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Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station

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Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station (not to be confused with Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight) is a RNLI base in Norfolk, England. There were originally two separate stations at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston – two coastal towns either side of the River Yare. These were merged in 1926.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station is located in Norfolk
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station
AddressRiverside Road, Gorleston, Norfolk, NR31 6PU
CountryEngland
Coordinates52°34′31.51″N 1°43′55.34″E / 52.5754194°N 1.7320389°E / 52.5754194; 1.7320389
Opened1825 / RNLI 1857
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

History

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Great Yarmouth

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Great Yarmouth received its first lifeboat in 1802. It was never called out. In 1825 the Norfolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Mariners stationed its first lifeboat at Great Yarmouth. The station was taken over by the RNLI in 1857 and in 1859 a new lifeboat house was built at a cost of £375 (equivalent to £47,400 in 2023). The station closed in 1919.[1]

Gorleston

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The Gorleston lifeboat station was established by the RNLI in 1866. In 1881 a new boathouse was built at Gorleston for £329 (equivalent to £41,900 in 2023) and in 1883 a second boathouse (Gorleston No.2) was built alongside. This closed in 1926 when Gorleston No.1 station was renamed Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.[1]

During 1897 the station received its first steam lifeboat City of Glasgow (ON 362) and during 1921, its first motor lifeboat.[1]

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston

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In 1963 an Inshore lifeboat station was established, with a D-class (RFD PB16) lifeboat. A D-class boat would remain in service until 1977. A B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat was placed on station in 1975.[1]

 
The Trent-class lifeboat Samarbeta (ON 1208) at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

During 1993 crew facilities were upgraded, a gift-shop built and a display area created for the former Gorleston lifeboat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood (ON 663). The boathouse was further extended in 2002.[1]

In 1996 Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy officially named the station's new Trent-class lifeboat Samarbeta, Swedish for ‘working together’.[1]

The current lifeboats on station are the Trent-class 14-10 Samarbeta (ON 1208) and the B-class (Atlantic 85) John Rowntree (B-925).[2]

A new Shannon-class lifeboat 13-44 George and Frances Phelon (ON 1351) has been assigned to Gt. Yarmouth and Gorleston to replace Samarbeta, and is expected on service in 2024. She is a "Legacy Lifeboat", and will carry the names of RNLI benefactors within the numbers on her hull[3]

Notable rescues

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In October 1922 the Gorleston pulling and sailing lifeboat and the Lowestoft motor lifeboat, after a struggle lasting 32 hours, brought to safety the whole crew of 24 and a black kitten from the steamship Hopelyn wrecked on Scroby Sands.[1]

In 1927 lifeboats from Great Yarmouth & Gorleston, Cromer, Southwold and Lowestoft took part in the rescue of the Dutch oil tanker Georgia. This service is considered to be one of the greatest in the history of the RNLI.[1]

The lifeboat Louise Stephens (ON 820) was one of 19 lifeboats involved in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940.[1]

Lifeboat disasters

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Date Lifeboat station Lifeboat crew lost Memorial Brief details and references
1824 Great Yarmouth
5
 On 23 November 1824 a boat was launched by eight Great Yarmouth beachmen in an attempt to rescue the crew of the stricken vessel Jessie. Whilst attempting to board the Jessie a heavy sea fell on board their boat which immediately sunk her and resulted in the loss of five of the crew.[4]
1845 Great Yarmouth
7
 The yawl Phoenix was wrecked whilst going to the assistance of the collier brig Ann with the loss of seven of the fifteen people on board. Survivors were rescued by the Caister Lifeboat.[5]
1866 Gorleston
13
 On 13 January 1866 the private lifeboat, Rescuer, capsized in a storm with the loss of 12 of her crew.[6] A 13th fatality occurred when rescued crew member Robert Warner succumbed just days later as a direct result of the disaster.[7]
1867 Gorleston
6
   While returning to harbour after a rescue a fishing lugger collided with the private lifeboat, Rescuer. She capsized and 6 of her crew and 19 other people drowned.[6]
1881 Great Yarmouth
6
 The lifeboat Abraham Thomas capsized on 18 January whilst attempting to rescue the mate of the schooner Guiding Star. The Abraham Thomas was struck by a heavy sea and lost six out of a crew of ten. The mate from the Guiding Star was also lost out of the lifeboat.[8]
1888 Gorleston
4
   The Refuge was a private lifeboat belonging to the Gorleston boatmen. After going to the assistance of the steamer Akaba the Refuge was being towed back to port when the tow-rope parted and she was driven onshore where she capsized with the loss of four of her seven crew.[9] Henry Smith, chief boatman of the coastguard, was on the beach and, without thought for his own life, managed to save two crew members, Bonney and Woods, whilst a boatman of the coastguard named Henry Norton saved George Jacobs, who was found clinging to the stern post. The Yarmouth Independent newspaper report of the death of Jacob Philip Jacobs, dated 18 January 1913, states that he was one of the lifeboat crew who were saved. It is likely that Jacob Philip Jacobs and George Jacobs were the same person as the description of the rescue by the boatman are very similar.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboats

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Great Yarmouth

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1825-1919

ON[a] Name In service [10] Class Comments
– Phoenix 1845 Yawl
– Unnamed 1833–1861 39-foot Self-righting (P&S) [11]
– Unnamed 1833–1858 25-foot Self-righting (P&S) [11]
Harriet 1858–1859 38-foot Self-righting (P&S) [11]
– Admiral Mitchell 1858–1859 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) [11]
19 Abraham Thomas
(Gt. Yarmouth No.2) 		1859–1892 28-foot 3in Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
20 Brave Robert Sheddon 1861–1883 40-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Moved to Gorleston No.1 in 1883, renamed Mark Lane.
329 John Burch 1892–1912 32-foot 5in Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
629 Hugh Taylor 1912–1919 34-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Station closed in 1919 [1]

Gorleston

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No.1 Station

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Gorleston Lifeboat Station established by the RNLI in 1866 [1]

ON[a] Name In service [10] Class Comments
– The Rescuer 1866–1889
– Leicester 1866–1870 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [11]
21 Leicester 1870–1883 30-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Transferred to No.2 station in 1883
20 Mark Lane 1883–1889 40-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Formerly Brave Robert Sheddon at Gt. Yarmouth
233 Mark Lane 1889–1892 44-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
288 Mark Lane 1892–1921 46-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Was Stock Exchange in Lowestoft(1890–1892), renamed Mark Lane in 1892
663 John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood 1921 46-foot 6in Norfolk and Suffolk (Motor) Renamed Agnes Cross when transferred to Lowestoft
543 Reserve No.1 1922–1924 46-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Formerly Kentwell at Lowestoft
670 John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood 1924–1926 46-foot 6in Norfolk and Suffolk (Motor) Formerly H.F. Bailey
1926, Station becomes Great Yarmouth & Gorleston [1]

No.2 Station

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Gorleston No.2 Boathouse built and opened in 1883.[1]

ON[a] Name In service [10] Class Comments
21 Leicester 1883–1894 30-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
371 Leicester 1894–1923 31-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
541 Reserve No.7A 1923–1924 35-foot Watson (P&S) Formerly James Finlayson at Lossiemouth
Station closed in 1924 [1]

No. 3 Station

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Gorleston No.3 Boathouse constructed in 1891.[1]

ON[a] Name In service [10] Class Comments
326 Thora Zelma 1892–1904 31-foot Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) Station closed 1903-1907 [1]

No. 4 Station

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Gorleston No.4 Station opened in 1897 [1]

ON Name In service [10] Class Comments
362 City of Glasgow 1897–1903 Steam
420 James Stevens No.3 1903–1908 Steam Station closed in 1908

Gorleston Rangers

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Name In service [10] Comments
Elizabeth Simpson 1889–1939 Presented to Gorleston by Miss Elizabeth Simpson Stone of Norwich and manned by a company of boatmen known as the Gorleston Rangers. She was administered by a local committee, was launched on service 119 times, and rescued 441 lives.[1]

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston

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Gorleston Lifeboat Station became Great Yarmouth and Gorleston in 1926. [1]

All-weather lifeboats

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ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name In service [10] Class Comments
670 – John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood 1926–1939 Norfolk and Suffolk (Motor) Formerly H.F. Bailey
[12]
820 – Louise Stephens 1939–1967 Watson
1002 44-003 Khami 1967–1980 Waveney
1065 44-021 Barham 1980–1996 Waveney
1208 14-10 Samarbeta 1996– Trent

Inshore lifeboats

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D-class
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Op. No.[b] Name In service [10] Class Comments
D-9 Unnamed 1963–1964 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-32 Unnamed 1964 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-1 Unnamed 1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-73 Unnamed 1965–1967 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-26 Unnamed 1967–1968 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-113 Unnamed 1968–1969 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-179 Unnamed 1970–1977 D-class (RFD PB16) later named Blue Peter IV at St Agnes
Arancia-class
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Op. No.[b] Name In service [10] Class Comments
A-48 Margaret and Bruce 2011–2012 Arancia-class
A-77 Kingfisher 2012–2020 Arancia-class
B-class
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Op. No.[b] Name In service [10] Class Comments
B-531 Foresters 1975–1988 Atlantic 21-class
B-574 Joseph B Press 1988–2002 Atlantic 21-class
B-786 Seahorse IV 2002–2021 Atlantic 75-class
B-925 John Rowntree 2021– Atlantic 85-class
  1. ^ a b c d e ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c d Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Station honours

