HARTLEPOOL-LIFEBOAT.org.uk
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HARTLEPOOL-LIFEBOAT.org.uk |
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Updated 09/07/08 |
Hartlepool Lifeboat Station History Established 1803 The origins of Hartlepool Lifeboats do not lie in Hartlepool but in fact Castle Eden. A Lifeboat was provided at Hartlepool from local subscriptions in 1803. Early history of the station is not clear but there have been five different stations at different times. Two were at West Hartlepool and were taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1869, and three were at Hartlepool which were taken over by the Institution in 1875. There is now only one lifeboat station in Hartlepool. Hartlepool Lifeboats Listing Hartlepool Coxswains Listing RNLI Gallantry Awards TIMELINE 1802 A meeting was held on the 5th August 1802 at the Castle Eden Inn, The decision made that night was to build a lifeboat to serve the port of Hartlepool. Local builder Geo. Hunter was commissioned to build the boat and local fishermen agreed to man the oars. 1803 February 1803 the boat was completed and available for service. 1827 Silver Medal awarded to George Grey for a shore boat case on 11th October 1824. Mr Grey plunged into the sea and saved four seamen and the Master from the vessel Economy that had been driven ashore at Heselden, he made five journeys to the wreck, boarding her and saving one man on each occasion. 1841 The original Hartlepool lifeboat was replaced by another purpose built vessel and based on the North Sands. The replacement boat was built by Hartlepool boat builder, John Cambridge for the Tees Bay Lifeboat Association and was powered by twenty oarsmen. At this time three other lifeboats were also serving the Hartlepool Bay, two from West Harbour (Middleton) and one from Seaton Carew. 1857 Silver Medal awarded to Henry Houghton a joiner of West Hartlepool in acknowledgement of his services in wading at the risk of his life, into the surf to rescue seven out of eight of the crew of the brig Era of Rochester, which was wrecked during a strong north-easterly gale off Hartlepool on 14th January 1857. 1861 Lifeboats from all of the Hartlepool and Seaton Carew Stations were involved when one of the worst storms to hit the North East coast took place on the 9th February 1861. 70 ships came to grief, between all of the Hartlepool and Seaton Carew lifeboats 40 lives were saved and a further 91 other vessels escorted into port. 1869 Silver Medal awarded to Mr Thomas Dawson of Hartlepool and a monetary award to the crews of his three steam tugs for putting out and assisting safely to harbour 51 fishing boats and their crews, 104 men in all, that had been caught in a heavy gale from the north-east which suddenly sprang up, and where in danger of being wrecked on the 16th June 1869. West Hartlepool boats transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by the North Eastern Railway Co. 1875 Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners requested that the Institution take over the three lifeboats belonging to the Port. Two lifeboats were kept in a house and the third on the shore at North Sands. Two lifeboat houses were constructed at a cost of £340 each. 1887 Cyclists from throughout the UK led by Mr Sturmey Archer and a group from Coventry raised £650 to purchase a new lifeboat which was named the Cyclist.
