Ben Bailey
Boatman and Lifeboatman
BEN BAILEY
Born 18th April 1918 Passed the Barr on
23rd August 1989
Pictures and stories on this page are from Ben Bailey's collection
They have been donated by his Daughter Coral, and are just a small part of Ben Bailey's life and history
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Ben Bailey comes from a well known seafaring family that has graced Deal Beach for many years. His uncle George was once a boatman on the beach, running the first motor boat "Quest" for the owners of the house called "Quest"
George Bailey joined the police force and Doc Bailey took over from him. Before coming to the beach "Doc" used to work in the brick fields, and tells how he used to cart thousands of bricks on barrows, a hard job but it kept the family fed.
Ben's father had a small shop in King Street called "Little Billingsgate" where he used to sell fish in the old days, this was taken over by Smith' the fish wholesalers from Peter street in the 1970's. Doc then went into partnership with Bob Osborne.
Between them they had six Double Scullers, and 50 Deck Chairs which were set behind windbreaks in the summer months, which added to their income, a Mecca for the visitor, who could sit comfortable on the beach in a deck chair, out of the wind, and watch the shipping and boats steaming through the Downs, most likely enjoying an ice-cream at the same time.
They also had the motor boat the "Prince of Wales" with this boat they pursued their living by taking out trippers in the summer months, and commercial fishing for Herring, Sprat and Cod, during the winter months.
The "Teddy Bear" was added to their fleet, and then the "Girlie" which was purchased new at a cost of £8.
In 1928 they bought the Galley "Undaunted" from Dickie Philpott, another well known fisherman on Deal beach at that period.
Dickie also owned the Motor Boat" Reform", It was a sad and sombre day when Dickie Philpott hung himself in his net loft, All his boats and gear were sold to Fido Bailey in 1930.
Doc Bailey used to pilot sailing barges into Ramsgate harbour, and used his galley for recovering anchors lost by ships.
"Doc" Bailey, was an outstanding figure in the old days, especially at regatta time when he took the Galley race first prize on most occasions.
Many Stories and tales of Heroism surround Doc Baily, too many to talk about, and like Doc bailey, Ben Bailey played his part in heroic and daring rescues on and around the tretourous Goodwin Sands and helping to save many ships and lives.
Ben had been involved with the North Deal and Walmer lifeboats for many years before the outbreak of war, he did many practice trips with the old boys and helped in most of the launches if his father was on board.
He was involved with the lifeboat at Walmer and started as a crew member under Coxswain Freddy Upton,
December 1961 saw him take the Coxswains' position on the Walmer Lifeboat when Freddie Upton Retired, his years of service took him on many rescues in terrible conditions, but he continued serving on the lifeboat for almost twenty one years and aided the saving 364 lives although it is impossible to know exactly how many other lives he saved when attending rescues as a youngster in his old mans boat.
His history could take hundreds of pages to converse, his wartime exploits in the galley Undaunted, his work in the 1953 floods, and the record catch of herrings that sank his boat, the exciting yet tragic rescues and adventurous times afloat. A character and well known boatman that has left an impressive mark on the beach and history of Deal.
Some of his recollections are placed here for all to read.
See Ben's Video on my YouTube Channel
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South parade 1897
1953 Floods
Bens Plots 1974
B Bailey; R Bailey; S Kennedy; A Ambrose
Galley with Ben and crew 1937
Ben 1954
South Parade 1970's
Ben and wife Betty
Ben and Coral Bailey Johney (Darkie)
Ben & Doc Bailey Ben's Sister and husband 1944
Ben at North Deal Beach 1938
Wednesday 18th January
The Walmer lifeboat launched in response to flares sighted from the Goodwin Sands, heavy seas were running in. The yacht "Leigh Hall" was in difficulties with 8 men aboard. Everything on board that was burnable was used as signal for flares, the vessel had also caught fire but was being kept under control by the crew. The yacht was refloated off the sands on her own and was towed to Ramsgate by the lifeboat. The yachts engine had broken down and her sails had blown away
The RNLI made extra awards to the lifeboat crew members of £1.18.6p . awards were also given to the seven crew of a fishing boat that were standing by for nine hours and aided towing the yacht off the sands .
Thursday 25th March
The Lowestoft fishing trawler "Flag Jack" went ashore at Kingsdown during the night.
August 1939
The Walmer lifeboat rescued a Jewish Refugee after he was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands whilst attempting to cross the channel in a small boat.
Jock Kennedy rescued a swimmer who had clung to the stem of a boat driven by George Fouet as it was steaming out.
Sunday 21st August
Many barrels of flour were salvaged by the boatmen, and started to spill out.
Sunday 11th September 1939
War was declared on Germany
The first air raid warning went off during the night the "Anthenia" was targeted.
Criticism of the use of shingle in sandbags in air raid shelters
20th September
A large explosion was heard and a column of water rose 50 feet into the air.
September 27th
The Walmer lifeboat was launched to the aid of the motor ketch "Halyon" of Hull. the lifeboat took her into the Ramsgate area where the casualty was transferred to the Ramsgate lifeboat.
October 7th
In the early morning the 6000 ton SS Mahratta bound from the East to London went aground on the Goodwin Sands, She had a general cargo of tea, hemp and jute with a value of about ten thousand pounds. Gravesend tugs attempted to pull her off. On Tuesday a great deal of her cargo was jettisoned but she stuck fast. High water on Wednesday saw the tugs try again, but still stuck fast she started to break up in the evening.
From 8am Wednesday the Lady Haig with Harry Meakins, Dave Pritchard and their crew stood by the vessel, by early afternoon there were signs of the ship straining ant at 4pm there was a tremendous explosion when her boilers blew up; a massive volume of steam and water came out of side and she started flooding. "Lady Haig and Tug" Challenger are in as close as possible, while the Lady Haig took the crew off. Heavy seas were breaking around the ship and the crew had to climb down a swinging ladder hanging from the bluff of the bows.
Upton's Skipjack took off a few of the crew, but the Lady Haig ferried seventy eight to the tug, the rescue was excitable but there were no mishaps except me (Ben Bailey) I fell from the lifeboat but wasn't badly hurt.
During one of the trips the Lady Haig was nearly capsize by a huge sea, ships lifeboats were loaded with the crews gear and were transferred to the tugs. Before the operation was completed darkness fell, making it more hazardous. D Pritchard was injured when a case hit him in the head, a corner of the case split his shoulder blade and bruised his arm, he was brought ashore.
During Thursday morning Deal boatmen and many others salvaged tea and bales of hemp as they were washed up along the shore. Large crowds gathered along the seafront and watched as the ship broke up. A school teacher in charge of evacuee scholars gave an impromptu lecture on the tea.
The first Mahratta a four masted steamer of the Broklebank line of Liverpool, went aground at 3.05 am on Good Friday 9th April 1909 and was totally wrecked. They found that the chief engineer Samuel Gibson had committed suicide some hours before. Salvage operations went on throughout Easter.
