RNLI

 

RNLI

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

2024 marks two hundred years of the RNLI’s existence. It is a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea and has its headquarters in Poole, Dorset, though it was a philanthropist from the Isle of Man who first mooted the idea of a society to rescue sailors. He was distressed by shipwrecks on the IoM in 1822, but it took two further years before the idea was supported by royalty, politicians and merchants.

At first it was known as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, which is quite a mouthful and doesn’t lend itself to a neat acronym. Thanks to the patronage of King George IV, ‘Royal’ replaced ‘National’ a little later. In 1854, it changed its name to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In 1824, it saved 124 lives. Five years later that number had risen to over 1,000 and by the turn of the 19^th century, 41,820 people had been rescued. In the next century, that number more than doubled.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

SS Suevic aground on the Stag Rock of Maenheere Reef. She remained there for three days, her cargo being ferried ashore by small freighters. She was eventually cut in half, the stern section, containing the engines, and passenger accommodation, taken first to Southampton and then to Harland and Wolff in Belfast, where she was originally built, to be fitted with a new bow section.

The biggest single RNLI rescue was conducted in 1907 off Lizard Point in Cornwall. The White Star liner, SS Suevic had sailed from Sydney and was bound for Liverpool. Aboard were more than 400 passengers and crew and 12,000 tons of valuable cargo. Encountering dense fog and battling a strong gale, she struck the rocks of the Maenheere Reef at night. Flares were sent up, though they were difficult to see. Open lifeboats, crewed by six men rowing, from four different stations were launched and conducted the rescue over sixteen hours. All 456 lives were saved, among them 70 babies. The RNLI awarded Silver Medals for Gallantry to six men, including two from SS Suevic. On the same night, another ship, the SS Jebba, also ran aground not far from the Suevic and a second successful rescue was undertaken.

The RNLI is the largest lifeboat service serving the coastal waters of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It also operates on some inland waterways and most of its crews are unpaid volunteers.  The charity is funded by legacies and donations.

The RNLI motto is, ‘with courage, nothing is impossible’ and it goes to the aid of anyone in danger on the sea. During its existence, 600 crew have lost their lives serving the RNLI. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for bravery.

Henry Blogg, coxswain of the Cromer Lifeboat.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The most decorated lifeboatman was Henry Blogg (1876-1954) from Cromer, North Norfolk. During a 53-year career, he received three RNLI gold medals and four silver. He was also awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal, which was later converted to the George Cross, and the British Empire Medal.

Henry Blogg with his dog, Monte

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

When he was not called out to cox the Cromer lifeboat, Henry Blogg earned his living as a crab fisherman and also ran a business hiring out deckchairs and beach huts. This lifesize model depicts him with his dog, Monte.

There are two major types of lifeboat. All-weather lifeboats (ALBs) are large, self-righting, substantial craft which can be launched in all weather conditions.

Model of a Shannon Class Lifeboat, introduced in 2013. She carries a crew of 6 and has a maximum speed of 25 knots.

Inshore lifeboats (ILBs) are inflatable craft which are used closer inshore and in shallower waters.

Inshore lifeboat, Dartmouth

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Other craft include hovercraft and small inflatables.