Hartlepool Lifeboat 1887-1903 "Cyclist" 1890 Silver Medal awarded to Mr Thomas Pounder, Pilot and his assistant James Metcalf for rescuing at great risk, two people from a boat that capsized near the Longscar Rocks off Hartlepool in a strong north-north-east breeze with a rough sea on the 26th May 1890. 1894 West Hartlepool number one Lifeboat is withdrawn. 1897 Arrangements made for a tug to be supplied free of charge day or night by North Eastern Railway Co. 1901 British Electric Co. altered the Lifeboat house and slipway at their own cost to enable them to extend their light railway. 1902 A monetary award was made by the German Emperor to the crew for services to galliot Catherine on 14th November 1901. 1903 Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain J W Rowntree for rescuing four lives from the ketch Young John of Montrose that had lost her mainsail in a northerly gale and was seen in Hartlepool Bay at 2030hrs, unmanageable and drifting onto the Longscar Rocks on the 6th July 1903. The lifeboat rowed across the bay and after a great deal of difficulty manoeuvred alongside. A child, the Masters son, was at once thrown from the Ketch and was caught by one of the crew, after which three crew jumped into the lifeboat. On the lifeboats return she was frequently lost to sight in the heavy waves. The rescue was witnessed by thousands of people from Hartlepool cliffs. Pulling and Sailing lifeboat Horatio Brand replaced The Cyclist named after the Major who paid for its construction served upto the First World War. 1906 West Hartlepool Station closed because of encroachment of the sea and the fact that there were three other efficient lifeboats in the bay. Lifeboat house handed over to the London & North Eastern Railway Co. 1907 Silver Medal to Coxswain Shepherd Sotheran and John Franklin, Coxswain Superintendent, Seaton Carew Lifeboat, for the joint rescue of 39 people from the SS Clavering that stranded near the North Gare breakwater in a fierce northerly gale at 0600hrs on the 31st January 1907. The Seaton Carew lifeboat launched and managed to rescue 15 crew but further attempts to reach the wreck were unsuccessful. The Hartlepool lifeboat was brought by road arriving at Seaton Carew at 1730hrs and, after waiting for the tide to ebb, both lifeboats made another attempt to reach the casualty but had to abandon the attempt at 0200hrs. In daylight with the weather moderating slightly, their joint efforts in bitter wind and frost, were successful and they rescued a further 24 survivors, completing the service at 1300hrs on the 1st February. 1914 Lifeboat house severely damaged on the 16th December when the German ships Blucher, Seydlitz and Moltke bombarded the two towns. 1915 Number one lifeboat station closed. 1918 Lifeboat launched to submarine G12 that grounded, her crew had already been taken off by tug. In endeavouring to save the vessel three members of the lifeboat crew were put aboard, one of whom was washed overboard but was fortunately recovered. 1924 Number two station closed on arrival of motor lifeboat Elizabeth Newton at number three station, which then became the only station in Hartlepool. The Elizabeth Newton was a 45' Watson class lifeboat and was built at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Hartlepool Lifeboat 1924-39 "Elizabeth Newton" & Crew 1927 Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Mr H W Jefferson, the station mechanic for saving the lifeboat from fire that started in the engine room whilst the lifeboat was in the boathouse on the 21st October. The winchman released the lifeboat and Mr Jefferson took the boat down the slip and into the harbour. 1929 A Centenary Vellum presented. 1930 Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Robert Hood in an appreciation of the skill and courage shown in the rescue of the crew of nine of the Danish schooner Doris that was being driven toward Longscar Rocks dragging her anchors in a strong north-north-easterly gale and very heavy sea on the 26th September 1930. After five very difficult runs the schooners nine man crew jumped into the lifeboat shortly before the Doris became a total wreck. 1932 Mr Alfred Belk, who had been Honorary Secretary for 51 years, retired on account of ill health. 1939 The Elizabeth Newton was replaced by The Princess Royal another Watson class lifeboat but of the very latest design incorporating a watertight engine compartment.
Hartlepool Lifeboat 1939-68 "The Princess Royal" 1941 HRH the Princess Royal visited Hartlepool and named the lifeboat The Princess Royal on the 21st July 1941. 1942 Gold Medal awarded to Coxswain Lieutenant W H Bennison, the Silver Medal to Motor Mechanic H W Jefferson and the Bronze Medal to crew members Thomas Gilchrist, Robert Horsley, Edward Wallace, Richard Coulson, William Horsley and Herbert Pearson for the rescue of five people from the SS Hawkwood that went ashore in an easterly gale with fierce snow squalls half a mile north of the Tees North Gare breakwater on the 26th January 1942.
1942 Crew of the "Princess Royal" The lifeboat launched at 0735 and on arrival found the wreck in two parts and in water too shallow to approach, so returned to the station. After waiting for the tide the lifeboat launched again and with heavy seas breaking over her took off five men from the fore of the wreck and landed them safely ashore. The Master of the SS Hawkwood said in a letter of thanks, “We would like you to know that we will always remember the fearless and persistent determination displayed by the crew of the lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Bennison who showed such indomitable courage, initiative and superb seamanship”. 1952 Mr J S Wood retired after acting as Honorary Secretary for 20 years. 1953 150th Anniversary of Lifeboat Stations in Hartlepool.
