. Ramsgate, Kent.— At 5.37 in the morning of the 20th of October, 1951, A WOMAN'S BODY BROUGHT the North Goodwin Lightvessel wire- ASHORE lessed that she had launched a boat Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — At to pick up a boy in a dinghy which 11.23 in the morning of the 14th of had drifted past the lightvessel, but October, 1951, pilots reported that that both boats were now out of sight. a yacht with a body in tow was off The life-boat Prudential left her moor- Shoreham, and needed help. At 11.28 ings at 5.50 in a moderate sea, with a the life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis moderate westerly breeze blowing, and Lunn was launched in calm weather. found the boat with the dinghy in tow She found the yacht Eve, which had one and a half miles east-north-east of picked up the body of a woman about the lightvessel. She towed both boats APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 307 to the lightvessel, took the dinghy on MOTOR YACHT IN A GALE IN THE board and brought the boy ashore at MERSEY 7.38. There he was met by the police. New Brighton, Cheshire. — At 7.40 He had run away from an institution in the morning of the 22nd of October, and had stolen the dinghy from 1951, the Formby coastguard tele- Margate.—Rewards, £8 13s. phoned that a motor yacht was in a dangerous place inside the revetment CABIN CRUISER'S BROKEN RUDDER on the south side of the Queen's Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 5.27 in Channel near the Formby Boat the evening of the 20th of October, Beacon. At 8.15 a second message 1951, the Mid-Barrow Lightvessel said that she had not moved, and at reported that the cabin cruiser Wid- 8.40 the life-boat K.T.J.S., on tem- geon, of Ramsgate, which had broken porary duty at the station, left her her rudder, was tied up astern of the moorings. The sea was rough, with lightvessel and in need of help. At a moderate north-north-east gale blow- 5.50 the life-boat Edward Z. Dresden ing. The life-boat found the motor with the second coxswain in charge launch Vanadia, of Ayr, off the Bar was launched. The sea was rough, Lightvessel, with a crew of four. She with a south-westerly breeze blowing. was steering badly so the life-boat The life-boat found two men aboard escorted her up the river channel to the Widgeon. They were bound from Egg Buoy, and reached her station West Mersea to Ramsgate and asked again at 2.0 that afternoon.—-Rewards, the life-boat to give them a tow. This £14 10s. she did, making for Bright lingsea, where she arrived at half past two in PATIENT DIES IN THE LIFE-BOAT the morning. At daylight she left for Lerwick, Shetlands.—At 1.22 in the her station arriving at 7.30—Rewards, afternoon of the 30th of October, 1951, £31 4s. 6d. the Zetland medical officer for health asked if the life-boat would take a SIX LIVES LOST doctor to Fair Isle to treat a sick man, Tessmouth, Whitby, and Runswick, as the regular mail boat was under- Yorkshire. — In the morning of the going repairs. At 1.58 the life-boat 22nd of October, 1951, the S.S.Pandora, Lady Jane and Martha Ryland left of Beaumaris, foundered in a gale and her moorings, embarked a doctor at a very heavy sea one and a half miles Broonies Taing and made for Fair Isle off Runswick, with the loss of her crew in a heavy swell with a light northerly of six. The Runswick and Whitby breeze blowing. She arrived just life-boats were unable to get out, and before eight o'clock that night and the Teesmouth life-boat arrived to the doctor went ashore in a small boat. find the steamer sunk and her crew About half an hour later-the patient drowned. The s.s. Gripfaxt, of New- and doctor were taken on board the castle, attempted to help the Pandora, life-boat which set out for Lerwick. but herself got into difficulties. A She wirelessed for an ambulance to be tug went out to her, but in the after- ready, but the man died before she noon she signalled for help. The reached Lerwick. The life-boat landed weather had then moderated. The his body at her station at 2.30.—Re- Whitby No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann wards, £28 5s. No expense to the Hepvcorth and the Runswick life-boat Institution. Robert Pattern—The Always Ready went out, and the Whit by life-boat The following life-boats went out on stood by until tugs had towed her into service, but could find no ships in deep water.—Rewards.—Teesmouth, distress, were not needed or could do £29 18s.; Whitby, £17 18s.; Runswick, nothing: £32 11s. Gd. Penlee, Cornwall. — October 4th. — A full account of this service, of the Rewards, £18 5s. inquiry which was held after it, and Runswick, Yorkshire.