RNLB Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) (ON 688) facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | 
|- | Official Number: || ON 688 |- | Donor: || |- | Station || Margate Lifeboat Station, Relief Fleet 1951 - 1955 |-
|} The RNLB Lord Southborough (ON 688) was a special kind of lifeboat called a Watson Class motor lifeboat. It belonged to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which is a charity that saves lives at sea. This brave boat was based in Margate, Kent, in the United Kingdom from 1925 to 1951. After that, it joined the RNLI's "Relief Fleet," helping out wherever needed.
Contents
- Helping the Hermine
- The Dunkirk Evacuation
- Rescues During the Battle of Britain
- Helping HMS Guardsman
- April 1941 Rescue
| History | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) |
| Builder | S.E. Saunders, Cowes, Isle of Wight |
| Cost | £8,997 |
| Laid down | 1924 |
| Sponsored by | Civil Service, Post Office and British Telecom Lifeboat Fund |
| Acquired | 1925 |
| Fate | Unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Watson (Motor) Class |
| Length | 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m) overall |
| Beam | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) |
| Installed power | One 80hp Weyburn DE6 petrol engine |
Building the Lord Southborough
The Lord Southborough was built in 1924. It was made by a company called Saunders-Roe in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. This lifeboat was a Watson Class Motor Lifeboat. It was about 45 feet (13.7 meters) long and 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) wide. It had one 80-horsepower petrol engine to power it.
The money to build the Lord Southborough came from a group called the Civil Service, Post Office and British Telecom Lifeboat Fund. This group was also known as CISPOTEL. They helped pay for many lifeboats. The boat was named after Francis Hopwood, Lord Southborough. He was an important leader of CISPOTEL for 33 years.
Saving Lives: The Lord Southborough's Service
The Lord Southborough was involved in many rescue missions during its time. Its crew often faced dangerous conditions to help people in trouble at sea.
Helping the Hermine
On December 29, 1929, the Lord Southborough went to help a German boat named the Hermine. The Hermine had gotten stuck in a storm. The lifeboat crew tried to pull the Hermine free, but they couldn't. So, they safely took the German crew off their boat and brought them to shore. The German government later thanked the Lord Southborough's crew for their brave efforts.
The Dunkirk Evacuation
| Lord Southborough Lifeboat Crew at Dunkirk | ||
|---|---|---|
| RNLB Lord Southborough (ON 832) | ||
| Name | Rank | |
| Edward (Ted) Parker DSM | Coxswain | |
| T. Harman | Second Coxswain | |
| E. Jorden | Engineer | |
| W Mackie | Second Engineer | |
| H. Parker | Bowman | |
| D. Price | Signaller | |
| J Letley | Crewman | |
| A. Morris | Crewman | |
| A. Ladd | Crewman | |
| T. Parker | Extra Crewman | |
| W. Hopper | Extra Crewman | |
On May 30, 1940, the Lord Southborough was called to help with the Dunkirk evacuation. This was a huge event during World War II. Many British soldiers were stuck on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. They needed to be rescued and brought back to England.
The Lord Southborough's crew was one of only three RNLI lifeboat crews allowed to take their own lifeboat across the English Channel. Other lifeboats were crewed by members of the Royal Navy. The Lord Southborough was the second lifeboat to reach the Dunkirk beaches. It arrived just after the Prudential from Ramsgate.
Both lifeboats helped ferry soldiers from the shallow beaches to larger ships waiting in deeper water. These bigger ships then took the soldiers back to England. The Lord Southborough is officially recognized for rescuing 600 military people from Dunkirk's beach. Five hundred of these soldiers were taken from the beach at La Panne to the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Icarus.
The commander of the destroyer, Lieutenant Commander E. G. Roper, praised the Lord Southborough's crew. He said they showed amazing courage. They worked without rest, bringing load after load of soldiers. This happened even while they were being shelled, bombed, and shot at from the air. He said their actions would inspire everyone.
The lifeboat's Coxswain, Edward Parker, was given the Distinguished Service Medal. This was a special award for his bravery during the operation.
Rescues During the Battle of Britain
In August 1940, the Battle of Britain began. This was a major air battle over the south coast of England. RNLI lifeboats were very busy during this time. They rescued pilots who crashed into the English Channel and the North Sea. The Lord Southborough's crew was one of the busiest.
On September 3, 1940, the Lord Southborough went to find a missing Spitfire pilot. His plane had been shot down by a German Messerschmitt 109. The pilot was Richard Hillary. He was a descendant of Sir William Hillary, who founded the RNLI in 1824. Richard Hillary had severe burns to his face and hands. The lifeboat crew rescued him and brought him ashore. They later visited him in the hospital while he was recovering.
Helping HMS Guardsman
On November 15, 1940, the Lord Southborough was launched in the afternoon. It went to help the Royal Navy Tug HMS Guardsman. This tugboat had hit a mine near North Foreland and exploded. By the time the Lord Southborough arrived, the Guardsman had already sunk. However, the lifeboat crew was able to rescue seven of the nine Royal Navy sailors from the wreckage.
April 1941 Rescue
On April 10, 1941, at 5:45 PM, the Lord Southborough was launched again. This time, it was to search for a crashed Royal Air Force Blenheim bomber. The plane had made an emergency landing on Margate Sands, about 3 miles offshore. It was damaged by anti-aircraft fire after returning from an attack on Borkum.
The Lord Southborough found the plane. The lifeboat could only get within a quarter of a mile of the crash site. So, they used a small dinghy to reach the plane and rescue the three-man R.A.F. aircrew.
Lifeboat's Long Career
The Lord Southborough served the RNLI for 30 years in total. For 25 of those years, it was based at Margate. During that time, it launched 278 times for rescue missions. It is credited with saving 269 lives. For its last 5 years, it was part of the RNLI's Relief Fleet. In this role, it launched 14 more times and saved another 17 lives.
Retirement and New Adventures
The RNLI sold the Lord Southborough in 1955. It was bought by the Crown Agents. They planned to use it as a lifeboat in other British territories around the world. It is believed that the boat was sent to Benghazi, Libya. What happened to it after that is not known.
Images for kids
-
Lord Southborough (ON 832)
