RNLI, Any First Hand Accounts?

[Dave Fleming]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid65/pa447b41975781a29d7f3f53ccb3fe7d7/fbf95d15.jpg

[Hugh Paterson]

First hand accounts of rescue or the instituton itself?
Shuggie

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Yes, could you expand on the question a little?

A fairly unique organisation, much revered by we British, who are inclined to think that a Lifeboat service manned almost entirely by volunteers and supported entirely by voluntary donations is unique, overlooking the fact that the Dutch KNSB was modelled on the RNLI over a century ago and is very similar indeed.

The RNLI is the only organisation I know which really does operate "regardless of expense", insisting on the best of everything, with everything maintained in perfect order, all the time. The Royal Navy would like to do so, but they cannot quite afford it!

The RNLI is desperately worried that, as the wartime generation die off*, legacies to it will dry to a trickle and that collecting box donations will dry up when people get tired of paying for a free callout service for
rich yachtsmen, rather than for heroic rescues of deserving fishermen and seamen.

*Servicemen were encouraged to make wills, and very often they were prompted, espescially in the case of seamen, to name the RNLI as the beneficiary, if they were unmarried. I've seen a few such.

[Dave Fleming]

First hand accounts of rescue or the instituton itself? Shug and ACB, I am interested in accounts of rescues but would like other first hand info of how that volunteer system works.

At this point I must say I am very impressed with what little I have been able to find on both accounts.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid65/p43da222e8f6900e17874d6f990985a0e/fbf6a863.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid65/pc78340b8023cdf90a77e97da12a28e58/fbf6a24d.jpg

[ 06-09-2003, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: Dave Fleming ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

They are not shy in putting themselves forward, since they need our dosh, I suppose you have found their website but, if not, it's here....

http://www.rnli.org.uk/Home.asp

One oddity is that, despite Ireland having parted company from the rest of the UK eighty years ago, this has never bothered the Lifeboat service, so you can be rescued by a "Royal National" lifeboat crewed by Irishmen, paid for by Irishmen and women, in the Irish Republic, and it is in all respects the same as in Scotland Wales or England apart from the crew's accents and the flag at the back (come to think of it, have I ever seen a Lifeboat flying an ensign - don't think I have!)

The latest developments involve putting Atlantic 21 RIBs on inland waterways and lakes, and flying teams with Atlantic 21's out to flood disasters world wide - where apparently they are very effective and popular.

(This is at least in part because people kept donating Atlantic 21's and they have too many of them!)

If the USA ran it's lifeboats the same way it would free up the USCG for other stuff. You have the same sort of volunteer and charity culture that we do.

[Hugh Paterson]

The RNLI operate a number of offshore and inshore Lifeboat stations/vessels around the UK coastline, and now further inland on the River Thames around London. Fundraising to keep the service viable takes place at a local and national level.
Depending on each stations tasking, geographical area of opertation and enviroment, some stations operate boats sutable for shallow water launching and operations, while for instance on the West coast of Scotland heavier boats with more endurance are required, but no two stations are alike. Although a volunteer organisation, each local crew has a fundraising/mangagment team behind them to help keep the station operational,
without whom the RNLI would struggle to exist. Many of the crew members on the boats are 2nd or 3rd generation members from the same family, lots of them are ex-seafarers from a variety of backgrounds, many more crew members are "interested" local individuals and include doctors nurses truckdrivers and everything in-between. In light of some of the situations these people go out in when someones in trouble, mere words from my humble lips could not do their actions justice. I occasionally help to fundraise for the RNLI, and I never fail to visit any local stations around the United Kingdom, if its open on my travels. Some of my friends crew on these boats, I hope they will not be to embarassed if I describe them all as bloody hero's. If the least I can do is throw some of my spare cash in their direction now and again to keep the operation viable I shall.
Shug.

[imported_Steven Bauer]

There was a good article in Maritime Life and Traditions a coupla years ago.

Steven

[John R Smith]

Dave

down here in Cornwall we have the greatest respect and affection for our lifeboat crews. The following terrible events took place 22 years ago, but are still fresh in our minds. I have found this account for you -

Shipwreck of the M.V. Union Star
and the loss of the
Penlee Lifeboat Solomon Browne

"Cornish people have traditionally relied on the sea to provide for their families. Fishing, though under threat, still plays a major role in the local economy. A visit to the Newlyn Fish market will reveal catches brought home from as far as the Bay of Biscay and beyond.

Due to this maritime relationship, the local people voluntarily man the Royal National Life Boat Institution's lifeboats. The crews, made up of local people, will go to the aid of fellow mariners in distress. Often in conditions of extreme personal danger.

On 19th December, 1981 the crew of the RNLI Penlee lifeboat - Solomon Browne - were called to give assistance to the 1,400 ton coaster Union Star.

The M.V. Union Star, a new vessel registered in Dublin was on her maiden voyage from Ijmuiden to Arklow. The weather conditions were amongst the worst ever seen, with winds from the south east at hurricane force 12 and gusting to 90 knots; the seas off the coast of South West Cornwall were topping heights of around 60ft.

The M.V. Union Star had reported engine failure when eight miles east of Wolf Rock Lighthouse. She was drifting towards the cliffs between the Tater-Du Lighthouse and Boscowan point.