—October 5th. the events which followed the inquiry, —Rewards, £22 16s. will appear in a later issue of The Stromness, Orkneys. — October 8th. Life-boat. —Rewards, £10 7s. 308 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 Clovelly, Devon. — October 12th. — D. put out. The sea was rough with Rewards, £27 7s. a fresh northerly breeze blowing. The Padstow, Cornwall. — October 12th. life-boat found the coble, the Imperial- —Rewards, £8. Partly Paid Perman- ist, with a crew of three, one mile ent Crew. north-east of the life-boat station. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, She had cut away from her fishing gear. Norfolk. -— October 17th. — Rewards, The life-boat escorted her to the shore, £11. reaching her station again at 4.10.— Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Rewards, £14 7s. 6d. Norfolk. — October 18th. — Property Salvage Case. VELLUM SERVICE AT COVERACK New Brighton, Cheshire. — October On the 4th of November, 1951, the 20th.—Rewards, £9 4,s. Coverack life-boat rescued the crew of seventeen of a Spanish steamer. For SAVED BY THE LIFE-BOAT'S a full account of this service, and the MAROONS rewards, see page 284. Dover, Kent.—At 4.30 in the morn- ing of the 21st of October, 1951, the WRECKED ON A TREASURE HUNT Eastern Arm Signal Station telephoned Swanage, Dorset, and Yarmouth, Isle that a yacht was dragging her anchor of Wight.—At 11.25 in the morning in the harbour and driving ashore, and of the 4th of November, 1951, the at 4.45 the life-boat Southern Africa Niton Radio Station reported a wire- left her moorings. A moderate south- less message from a steamer that a westerly gale was blowing with a schooner was in distress sixteen and rough sea. Fortunately the maroons a half miles south-south-east of Durl- fired to call out the life-boat's crew ston Head, and at 11.40 the Swanage waked the two men who were asleep life-boat R.L.P. was launched. A in the yacht—the auxiliary yacht Ceta southerly gale was blowing, with a -—and they were able to move her to a heavy sea. At 2.45 in the afternoon safe anchorage. The life-boat arrived the life-boat found H.M.S. Redpole tow- to find that she was not needed, and ing the schooner Lamorna, of South- returned to her station at 5.30.— ampton. The schooner had a crew Rewards, £7 5s. of fourteen, and was bound for the South China Sea to search for Captain Ramsgate, Kent. — October 27th.— Kidd's treasure. The warship asked Rewards, £8 13.9. the life-boat to stand by,' which she Ramsgate, Kent.—October, 28th.— did, but at 4.20 the Redpole said the Rewards, £8 13s. life-boat was no longer needed and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. — October she made for Poole, as in that weather 29th.—Rewards, £9 3s. 6d. she could not have been put into her house at Swanage. When she was about half a mile east of Poole harbour NOVEMBER she received a wireless request from DURING November, life-boats went out the Redpole, now four and a half miles on service 48 times, and rescued 40 south of the Needles, asking her to lives. return and stand by again, but she replied that the Yarmouth life-boat TWO COBLES CAUGHT BY BAD could reach the position more quickly. WEATHER Accordingly at 6.10 a message was sent Flamborough, Yorkshire. — On the to the Yarmouth life-boat station afternoon of the 2nd of November, through the Niton Radio Station and 1951, two local fishing cobles were at the Ventnor coastguard, and at 6.24 sea in bad weather and the life-boat the life-boat S.G.E. left her moorings, coxswain felt anxious for their safety. with the second coxswain in command. The weather got worse, and one of the She found that the Lamorna had cobles reached the shore, making very broken away from the Redpole, had heavy weather. The coxswain then lost her masts and had damaged her decided to launch to the help of the rudder. The life-boat spread oil on other, and at 3.30 the life-boat Howard the water to help calm the heavy, APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 309 breaking seas, and with great difficulty, to the east of Seaview Pier. Her crew owing to floating spars and ropes went of two were exhausted. The life- alongside. She was slightly damaged, boatmen gave them rum and towed but she rescued the fourteen men and the Quickstep to Bembridge Harbour, returned to her station, arriving at arriving about three o'clock. The 8.50. The Swanage life-boat mean- weather was too bad for the life-boat while had reached Poole at seven to be rehoused, so she went to Cowes o'clock. The Lamorna eventually and was finally taken back to her drifted ashore five miles east of station on the 7th.—Rewards, £27 17s. Bournemouth. The owners and cap- tain of the Lamorna gave 75 guineas AN ITALIAN STEAMER CALLS FOR to the Institution and 25 guineas to HELP the Yarmouth crew in gratitude for the rescue. — Rewards, Swanage, Sunderland, Durham.