Thursday September 26th
The Shattered wreck of a German U Boat was found on the Goodwin Sands, there were no survivors and more than fifty dead were taken off her. It was believed that she was wrecked earlier by a depth charge and drifted onto the Goodwin Sands.
October 29th
I was aboard the Walmer lifeboat again and we assisted the steamer "Manjoni" of 4000 tons and the American ship "Cranford" of 6000 tons which were in collision in the channel, nobody was injured.
Friday December 8th
The French Coastal steamer "Dinard" was believed to have struck a mine and was slowly sinking by the bows, she was drifting helplessly in heavy sea's and was running towards the shore, narrowly missing the pier head. She eventually went down just to the North of the pier. Motor boats put off to aid the rescue, one boat rescued ten and on returning to the beach lost her stem chain, some of the French crew she had rescued jumped over her side and helped to pull her up the beach clear of the swells.
December 11th
The motor boats Ida and Minni Ha Ha went to the wreck of the "Kabinda" on the Sands, the Ida broke down on its way back and the Minnie Ha Ha couldn't find them. The crew of the Minnie Ha Ha decided to tie up to the steamer and spent the night aboard her, A Tug found the Ida during the night off Kingsdown
The "Kabinda" a South American ship was aided by the Walmer Lifeboat on Friday December 14th but the lifeboat returned to shore on Saturday morning. We returned to the Kabinda later on Saturday and took off 40 men it was a total dark night, another lifeboat took of the remainder of the crew. The crew had remained aboard her jettisoning cargo of cotton bales, to try and save the ship. She broke in half with a thunderclap early Sunday morning.
1940
January 16th 1940
We launched the Walmer Lifeboat and took 22 Italians off the ship "Premuda" which had run aground on the North Goodwin banks heavily laden near the Dunbar Castle.
Sunday 21st January
The Dutch Coaster "Nora" crashes into the pier after being mined earlier during the day. The explosion blew a large hole in her stern. The captain "L. Brinkman" and mate " H. Devrien" were badly gashed by glass, the cook "Hernda" who was badly injured was dragged from the demolished galley. Seaman "B. Abbas" was blown overboard and picked up by the patrol vessel after half an hour in the freezing sea, the same patrol vessel took off the rest of the crew, the cook was detained in hospital Tugs beached the Nora 50 yards South of the pier, but as the tide rose it slowly pushed her North along the beach and into the pier, seventy yards of the pier was destroyed.
Thursday 28th February
Dickie Lill and Mathew Hoile were fined ten shillings for selling plywood to Cavell's the builders the plywood was washed up from a wreck that foundered in the channel some days before.
Wednesday 6th March
An Italian coal ship is detained in the Downs and her cargo of coal is taken as a prize.
Wednesday 7th March
Amateur fishing is banned, only fishing at night is allowed and boatmen fishing for a livelihood is allowed providing they take their ordinary crew members only. It is rumoured that pleasure trips will be forbidden in the summer.
Sunday 21st April
A young Spanish stowaway jumps overboard from a steamer and tries to swim one and a half miles ashore but gets into difficulties. Walmer Lifeboat is launched but the man is picked up by a Norwegian ships boat, then transferred to the lifeboat and returned to the ship he jumped off. He claimed England was the only safe country to be in.
Saturday June 1st
Reports of intended evacuation of Deal's children. Paris was now taken and the defence of Calais enacted.
Saturday morning the motor boats, Gipsy King; Lady Haig; Rose Marie; Golden Spray and two other boats from the Dunbar Castle are towed to Dunkirk. These aided in the rescue work for forty eight hours, A pontoon with about one dozen soldiers on it got into difficulties and was knocked back ashore. Harry Brown jumped overboard and fastened a line to it and the occupants were towed to safety.
In the Golden Spray was 70 year old James O'Neil and with daylight fading a number of troops were waiting at the waters edge as they said they couldn't swim, O'Neil jumped into the sea and assisted them to the boat.
Sunday 2nd June
The evacuation of Deal children took place.
1941
Years ago £3000 was willed by William Bevan for the benefit of Deal and Broadstairs boatmen. After the removal of Broadstairs boat benefits' in 1912, Deal boats were consigned to receive the full benefits', in 1932 the Deal Lifeboat was removed from the beneficiaries entitled to a Bevan from services rendered at sea. The Walmer Lifeboat was proposed as being among those entitled to claim on the Bevan trust but this was strongly refused.. The trust was closed in the 1970's
1945
January 20th 1945
The RNLI awarded a vellum to acting Cox of the Walmer lifeboat Fred Upton for taking off 31 men from the American steamer aground on the Goodwin Sands in a gale with a wild sea and strong winds blowing. The lifeboat was alongside for one hour in which time the steamer was continually pumping out oil which washed aboard the lifeboat making the deck tretourous. During the journey back to shore with the crew of the stricken ship on board the lifeboat was being swept by huge seas and narrowly missed an old wreck.
February 17th
The Walmer lifeboat was called to the trawler Snakefly which had caught fire from her burning coals, she had drifted through 3 miles of anchored shipping luckily without mishap. The lifeboat returned with holes in her side, a broken rudder and stanchions hanging overboard
May 14th
Arrival of the replacement Walmer lifeboat "676 Langham"
June 11th
Took Doctor Hall to the US liberty ship the casualty was lowered down in a bosons' chair and transported to Deal Hospital
Lucky Star August 1961
July 8th 1945
Night search for survivors from the trawler "Nantace" after she sunk in a collision with the steamer near the North West Goodwin buoy, no survivors were found.
August Bank Holiday 1945
Crowds of people are watching the unloading of Jerry cans of petrol from the James Harrod which is beached by Deal Castle.
Fishing was excellent and in the glorious weather the demand for pleasure trips was insanity, boats were running trips from breakfast until dark.
Sunday 5th August
The "Fluor" a 1000 British collier stranded in the early hours upon the wreck of the Belgium Steamer "Flanders" which sank two miles offshore after a collision with the "Kabinda" during a blizzard in 1940. Freddie Upton went to her in the Rose Marie, the derricks, masts and spars of the Flanders stuck up all around her. the captain refused help, and before she refloated on the tide boatmen were running sightseeing trips around her.
August 11th
Walmer lifeboat spent 11 hours at sea going halfway to France and back twice in a North West gale with heavy sea's, looking for a barge that broke adrift from its tug during the night with four soldiers aboard
Promenade restoration, fleets of lorries, excavators, bull dozers and crawler tractors were bought in to clear the war defences, including extensive lines of tubular scaffolding along the beach; some of which was splendidly connected to vast fuel tanks buried in the shingle. Unknown to the inhabitants of Deal this operation "Fido" was to enflame the entire beach in the event of a landing by enemy craft.
