Walmer Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Walmer Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Walmerlifeboatstation.saa.jpeg
1871 Walmer Lifeboat Station
Kent UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Walmer, Kent
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationWalmer lifeboat station, The Strand, UK
AddressThe Strand
Town or city Walmer, Kent, CT14 7DY
Country UK
Coordinates 51°12′48.71″N1°24′10.66″E / 51.2135306°N 1.4029611°E / 51.2135306; 1.4029611
Opened1856
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Walmer RNLI Lifeboat Station

Walmer Lifeboat Station is located on The Strand on Walmer promenade, in the county of Kent.

Contents

Following an appeal, a station was established here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1856. [1]

The station currently operates two Inshore lifeboats, the B-class (Atlantic 85) Donald McLauchlan (B-808) since 2006, and the D-class (IB1) Duggie Rodbard II (D-794) since 2016. [1]

History

Over two thousand ships are believed to have been wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, and the masts of several wrecks are visible from the shore at low tide. For many years, there were three lifeboats located along a 3 miles stretch of coast opposite the sands, North Deal, Kingsdown and Walmer. [1]

1800–1939

In 1830, RNLI Gold and Silver Medals were awarded, for the rescue of 13 crew from the ship Mountaineer, and three Deal boatmen, on 24 November 1829. [2] [3] [4]

In 1856, the RNLI issued an appeal to place a lifeboat at Walmer, highlighting the dangers of the Goodwin Sands to international trade through the Port of London. One member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club offered to pay half the cost of a lifeboat, if the remaining club members raised the remainder. A site for a boathouse was provided by landowner Mr Frederick Leath, and a wooden boathouse was constructed, costing £186-11s-0d. A 29-foot 6in self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat (one with oars and sails), costing £160-2s-6d, was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, and arrived along with a launching carriage in Walmer in November 1856. The boat was named Royal Thames Yacht Club. [5]

In 1871, a new brick-built boathouse was constructed, replacing the 1856 wooden boathouse, which was dismantled, and reconstructed at North Deal. [5]

Crew member E Young drowned in 1896 when he was trying to board the Steamship Trapian from the lifeboat. The Walmer station was closed in 1912, but was reopened in 1927, when it was deemed the most suitable of the three local stations to operate the intended motor-powered lifeboat. Lifeboat Barbara Fleming (ON 480) was transferred from Kingsdown when that station was closed, and kept on a launching cradle at the head of the beach. Soon afterwards, from 1933, the station had its first motor lifeboat. [6]

In 1933, motor lifeboat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.2) (ON 762) was placed on service. She would take part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. In 1944, Coxswain Joseph Mercer was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for the rescue of 13 men from an anti-submarine boat stranded on the Goodwin Sands. In 26 years service to Walmer, Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.2) (ON 762) would be launched 412 times, and save 241 lives. [4] [5] [7]

Postwar to present

The Hampshire Rose (ON 1024) RNLB The Hampshire Rose and Walmer Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 4408914.jpg
The Hampshire Rose (ON 1024)

The last All-weather lifeboat at Walmer was the RNLB Hampshire Rose (ON 1024). Launching 132 times in 15 years, she would save 57 lives. In 1964, a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat had been placed at Walmer. When the Hampshire Rose was retired from service on 5 May 1990, she was replaced with the addition of a B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat, and Walmer was permanently established as an Inshore lifeboat station. The boathouse was extended in 1992, to accommodate the Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage. A new Atlantic 21, RNLB James Burgess (B-589), was also placed on service in 1992, in the same year as a visit by the Queen Mother as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and on 22 January 1997 a new D-class (EA16) lifeboat, RNLB Lord Kitchener (D-514), was placed on service. [1]

Most recently, Atlantic 85-class lifeboat, RNLB Donald Mclauchlan (B-808) was placed on station in December 2006, with a new D-class (IB1), RNLB Duggie Rodbard II (D-794) arriving in 2016. [1]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Walmer [6] [4]

Walmer lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op.No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [9] ClassComments
Pre-300Royal Thames Yacht Club1856–186129-foot 6in Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Pre-381Royal Thames Yacht Club1861–187137-foot Self-righting (P&S)
Pre-561Centurion1871–188436-foot Self-righting (P&S)
34 Civil Service No.4 1884–189540-foot 1in Self-righting (P&S)
394 Civil Service No.4 1897–191240-foot Self-righting (P&S)
Station Closed 1912–1927
480Barbara Fleming1927–193340-foot Self-righting (P&S)Transferred from Kingsdown when that station closed
762 Charles Dibdin
(Civil Service No.2)
1933–1959 41ft Watson First motor lifeboat at station
948 Charles Dibdin
(Civil Service No.32)
1959–1975 42ft Watson
102437-32The Hampshire Rose1975–1990 Rother
All-Weather Lifeboat withdrawn 1990, replaced with B-class (Atlantic 21)
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats

D-class

Op.No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [1] ClassComments
D-14Unnamed1964 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-26Unnamed1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-24Unnamed1966 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-135Unnamed1967–1970 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-200Unnamed1971–1976 D-class (Avon S650)
D-254Unnamed1977–1988 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-363Unnamed1988–1997 D-class (EA16)
D-514Lord Kitchener1997–2006 D-class (EA16) [10]
D-663Duggie Rodbard2006–2016 D-class (IB1)
D-794Duggie Rodbard II2016– D-class (IB1) [11]

B-class

Op.No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [1] ClassComments
B-512US Navy League1990–1992 Atlantic 21
B-589James Burgess1992–2006 Atlantic 21
B-808Donald McLauchlan2006– Atlantic 85

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] Reg. No.TypeIn service [1] Comments
T8WEL 302STalus MBC Case 1150B1988–1996
T87WEL 300STalus MBC Case 1150B1996–2019
T119N470 XAW Talus MB-H Crawler 2019–
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. 29-foot 6in (10-oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padstow Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat Station is based at Trevose Head west of Padstow

Padstow Lifeboat Station has been at Trevose Head west of Padstow, Cornwall, since 1967. Before that it was at Hawker's Cove on the Camel estuary between the town and the sea. The lifeboat station is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and since 2006 has been the base for Tamar-class RNLB Spirit of Padstow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Norfolk, UK

Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Beach Road, about 1 mi (1.6 km) north of the town of Wells-next-the-Sea, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southend-on-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England

The Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station is a lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea in the English county of Essex, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) since 1879.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salcombe Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of Devon in the UK

Salcombe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Salcombe, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. The Salcombe Lifeboat has twice capsized, in 1916 with the loss of 13 lives, and in 1983 with no loss of life. Since 2008 the station has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llandudno Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

Llandudno Lifeboat Station is located in the seaside resort of Llandudno, in North Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station in Suffolk

Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Aldeburgh in the English county of Suffolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwold Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Southwold Lifeboat Station, England

Southwold Lifeboat Station is an RNLI operated lifeboat station located in the town of Southwold in the English county of Suffolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardigan Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

Cardigan Lifeboat Station, at Poppit Sands, North Pembrokeshire, near Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales, is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station opened in 1849. The station closed in 1932 but reopened in 1971 as an inshore lifeboat station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayling Island Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Hampshire, England

Hayling Island Lifeboat Station is located on the eastern side of Hayling Island, Hampshire, opposite the village of West Wittering, at the entrance to Chichester Harbour, where it joins the major shipping route of the Solent. This major shipping route is busy at all times of the year and there are estimated to be 10,000 boats in the Chichester area alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bembridge Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Isle of Wight, England

Bembridge Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The station is located on the eastern approaches to The Solent, south of the area known as Spithead. The station is on one of the busiest shipping lanes in United Kingdom waters. The main boathouse stands away from the shore on a piled platform with slipway, and is linked to the shore by a pier gangway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in West Sussex, England

Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in the English county of West Sussex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Davids Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

St Davids Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station. It was opened in 1869 and to date has been involved in saving over 360 lives at sea in more than 420 launches. The station operates both an all-weather (ALB) and an inshore (ILB) lifeboat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal resort of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, West Wales. It was established in 1861, but there has been a lifeboat serving the town since 1843.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdovey Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI inshore lifeboat station in the village of Aberdyfi in Gwynedd, Wales

Aberdovey Lifeboat Station is an RNLI lifeboat station in the coastal village of Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, West Wales, on the Dyfi estuary in Cardigan Bay. It was established in 1853, but there has been a lifeboat serving the village since 1837.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Brighton Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Merseyside, England

New Brighton Lifeboat Station is located on Kings Parade in the town of New Brighton on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside. A lifeboat was first stationed at Magazines village by the Liverpool Dock Trustees in 1827. The station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1863.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Lancashire, England

Fleetwood Lifeboat Station is located on The Esplanade at the port of Fleetwood, a Lancashire town at the north end of The Fylde, situated at the mouth of the River Wyre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Essex, England

Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station is located on Hastings Avenue, in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea, on the Tendring peninsular, in the county of Essex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaumaris Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

Beaumaris Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Beaumaris, on the Isle of Anglesey, in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsdown Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Kent, England

Kingsdown Lifeboat Station was located on the shore off Wellington Parade, Kingsdown, a village situated at the north end of the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Deal Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Kent, England

North Deal Lifeboat Station was located on Beach Street, in the town of Deal, in the county of Kent.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. "From Lloyd's List – Nov. 27". Caledonian Mercury. No. 16892. 30 November 1829.
  3. "Effects of the Late Gales". The Morning Post. No. 18396. 27 November 1829.
  4. 1 2 3 Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0-907605-89-3.
  5. 1 2 3 Morris, Jeff (August 1999). The History of the North Deal, Walmer and Kingsdowne Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–46.
  6. 1 2 "Walmer's Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  7. "Charles Dibdin". Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  8. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  9. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021 (2021 ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  10. "Lord Kitchener Named at Walmer". RNLI. Spring 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  11. "New Walmer RNLI lifeboat named in honour of much-loved Sussex man". RNLI. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Walmer Lifeboat Station at Wikimedia Commons