—At 5.47 on £83 3s. 6d.; Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, the night of the 4th of November, 1951, £9 3s. 6d. the coastguard telephoned that a ship was close to the rocks to the eastward and signalling for tugs. A fresh south- TO THE HELP OF A DUTCH SHIP easterly gale was blowing, with a rough Whltby, Yorkshire.—At 12.50 in the sea. At 6.20 the life-boat Edward and afternoon of the 4th of November, Isabella Irwin was launched and found 1951, the coastguard reported that the S.S. Arcobaleno, of Italy, laden with the motor ship Geziena, of Rotterdam, iron ore. She got clear of the rocks was lying off Whitby in need of a and the life-boat stood by her until she pilot. As the weather was too bad reached the harbour. The life-boat for a shore-boat to put out, the No. 1 then returned to her station, arriving life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth em- at 7.30.—Rewards, £8 4s. barked a pilot and was launched at 1.15. A strong east-south-east gale FORTY IN PERIL was blowing, with a rough sea. As the Falmouth, Cornwall.—About 9.45 on life-boat was launching a message the night of the 4th of November, 1951, came from the coastguard that a motor the St. Anthony coastguard telephoned fishing boat was in distress five miles that the motor ship Trewidden, of north-east of Robin Hood's Bay. The London, with about forty on board, life-boat put the pilot aboard the had wirelessed that she had broken Geziena then made for the fishing down and had anchored in Falmouth boat, and found the Courage, of Scar- Bay, but that she was dragging to- borough, with a crew of five, making wards Black Rock. A south-westerly very heavy weather. She gave first gale was blowing and the sea was aid to one of the men, who had been very rough. At ten o'clock the life- injured, handed out biscuits and rum boat Crawford and Constance Cony- to them all, and escorted the Courage beare was launched and found the to Whitby. She then returned to the tug Turmoil trying to take the steamer Geziena, escorted her into harbour and in tow. The tow-rope parted several reached her station again at 4.45.— times, and at the request of the master Rewards, £12 17s. the life-boat stood by. She remained until the tow-rope was made fast to A YACHT WITH AN EXHAUSTED the vessel and the tug had got under CREW way. She then returned to her station Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At two arriving at 3.30 the next morning.— in the afternoon of the 4th of Novem- Rewards, £14 15s. ber, 1951, the Foreland coastguard telephoned that a small sailing boat THE DUTCH SHIP IN PERIL AGAIN making for Bembridge was in distress Whitby, Yorkshire.—About 8.30 on off Seaview and at 2.15 the life-boat the night of the 5th of November, 1951, Jesse Lumb was launched. A south- the coastguard telephoned that the south-east gale was blowing, with a motor ship Geziena, of Rotterdam, very rough sea. The life-boat found which the life-boat had escorted to the the yacht Quickstep, of Hayling Island, harbour the previous afternoon, had 810 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 parted her moorings in the harbour Lowestoft, Suffolk. — On the night of and was in danger of being swept the llth of November, 1951, the coast- seawards. An easterly gale was blow- guard reported that a man had seen ing and the sea was rough. At 8.44 red flares from a boat about a mile the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth south of the harbour and three hundred was launched, and went alongside her. yards from the shore, and at 8.30 the She passed several hawsers ashore, life-boat Michael Stephens left her helped the vessel to remoor, and moorings. The sea was moderate, reached her station again at 10.19. with a moderate south-easterly breeze At 6.45 the next morning she put out blowing. The life-boat found the and stood by the Geziena while she was local motor fishing boat Wavell, with being secured with new ropes, arriving a crew of two, broken down and back at her station at nine o'clock.— drifting towards the shore. She towed Rewards, £19 95. 6d. her into the harbour and reached her station again at 9.30.—Rewards, ANOTHER SICK MAN BROUGHT £7 15s. ASHORE PILOTING A STEAMER WITH A LIST Donaghadee, Co. Down.—At 2.10 in Cromarty. — In the afternoon of the the morning of the 6th of November, llth of November, 1951, the S.S. 1951, the agents for the S.S. Caslon, of Trinity, of Panama, wirelessed that London, telephoned that the steamer she had been damaged and needed a had wirelessed that she had a sick man pilot. She would be off Cromarty that on board and asked for help. Her night, and asked for a boat to meet her master would take her into Belfast at eight o'clock next morning. A Lough. At 2.30 the life-bftat Sir fresh south-easterly gale was blowing, Samuel Kelly was launched. The sea with a very heavy swell. At 6.30 in was choppy, with a strong north- the morning of the 12th the life-boat easterly breeze blowing. The life-boat James Macfee was launched and met came up with the Caslon off Kilroot. the Trinity, which was listing heavily, The steamer was under way, but as six miles east by north of Whistle soon as she had anchored the life-boat Buoy. The coxswain boarded her and went alongside and took the sick man piloted her to a safe anchorage. The aboard. She landed him at Bangor, life-boat returned to her station at where an ambulance was waiting, and 10.30.