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The station has been awarded 1 gold medal, 21 silver medals, 24 bronze medals, 5 vellum inscriptions and 9 framed letters of thanks.[1][13]

The following are awards made at Gt Yarmouth and Gorleston

William George Fleming - 1924[14]
William George Fleming - 1941
William George Fleming, Coxswain - 1922
Captain Chaplin, master of the Royal William steam packet - 1833
Charles Salmon - 1855
George Fleming - 1855
Cdr Thomas Kisbee RN - 1855
William Johnson - 1858
Captain Thomas Davies RN - 1860
George Milligan, Coxswain - 1860
Captain David Robertson RN - 1870
E W Woods, Coxswain - 1891
William Todd, Coxswain - 1898
Sidney Harris, Coxswain - 1904
James Sclanders, chief engineer of the steam lifeboat, - 1904
Sidney Harris, Coxswain - 1905 (Second-Service Clasp)
Sidney Harris, Coxswain - 1909 (Silver Third-Service Clasp)
Ellery Harris, Second Coxswain - 1909
James Cowie - 1910
Sidney Harris, Coxswain - 1912 (Silver Fourth-Service Clasp)
Sidney Harris, Coxswain - 1916 (Fifth-Service clasp)
Edward Bensley - 1916
William G Fleming, Coxswain - 1927
Charles A Johnson, Coxswain - 1941
Samuel B Parker (Jnr), Second Coxswain -1922
Charles W Chilvers, Bowman -1922
James Fleming, crew member -1922
William Gosling, crew member -1922
George Arthur Harris, crew member -1922
Ellery Harris, crew member -1922
Arthur Harris, crew member -1922
Walter Halfnight, crew member -1922
Charles Ambrose Johnson, crew member -1922
Harry Leggett, crew member -1922
Thomas Morley, crew member -1922
Albert Newson, crew member -1922
Wwilliam Newson, crew member -1922
James Stubbs, crew member -1922
Ernest Stubbs, crew member -1922
William George Fleming, Coxswain - 1926
Charles Ambrose Johnson, Coxswain - 1938 (Second-Service Clasp)
Charles Ambrose Johnson, Coxswain - 1940 (Third-Service Clasp)
G F Mobbs, Motor Mechanic - 1941
Charles Ambrose Johnson, Coxswain - 1941 (Fourth-Service Clasp)
John Bryan, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1970
John Bryan, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1975 (Second-Service Clasp)
Richard John Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1980
David Mason, Coxswain - 1996
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
David Bennington, Acting Coxswain - 1974
Richard J Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1982
Richard J Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1987
Richard J Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1991
Stephen Bartram, Assistant Mechanic - 1996
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Coxswain and Crew - 1966
Paul Carter, crew member - 1982
David V Mason, Second Coxswain - 1991
Bob Keegan - 1998
Steve Gowing - 1998
Simon Phillips - 1998
from the Great Yarmouth Port Authority
Stephen Bartram, Coxswain - 2005
Kevin Bennington, crew member - 2005
  • A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Richard Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic
David Mason, Second Coxswain
Patrick Lee, Assistant Mechanic
David Beale, crew member - 1996
Ian Everson, crew member - 1996
Geoffrey Wing, crew member - 1996
  • Freedom of the Borough of Great Yarmouth
More than 100 lifeboat crew - 1983
  • American Cross of Honour
S J Harris, Coxswain - 1912
  • A silver watch awarded by the Queen of The Netherlands
William G Fleming, Coxswain - 1927
  • A letter of thanks from the Queen of The Netherlands
The Lifeboat Crew - 1927
  • The Thanks of the Royal Danish Navy
The Institution and the crew of the lifeboat - 1952
Margaret Bibby-Cheshire - 2000[15]
Reverend Albert Thomas Cadmore - 2024[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "History". RNLI. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  2. ^ [1] Archived 26 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Always be remembered on a legacy lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. ^ see: The Norfolk Chronicle. 27 November 1824. p.3.
  5. ^ "Dreadful Shipwreck". The Times. No. 18834. London. 30 January 1845. col F, p. 3.
  6. ^ a b Higgins, David (1987). The Beachmen. Terence Dalton Limited. p. 49-51. ISBN 0-86138-047-9.
  7. ^ see: "The Late Life-boat Accident: The Norfolk News" 27 January 1866
  8. ^ "Station history | RNLI".
  9. ^ see: "Lifeboat Disaster at Yarmouth: The Eastern Daily Press" 12 November 1888
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  11. ^ a b c d e Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  12. ^ "JOHN AND MARY MEIKLAM OF GLADSWOOD". National Historic Ship Register. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  14. ^ "Medal of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry" (PDF). London Gazette. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  16. ^ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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