Saturday 18th August
Launched in the Walmer Lifeboat to the American Liberty ship "William Kelly Howell" stranded on the Sands, she refloated before we reached her.
August 20th
Launched in the lifeboat to the SS Poznan on the Eastern edge of the sands, she refloated without assistance. there was streams of shipping passing through the downs.
August 26th
The Swedish three masted schooner "Elsie" loaded with building timber was aground on the Goodwin Sands.
September 2nd
Took Doctor Hall to HMS Fossbeck a bulk carrier and brought a seaman ashore with a fractured scull.
September 14th
Took Dr Hall to a sick pilot on the SS Dentmia a relief pilot was taken out as well, It was too stormy to bring the sick man ashore, he ha suffered a stroke. Nine service calls and one practice in four months.
Monday 24th September.
North West gale blowing and a heavy running sea, we took Dr Hall out on the lifeboat to the US liberty ship "Helen Hunt Jackson" which had a suspected Diphtheria casualty aboard, a long etch on the beach caused a delay in launching. She was a brilliantly floodlit ship which had come into anchor five miles off shore near the South Sands Head. When we came alongside the seas were huge, the first ladder lowered smashed but the doctor managed to climb the second ladder lowered, we stood by while Dr Hall managed the patient.
March 1962 Thorsheim Marer aground.
Nora South of the Pier 1944
Pier entrance in snow 1931
Ploughing Beach 1946 wreck of pier behind
Regatta cup 1923
Rescue race 1951
regatta race 1929
Rescue Race Cup 1927
Saxon 1929
Sea Farer ashore at Royal Hotel
Sept 1938 Regatta Ben Bailey 65 Beach st
South esplanade
spratting 1937
Taking out Trippers 1953
Undaunted 1
Undaunted Built in 1895
Walmer Lifeboat 1960's
Undaunted Built in 1895
1949
January 1st
New years Day saw terrific gales are raging The lifeboat takes two days supply of food out to the storm bound collier "The Baron" which is anchored 1.5 miles off shore, The store blowing is so severe that both lightships had strained from their moorings.
Wednesday January 25th
We launch the lifeboat at 11am to go to the aid of the 6,000 ton Italian tanker "Giacomo Matteotti" which is aground in fog 1.25 miles NNE of the South Goodwin Light. The motor boats "Carefree" and "Whynot" followed us out and assisted with kedging. Two Dover Harbour tugs also assisted, the vessel was refloated by 9:15pm. The vessel was bound for Hull with 8,000 tons of gas oil and 44 crew aboard.
February 18th to Tuesday March 1st
Severe gales caused extensive flooding, the sea breached the seawall at the North End and boats were washed across the parade to the other side.
Thursday March 31st
During the night the British steamer "Selskar" anchored in dense fog between the North Goodwin and the South Falls Buoy, she was run into by the "Swede Nordic" and holed on the port side. she took on so much water that she requested the services of the lifeboat.
Ramsgate went out , but in nil visibility was unable to locate the ship, her next known location was at 2:45am as she was passing the East Goodwin, still making water and proceeding at four knots for the nearest land. Walmer lifeboat launched at 3:08am to help search for the ship with the Dover tugs "Lady Brassey" and "Lady Duncan" joining the search. The next that was known was when the fog eased at about 6:30am, the ship was ashore opposite Walmer Castle some 250 yards out. deal boatmen who had been watching all night saw the rockets and raced to her assistance. Walmer lifeboat and tugs were notified by radio and soon joined the other boats. Agents from Dover were summoned and salvage work began. Despite repeated pumping she took on a heavy list to port, the starboard tanks were flooded to even her up and by Sunday at high water the tugs towed her off and took her to Dover harbour for repairs, the Walmer lifeboat stood by, returning to shore Sunday evening after 61hrs at sea.
July 7th
The council adapted a recommendation that a beach plot be let to P Harris-Mayer for operating a speed boat. Letters to the council from Mr J R Thomas MP, enclosing a letter signed by G Budd and all the Deal Boatmen and a letter signed by B Bailey owner of the motor boat "Carefree" the text of which I appointed.
"Would it be possible for you to see reps. of the boatmen as we would like to bring to your notice the consequences if the proposed speed boat is bought to Deal? As you know seven or eight boatmen have laid net sums of money in the region of a thousand pounds, money which in most cases represents their life savings, to provide deal with one of the finest selections of motorboats around the coast, we have had one previous experience of a speed boat and on that occasion all the other boats laid idle while the speed boat took the money.
We have during the last year had our ground rent increased to a very large sum and in our opinion we are in for one of the slackest seasons we have ever known. This coupled with the added competition of a speed boat will make it very difficult to pay currant expenses, much less enabling us to have the chance to reimburse ourselves for our original outlay.
The committee stated tat in regards to G Budds letter, no monopoly to run a speed boat had been granted or implied, it was open to anyone. The facts concerning Upton were, that in June 1947 he applied for a license to run a speed boat and wanted to know the councils reaction before he actually purchased the boat. The council agreed in principal to operating a speed boat between king street and Castle Road, and resolved that tender be invited from local licensed boatmen for the concession. Later a petition purporting to be signed by 37 boatmen was received asking the council to reconsider. It was subsequently learned that Upton did not prepare to proceed with his application and no further action was taken.
The Committee considered Ben Baileys temperate letter and appreciated a number of points made on behalf of the boatmen but they felt that there was a public demand for a speed boat, particularly among the younger generation and observed that no monopoly had been created. The committee stood by their initial decision. A further letter signed by 19 Deal boatmen said that if the speed boat was allowed, they would boycott the more important fishing festivals in the Autumn and withdraw their boats from the regatta. Councillor Cavell defended the boatmen, adding, that there will be no crew to man Walmer lifeboat, The boatman's license wasn't granted but the boat license was.
Thursday July 28th
The Carefree left Deal beach at 12 noon to try and meet the Viking ship "Hugin" as they made a historic visit to Broadstairs 1500 years after the first landing, thanks to good seamanship and timing they were successful.
The Danish boat was first sighted 2.5 miles off Ramsgate, a fine sight, with red and white striped square sail amidships and filled with a good breeze. The sun was gleaming on the varnished timbers and gilded prow and stern. Sixty feet in length and the gunwales lined with shields and the crew dressed in full regalia of the times, steel helmets and accoutrements of war, brightly covered cloaks. The men were all blonde, bearded and sun burnt, they kept within a few yards of the Danes at all times, boats of all sorts even Tommy Upton's galley
August 26th
This years regatta was boycotted by the boatmen as promised over the Haris-Marges speed boat affair.
During the Summer Harris got round the fact that he hadn't been a successful against the boatmen. He was offering free rides if the public bought a postcard, however the council said, that under the terms of the beach plot license he wasn't allowed to sell postcards, Harris countered by offering free rides, and said I believe only if money is taken do the boatmen need a license.