—Rewards, £10 105. returned to her station, arriving at 6.O.—Rewards, £10 105. ANOTHER SICK MAN BROUGHT ASHORE FISHING BOATS TOWED IN Barrow, Lancashire. — At three Helvick Head, Co. Waterford. About o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th of eight o'clock in the morning of the 7th November, 1951, the agents of the of November, 1951, with a rough sea tanker Merrimac, of New York, re- running and a south-easterly breeze ported that she had wirelessed that she blowing, the life-boat motor mechanic had a sick man on board in need of a was on the lookout on Helvick Head doctor. She would be off Barrow and saw the motor fishing boat Lydia about nine o'clock that night. At Ann, of Waterford, trying to sail to 7.30 the life-boat Herbert Leigh em- Helvick. She reached the mouth of barked a doctor and was launched on Dungarvan Harbour, but anchored service for the first time. The honor- there as she found that she could not ary secretary, Mr. T. Downing, was get in under sail. She was in a dan- on board. The sea was moderate, gerous place near the Gaynor Rocks, with a moderate south - south - west and the life-boat H. F. Bailey was breeze blowing. The life-boat met the launched at 8.30. She found that the Merrimac three miles west of Lightning engine of the Lydia Ann, which had a Knoll Buoy, and put the doctor on crew of five, had broken down. She board. She then embarked the sick towed her to Helvick Pier arriving at man and landed him in the harbour, her station again at 9.30.—Rewards, where an ambulance was waiting, at £6 195. 11.10.—Rewards, £12 10s. APRIL, 1952J THE LIFE-BOAT 311 MEDAL SERVICE AT SELSEY wireless set in the harbour at Girvan On the 17th-18th of November, that several fishing boats had left 1951, the Selsey life-boat rescued the Whiting Bay for Girvan. They were crew of six of a motor vessel of Costa asking what the weather conditions Rica. For a full account of this were. The coxswain wirelessed that service and the rewards, see page there was a heavy sea running on the 285. harbour bar and that the life-boat would stand by outside. At 2.15 the ANOTHER PROPELLER FOULED life-boat Lily Glen — Glasgow was Arklow, Co. Wicklow. — At 6.50 on launched, and half an hour later the the night of the 19th of November, local fishing boat Girl Anne came into 1951, the motor mechanic reported sight. The life-boat escorted her to flares north of the harbour and at the harbour and stood by the bar again. seven o'clock the life-boat Inbhear Mor At four o'clock the local fishing boat was launched with the second cox- Maureen approached the bar, and she swain in charge. The sea was moder- too was escorted to her moorings by ate with a fresh south-westerly breeze the life-boat which then returned to blowing. The life-boat found the local her station arriving at 5.0.—Rewards, fishing boat Edith, with a crew of four, £7 18s. 6d. one and a half miles north of Arklow Pier. She was anchored, with her COBLE'S PROPELLER LOST propeller fouled. The life-boat towed Teesmouth, Yorkshire. At 5.30 in her to the harbour and reached her the evening of the 23rd of November, station again at 7.35.—Rewards, 1951, the keeper of the South Gare £9 2s. 6d. Lighthouse reported a signal from a fishing coble that she had lost her pro- ANOTHER FISHING BOAT BROKEN peller, and needed help, and at 6.6 DOWN that night the life-boat John and Lucy Whitehllls, Banff shire. — At 9.30 in Cordingley was launched. There was the morning of the 21st of November, a slight sea with a light south-westerly 1951, a fishing boat wirelessed that breeze blowing. The life-boat found another fishing boat, the Speedwell, of the Mildred with one man aboard two Macduff, was in difficulties twenty and a half miles north of the lighthouse miles north-north-west of Whitehills and towed her to Paddy's Hole. She and at 10.5 the life-boat Thomas arrived back at her station at 7.55.— Markby was launched. The trawler Rewards, £9 3s. Buchans II, of Aberdeen, also put out. The sea was rough, with a strong SIX WHITBY FISHING BOATS north-westerly breeze' blowing. The ESCORTED INTO HARBOUR life-boat found the Speedwell, with a Whitby, Yorkshire.