Life Boat 2nd Cox, Harbour

Britain Merchant Seamen 1918-41
year 1918 he is listed



Thomas – who went out on the  29 Dec 1897 to ‘Delphine’ on the lifeboat ‘Vincent Wilkinson Kirkella’.
 
The minute book 1912-1916 has, in the back cover, mention of
 
Clifford De Carteret       age 29 of Cornet St.
Stephen De Carteret  age 36 also Cornet St.
 
27 October 1916, the Hon Sec, John Bougourd wrote At dark, a ketch of about 100 tons was reported on the west coast of the Island, seemingly under difficulties, but flying no signals whatsoever.  Wind SSE at about 30 miles per hour. Thought it advisable under circumstances of position & tide etc, to call crew & get boat in readiness which was done; all crew being present and spending night in boathouse from 7p.m. 27th to 7 a.m. 28th. I left them about 11p.m. 27th & was with them soon after 5 a.m. 28th till dismissed.
Both Stephen and Clifford were there. This was the RNLB ‘Arthur Lionel’
 
 14th March 1918, the Port Naval Authorities received a message from a French steamer ‘Jeanne Marie’ stating she had struck something and required assistance. 
The lifeboat crew were John Coombes, Henry Reynolds, Clifford de Carteret, William Mitchell, John Le Patourel, James Wallbridge Snr and Jnr, S. De Carteret, Elias Gallie, Louis Bourke, James Mitchell, W. Galpin, T. Le Cornu, H. Simon, Pearce and the signalman ashore was Henry Rich
 
26th September 1923  L/B Arthur Lionel went to assist  SS Balderton  The information was received by telegram - a sign of the changing times and improvements in communication. 
Priority Niton Wireless Station.  To Coxswain St. Peter Port Guernsey; 3.30 a.m. SS ‘Balderton’
 
The crew were John Coombes, J. Mauger, Fred Hobbs, W. Hobbs, L. Bourke, G. Le Poidevin, H. Pugh, A. Enevolsden, H. Harvey, C. Leggett, H. Mauger, H. Witterich, H. Jehan, and C. Le Carteret.
 
The very last shout for Arthur Lionel (the last pulling and sailing lifeboat at St. Peter Port) was on 24 September 1924. 
Telegram 1. From Niton Wireless Station to Lifesaving service, Coxswain Lifeboat St. Peter Port Guernsey.  Handed in at 3.35 p.m. Received here at 4.54 p.m. Following SOS received from SS Bosporus at 14 01 GMT Begins. Fire in hold I wish immediate help.  SS Bosporus position 49˚ 33’North 3˚15’ West.  Master Ends.  Vessels in vicinity are going to ship assistance. 
 
On board the lifeboat  were J. Coombes, J. Mauger, Fred Hobbs, Bill Hobbs, L. Bourke, L.G. Le Poidevin, W. Pugh, A. Envoldsen, O. Envoldsen, W. Harvey, C. Leggett, W, Mauger, H. Witterick, T. Le Cornu W. Jehan and the signalman ashore was C. De Carteret. ( From which I deduce he probably arrived too late to be on the boat).
 
 
The year 1929 saw a huge leap forward in response capability, with a new powered boat, Queen Victoria arriving on station on 27th October and carriage launching became genuine history for the Guernsey station. .  The lifeboat cost £10,481 and required a crew of 8.  John Coombes was duly appointed Coxswain, F.? (I’m convinced it was C)  De Carteret 2nd Coxswain and Arthur Stephens as Mechanic.
 
‘Queen Victoria’ was called into action on Monday December 2nd 1929 to attend the Canadian Transport.  Unfortunately for the long serving Coxswain John Coombes, he was not on board and the crew list was as follows: C. De Carteret, Paul, Farr, Enevolsden, Long, Bourke, Bell and Stephens.  The record shows they were paid £2.7s each and the signalman 10s. 
 
Now that is what I’d call a fabulous bit of History – in command of the first shout for the first powered lifeboat!
 
Only five days later, on 7th December, John Coombes took ‘his’ new lifeboat to sea for the first time ‘in anger’ as it were.  A report was received from the Southern and Great Western joint Wireless station at St. Peter Port that they had picked up a message at 6.55 a.m. to the effect that the SS Casmona of Genoa was in distress in position 59˚ 35N 3˚ 14 W.  The weather was squally, with a moderate visibility and the boat set out ‘under motive power’ at 7.30 am.  It was an eventful trip, with the wheelhouse windscreen glass being splintered, which must have been very worrying, though apart from this, the boat performed well.   The lifeboat proceeded to a point some 9-12 miles NNW of the island then returned, having seen no evidence of any ship and those on board convinced themselves that a disabled ship would have drifted towards them and should have been seen.  She was back on her mooring at 10.45 hrs having consumed 31 gallons of petrol and 1½ gall oil.  With Coxswain Coombes were C. De Carteret, F. Paul, R. Cole, C. Farr, L. Bourke, K. Bell and A. Stephens. 
 
 

Coal Bagger