Dungeness' station history

The early history of the station is complicated by the fact that there does not appear to have been any clear distinction made between Dungeness, Lydd, Littlestone and New Romney. There is no doubt however, that a lifeboat was placed at Dungeness by the Institution in 1826.

Silver Medal awarded to Lieutenant Henslow RN for saving the crew of 10 from the brig Osiris on 27 August.

Gold Medal awarded to Lieut George Snell RN, for his bravery on 24 January while attempting to rescue the crew of the brig Pioneer. Conditions during the rescue were challenging, with the lifeboat repeatedly filling with water. Most of the crew managed to get themselves to safety but, sadly, one lost their life.

Silver Medal awarded to Lieutenant W Pedder RN on 11 February, in recognition of when he saved by boat the master and nine men from the brig Lord Exmouth on 18 January.

It appears that the station lapsed between 1839 and 1854 but there is a continuous history from 1854 onwards.

Silver Medal awarded to Lieutenant Matthew Combe RN on 12 March for saving the crew from the William Harrington on 31 January.

Two Silver Medals awarded to Thomas Rivers and J Willcox on 12 June for saving the crew of the Greek Brig Melpomene on 21 March.

Coastguard boat capsizes with the loss of four of her crew of seven on 29 April when on service to the vessel Alice Maud. Their names are T Fletcher, P Light, T Noble and another whose name is unknown.

Silver Medals awarded to John Sims and Arthur Brooks for saving 39 people by means of life buoys and a hawser, from the Dutch emigrant brig Louise Emelie that came ashore in gale force winds on 27 December 1852.

Lifeboat capsizes while on service on 19 October. No lives are lost.

Silver Medal awarded to Peter Smith for saving the master and crew of the Norwegian brig Caroline, which was wrecked during a heavy gale off Lydd on 25 October.

Dungeness lifeboat moved to Littlestone, which later becomes a separate station known as New Romney.

New lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £211.

Old lifeboat sold for use by Coastguards for £20.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain Richard Billett for putting out in a boat to take off the master and his wife from the barge Ilmatar of Finland, which had stranded off Dungeness on 18 May.

Lifeboat launched to assist the Schooner Elizabeth Alice of Cardiff on 10 February but, after two attempts, is forced to return to her station. Later the Coastguard galley is launched but, after reaching the vessel, she is filled with water. One man, George Hamblin, who had also been out in the Institution’s lifeboat, is tragically washed out and drowned.

The Committee of Management votes £100 to his widow.

Lifeboat, when out on service to the Brig Aeolus in a severe gale on 11 November, capsized and two of the crew, Henry Reeves and Daniel Nicholls, were drowned,  Committee of Management voted £600 to the local fund for dependants.  Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Lucas on the occasion of the accident.

Second lifeboat stationed at Dungeness (number 2 station).

Lifeboat launched to assist the barque Joanne Marie of Christiania on 20 November, but is struck by heavy seas and capsizes. Second Coxswain John Jarratt tragically drowns. The Committee of Management votes £50 to his parents.

The lifeboat is beached and the crew volunteer to go out again, but the Dover lifeboat comes up and rescues the crew of seven of the barque.

George Campbell dies as a result of exposure while manning the lifeboat on 19 December.

On 4 November, one crew member is washed out of the lifeboat while on service, but thankfully rescued.

On 19 March, when the lifeboat is launched on service she is thrown broadside to the beach, and eight of her crew are thrown into the water. All the men regain the lifeboat, which then proceeds to the assistance of a stranded vessel.

Centenary Vellum awarded to station.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Douglas Oiller in recognition of the way in which the lifeboat was launched in the face of a terrific gale, and the dogged courage with which he held the seas until he found the barge Marie May.

The service took place on 11 November and was reported to be very difficult and dangerous, considering that both of the lifeboats that went out were pulling and sailing boats.

Original No 1 station closes when the former No 2 station becomes No 1.

In July the lifeboat is launched to an American ship and lands injured men from her. She makes two trips and her launchers, many of them women, wait on the exposed beach for four hours, during which time an intense barrage of flying bombs are going over.