—On the morn- crew of six, broken down, and stood ing of the 26th of November, 1951, by her until the trawler arrived. The a strong north-west wind was blow- life-boat then helped the trawler to ing and the sea was rough. At take her in tow and escorted them to 11.30 fishermen reported that the Fraserburgh, arriving at seven o'clock harbour entrance was dangerous. Six that night. The life-boat made for her local fishing vessels were known to be station a little later, but as the weather at sea, so at 11.48 the No. 1 life-boat was too bad for her to enter White- Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. hills Harbour she went to MacDuff On her way out of the harbour she which she reached at 1.30 the next escorted to sea the Fraserburgh fishing morning. She was taken back to her boat Girl Nan. The local fishing station that afternoon. — Rewards, vessel Galilee then came into sight. £46 6s. The life-boat escorted her into har- bour and put to sea again. A little OVER THE GIRVAN BAR IN A GALE later the Success, Provider A. and Girvan, Ayrshire. About one o'clock Progress arrived. The life-boat escor- in the afternoon of the 21st of Novem- ted them in and waited for the other ber, 1951, when a gale was blowing, a two, the Venus and Pilot Me. The message was heard on a fishing boat's Venus was seen making for the harbour 312 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 at 3.10 in the afternoon and the life- Rams gate, Kent. — November 2nd. boat escorted her in. She then made Rewards, £8 13s. for the Whitby Rock Buoy where she Dover, Kent. — November 4th. — found the Pilot Me. She escorted her Rewards, £2 10s. in and returned to her station arriving Troon, Ayrshire.—November 4th.— at 4.10.—Rewards, £14 13s. 6d. Rewards, £15. Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—Novem- TWELVE HOURS ON THE GOODWINS ber 5th.—Rewards, £8. In very heavy weather on the night Wicklow — November 6th. — Re- of the 24th-25th of November, 1951, wards, £8 18s. the Walmer life-boat gave help to a steamer on the Goodwin Sands. A TO THE HELP OF A FLOODED CAMP full account of this service appears on Aberdeen.—At 12.20 in the morning page 288. of the 6th of November, 1951, the city police telephoned for help in rescuing NEW LIFEBOAT'S FIRST SERVICE people who were trapped by flood Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.—At 2.45 water at a caravan camp on the banks in the afternoon of the 26th of of the River Dee at Milltimber. A November, 1951, the honorary secre- south-easterly gale was blowing, with tary was on the sea front and saw a very heavy rain, and the water had local motor fishing boat two miles to reached a height of eight feet. The the west of the life-boat station drift- No. 2 life-boat, George and Elizabeth ing rapidly. She had two men on Gow, left her house at 1.15, by road, board. One of the men was trying to and was launched into the flood water ship her rudder. He could not and near the Mill Inn at Milltimber, but instead used an oar to steer her. The floating hay and bushes fouled her sea was choppy, with a fresh westerly propeller, and she had to be beached breeze blowing; the harbour bar again. The water had now stopped dangerous. So at 3.4 the life-boat rising and the life-boatmen waited for Aguila Wren was launched on service daybreak. By then the floods had for the first time, with the second started to fall and a salmon coble was coxswain in charge. She came up sent from Aberdeen. It arrived at with the fishing boat which had now Millport at nine o'clock and the life- anchored one mile north-west of the boatmen and launchers went out in station, towed her into the harbour her. By 1.0 in the afternoon they had and arrived back at her station at 4.5. helped thirty-one people to safety. —Rewards, £21 125. It was now possible to wade and the men carried the four remaining people ANOTHER YACHT BROKEN DOWN from a farmhouse to a lorry. The Weymouth, Dorset.—-At 4.40 in the life-boat was then taken back to afternoon of the 30th of November, Aberdeen and was re-housed at seven 1951, the Wyke Regis coastguard o'clock that night.—Rewards, £49 telephoned that a fifteen ton auxiliary 12s. 6d. yacht was flashing SOS signals three miles west of Portland Bill. The sea Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.—Novem- was rough, with a fresh westerly breeze ber 6th.—Rewards, £12 11s. blowing. At 4.50 the life-boat William Calster, Norfolk.—November 7th.— and Clara Ryland left her moorings Rewards, £15 Os. 6d. and found the yacht two and a half Montrose, Angus.—November 10th. miles west of the Bill. The yacht was —Rewards, £13 15s. 6d. the Penguin, with four on board. Her Penlee, Cornwall.—November 12th. engine had broken down. The life- —Rewards, £8 4s. boat towed her to Weymouth Quay, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. — Novem- and reached her station again at 9.20 ber 14th.—Rewards, £7. that night.—Property Salvage Case. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. — Novem- ber 16th.—Rewards, £14 15s. The following life-boats went out on Margate, Kent. — November 19th.