200th Anniversary Series - Dungeness launch in hurricane force winds in 1974

This month we remember a courageous rescue in atrocious conditions from a February tasking in the early 1970s.

The volunteer crew of the Dungeness RNLI lifeboat Mabel E Holland launched to the motor vessel Merc Texco on 11 February 1974.The rescue led to the Maud Smith Bequest Award for the bravest act of lifesaving by a member of a lifeboat crew in 1974 being awarded to Coxswain Tom Richard 'Ben' Tart of Dungeness.

Setting the scene, the wind was south south west hurricane force. The sky was overcast and visibility poor. It was 2 hours after high water. The seas breaking on the beach were very large and the shore crew launching the lifeboat had to be roped together when placing the skids to prevent their being washed away. On reaching the water's edge the lifeboat was between waves and stuck in the shingle. The next enormous wave broached her; however, as the sea ran back it swept the stern seawards.

Half an hour after launching, the lifeboat signalled Merc Texco to follow her closer inshore as the seas were enormous. It seemed that she was not able to comply, and so Peter Thomas, the first aider, volunteered to try to board. The wind was now in excess of 70 knots and the seas 50 to 60 feet high. The tide was setting north east at 1.5 knots.

Coxswain Tart ran the lifeboat alongside the lee of Merc Texco and Peter Thomas managed to scramble aboard. It was very dangerous for the lifeboat which had already suffered some damage to stanchions and bulwarks. The stretcher was passed and Coxswain Tart decided to lie off until the patient was ready to be lowered. After instructing the captain to ensure that his ship's head remained south east, Coxswain Tart again managed to place the lifeboat alongside. All members of the crew then helped to receive the injured man on board. The patient was strapped down in the cabin and held by three members of the crew as the lifeboat was taking a severe buffeting in the appalling weather conditions.

At about 7.30pm the lifeboat was beached at Dungeness and the patient handed over to the doctor

A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Tom Tart and Bronze Medal to Assistant Mechanic Peter Thomas for the landing of an injured man from the motor vessel Merc Texco on 11 February 1974.

The lifeboat had been launched into very dangerous surf conditions and was manoeuvred alongside the vessel on two occasions before the injured man, with the help of the assistant mechanic who boarded the vessel, could be taken off.

Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum were accorded to the other five members of the lifeboat crew and to the launchers and the shore helpers. For this service Coxswain Tart received the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of lifesaving in 1974.

52 years later, Peter Thomas remains a volunteer at Dungeness as the Lifeboat Management Group Chair, an important role at any station, representing the station at events in the community and at station.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.