RNLB Foresters Centenary (ON 786) facts for kids
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|- | Official Number: || ON 786 |- | Donor: ||A gift of The Ancient Order of Foresters' Friendly Society |- | Stations ||Sheringham |-
|} The RNLB Foresters Centenary (ON 786) was a special kind of rescue boat called a Liverpool-class lifeboat. It belonged to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). This brave boat was stationed in the English town of Sheringham in Norfolk, United Kingdom.
Foresters Centenary served for 25 years, from 1936 to 1961. After its service, it was sold. Luckily, it has been brought back to its original look. Today, you can see it on display at Sheringham Museum.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Foresters Centenary |
| Namesake | Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society |
| Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) |
| Builder | Groves & Guttridge, Cowes, Isle of Wight |
| Cost | £3,568 10s 5d |
| Yard number | No:G&G210 |
| Christened | 15 June 1962 by Sir Roger Keyes at the Old Hythe Lifeboat station |
| Acquired | 1936 |
| Decommissioned | 1961 |
| In service | 1937 to 1960 |
| Nickname(s) | Airmen's lifeboat |
| Status | Displayed in Sheringham Museum |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Liverpool class |
| Type | Non self-righting lifeboat |
| Tonnage | 6 tons 1cwt |
| Length | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) overall |
| Beam | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
| Installed power | Single 35hp Weyburn AE.6 six cylinder petrol |
| Propulsion | Single Screw |
| Speed | 7.3 kn (13.5 km/h) |
| Range | 60 nmi (110 km) |
| Capacity | up to 30 people |
| Crew | 7 |
Building the Foresters Centenary
The Foresters Centenary was the very first motor lifeboat to be based in Sheringham. It was built thanks to a generous gift from The Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society. The boat cost £3,568 10s 5d to build.
It was constructed at Groves & Guttridge in East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The boat was a "single screw" Liverpool type. This means it had one propeller. Even though it couldn't right itself if it flipped over, it was a very stable design. Lifeboat crews really liked it. The boat was about 35 feet 6 inches long and 10 feet 3 inches wide.
How the Lifeboat Moved
The Foresters Centenary had one 35 horsepower Weyburn AE6 petrol engine. This engine was kept in its own special waterproof room. This design meant the engine could keep running even if the engine room filled with water.
During tests, the lifeboat could reach a top speed of 7.3 knots (about 8.4 miles per hour). It used about 3.5 gallons of fuel every hour. This gave it a range of 50 nautical miles. Its best cruising speed was 6.5 knots, which extended its range to 60 nautical miles.
How the Lifeboat Stayed Afloat
The lifeboat's body was built with six watertight sections. These sections held 115 special mahogany air cases. Each case was custom-made to fit perfectly inside the boat.
The Foresters Centenary also had the newest tools for its time. These included a gun that could shoot a rescue line and an electric searchlight. The boat was designed to be operated by a crew of seven people. It could carry up to 30 people in bad weather. However, there wasn't much shelter for the crew or passengers.
Where the Lifeboat Was Based
The Foresters Centenary arrived in Sheringham on June 27, 1936. The Sheringham crew sailed it all the way from Cowes. The crew included Coxswain James Dumble, second Coxswain J. Hardingham, "Old" Bennett Middleton, and mechanic Kitchener Pegg.
To keep this new lifeboat and its launching carriage, the RNLI built a new boathouse in Sheringham. This new station cost £7,616. It was built at a right angle to the sea because the space was tight. It had a special slipway to launch the boat over the shingle beach. The new boathouse wasn't ready when Foresters Centenary arrived. So, for a while, the boat was kept at Old Hythe House.
The Christening Ceremony
The Foresters Centenary was officially named on July 18, 1936. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes performed the ceremony. A very large crowd attended, including 2,000 members of the Order of Foresters.
The Lifeboat's Service
Foresters Centenary served at Sheringham for 25 years, from 1936 until it was sold on September 18, 1961. During its time, it was launched 129 times. It is credited with saving the lives of 82 people.
First Rescues
The lifeboat's first call for help was on August 7, 1936. It went to help two local fishing boats, Liberty II and Edna. Its first official rescue happened on August 19. An exhausted local fisherman was towed to safety after struggling in rough seas. The lifeboat was called out six times before World War II began.