— service, but could find no ships in dis- Rewards, £13 13s. tress, were not needed or could do New Brighton, Cheshire. — Novem- nothing: ber 20th.—Rewards, £10 16s. APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 313 Bridlington, Yorkshire. — November to her help. Nothing more was heard 21st.—Rewards. £16 Hs. from the Kingston Pearl, so at 9.27 Hartlepool, Durham.—November the life-boat Tynesider was launched. 22nd.—Rewards, £11 17s. The sea was very rough with a strong Teesmouth, Yorkshire. — November northerly gale blowing. About 10.30 22nd.—Rewards, £12 16s. the life-boat received a wireless mes- Salcombe, Devon.-—November 23rd. sage from the Loch Fleet, which had a —Rewards, £10 17s. crew of nineteen, that her mate had Portrush, Co. Antrim. — November been injured. At 1.55 in the after- 23rd.—Rewards, £11 17s. noon another message came from the Dover, Kent. —• November 25th.—• Kingston Pearl. She was then only Rewards, £5. four miles south of the Loch Fleet. Humber, Yorkshire — November Her next message said that she had 25th.—Paid Permanent Crew. now reached the Loch Fleet, and Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, found her in no immediate danger of Norfolk.—November 26th.—Rewards, sinking. The skipper of the Kingston £10. Pearl advised the life-boat, which was now twenty miles away, to return to FIFTEEN HOURS AT SEA Tynemoutft, but asked her to wait Tynemouth, Northumberland. — At there for the Loch Fleet and be ready 8.25 in the morning of the 28th of to land the mate. The life-boat November, 1951, the coastguard tele- arrived at her station at 9.45 that phoned that a message had been night, and after her crew had had received from the trawler Loch Fleet, of some soup she put out again to meet Aberdeen, through the Cullercoats the trawlers, then about two miles off radio station. She was making water the harbour, but they made for The and needed help ninety-two miles east Humber, so she was recalled to her by north of Tyne Pier. At 9.1 she station, arriving at 12.45 the next wirelessed that she had nearly stopped morning.—Rewards, £41 15s. and was still leaking, and at 9.2 the Portrush, Co. Antrim. — November coastguard reported that the trawler 28th.—Rewards, £13 13s. Qd. Kingston Pearl had wirelessed that she Margate, Kent.—November 30th.— was forty miles south of her and going Rewards, £13 13s.
The City of Leeds Life-boat IN 1949 the Leeds branch of the Commander T. G. Michelmore, R.D., Institution launched a special appeal R.N.R., chief inspector of life-boats, for £10,000 to provide a life-boat to be described the boat. The Lord Mayor named The City of Leeds. The appeal of Leeds (Lieut-Colonel F. Eric Tetley, was under the patronage of the late D.S.O., T.D.) presented her to the Earl of Harewood, who contributed Institution on behalf of the City of generously to it, and was signed by Leeds, and Commodore the Earl Howe, the Mayor of Leeds and Councillor C.B.E., V.R.D., P.C., R.N.V.R., A. R. Bretherick, chairman of the Leeds deputy chairman of the Institution, branch. This appeal raised £9,948 6s. received her and handed her over to 9d., and out of it the new life-boat for Redcar, on whose behalf she was Redcar has been built. She is a 35-feet accepted by Mr. E. Graham Tyerman, 6-inches self-righting life-boat and is chairman of the Redcar branch. The the seventh to be stationed at Redcar. Archbishop of York dedicated the life- The naming ceremony was held on boat. H.R.H. the Princess Royal the 18th August, 1951, and H.R.H. then named her The City of Leeds. A the Princess Royal (Mary, Countess vote of thanks to the Princess Royal of Harewood) and the Archbishop of was proposed by Councillor A. R. York (the Right Hon. and Most Rev. Bretherick, chairman of the Leeds C. F. Garbett, P.C., D.D.), took part branch, and seconded by Colonel A. D. in it. The Mayor of Redcar (Alderman Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A., T. A. Dougall, J.P.) presided, and secretary of the Institution. 314 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952
Naming Ceremonies TEN new motor life-boats were named HOLYHEAD during 1951. Seven were on the Eng- The new boat is a gift to the Insti- lish coast, at New Brighton (Liverpool), tution from the Civil Service Life-boat Margate, Scarborough, Lytham, Culler- Fund, which has also endowed it, and coats, Newbiggin and Redcar; two on will maintain it. She is a 52-feet the Scottish coast, at Arbroath and Barnett (Stromness) cabin boat, and is Anstruther; and one on the Welsh the twelfth life-boat to be stationed coast, at Holyhead. The naming at Holyhead. The naming ceremony ceremonies at New Brighton and took place on the 16th June. Lieut.