History
Following a visit to the area in 1882 by the Chief Inspector of Lifeboats, Capt. The Hon. Henry Weyland Chetwynd, RN, it was decided that a lifeboat be placed at Dunmore East. A boathouse and slipway, costing £613-5s-0d, were constructed by F. Kent. A 37-foot 12-oared Self Righting "Pulling and Sailing" (P&S) lifeboat, (one with oars and sails), was ordered from Forrestt of Limehouse, London, transported first by rail to Bristol, and then aboard the S.S. Reginald, arriving in June 1884. The boat was provided from the legacy of Mr. H. Dodd of Rotherfield, Sussex, and named Henry Dodd (ON 101). Captain Cherry was appointed Coxswain. [2]
At 11:30am on January 4, 1888, a flag of distress was hoisted by the crew of the Alfred D. Snow, of San Francisco, off Broomhill Point, Co. Wexford. Such were the conditions, that Capt. Cherry refused to launch the lifeboat, and immediately resigned his duties. Second Coxswain William Jones refused to accept the responsibility, but a former Tenby fisherman, Mr G. R Woods, offered to command the lifeboat. It would be 2:30pm before the lifeboat was launched, by which time, there were no survivors found from the American vessel. Mr Woods was awarded The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. [2] [3] [4]
The Fanny Harriet (ON 617) was placed at Dunmore East in 1911. A 37-foot lifeboat costing £1.107, built by Thames Ironworks, she was funded from the bequest of Miss F H Roe of Bath, Somerset. She would only be launched on service one time, but it would be in exceptional and tragic circumstances. [1]
On Friday 20 February 1914, the Fethard lifeboat Helen Blake (ON 546) was smashed on the rocks, going to the aid of the Norwegian vessel Mexico, which was wrecked on the uninhabited Keeragh Islands. Nine lifeboatmen were washed away and drowned. The remaining 5 lifeboatmen scrambled ashore, and then still managed to rescue 8 crew from the Mexico. For three days, the lifeboatmen and crew tried to survive the harsh conditions on the island, without food or water. One of the Mexico crew died of exposure. The Wexford, Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East lifeboats made many attempts to rescue the isolated men on the island, finally succeeding on Monday 23 February. Five RNLI Silver Medals for gallantry were awarded, along with Silver medals from the King of Norway. [5] [6]
A much older boat, Michael Henry (ON 407), built in 1897, was placed on service in 1914, but it had been converted to be a motor-powered lifeboat in 1908. Launched 3 times and saving 4, it was found to be unfit for service in 1919, and withdrawn. The station would close until the provision of a new 45-foot Watson lifeboat in 1925. Provided from the legacies and estate of Mr Peter Coats and Miss Emily Smart, the new lifeboat was named C. and S. (ON 690). [2]
In 1940, the 46ft Watson-class lifeboat Annie Blanche Smith (ON 830) was placed on service. In the next 30 years on service, she would be launched 89 times, and rescue 88 lives. More remarkably, she would be involved in no less than four medal services. Coxswain Patrick Power was in command each time, and would receive the RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry in 1941, 1951, 1961 and 1964. [2] [5]
After a handful of different lifeboats on service from 1970, 1975 would see the arrival of Waveney-class lifeboat 44-014 St. Patrick (ON 1035). This boat would also see exceptional service over the next twenty years, being launched 252 times, and saving 83 lives. Coxswain Stephen Whittle would add a second Bronze medal to his previous awards of Silver and bronze medals, for the rescue of a fisherman in 1976. [2] [5]
After 25 years on station, Trent-class lifeboat 14-17 Elizabeth and Ronald (ON 1215) was transferred to the relief fleet, and Dunmore East would receive a Shannon-class lifeboat, costing over €2.4 million. 13-41 William and Agnes Wray arrived on station on 26 September 2021. [7]
Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