World War II Service
Because Sheringham was on the North Norfolk coast, the lifeboat and its crew were very busy during World War II. Many RAF airfields were nearby. So, the lifeboat was often called to search for crashed aircraft and their crews.
During the war, the lifeboat launched 56 times. Thirty-four of these calls were for aircraft and their crews. Sixteen of these were successful rescues. Because of this important work, Foresters Centenary became known as the "Airmen's lifeboat."
The East Dudgeon Lightship Incident
One of the lifeboat's wartime missions was even shown in a short film. The Crown Film Unit made the film for the British Ministry of Information in 1940. This event happened on January 29, 1940. The Foresters Centenary launched at 9:15 am into rough seas and an easterly gale.
It was sent to help the East Dudgeon Lightship. Reports said German planes had bombed it. When the lifeboat reached the lightship, no one was on board. The ship's light was broken, and its wheelhouse windows were shot out. One of the lightship's small lifeboats was missing. After a long search, the Sheringham crew thought the missing lifeboat and its crew had been picked up by another ship.
The lifeboat returned to Sheringham, but the missing lifeboat was still not found. The Foresters Centenary launched again the next day to search westward. The coastguard then called them back. They had learned that the missing lifeboat had been swept to the Lincolnshire coast. It had been driven ashore, and all but one of its crew had sadly died.
Other Important Wartime Rescues
On February 19, 1940, a ship called Boston Trader was attacked and set on fire by German aircraft. After a difficult launch, the lifeboat rescued seven men from the ship. The Boston Trader later drifted ashore. The rough seas put out the fire, and the ship was eventually saved.
The lifeboat launched on October 21 to help a British bomber that had crashed near Blakeney Point. The lifeboat found a rubber dinghy with all five crew members. They were very tired and wet but unharmed. The airmen were given chocolate and brandy from the lifeboat's emergency supplies. They were taken back to Sheringham, where they received warm clothes and baths.
On October 29, 1941, the lifeboat launched in very tough conditions. A Canadian ship, Eaglescliffe Hall, was in trouble five miles west of Sheringham. The ship seemed to be drifting. The Foresters Centenary rescued 15 men from it. For this brave rescue, the lifeboat's Coxswain James Dumble received the RNLI's Bronze Medal.
The lifeboat spent the rest of the war mostly helping people affected by the conflict. On October 30, 1941, it searched for a Wellington bomber (W5720). This plane from No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron had crashed into the sea. It was two miles north-east of the town after being damaged by flak during a raid over Hamburg. The lifeboat saved five Polish airmen found in one dinghy. A sixth airman had died while escaping the plane. The airmen had been in the dinghy for 17 hours without food. The lifeboat crew gave them rum, chocolate, and biscuits. They were safely brought to town and soon returned to their base in Yorkshire.
1942 Rescues
On October 30, 1942, the lifeboat again rescued Polish airmen from their crashed plane. A Halifax bomber from No. 138 Squadron RAF was returning to RAF Tempsford. The plane was on its way back from a special mission over Poland. The pilot, Stanislaw Klosowski of the Polish Air Force, reported severe damage. The plane was hit by Bf 110 night-fighters. It had damage to its controls, engines, and fuel tanks.
The distressed plane was spotted in the water north-east of Sheringham by the coast guard. The Foresters Centenary launched with some difficulty. It quickly reached the crash site. The lifeboat rescued all six Polish crew members from a dinghy. They were then brought back to Sheringham.
1945 Rescues
The Foresters Centenary's last wartime rescue was on August 16, 1945. It went to help one of the town's older lifeboats, the Henry Ramey Upcher. This old lifeboat had gone to sea with 60 passengers for the town's regatta. This event celebrated Victory over Japan Day.
The old lifeboat was about two miles offshore when it ran into problems. It couldn't move forward against a very strong westerly wind. The Foresters Centenary launched and towed the Henry Ramey Upcher back to Sheringham.