150th Anniversary Vellum 1959 The Head Launcher Mr Thomas Kennedy died on the 11th January following an operation as a result of an accident whilst re-housing the lifeboat after an exercise on the 5th December 1958. Pensions were granted to his dependants. 1968 A D class lifeboat sent to station in May, All Weather lifeboat "Princess Royal"withdrawn 20th June 1968. 1970 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Douglas Gibbin for his prolonged and strenuous efforts to save the D class lifeboat damaged during a service to the fishing cobble Our Tracey in a fresh west-south-westerly wind and a choppy sea, on the 4th October. An Atlantic 21 lifeboat sent to station in October 1970 for evaluation trials. 1972 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn in April and replaced permanently by an Atlantic 21 lifeboat. 1973 Bronze Medal awarded to lifeboat crew member D Gibbin and the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Michael O’Connor and crew member Ian Holdsworth for the rescue of a 16 year old boy whose sailing dinghy had capsized in a choppy sea and a heavy south-easterly swell on the 1st October 1972. The lifeboat was unable to approach the casualty because of the confused sea so Mr Gibbin jumped into the water and supported the boy until he could be rescued. 1975 An Anniversary Vellum awarded to the station for 150 years 1977 A new all weather Waveney class lifeboat ON1044 The Scout was sent to station and named by HM the Queen on the 14th July 1977. The lifeboat was provided by scouts from all over the country who raised £101,000 towards her cost. 1986 Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Robert Maiden in recognition of the courage, determination and seamanship displayed by him when he took the lifeboat in four times in a severe northerly force 9 gale, gusting 11, rain squalls and heavy sea to rescue four crew members from the Dutch cargo vessel Anne aground on the Longscar Rocks on the 10th November 1985. 1991 New boathouse to accommodate the Atlantic 21 lifeboat and provide improved crew facilities was completed in June 1991. 1993 A collective framed letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution was presented to Coxswain Eric Reeve, Mechanic Ian Gilbraith, Assistant Mechanic Thomas Price and Crew Members Robert Maiden, Ian Maiden, Gary Jamieson, Richard Dougherty and Peter Lamb in Recognition of their fine display of seamanship when the lifeboat The Scout capsized twice whilst on service to the tanker Freja Svea that was dragging her anchor in storm force conditions in the Tees Bay on the 28th February. Whilst standing by the tanker in heavy seas the Teesmouth lifeboat was knocked down, losing one of her engines.
Hartlepool Lifeboat 1977-1997 "The Scout" & Crew The Hartlepool lifeboat The Scout was launched to escort the Teesmouth lifeboat back to station and then take over standby duties on-scene. Whilst close to the tanker in about 8 fathoms of water the Hartlepool lifeboat was capsized twice and crew member Robert Maiden was washed overboard. Teesmouth lifeboat re-launched to escort the Hartlepool lifeboat to the Tees and Robert Maiden was picked up by a RAF Seaking helicopter and taken to hospital, from where he was subsequently discharged. 1997 Waveney class lifeboat The Scout withdrawn and replaced by the Tyne class lifeboat City of Sheffield on 24th July 1997. 2000 Tyne class lifeboat City of Sheffield withdrawn and replaced by Arun class lifeboat 52-32 Keith Anderson on 1st April. The new station B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat B766 BBC Radio Cleveland was launched on the 4th March and placed on service 28th July 2000.
Hartlepool Inshore Lifeboat 2000- Present Day B766 "BBC Radio Cleveland" This lifeboat was funded by the generosity of listeners to BBC Radio Cleveland as a result of their Lifeboat 2000 Appeal. The Atlantic 21 was withdrawn to the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes. 2002 A new sart slipway completed in June at a cost of £174,209 2003 Vellum awarded to Hartlepool Lifeboat Station to commemorate the completion of 200 years service.
200th Anniversary Vellum 2004 Trent class lifeboat 14-37 Betty Huntbatch placed on service September.
Hartlepool Lifeboat 2004 - Present Day "Betty Huntbatch"
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