October 23rd
The weather started off calm for the Deal angling clubs boat festival, but by noon the South cone was hoisted for a predicted gale. The wind freshened quickly an outcome that the boats, especially the punts, were going to have a tricky time getting ashore. Boats were being tipped over and flung up upon the beach by the swells, the occupants being cast out into the surf. Soon there was a huge crowd of 200 to 300 people watching the boatmen now soaking wet, saving people from the surf. The last punt coming ashore was nearly a tragedy, Ben had towed them to the shore with the carefree, after they had dragged anchor for nearly a mile, when they rowed ashore that were caught by a large breaking sea and spun stern around bow, trapping them under the following sea, another sea completely engulfed the boat and upturned it, onlookers waded in up to their necks to get the occupants to safety. One received artificial respiration before being rushed to hospital.
Dear Sir, as many of the angler taking part in the sea angling festival organised by the Deal 1919 angling club, on behalf of the Dreadnoughts S.A.S , I am quite sure on behalf of all sea anglers taking part in the festival and wish to place on record our appreciation of the fine seamanship skill and courage displayed by the Deal boatmen under difficult circumstances on Sunday last.
To these boatmen, the helpers at the winches and all members of the police and public who assisted to run the boats up the beach with only minor casualties "Thank you" I was acute discomfort for the people who stood at these winches for hours in the pelting rain that our lives depended, and their quickness and skill, and it would be ungrateful in the extreme if some of us did not try to place our thanks on record.
As one who has been messing about in boats for the past 50 years and possibly able to appreciate the finer points of seamanship, it is very obvious that the deal boatmen are still what they have been for many years, the finest in the world.
yours sincerely
Jack Best Hon Sec. Dreadnoughts SAS
Photos were in the Daily Herald.
Sunday 11th December
The Walmer lifeboat was summoned at 3am from Distress rockets fired at 2.40am from a coaster at the back of the Sands. It was 2 hours after high water with a long soft 'itch under the high water bank, the lifeboat got stuck on launching, she was eventually started being hauled to sea by the warps that were anchored seaward, suddenly one of the warps snapped and the lifeboat was knocked broadside on by a huge sea, the crew leapt overboard and rove a chain aft to haul her back ashore for another attempt. Some of the crew were up to their necks trying to reeve the chain through. half an hour later everyone was back aboard and in soaking wet clothes on their way to the last position that the coaster gave, *.5 miles ESE of the East Goodwin Lightship with a dangerous list, being helpless they would soon abandon the ship, Her position was found near the Sandette Bank.
The first ship to reach the Dutch casualty "Toornvliet" was the Danish ship "Cimbria" at 3:30am, the Cimbria reported trying to help by lying too on the weather side, later the Cimbria said she had rescued three of the crew of nine and another six were in the sea somewhere. The Toornvilet sank at 5:45am after lying half submerged for sometime, at breakfast time an Irish steamer reported two ships lifeboats upturned and wreckage, but not a sign of life. All the time the Dover and Walmer lifeboats and two Dover tugs had been searching up and down the banks, but found nothing. Walmer lifeboat beached around 10am after a 45 mile search in high seas.
Helena Mojeska on the Goodwins
Beach House Hotel
Ben Bailey late1970's
The Carefree 1960's
Walmer Lifeboat 1960's
1951
Tuesday May 15th
Lifeboat launched to Turkish steamer "Rusen" though to be aground on the Goodwins in thick haze but was found to be safe just outside the sands. Lifeboat returned to shore, Upton was injured when the hawsers tightened and knocked him down lacerating both legs. Lifeboat launched again at 6pm to a small yacht drifting over the sands, the skipper had put off in a small sailing dingy to get some petrol, the lifeboat picked him up then went and towed the yacht to a safe position.
Worked on the "James Harrod" through the summer.
Monday June 18th
A stream of French trawlers passed through the Downs at 4pm "L'Angelus De La Mer" of Boulogne struck the submerged "Dinard" and was badly holed, the skipper beached her south of the coastguard station. The coastguard fixed the breeches buoy just in case and Deal boatmen lead by Doc Baily in the "Carefree" began necessary salvage operations. She was warped towards the high water mark during the evening and by 2am Bob Able started on the repairs when the tide fell away. She was completed by 7.30am and refloated on the rising tide.
Wednesday July 18th
Two RN Frigates "Coch Alvie" and "Loch Kilispart" visit Deal. Deal boats acted as Liberty boats without charging. They left the following Wednesday. Boatmen had something of a hey day with trippers for the first part of the stay.
On the Monday 560 Deal school children were taken out and had free run of warships supplied with jam tarts and lemonade.
Boatmen were invited aboard on the final day for a vote of thanks and a large tot of rum,
Late July
A young grey seal waddled up the beach, boatman Harry Pearson tried to shoe it back but in the end he picked it up and put it in one of his rowing boats and set off for the Bank Buoy. It flopped around but finally settled down with its head in his knee, about a mile out he grabbed it by the flippers and threw it overboard. It disappeared from sight, he rowed a few boat lengths toward the shore when he heard it grunting and barking and looking over the stern he saw it following him almost under his boat.
Tuesday September 4th
The 27ft yacht "Buckaboo" was cruising from Calais to Dover when they encountered heavy weather, one man was knocked against the rail and injured his chest, they steamed up to the East Goodwin Lightship to ask for medical assistance to be sent out. Walmer lifeboat was launched with Dr Hall aboard, but while waiting for the lifeboat to arrive the yacht suddenly exploded, the crew jumped in their dingy and were lucky to escape. The rowed to the lightship and were helped aboard, then on arrival of the lifeboat transferred and taken ashore.
Thursday September 13th
The lifeboat launched at 10:30am to search in torrential rain, for the pilot of and American Thunderjet, that had crashed into the sea near the South Goodwin Buoy. Nothing was found and the lifeboat returned to shore six hours later.
August 1951
The summer season had been very poor owing to continuous rain on most days and people not visiting the town to go out on boat trips
Herring season was about to start and it looked like being a bleak one.
Saturday November 24th
The maroons were fired to summon the lifeboat following a wireless message from the 1,000 British SS "Captain Andrew" requiring immediate Tug aid, giving her position near the South Goodwin Lightship. The weather was bad with winds gusting to ninety miles an hour from the South West.
Fred Upton the Cox took almost two hours to bring the lifeboat out to the vessel against the tide heavy seas and terrific wind. A journey that normally took less than an hour.
The ship was found lying at too with two anchors down. Steering slow ahead between the lightship and the sands.
The seas were breaking high over her decks and despite all her efforts to head the wind and tide she was still slowly driving astern towards the sands.
The lifeboat tried to get a heaving line aboard her, but we were constantly blown back by the strong winds, so it was decided to try the new rocket firing line that we had aboard. Designed by Mr A J Shermuly of Kingsdown, who's firm had been experimenting with them.