- Margate were reported in the 1951 Colonel the Hon. Oliver Stanley, summer number of The Life-boat. D.S.O., D.L., J.P., chairman of the branch, presided, and Commander E. SCARBOROUGH W. Middleton, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., the The new boat was built out of legacies district inspector of life-boats, des- from Mr. R. Munday of Asjhton-under cribed the boat. The Right Hon. Sir Lyne, Mrs. A. E. Wildish of South Richard V. N. Hopkins, G.C.B., chair- Norwood, Mr. L. A. Crichton of man of the Civil Service Life-boat London and Mrs. F. E. Wood of Fund, presented her to the Institution, Doncaster. She is a 35-feet 6-inches and Commander H. F. P. Grenfell, self-righting boat and is the twelfth D.S.C., R.N., a member of the Com- life-boat to be stationed at Scar- mittee of .Management, accepted her borough. The naming ceremony took and handed her over to Holyhead, on place on the 15th June. The Mayor whose behalf she was received by of Scarborough presided, and Com- Lord Stanley of Alderley, president of mander H. L. Wheeler, R-N., the the branch. district inspector of life-boats, described The Bishop of Bangor (The Right the boat. Mr. D. S. Edwards, on Rev. J. C. Jones, D.D.) assisted by the behalf of the donors, presented her to Rev. D. L. Morris, B.A., Vicar of Holy- the Institution and Commodore the head and the Rev. R. Gwilym Hughes, Earl Howe, C.B.E., V.R.D., P.C., M.A., B.D., dedicated the life-boat, R.N.V.R., deputy chairman of the and the singing was led by the St. Institution, received her and handed Cybi, St. Seiriol and St. Elbod Church her over to Scarborough, on whose choirs. Lady Hopkins then named the behalf she was received by Lieutenant life-boat St. Cybi (Civil Service No. 9). L. N. Sanderson, R.N.V.R., chairman A vote of thanks was proposed by and honorary secretary of the branch. Councillor Llewellyn Lewis, chairman The Vicar of Scarborough, the Rev. of the Holyhead Urban District Coun- F. E. Ford, M.A., dedicated the life- cil and seconded by Lady Kathleen boat, assisted by the Rev. W. E. Stanley, president of the Holyhead Cowling of St. Thomas' Church and Ladies' Life-beat Guild. the Rev. R. C. Ferriday of the Free Church Council. The singing was LYTHAM lead by the Falsgrave Modern County The boat was built out of a legacy School Choir. from the late Miss K. I. Porritt. She The Marchioness of Carisbrooke, is a 46-feet 9-inches Watson cabin boat G.B.E., named the life-boat E.C.J.R. and is the eighth to be stationed at She also presented the Institution's Lytham. The naming ceremony took vellum, recording 150 years service of place on the 23rd of June. The Mayor Scarborough's life-boats, to Mrs. F. K. of Lytham St. Annes, president of the Dockray, honorary secretary of the branch, presided, and Commander E. Scarborough Ladies' Life-boat Guild. W. Middleton, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., the A vote of thanks was proposed by district inspector of life-boats, described Captain H. Ramsbotham, R.N. (retd.), the boat. Miss Kathleen Porritt, a and seconded by Captain W. L. Mason, relative of the donor, presented the members of the committee of the branch. boat to the Institution, and Mr. Ainet The life-boat was then launched. Robinson, a member of the Committee APRIL, 1952] THE LIFE-BOAT 315 of Management, received her and and a gift from the Lord Lieutenant of handed her over to Lytham, on whose Northumberland's War Distress Relief behalf she was accepted by Sir Knowles Fund. She is a 35-feet 6-inches self- Edge, Bt. righting boat and is the eighth to be The Bishop of Stockport (the Right stationed at Cullercoats. The naming Rev. D. H. Saunders-Davies, M.A.), ceremony took place on the 28th of assisted by Canon A. L. J. Shields, the June. The Duke of Northumberland Rev. A. R. Allen, M.A., and the Rev. presided and Commander H. L. Rolla Spencer, president of the Free Wheeler, R.N., the district inspector Church Council, dedicated the life-boat of life-boats, described the boat. Mr. and the singing was led by the St. A. G. Everett, J.P., a member of the John's Church choir. The Countess Committee of Management of the Insti- of Derby then named the life-boat tution, thanked the donors and handed Sarah Toivnsend Porritt. the life-boat over to Cullercoats, on A vote of thanks was proposed by whose behalf she was accepted by Mr. the Mayoress of Lytham St. Annes and B. H. Brown, chairman of the branch. seconded by Mrs. Peter Jackson, J.P. The Rev. J. M. Nicholson, M.A., vicar of St. George's, Cullercoats, dedicated ARBROATH the life-boat and the singing was led The boat is a gift to the Institution by the choir of the Cnllercoats Junior from the trustees of the late Mr. School. The Viscountess Allendale Robert Lindsay, of Mains of Kinble- then named the life-boat Isaac and thmont, by Arbroath and Carnoustie. Mary Bolton. A vote of thanks was She is a 35-feet 6-inches Liverpool boat proposed by the Mayoress of Tyne- and is the seventh to be stationed at mouth and the life-boat was launched. Arbroath. The naming ceremony took place on the 23rd of June. Ex- NEWBIGGIN .Provost John Lamb, J.P., presided The boat was built out of the legacy and Lieut.