The conditions were so poor that in spite of many attempts a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter, piloted by Lt-Cdr Russell L. Smith USN, operating at under the 300ft level of the nearby cliffs and in winds exceeding 100mph, was unable to lift off any of the coaster's crew. In a letter, read during the inquest held at Penzance following the tragedy, the Navy pilot wrote -

"Throughout the entire rescue the Penlee crew never appeared to hesitate. After each time they were washed, blown or pumped away from the casualty [the Union Star] the Penlee crew immediately commenced another run-in. Their spirit and dedication was amazing. They were truly the greatest eight men I have ever seen."

As the mountainous seas drove the Union Star towards the cliffs the crew of the Solomon Browne, led by Coxswain William Trevelyan Richards, repeatedly took the lifeboat alongside the coaster attempting to rescue the eight people on board. On at least two occasions the lifeboat was lifted onto the deck of the Union Star and then slid back into the sea - stern first.

The Solomon Browne was observed to have slammed against the coaster's side but was seen moving away, apparently still under control. The last message from the lifeboat confirmed that four people had been rescued. Before returning to their base the helicopter crew saw Solomon Browne, then only about 50 yards off the steep to rocky shore, turn, possibly to make another approach. There was no further radio contact with the lifeboat, but her lights were seen to disappear some ten minutes later, at about the same time that the Union Star was overwhelmed and laid on her side to the west of Tater-Du Lighthouse.

As news of the tragedy was unfolding, the Vincent Nesfield Lifeboat which was temporarily on station at Sennen Cove, was launched in the very early hours of December the 20th. The Oakley class lifeboat was under the command of Coxwain/Mechanic Maurice Hutchens but, heading into the full force of the storm and with wind against tide increasing the ferocity of the seas, she was unable to round Lands End.

The Vincent Nesfield launched again and joined the St Mary's, Isles of Scilly lifeboat along with the Lizard-Cadgwith lifeboat The Duke of Cornwall, helicopters, HM Coastguard coastal rescue teams and fishing vessels in the search for those missing.

Despite many hours searching throughout the night and following day, eight lifeboat crew and the crew on board the Union Star were lost. Some of the bodies have never been recovered.

Fred Wallis, Father of Gary Lee Wallis told the author of this site; 'The night the lifeboat was launched many of the crew and my son were in the British Legion club playing darts and snooker when the maroons went off, ( the maroons were a rocket fired in the air and gave a loud bang) all the volunteers would run to the Lifeboat station and be selected by Charlie Richards aka "Whackers", the skipper. On the night of the disaster Whackers chose only one member from each family, there was always plenty of volunteers, however on this night the weather was so bad he was very worried. My son Gary asked me to watch his beer as he would be back for it, Im still watching it, he never returned.'

Awards for gallantry have been made to the coxswain and crew of the Solomon Browne for the rescue of four people from the Union Star despite the tragic end to their efforts.
The Gold medal for outstanding gallantry was warded to Coxswain William Trevelyan Richards.
The Bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to each member of the lifeboat's crew:

Second Coxswain/Mechanic James Stephen Madron
Assistant Mechanic Nigel Brockman
Emergency Mechanic John Robert Blewett
Crew Member Charles Thomas Greenhaugh
Crew member Kevin Smith
Crew member Barrie Robertson Torrie
Crew member Gary Lee Wallis

A gold medal service plaque was awarded to the station."

Each Christmas the people of Cornwall remember the crew of the Solomon Browne in a special service at Mousehole.

John

[TomRobb]

At times it feels discouraging to hear all of the arsons, murders, rapes, car bombings, and corporate thievery - the vile behavior we seem to never quit perpetrating on one another.
It's good to be reminded now and again that the opposite is true too.
God's speed and thank you to the RNLI and all the others who risk their lives to help others.

[ 06-11-2003, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: TomRobb ]

[Dave Fleming]

Shipwreck of the M.V. Union Star
and the loss of the
Penlee Lifeboat Solomon BrowneRecalling my own experience on the Big Blue in a huricane and later USCG Lifeboat duty all I can say John and it might sound trite but.....GULP from the lump in me throat.

[John R Smith]

Dave

I think anyone who has lived near the sea in bad weather would appreciate the understatement of the account. Until you've seen it, you can't imagine how bad it can get out there - and when you have seen it, you can't believe the courage required to put to sea on a rescue mission.

What the account doesn't mention is that the Captain of the Union Star had on board his wife and two teenage daughters. It also doesn't tell you that the wives and families of the Solomon Browne were anxiously waiting on the quay at Newlyn when they saw a lifeboat coming into harbour through the murk and darkness, only to have their hopes dashed when they realised it was the Lizard lifeboat which was putting into Newlyn after searching for survivors.

And perhaps it doesn't make enough of the fact that the crew were not paid professionals, but just ordinary Joes like you and me - fishermen and mechanics, shopkeepers and builders. None of them had to go.

John

[merc412]

They have to go out, nothing is said about comming back.

[Henning 4148]

From the RNLI site:

"Atlantic College was one of the nine inshore rescue boat stations established experimentally by the RNLI in 1963. The lifeboat crew is made up of college staff and students of many nationalities attending the college. Experimental work on the development of fast rescue boats for the RNLI has been carried out over the years at Atlantic College under the supervision of Rear Admiral Desmond Hoare, the Headmaster. He was the pioneer of the present Atlantic 21 class lifeboat which was named after the college. It was not until 1973 that the RNLI sent to Atlantic College their first official lifeboat, an Atlantic 21. Prior to that the college had operated it's own boats, with expenses paid by the RNLI. The first ever female crewmember was enrolled at Atlantic College in 1969."

It must be quite tough for students around 17 years old to deal with casualties.