We tried this rocket out in the worst conditions possible, and everyone fired found its target. the crew of the Captain Andrew caught the first line fired and made a two inch rope fast to the line ready for passing to the tug Lady Brassey which had arrived on the scene. The Tug hauled in the rope and attached her wire to it so the crew of the Captain Andrew could haul it aboard ready to effect a tow, The tug started to tow the vessel, when she suddenly let go of the wires and made all headway towards St Margaret's. The sea had become so rough the tug was herself in danger and decided to leave the distressed vessel and run for shelter, for fear of her to becoming a casualty of the sea..
The sea was running at a terrific height when suddenly the lifeboat was submerged by a huge cliff of water, the worst we had ever experienced. The tug and ship were tossed around like toy boats, struggling for half an hour the tug made no headway to the shore, then luckily the wind eased and the tide came through calming conditions down a bit.
We managed to put Bill Bailey and Lardy Dadd aboard the vessel with the hopes of getting the ship clear of danger under her own power, minutes passed like hours, when suddenly under full power the ship started teaming at full power straight towards the lightship, a collision was narrowly averted as the engines were put full astern. The ships anchors were weighed and the Captain Andrew slid away from danger and was going round in circles, eventually the tug managed to tow her into the Downs and anchor her. The lifeboat returned ashore at 7am Sunday morning. Fred Upton said he was wondering if they would ever return at all as they had never experience weather like it.
1952
Sunday January 13th
The lifeboat was called just after 11pm to the 4,000 ton French freighter "Agen", the visibility was poor with driving rain and strong winds, we were unable to get an accurate position of the vessel. we searched along the inside edge of the sands then put about into the teeth of the storm and continued searching towards the South Goodwin. We finally spotted a faint red flare, fred Upton turned the lifeboat and tried to go straight across the sands to the position of the flare, but the seas were so bad in the shallow water he turned back and went round the outer edge of the sands. It took five hours to locate and reach the ship, fourteen times Upton tried to get alongside the wreck which had now broken in half, we managed to get alongside her but we were being crashed against her hull really bad and the seas were breaking right over the wreck, and every huge sea lifting us above her deck there was a danger of the lifeboat being flung onto her deck.
We stood off and waited until 6am then we steamed through the thirty foot gap between the two parts of the vessel with jagged metal sticking out everywhere. We managed to gain a secure hold on her hull and the Frenchmen slid down ropes and were hauled up into the lifeboat. The skipper refused to leave the ship so Upton returned to shore with the 38 rescued crew and two passengers, one of whom had an injured back.
We refuelled the lifeboat and launched again to the wreck, this time the skipper was prepared to leave the wreck he was "Captain Maurice Landrenu", We returned ashore at 10:30 am after 11 hard hours.
At sometime the 17,598 ton Panamanian tanker "Sovac Radiant" stranded bow in to the cliffs with seas breaking clean over her, she was eventually pulled clear by salvage vessels in the morning of the following day.
The Agen was bound from Dakar to Hamburg with a deck cargo of mahogany and below decks cotton and coffee.
By early Tuesday much of the bulks of timber were drifting about in the channel. Trinity House sent a vessel to retrieve as many as possible as they were a danger to shipping.
The Agen is the fourth wreck in the area since the war ended, and the part of the South sands where these vessel foundered was named "Calamity Corner", The four vessel that lie here are the "Luray Victory" the "Ira" the " Santagata" the "Agen" counting the NE Victory and the Silvia Onorato, the lifeboat has saved 245 people from major shipwrecks in a three mile area since the end of the was.
Fred Upton was to get a bar together with a silver medal and all the crew received medals from the French lifeboat service.
Saturday August 2nd
The Calais bound cabin cruiser "Peredith II" broke down off Kingsdown and drifted ashore, the Sunbeam with Frank Arnold Ben Bailey and the Dadd's towed it back to Ramsgate.
Monday September 8th
The 1952 Regatta rescue race was won by Ben Bailey.
Severe thunderstorms accompanied by four inches of rain in seven hours caused extreme flooding in Deal.
Surprisingly the summer season was another lean one for the boatmen.
Thursday November 27th
Ben and the rest of the Walmer lifeboat crew go to the French Embassy to receive medals for their part in the rescue of the crew from the Agen.
1953
January 1st
The council discussed the possible dredging of the Brake sands.
Saturday January 10th
In dense fog at dusk the Costa Rican tanker "Aster" and the French freighter "Fauzon" collided fourteen miles East of Deal, midway between the East Goodwins and the Sandette. Walmer lifeboat launched at 5:15am and steamed in nil visibility straight across the sands, reaching the casualties in slowly clearing weather two hours later. The tanker was hit deep amidships and the Fauzon's bows were smashed back upwards. Ben Bailey saw three cows in the bows of the Fauzon. The lifeboat returned fourteen hours later soaked in crude oil
Sunday February 1st
The worst floods in living memory hit the Town, a WNW gale bought huge seas crashing over the seafront and down all the side streets, much damage was done to the seawall and promenade. huge chunks of the promenade some seven to eight feel long were flung hundreds of yards by the sea. Shingle swept into the roads and gardens, the beach itself was totally stripped of shingle and was scoured out down to the hard.
The Royal Hotel's outer and inner windows were smashed and the sea came rushing through.
Sandown Castle remains took a hammering with some of the ancient stone being unearthed a n flung everywhere. People in Sandown Road were drenched by the sea crashing over their roofs. The sea poured the promenade for four hours. and caused terrific subsidence in Harold Road.
Many sheep and cows perished in the country as a result of the flooding after the River Stour's banks had been breached. A local farmer Mr Burch lost 187 sheep. Altogether 7,000 acres of arable land was ruined and will only be able to grow grass for the next five years.
Many of the newly constructed houses in North Deal Estate were flooded to a depth of 3 feet. Workmen on the Ethelbert Road houses found a herring 300 yards from the sea. High Street shops were badly flooded. Most of the boats were taken off the beach and put down the side streets for safety.
Margate and Whitstable faced the full brunt of the storm and Margate's lighthouse at the end of the pier crashed into the sea. later in the day property belonging to various Kent towns, such as deck chairs, tables etc. was seen floating near the Goodwins.
The country districts surrounding Deal were more flooded, several days later and all the flood water soaked westwards. A dead sheep was found twelve feet up an apple tree.
Sandwich and Deal road was under several feet of water and wasn't opened to traffic until March 12th.
Monday April 26th
A Boulogne trawler runs into the wreck of the Denard, Walmer lifeboat towed it off .
Sunday May 3rd
The lifeboat launched to the Everard coaster "Andity" the cook had injured his back in heavy seas, the coaster steamed to the Bank Buoy to meet the lifeboat which had Dr Hall on board, the casualty was transferred and bought ashore for treatment.