On 31 August, and again on 2 September, the lifeboat goes out to the Phoenix, one of the concrete caissons out of which the invasion harbour is built in Normandy. On 31 August, the caisson is at anchor waiting on the weather. Her food and water are gone and the lifeboat takes out fresh supplies and a relief crew. Two days later, the Phoenix’s anchors begin to drag. A 60mph wind is blowing and the lifeboat goes out again and rescues the crew of four.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain George Tart for the rescue of the crew of nine of the motor vessel Teeswood on 29 July. When the lifeboat arrived at the scene, the vessel had capsized and the men were rescued from the water. The height of the waves, together with flying spray and rain, made it extremely difficult to locate the survivors, none of whom were capable of helping themselves. The wind was of hurricane force with gusts of up to 80 knots.

Dungeness is the last station where women help to launch the lifeboat. Two launchers, Miss Madge Tart and her sister-in-law, Mrs Ellen Tart, from a family whose members have helped to man and launch the Dungeness lifeboat for more than a century, are each awarded the Institution's Gold Badge in 1953.

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum is accorded to Coxswain George Tart, in recognition of his determination, good judgement and excellent seamanship, when the lifeboat rescued the crew of five of the catamaran Nimble Eve in a south-west-by-westerly gale and a heavy sea on 7 August.

Silver Medal 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 was 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 are accorded to the other five members of the lifeboat crew and to the launchers and the shore helpers. For this service, Coxswain Tart receives the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of lifesaving in 1974.

 Anniversary Vellum awarded to station to commemorate its 150th anniversary.

New lifeboat house constructed for approximately £45,000.

The lifeboat Mable E Holland kept at station following arrival of new lifeboat Alice Upjohn, until the winch can be moved to the new lifeboat house.

Lifeboat Mabel E Holland withdrawn from station 27 January.

The country’s last two female lifeboat launchers, Mrs Doris Tart and Mrs Joan Bates of Dungeness, are awarded the Institution’s Gold Badge for their outstanding services. Mrs Tart had been a shore helper for 44 years and Mrs Bates for 37 years. Mrs Tart’s mother and her aunt are awarded Gold Badges in 1953 in recognition of 50 years of service as shore helpers.

A collective Framed Letter of Appreciation signed by the Chair on the Institution is awarded to Coxswain William Richardson and crew members, head launcher Mr Frederick Voller and shore helpers, in recognition of their tireless efforts on 4 October to launch the lifeboat to the yacht Emma. Difficulty was experienced when a heavy swell swept under the lifeboat and jammed it in the carriage. Although the lifeboat was freed and recovered by the tractor, the carriage was still in the water and submerged by a rising tide. The crew and shore helpers entered the water and, despite being buffeted by rough seas, managed to secure the carriage. Once pulled clear by the tractor, the lifeboat was prepared for another launch, which went ahead without incident.

Framed Letters of Appreciation signed by the Chair of the Institution awarded to Coxswain William Richardson and Tractor Driver Kenneth Coleman for a service carried out on 14 April, which involved all lifeboats between Dover and Newhaven. The letter to Coxswain Richardson recognises his skill in initially launching the lifeboat at 12.45am in very arduous conditions, followed by a 12-hour search in which the Dungeness lifeboat rescued three people. Kenneth Coleman, driving the tractor, displayed great skill during the initial launch with his quick reactions, which was the main reason no injuries were sustained by the crew and no damage was caused to the lifeboat during this difficult launch from the beach.

Silver Medal awarded to Crew Member Gary Clark in recognition of his courage, determination and endurance when he boarded a yacht in south-westerly force 10 winds and 9m seas during the early morning of 3 January.  He established, and re-established, numerous tows in storm force conditions, took charge of the yacht, rendered first aid and thereby saved the lives of the seven crew on the yacht, as well as the vessel itself.

Deputy Second Coxswain Mark Richardson and Mechanic/Deputy Second Coxswain Trevor Bunney are both accorded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for their seamanship, professionalism and significant contribution to the service.

Dungeness RNLI becomes the first lifeboat station to receive a Shannon class lifeboat. Now found at many stations across the UK and Ireland, the Shannon is the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet. She is powered by waterjets instead of traditional propellers and has a top speed of 25 knots.

Dungeness Lifeboat Station's Shannon is called The Morrell. She is named on 31 May by HRH The Princess Royal. The Morrell is named after the family of Barbara Morrell, who asked that her legacy of more than £6m to the RNLI would be used to fund a lifeboat in Kent.