After the War
After the war, the Foresters Centenary's first peacetime rescue was on December 9, 1945. It went to help the steamship Lady Sophia. The ship was six miles north-west of Cromer and had engine failure. The lifeboat towed the ship until a tug from Great Yarmouth took over.
In December 1946, James Edward Dumble retired after 22 years as coxswain. John Henry 'Sparrow' Hardingham then became the new coxswain. In September, the Foresters Centenary was called out twice in one week. On September 14, it launched to help the United States Type T2 oil tanker SS El Morro. This ship had run aground on Sheringham Shoal. On September 21, it helped the ketch Livre. This boat was towed with difficulty to Wells-next-the-Sea.
The 1950s
The 1950s were busy for the Foresters Centenary. More ships were traveling along the coast, returning to pre-war levels. On average, the lifeboat launched three times a year. On December 31, 1950, the lifeboat launched to help the Dutch motor vessel Johanne TeVelde. It had sent distress signals after engine trouble and was lost in fog. Second Coxswain Henry 'Downtide' West went aboard. He showed the captain where he was on his maps. After the engines were fixed, the ship continued its journey. This was the last rescue for Coxswain John Henry 'Sparrow' Hardingham, who retired after 42 years of service.
1955 Rescues
Another important rescue happened on May 19, 1955. It involved saving the crew of the Turkish steamship Zor from Istanbul. The ship, carrying timber, started tilting. Its cargo had shifted in bad weather. The vessel was four miles north-west of the Dudgeon lightvessel.
First, the Wells lifeboat RNLB Cecil Paine rescued several crew members. But four men decided to stay on board to try to save the ship. Cecil Paine was running low on fuel and had to return to its station. The Foresters Centenary arrived to take over.
By the time the lifeboat arrived, Coxswain West saw that the Zor was sinking. A strong northerly gale was blowing. Coxswain West asked the captain to leave the ship, but he refused. A tugboat, Serviceman, arrived to tow the Zor. Almost as soon as the tow began, the ship started to tilt violently. With this, the captain asked the lifeboat to help them leave the ship.
To get the remaining four men, Coxswain West carefully moved the lifeboat to the ship's exposed side. A rope was hanging over the side. West steered the lifeboat close to the ship and held it steady. The crew slid down the rope to safety on the lifeboat. Within ten minutes of the rescue, the ship sank. For their part in this rescue, both Coxswain West of Sheringham and Coxswain William Cox of Wells received the "Thanks of the Institution on Vellum."
The SS Wimbledon Rescue
On October 31, 1956, the Foresters Centenary was called to help the SS Wimbledon. The coastguard called for help at 8:25 am. The Wimbledon was taking on water about 13 miles north-west of Cromer and needed assistance. The Wimbledon's sister ship, SS Sydenham, told the coastguard it was going to help. Two other ships nearby, Blythe and Eleanor Brook, were also standing by.
The SS Wimbledon radioed the coastguard to say its pumps couldn't control the rising water. It planned to beach itself at Blakeney. With this news, the Foresters Centenary was put on standby. But almost immediately, the mate of the Wimbledon reported that its captain had been washed overboard. The Eleanor Brook picked up the captain's body.
The SS Wimbledon was full of coal and sinking at the front. It was in serious trouble. The chief officer, who took command, decided not to beach the ship. Instead, he anchored it in a sheltered spot at Blakeney.
The Rescue Begins
The decision was made to move some of the 18-man crew. The Foresters Centenary transferred eight crew members to the nearby Blythe. The coxswain didn't want to risk their lives in more approaches to the sinking ship. Coxswain West also radioed that the lifeboat's fuel was low. The Wells lifeboat Cecil Paine was launched to the Eleanor Brook. It was to pick up the very ill captain and deliver fuel to the Foresters Centenary.
Meanwhile, a helicopter from RAF Horsham St Faith landed a doctor aboard the Eleanor Brook. The doctor tried to revive the captain, but it was unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead. The Wells lifeboat arrived, picked up the doctor and the deceased captain, refueled the Foresters Centenary, and then returned to its station.
Abandoning the Ship
By 1:00 pm, the Wimbledon was sinking lower. Waves were washing over the deck and up to its bridge. After another hour, the chief officer was convinced to abandon ship. By this time, the north-east gale was blowing very strongly. There was no shelter on either side of the ship. Only the back part of the Wimbledon was still above water.