Sunday May 24th
Following a hot Saturday dense fog shut in just after dark, the maroons were fired. The lifeboat launched at 2:30am to search for survivors which had abandoned the Swedish ship "Andaman" they were floating about in the Downs in the ships lifeboats, the men were found and picked up by a British coaster and transferred to the Dover Lifeboat, on the way home the lifeboat saw a tame pigeon and part of the wreckage that was floating about from the wreck, we were out for six hours.
Thursday June 11th
The Frigate "Tintagel Castle" visited Deal during coronation week. Boatmen didn't do very well tripping as the weather was extremely bad.
September 2nd and 3rd
Regatta results. Paddle punt race; 3rd J Middleton; and D Fishlock as cox at 9 years old
Doc Bailey wins the galley race.
It is another lean year for the boatmen, although it appears that angling parties are picking up.
Monday 19th October
East Kent lifeboats including Walmer search for a pilot from an Empire jet that crashed into the sea near the East Goodwin Lightship, nothing was ever found.
November 30th
The best herring season for 20 years but prices were very low.
Friday December 4th
Frank Arnold Dies. The Walmer lifeboat had to take the Xmas fare to the Lightships because the weather was so rough and conditions were bad.
This is the Diary of Ben Bailey written in his own hand and accounts of his own acts and witness
1910
The Schooner "Antonio Julia" went aground on the Goodwin's, H. Bailey and Harry Meakings were in the Deal boat "Little Teaser" whilst being towed out to the schooner their boat sank, all were rescued.
1937
In the nineteen thirties the increase in the population and the influx of the miners made Deal the main shopping centre of the district
1937 Easter Sunday
Two young men tried to canoe to France but a North West storm came in and caught them by surprise, exhausted from their struggle to return to land they managed to reach the South Goodwin Lightship, just as their canoe sank and threw them into the icy water. Lightship men threw them ropes and managed to get them aboard.
An SOS was sent out from the South Goodwin, this was picked up in Deal and the motor boat Lady Haig put to sea, within the hour and was alongside the South Goodwin Lightship where she took off the two canoeist, a lengthy search for the canoe proved fruitless and the Lady Haig returned to Deal Beach.
1937 Saturday 10th April
Deal boats were launched and went to the aid of the German steamer Sudsee from Bremerhaven which was aground on the Goodwin Sands. After standing by for several hours the Deal boats assistance wasn't required, The steamer was lucky as on the following high tide she refloated and continued on her passage.
8th May 1937
A new sailing boat with an auxiliary engine called the "Pozz" was launched at Walmer, she was 17 feet long and the first boat of its kind to be built at Deal for 28 years, The boat was built by Shilson and constructed from wood.
May 27th 1937
An Hysterical Alsatian was saved from the sea. Mrs C Kellingly, a well known Deal Swimmer jumped into the sea and managed to throw a towel around the distraught animal, she bought the Alsatian in and it was taken to Deal Police station where it was calmed and made comfortable.
25th August 1937
George Budd and Harry Pitcher saved a young man a young woman and two children, which were swept under the pier in the boat they were in, and became trapped in the steelwork.
Deal Regatta in August sees Ben Bailey win the Skiff race for the third year running. In the one oared paddle punt race Ben Bailey beat Fred Upton by two feet. In the Galley race Tommy Upton lost his mast and sail over the side leaving Doc Bailey to take the cup.
King George VI Coronation took place and a huge shark was landed by Lardy Dadd.
1938
For the past six years the Mayor Percy Davis had run a boatman's fund to help see them through the winter months
5th January 1938
A strike at the Deal canning factory in Sandown Road over appointing a new manager ended, on the Thursday morning when it was threatened that all the fish would be sent elsewhere, the factory closed. Two hundred people working there at the time lost their jobs this was caused by a Mr Boxall
Saturday 15th January 1938
A letter concerning the dispute over paying of Bevan Trust money. the writer (J.W.Johnston) illustrated his argument with several examples of refusal claims.
1 = The East Goodwin Lightship wirelessed that it had been struck by a steamer, a motor boat launched from the beach immediately, it was 9pm and thick fog, Thinking the lightship might be sinking in the dark the motorboat crossed the Goodwin Sands putting the boat and men at great risk. On hauling up to the lightship it was discovered that the bows of the vessel had been severely damaged but the Lightvessel was otherwise safe. The lightship men expressed their thanks and afterwards sent a written letter of thanks to the boatmen involved, this letter was handed to the town clerks office as a claim made for a Bevan award. No award was given
2 = A motor boat rescued the crew and belongings from a yacht in difficulties, the yacht was anchored close to Deal pier on a summer day during the night a heavy North East Gale got up and the yacht was blown ashore and broke up on the beach. No awards were given to those that gave assistance.
3 = On various occasions local boats launched to assist steamers that had become stranded on the sands, when it transpired that their help wasn't required on these occasions, no awards were given to the men that went to assist in their boats. Yet if the lifeboat assisted it received grants from the institution.
January 15th 1938
Reports of heavy catches of Sprats during the week, some were so great that help was given from the shore to relieve the crews of over laden boats. On Monday Harry Upton landed a catch of ten last, (100,000 fish)
Early Thursday morning boatmen were concerned as fellow boatmen Tom Upton and John Revell hadn't come back from a fishing trip. Fellow boatmen were in the throws of putting to sea to search for them when flares were seen some distance out to sea.
A Deal boat which arrived on the scene, two of its crew were Upton's, found them in a heavily laden and half filled condition and many nets were still in the water filled with fish. The lifeboat was also on standby. Sprats were finding a ready market at the local canning factory at three shillings a bushel.
Saturday February 12th 1938
Heavy sea's and an exceptional high tide caused by a severe North West gale, led to all the boats being hauled off the beach, tons of shingle was thrown up onto the parade, it was the worst storm for many years, one of the Budd's boats was holed when it was flung onto a lamp post.
March 25th 1938
Thursday 3.30pm The lifeboat was launched to the assistance to a steamer the " Helena Margareta" which had been in collision in thick fog two and a half miles off Kingsdown. The lifeboat was ordered to stand by. In another collision at the same time the 10,000 ton liner "Wairangi" collided with the 959 ton steamer "Peter Havtifield" she sank just after the collision, the crew were saved by the "Wairangi"
Tuesday 5th April 1938
Fred Roberts and H and B bailey launched in the "Golden Spray" at 1.30pm. Fred saw a steamer turn about in the Downs and thought the steamer might need assistance. Arriving alongside the steamer the "Delare" of Helsingford, the captain of the ship said he had seen a body in the sea. After half an hours searching Fred Roberts found the body and picked it up. Doctor Hall said it was a middle aged Asiatic man, he was later named as Charles Patrick Byme, engineer off the M.V.Sway that sank at the mouth of the Thames on March 3rd.
June 24th 1938
The Cutty Sark passes through the downs on its last trip up towards the Thames
The yacht "Pozz" was dismasted and drifting towards the sands during a race, she bumped the sands and was rescued by the Lady Haig whose crew were; R. Brown, J.Brown, E. May and W. Bailey
July 11th 1938
HMS Cornwall was anchored off Deal
Sunday 31st July 1938
The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert with the King and Queen aboard and two princesses anchored off Deal Pier, this was a good bounty for the local boats that were taking trippers out.
