Dungeness History

The first lifeboat was sent to Dungeness in 1826 and there were lifeboat stations at Dungeness, Lydd and New Romney in the early 1800s.

Six Silver Medals and two Gold Medals for Gallantry were awarded for rescues between 1832 and 1852.

1854 The RNLI established a station to cover the dangerous spit on which vessels were frequently wrecked.

1859  A Silver Medal was awarded to Peter Smith for saving the Master and crew of the brigantine Caroline.

1861 The lifeboat moved to Littlestone and it later became a separate station known as New Romney.

1874 A new boathouse was built at a cost of £211.

1876 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Richard Billett for rescuing two people from the barge Ilmatar.

1889 During a service to the schooner Elizabeth Alice Crew Member George Hamblin drowned.

1891 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Lucas for a service to the brigantine Aeolus during which the lifeboat capsized and two crew, Henry Reeves and Daniel Nicholls, drowned.

1892 A second lifeboat was stationed at Dungeness.

1893 During a service to the barque Joanne Marie the lifeboat capsized and Second Coxswain J Jarratt drowned.

1928 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1929 Coxswain Douglas Oiller received a Bronze Medal for a service to the barge Marie May.

1939   The original station closed and the second station became the main lifeboat station.

1940 The lifeboat Charles Cooper Henderson was one of 19 lifeboats that took part in the Dunkirk evacuation.

1956 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain George Tart for rescuing nine crew from the motor vessel Teeswood.

1962 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain George Tart for rescuing five crew from the catamaran Nimble Eve.

1974 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Tom Tart and a Bronze Medal to Assistant Mechanic Peter Thomas for rescuing an injured man from the motor vessel Merc Texco. Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to five crew members and a collective Vellum was awarded to the launchers and shore helpers. Coxswain Tart also received the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of lifesaving in 1974.

1976  A 150th anniversary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1977 A new boathouse was built and the lifeboat Alice Upjohn arrived at the station.

1979  The country’s last two lady lifeboat launchers, Mrs Doris Tart and Mrs Joan Bates, were each awarded the Institution’s Gold Badge. Mrs Tart had been a shore helper for 44 years and Mrs Bates for 37 years.

1989 The boathouse was extended to provide improved crew facilities.

1991 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Coxswain William Richardson and Tractor Driver Kenneth Coleman for a service which involved all lifeboats between Dover and Newhaven.

1992 The present Mersey class lifeboat Pride and Spirit arrived at the station.

A collective Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Coxswain William Richardson, crew members, head launcher and shore helpers in recognition of their tireless efforts on 4 October to launch the lifeboat to the yacht Emma after the lifeboat had jammed in its carriage.

1994 The boathouse was extended and a new crew room was added.

Station honours

At Dungeness lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 3

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 7

Bronze Medal 3

Silver Medal 10

Gold Medal 1