Coxswain West steered the Foresters Centenary alongside the ship. Ropes were attached, allowing two more crew members to be rescued. One of them had a head injury. Then, this rope snapped. Again, the lifeboat approached and secured new ropes. It rescued two more men before the ropes broke again. Three men were rescued on the third try before the ropes snapped, and the lifeboat was swept away.
Coxswain West had to drive the lifeboat onto the submerged deck of the Wimbledon. The lifeboat’s mechanic, Edward Craske, worked the engine controls under a small cover. He was often up to his armpits in water, but he kept the engine running as the coxswain needed. On the Foresters Centenary’s final approach, two meters of the lifeboat's side fender were ripped off. But the last three men were finally rescued just before the ship completely sank.
The sea conditions had worsened. Conditions at Sheringham were very bad, and it was getting dark. The lifeboat set course for Wells harbor, reaching it by 4 pm.
Recognition for Bravery
For rescuing the 18 men from SS Wimbledon on October 31, 1956, Coxswain Henry West received the RNLI's Silver Medal. Motor Mechanic Edward Craske received the Bronze Medal, both for their bravery. The RNLI's "Thanks on Vellum" were given to Acting second Coxswain H. Bishop, Acting Bowman A. Scotter, Assistant Mechanic J.H. Bishop, and crew members D. Little, S. Little, and R. West. A letter of thanks was sent to the head launcher D. Cooper.
Final Years of Service
The rest of the 1950s were still busy for the lifeboat. It was called out many times along this part of the coast. 1960 was the last year Foresters Centenary was stationed at Sheringham. That year, the lifeboat was called out three times. One rescue on April 16 was for a local fishing boat called Windsor Rose. It was trying to return home in worsening weather. The Foresters Centenary towed the boat home to Sheringham. This fishing boat can now be seen on display at Sheringham Museum, The Mo, right across from where the Foresters Centenary is displayed.
Last Rescue Mission
The lifeboat's very last rescue mission at Sheringham happened on January 13, 1961. The Foresters Centenary went out with the Cromer and Wells lifeboats. They were searching for an RAF Vampire jet (T11 XD431) from the Flying Training Command. The pilot had an engine problem and radioed his base. He planned to eject somewhere over the Wash. No trace of the pilot or aircraft was found. The search was called off after 30 hours without success.
Leaving Service
The Foresters Centenary left the station on July 2, 1961. Coxswain Henry West was at the helm. They sailed it around the east coast down to Oulton Broad. There, it was taken out of the water and sold for £830 to Mr. R. C. W. Baker of Wells next the Sea. After that, it was used around the Essex coast.
During the 1970s and 1980s, it changed owners several times. By 1995, it was back in North Norfolk but stored in Aylsham. On August 14, 1999, The National Historic Ships Committee added the Foresters Centenary to the National Register of Historic Vessels (Certificate no 1768). In 2002, it was moved to the planned site of the new Sheringham Museum, called The Mo. Here, it was joined by another Sheringham Lifeboat J C Madge (ON 536). In May 2009, The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960) lifeboat joined the collection. All three lifeboats are now on permanent display at the museum.
