A lifeboat station on strike
It is not very well known that in 1906 the crew of Walmer lifeboat went on strike following what was considered to be their difference of opinion with the Central …
A restoration project – the Francis Forbes Barton lifeboat
At a meeting of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Committee of Management on May 9, 1912, the decision was made to close Broastairs lifeboat station, with the actual closure taking …
A busy weekend for the lifeboats – November 1916
Over the weekend of November 19th to the 21st, 1916, two large steamships went ashore on the Goodwin Sands. Volunteers went to Kingsdown to launch the lifeboat situated there, which …
Loss of the SS Piave
One of the most outstanding incidents and rescues attended to by the North Deal lifeboat occurred a century ago in January 1919, with the rescue of the crew of the …
Coxswain James Laming – ‘a man as straight as a line’
The Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury newspaper reported on the death of former Kingsdown lifeboat Coxswain, James Laming, who had been born and lived in Kingsdown all of his life. …
Walmer lifeboat coxswain, John Mackins
The death of former Walmer lifeboat Coxswain, John Mackins, was broadcast with an obituary in the Shipping Gazette and Lloyd’s List printed on Monday January 12, 1907. The obituary stated …
Henry Marsh – a Hero of the Goodwin Sands
On Saturday January 12, 1907, the East Kent Mercury newspaper printed a lengthy article following the death of Henry T. Marsh. The article described him as an aged boatman, who …
Lifeboats of The Downs on the big screen
Having found an old black and white photograph several years ago I didn’t get very far with my research to try and discover that was occurring and taking place in …