-Commander S. C. Dickinson from the late Mr. C. C. Ashley, one of R.N.V.R., district inspector of life- the most generous benefactors of the boats, described the boat. The Pro- Institution. The new Newbiggin life- vost of Arbroath, Mr. John Webster, boat is the tenth to come from him. welcomed the guests, and the Duke She is a 35-feet 6-inches Liverpool boat of Montrose, K.T., C.V.O., V.R.D., and is the eighth to be stationed at R.N.V.R., chairman of the Scottish Newbiggin. The naming ceremony Life-boat Council and treasurer of the took place on the 30th of June. Institution, presented the life-boat to Major the Viscount Ridley, C.B.E., the Institution on behalf of the donors, J.P., D.L., presided, and Commander and handed her over to Arbroath, on S. C. Dickinson, R.N.V.R., inspector of whose behalf she was accepted by life-boats, described the boat. The Ex-Provost John Lamb, J.P. Lord Saltoun, M.C., a member of the The Rev. William E. Gladstone- Committee of Management, presented Millar, M.C., B.D., minister of St. her to the Institution on behalf of the Margaret's Parish Church, dedicated donor and handed her over to New- the life-boat and the singing was led biggen, on whose behalf she was by the Arbroath Fisherwomen's Choir. received by Mr. J. F. Gibson, honorary The Dowager Countess of Dalhousie secretary of the Newbiggin branch. then named the life-boat Robert The Bishop of Newcastle (the Right Lindsay. A vote of thanks was pro- Rev. Noel Baring Hudson, D.S.O., M.C., posed by Mr. Harry Corsar and seconded D.D.), assisted by Canon W. Maddison, by Mr. George Frances, members of the M. A., and the Rev. B. J. Wiltshire, B. A., committee of the branch. A guard of dedicated the life-boat and the singing honour was formed by. the Arbroath was lead by the choir of St. Bartho- Sea Cadet Corps, and music was lomew's, Newbiggin, accompanied by played by the Arbroath Instrumental the Newbiggin Salvation Army Band. Band. Helen, Duchess of Northumberland CULLERCOATS then named the life-boat Richard Ashley, The boat was built out of a legacy and the life-boat was launched. from the late Miss M. Bolton of Boo tie During the ceremony a vellum 316 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1952 recording that the Newbiggin station G.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.N., a vice-chair- has completed a hundred years of man of the Scottish Life-boat Council service was presented. Mr. S. Brown and a member of the committee of chairman of the branch, accepted the management, thanked the donor on vellum and Mr. B. Jarrett, honorary behalf of the Institution and handed treasurer, proposed a vote of thanks to the boat over to Anstruther, on whose the Duchess. Before and after the behalf she was received by Provost W. ceremony music was played by the W. Carstairs, O.B.E., J.P., chairman Newbiggin Colliery Band. of the branch. The Rev. J. A. Paterson, B.D., ANSTRUTHER Senior Minister of the United Burgh, The new boat was built out of a dedicated the life-boat. Miss Myrtle legacy from the late Mr. James Jackson Lumsden, a sister of the late Mrs. of Falkland. She is a 35-feet 6-inches Jackson, then named her James and Liverpool boat and is the fifth to be Ruby Jackson. Votes of thanks were stationed at Anstruther. The naming proposed by Lady Cunninghame ceremony took place on the 18th of Graham, presidentof the Rosy th Ladies' July. Colonel the Earl of Elgin and Life-boat Guild, and Mr. J. Henderson Kincardine, K.T., C.M.G., T.D., LL.D., Stewart, M.P. for East Fife. The Lord Lieutenant of the County of Fife, Anstruther Company of Girl Guides presided, and Commander S. C. Dickin- formed a guard of honour, and son, R.N.V.R., district inspector of music was played by the Kirkcaldy- life-boats, described the boat. Cap- Sinclairtown Salvation Army Young tain the Hon. Sir Archibald Cochrane, People's Band.
The 100th life-boat WHEN Messrs. J. Samuel White, century when they themselves designed the famous shipbuilders of Cowes, the Lamb and White life-boat. It was delivered the Aberdeen life-boat in used in the first place as a ship's boat and June, 1951, they had completed their was largely adopted by the Admiralty, hundredth life-boat for the Institution. but three were built—the first in 1898 Their life-boat work goes back over a —for the coast, and were stationed at hundred vears, to the forties of last Cardigan, Broadstairs and Margate.
Notice All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I. All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should lie addressed to the Secretary. The next number O/THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in July, 1952.