The regatta saw Doc bailey win the Galley sailing race;
Ben bailey was second in the galley rowing race;
Doc Bailey was second in the Foresail and mizzen punt race in the "Teddy Bear"
Ben Bailey just took the win from Kennedy in the Skylark
Doc Bailey was third in the Rescue race
1939
Tuesday 10th January
Record Catches of Sprats landed. Boats are coming ashore laden with fish twice during the day. 817 bushels landed this morning and 266 bushels landed this afternoon, 2000 Sprats to the bushel. British fish canners are taking the fish and say 5/16th of the fish they are taking is coming from Deal.
11 cart loads in 5 bushel box's went to Folkestone for shipment to France.
Ben in a skiff 1927
Carefree 1951
Carefree 1960's
Ben coming ashore 1960's
Deal Regatta 1931
Dickie Lill and Harry Brown 1973.
Fred Upton; Jim Hickman; Norman Smith
Fred Upton-Percy Cavell- Ben Bailey.
Golden Spray 1937.
Doc Bailey 1939
Doc & Ben Bailey 1949
Hauling up 1960's
Lady Irene and Doc Bailey.
Launchinh a punt 1932
Walmer Lifeboat 1960's
1945 Pen writing sent to Ben, by Sgt. T Arnold from Stalag Luft.3 Germany
How I long to hear the sea again
As it beats against the shore.
To see the mains'l swing aloft
And pull the creaking oar.
To fill my lungs with fresh sea breeze
And drench myself with spray.
As we beat away to the grey Bank Buoy
On a blustery Autumn day.
Or rise at dawn in summer fine
And sail to the lobster grounds.
To have on board a loaded pot
From the depths of the rocky sound.
And then to rest and gaze awhile
At sun's gold laden beam.
A heavenly spotlight from above
Gilding the salt green streams.
When the gales roar and the sea runs high
The horizon lost from sight.
And the sea and sky merge into one
With day as black as night.
All this is life itself to me
And I in Europe's hand.
Cry not for life itself again
For sea instead of land.
The Downs that classic stretch of sea
Is calling I can hear.
I'll return across the maize of land
For I need the sea so dear.
---------------
Tuesday 2nd October 1945
Early morning the American liberty ship "W R Grace" ran aground after mistaking the East Goodwin for the South Goodwin, Walmer lifeboat put to sea and put J.Rich and R. Thomas aboard her, the ballast tanks were emptied and the tug "Lady Duncannon" managed to pull her off on the rising tide.
Thursday October 11th
It was 6.45 am the lifeboat and Rose Marie went to the Danish timber ship "Birte" of 1700 tons, Through bad visibility the two boats had to feel and trace their way through shallow water across the banks to get to the ship, we put out a kedge anchor which held her firm until the rising tide floated her off.
Friday October 12th
The lifeboat, Rose Marie and the Golden Spray went to the assistance of the "SS Magna" which was hard aground in thick fog on the Eastern edge of the Goodwin sands between the East Goodwin and the South Goodwin. We managed to get a kedge out which held her until the tide rose and she floated off without damage.
November 24th
It was 6pm when we launched in the lifeboat and the Golden Spray launched to go to the 8000 ton "Leland Stanford" which had 550 homeward bound yanks on board, bound for New York from Antwerp. She grounded on the sands four hours before low water. Salvage operations began around midnight, an entangled wire was around her rudder and screw. We ran out a one ton kedge anchor to hold her as the tide rose, she started to heel over as the tide fell, but managed to stay in a safe condition. As the tide rose the bow swung outwards towards the kedge anchor then the kedge wire parted and the ships engines stopped.
Walmer Lifeboat did 66 service launches during the war. Two more ships strand on the Goodwin's within a few minutes of each other about 100 yards apart.
Friday December 1st
The lifeboat launched about midnight to the 9000 ton American "SS Uso" also the motor boat Golden Spray and a Dover Harbour tug to aid the vessel. At 9am on Saturday morning the "Uso" refloated.
Another ship the French Collier "Andre Thrie" was a 36 hour vigil, she was eventually knocked off the sands by a huge sea, being alongside her at the time the lifeboat was knocked broadside on, throwing Bill Willis overboard he was nearly crushed between the ship and lifeboat, a very narrow escape.
1946
Wednesday 27th February
Launched the Lifeboat to assist the American Liberty ship "AM-Mermor" which was ashore on the outer edge of the Goodwin Sands between the East and South Goodwin Lightships, the vessel refloated on her own two hours after we arrived on the scene.
We had just returned to shore when the maroons were fired again, the lifeboat was hauled up the beach turned round on the turntable and launched again at 9am.
The American liberty ship "Luray Victory" had run aground in almost the same spot as the "AM Mermor" which refloated an previously. Efforts to get the ship refloated on the next rising tide failed so we stood by with the lifeboat all night.
Two Dover tugs, the Lady Brassey and the Persia arrived on the scène and stood by. Salvage efforts resumed on the rising tide.
Thursday morning saw conditions really rough following a recent gale, both the ship and lifeboat were taking a heavy buffeting in the broken surf. The vessel finally broke her back and cracked in several places, so the crew of forty nine were taken off and brought ashore, the vessel became a total loss.
Friday March 1st
Terrible blizzards of snow and sleet with hard frosts and high winds hit the coast, the worst weather so far this winter and the heaviest snowfall for seven years. Seas were running really high and many vessels were anchored off Deal, including the Orient Liner "Otranto"
The two Dover tugs and the lifeboat searched all night for the Spanish steamer "Rio De Comme" which was reported in distress near the Goodwin Sands. Despite a 50 mile search area no trace of the vessel was found. The rescue vessels all returned to base, and we just about had time for a cup of coffee before a call to launch was made again.
The vessel was found anchored fifty yards from the sands after being stranded on them. Two small lifeboats hung down her side and the crew with their belongings were on her deck. The Lady Brassey towed her to Dover harbour where she later sank.
Monday 24th March
Thick swirling fog enveloped the Downs over night with less than 200 yards visibility. Just after 8pm the maroons summoned the lifeboat. We launched to the American Liberty ship "J P Pre" which was ashore under the cliffs near the South Foreland. She was homeward bound from Bremerhaven, and became completely lost three miles off the coast. The Golden Spray had also launched to help search for the vessel. Fog shrouded the length of the rock strewn coast, and it was a dangerous task. We eventually found the ship, pointing straight at the cliffs some thirty yards from the shore, all around her were rocks just inches below the surface. Two Dover boats had found her and scrambled aboard and run out a large kedge anchor. After a wait of three hours for the tide to rise they finally pulled the ship off and anchored her in deep water to await surveys. We returned on the lifeboat Tuesday morning at 4am.
