Very interesting thread, I haven't seen it before. - so much research and information. My Dad's family, all seafarers, were big supporters of our local RNLI, but I don't think there was one of our boats at the Dunkirk rescue. Maybe too far North? (Blyth Northd.)
This is such a great thread going back years. I have just got around to reading my copy of Riders of the Storm, bought in a charity shop for just one pound. I would recommend it to anyone, not just for the WW2 aspect, but the history of the RNLI. Lesley
Dunkirk: How the RNLI took part in one of the biggest rescues of World War Two | RNLI Dunkirk: lifeboat gallery
Just come across this thread which is a great tribute to some very brave people. One thing I have been looking at (not very successfully) is what - if any - role did the RNLI have in D-Day? I understand that several stations were put on standby - does anyone have any details of these? Thanks Chris
With so much sea traffic there were enough naval rescue craft tasked to make RNLI launches redundant. Weymouth RNLI launched to rescue the baled out crew of B-24 #42-94885 but were recalled before the reached them. The detail from RNLI Records of Service 1939-46 is: PORTLAND , DORSET . At 9.30 in the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, D Day, the opening day of the invasion of Normandy, a U.S.A. Liberator aeroplane, returning from Normandy, crashed on Chesil Beach at Lang- ton Herring. Seven airmen baled out and came down in the sea. Three remained in the aeroplane and were unhurt. A westerly wind was blowing and there was a heavy swell on the beach. The Weymouth motor life- boat was launched, but was recalled by the naval authorities. She might have rescued all the men had she been allowed to go on. At Wyke Regis Mr. W. Tod, partner in a firm of boat-builders, with the help of a dozen men, removed the engine and other gear from a 15-feet boat which they were building, and at considerable effort took her over the beach and launched her. Mr. Tod and three of his men went out in her, but only one knew much about handling boats off the beach, nor was this boat - the only one available - suitable for such work. They got her off the beach, but she shipped a lot of water, and they were compelled to return. In the meantime eight Portland fishermen launched two rowing boats from Chesil Cove. They were all elderly men. One was seventy- three. With that gale blowing it was a difficult and dangerous task to launch small boats off Chesil Beach and the eight men risked their lives in doing it. They got safely away, and three of them in one boat returned at 10.50 with two airmen whom they had picked up about a mile west of the coastguard lookout at Fortuneswell. They put out again and picked up another airman. The five men in the other boat picked up another man. Soldiers at Wyke Regis found a body. Nothing was found of the other two airmen. - Rewards, £14 15s., and a letter of appreciation to Mr. Tod. Ross
LIFEBOATMEN. HC Deb 15 February 1940 vol 357 cc978-9W978W §Sir T. Cook asked the Minister of Labour whether crews of lifeboats, who may become liable for military or naval service, are considered for exemption upon application being made by local branches of the National Lifeboat Institution? §Mr. E. Brown Whole-time lifeboatmen aged 18 or over are reserved from service in His Majesty's Forces by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. Many part-time lifeboatmen are, no doubt, fishermen and as such are reserved, except for service in the Patrol Service of the Navy. If it were desired to apply for the temporary deferment of the calling-up of any part-time lifeboatmen who are not reserved under the schedule by reason of their main occupation, the proper course would 979Wbe for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to make application to the Ministry of Shipping. I am assured that any such applications, which should be made as soon as possible after the men concerned have registered under theNational Service (Armed Forces) Act, would receive careful consideration. LIFEBOATMEN. (Hansard, 15 February 1940)
I don' t think this one has been posted before but many of the images have disappeared....RNLB 'The Viscountess Wakefield' aground at De Panne.
RNLI tractors not WW2 but a history of them in their latest winter magazine issue Tractors – RNLI – Burry Port Tractors | Hayling Island Lifeboat Station The Tractors a bit here Lifeboat tractors
https://rnliarchive.blob.core.windows.net/media/1674/1940wys.pdf RNLI services 1940 Services by the Life-boats of the Institution and by Shore-boats during 1940 During the year life-boats were launched 1,081 times. Of these launches 640 were to vessels and aeroplanes in distress through attack by the enemy or from other causes due to the war Forty-eight Medals for Gallantry