List of Rescues
| Foresters Centenary ON786 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Casualty | Lives saved |
| 1936 | ||
| 7 August | Fishing boat Liberty II and Edna, of Sheringham, escorted back to port | |
| 19 August | Small boat, of West Runton, Saved Boat | 1 |
| 20 September | Motor Vessel Karanan of Rotterdam, Stood By | |
| 1937 | ||
| 7 August | Motor vessel John M, of London, Stood by | |
| 1939 | ||
| 22 April | Fishing boat Reliance II, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 27 April | Fishing boat Oliver, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 1940 | ||
| 9 February | Steamship Boston Trader, of Great Yarmouth. | |
| 1 March | Boat of the steamship Jevington Court, of London, saved boat | |
| 2 March | Drifting buoy, danger to navigation, saved buoy | |
| 22 April | Auxiliary barge yacht Mahelah, of London | 4 |
| 1 September | British aircraft, salved gear and wreckage | |
| 21 October | British Aircraft | 5 |
| 1941 | ||
| 5 April | Fishing boat of Sheringham, saved boat | 5 |
| 27 October | British aircraft with Polish crew | 5 |
| 30 October | Steamship Eaglescliffe Hall, of Montreal | 15 |
| 31 October | Steamship Eaglescliffe Hall, gave help | |
| 1941 | ||
| 1 February | British aircraft, salved wreckage | |
| 15 March | HMS Vortigern, picked up a body | |
| 30 July | Aircraft, recovered body | |
| 17 October | HM Trawler Cap d'Antifer, (677) landed a sick man | |
| 30 October | Aircraft | 6 |
| 1943 | ||
| 13 May | USAF aircraft, picked up a body | |
| 24 August | Smack Our Need, of Lowestoft, gave help | |
| 1944 | ||
| 17 September | Admiralty Motor Fishing Vessel of the MFV 601 class, gave help | |
| 1945 | ||
| 3 April | Fishing boat Gwendoline, of Sheringham, gave help | |
| August 16 | Lifeboat Henry Ramey Upcher, of Sheringham, gave help | |
| 9 December | Steamship Lady Sophia, of London, gave help | |
| 1946 | ||
| 24 May | Three fishing boats, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 10 December | Motor vessel Bilsdale, of Middlesbrough, escorted | |
| 1947 | ||
| 14 September | Steam tanker El Morro of Portland, Oregon, stood by | |
| 21 September | Motor ketch yacht Livre, of Burnham on Crouch, saved yacht | 2 |
| 1948 | ||
| 6 February | Three fishing boats, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 1949 | ||
| 22 April | Six fishing boats, of Sheringham, gave help | |
| 3 May | Steam tanker Barren Hill, of Panama, stood by | |
| 4 May | Steam tanker Barren Hill, of Panama, stood by | |
| 1950 | ||
| 11 September | Sailing yacht Gaia, saved yacht | 4 |
| 22 September | Sailing yacht Miranda, saved yacht | 2 |
| 31 December | Motor vessel Johanne Te Velde, of Delfzijl, gave help | |
| 1951 | ||
| 7 May | Four fishing boats, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 27 August | Dinghy Meringue | 2 |
| 27 August | Motor Boat, saved boat | |
| 1953 | ||
| 29 June | Three fishing boats, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 1954 | ||
| 6–7 November | Motor trawler Swinoujscie Czajk of Gdynia, stood by and gave help | |
| 8 December | Motor barge Gold, of Rochester, landed 2 from steamship Rota | |
| 9 December | Motor barge Gold, of Rochester, assisted to save barge | |
| 1955 | ||
| 19 May | Steamship Zor of Istanbul | 4 |
| 2 December | Motor yacht Flashing Stream, of Goole, gave help | |
| 1956 | ||
| 8 June | Fishing boats, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 31 October | Steamship Wimbledon, of London | 18 |
| 1957 | ||
| 31 May | Dudgeon lighthouse, landed sick man | |
| 29 July | Motor yacht Vanesa of Rochester, saved yacht | 3 |
| 30 July | Fishing boat Charlie, of Hemsby, gave help | |
| 20 August | Cabib cruiser Sunwood, of Falmouth, saved cruiser | 3 |
| 24 September | Fishing boat Windsor Rose, of Sheringham, saved boat | 2 |
| 1958 | ||
| 31 May | Dudgeon lighthouse, landed sick man | |
| 1959 | ||
| 17 April | Fishing boats Boy Billy, Our Boys and June Rose, of Sheringham, escorted | |
| 26 June | Yacht Pleasant Mirth, gave help | |
| 1960 | ||
| 16 April | Fishing boat Windsor Rose, of Sheringham, gave help and escorted | |
| 26 June | Yacht Sulaire, of Ipswich, escorted | 3 |
| 11 August | Fishing boat Enterprize, of Sheringham, gave help | |
| Preceded by RNLB J C Madge (ON 536) |
RNLB Foresters Centenary (ON 786) 1936 to 1960 |
Succeeded by RNLB The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960) |