We were called out again on Tuesday afternoon to a small ship reported on the sands near the wreck of the Luray Victory, but nothing was found.
April
April was an unbelievably warm and sunny month with lovely weather, Crows of people visited the seafront, and all the motor boats were kept busy with angling and tripping parties.
May 13th
We launch the lifeboat to take Dr. Hall out to a cattle ship, one of the crew condition was really bad.
May 30th
At 4am the tanker "Nuculana" loomed out of the fog and hit the tug "Nancy Moron" cutting her clean in half. The tug was towing a mudhopper and had been anchored near the South Goodwin Lightship, she sank in two minutes and had no time to launch her boats. The crew of nineteen threw themselves into the sea, the tankers launched its boats and picked up all but six of the crew.
July 29th
The lifeboat launched at 2am to the "Hildand" a four ton pleasure yacht which was on passage from Kiel to Portsmouth with a crew of four onboard, she was found partly disabled and waterlogged near the Goodwin's. We put a tow line on her and towed her to Ramsgate, the wind was strong and the sea rough with heavy rain falling.
Wednesday August 7th
In the evening the 7,000 ton American Liberty ship "James H Price" went aground off Deal she and another ship the "Ayen E Smith" were making for the Downs when both vessels suddenly swung round and made straight for the shore. Deal Coastguards signalled the danger to them but the "James H Price" couldn't stop in time and grounded. We launched the lifeboat and boarded her, and had great difficulty in getting back ashore in the tremendous heavy seas. The vessel refloated at 10pm. An 80 mile an hour South West gale was blowing at the time.
Thursday 12th September
The 7,000 ton American Steamer "Helena Majeska" ran aground on the Goodwin's in the afternoon. Repeated efforts to refloat her failed and she was still stuck fast a week later, the vessel was loaded with Trucks and tractors etc. We took twenty crew off in the lifeboat on Friday, The ships captain William Carran committed suicide in Ramsgate in the Hotel.
Friday 20th September
A one hundred mile an hour hurricane was blowing, the worst for forty years, Early afternoon the Roton Barge "Monarch" bound from the Thames to Torquay with a crew of three signalled for help in the Downs. we launched the Lifeboat and towed the barge to Ramsgate, the crew were all suffering from seasickness.
The "Helena Mojeska" finally broke in two, dozens of trees blew down and the fruit trees in the orchards were stripped clean of their fruit, Telephone poles and lines blew down.
October 11th
The steamer "Fort Vermillian" was refloated after she jettisoned her cargo of iron ore.
October 19th
A start was made on clearing the many wrecks that lie in the Downs
October 23rd Wednesday
The stern half of the "Helena Mojeska" refloated after being aground on the Goodwin Sands for forty days. The front part of the wreck was refloated on Monday and towed to Sandown and beached in the bay.
October 27th
We launch the lifeboat and rescue two miners in the "Kittiwake"
Sunday December 1st
The 1919 Angling club held its first boat festival for eight years, nearly one ton of fish was landed. Commercially large shoals of sprats had arrived in the Downs and heavy catches were being made.
Tuesday December 3rd
One small boat landed over 80,000 fish, a welcome addition to our austently diet which was also supplemented by good catches of Cod and Whiting
December 16th
The "Empire Kinsman" went ashore at Deal Castle at 8.30am the lifeboat stood by until the vessel refloated on the high tide unaided.
December 31st
The Rose Marie locates cargo from the American Freighter "NE Victory" which was wrecked on Christmas Eve and stuck fast on the Goodwin Sands and had split in half. Her cargo of food including 10,000 cases of Grapefruit, flour, cotton and rice. the cargo was washing ashore and customs officers posted warnings notices to stop the plunder.
Ryeland was sent for trial regarding a theft from the Helena Mojeska after she was towed into Sandwich Bay.
1947
March 8th
The 7,000 ton Greek ship "Ira" bound for Antwerp from the US with 4,000 tons of coal onboard ran aground on the Goodwin's in the early morning. Thirty four crew were taken off by the lifeboat and the vessel broke her back, one of the heavy derricks fell down and showered the Lifeboat with metal.
June 6th
Hundreds of Porpoises were seen off Deal. Complaints of heavy explosions in the downs when wrecks were being disposed of, were causing damage to properties ashore.
June 10th
Salvage operations are finally completed on the fore part of the Helena Mojeska and she has been towed away to the Blackwater.
After frequent requests for immediate removal of the Pier wreckage, the minister of transport said it did not constitute a navigational danger.
August 4th
Jim Clark went for a row in Tom Upton's sculler and ran foul of piles at the head of the pier and lost both oars, a shout of help was heard by Dickie Lill and W Williams who launched the "Lancashire Lass" with a spare set of sculls.
August 8th
The Carefree was built by W Shilson at the rear of 117 High Street.
August 16th
The Royal Navy party from Hythe towed in a sea mine and rendered it harmless.
September 3rd
The deal Regatta was revived it was brilliant weather this Wednesday although a fresh Northerly wind was blowing.
Thursday September 4th
The day started hazy with no wind, but it freshened up from the North during the day, Ben Bailey won the one oared race in the "Lancashire Lass" Fred Upton coming second. Bailey was unplaced in the rescue race.
Tuesday September 9th
We launched the lifeboat to the yacht "Anulet" which was in trouble off St Margaret's with torn sails and engine failure, she was towed to Ramsgate.
During the summer divers salvaged lead ingots from the NE Victory the first time divers had ever been used. Silt had to be blasted out with compressed air each time so that they could reach the 100lb ingots, work started on this in April.
1948
Friday January 2nd
The 2,327 ton Italian steamer "Oronato" bound from Rijeka in Yugoslavia to Rotterdam carrying 2,933 tons of Plumbago was spotted aground at 2.50 pm by the Coastguard when the fog lifted. The maroons were fired and caused pandemonium among the local spratters, who buoyed their nets and hurried ashore, leaving other boatmen to recover the nets.
The lifeboat launched at 3.20pm, nine minutes after authorisation. We had to steam through a terrible mile of broken water on the Goodwin's to reach the ship, with seas reaching a height of some forty feet. We couldn't stop alongside the ship and were rising well above her bridge height on the huge seas, we struck a glancing blow on her deck on one occasion.
The captain refused to abandon ship. " My ship is my life, my ship go, I go" he shouted. There was only enough water around the ship to float the lifeboat for two and a half hours every twelve hours. We came ashore Saturday, refuelled had a change of clothing and some food then launched again at 9.15 hrs
Again we stood by the vessel throughout the night, a couple of hours before dawn we steamed through the broken water and got within loud hailing distance and asked the captain to come off the ship while we had sufficient water under our keel.
He replied " No! ship, she tight, in one piece the crew stay, no come" We were offered no food or drinks and the captain told us only lifeboatmen could come aboard, He said "I don't want you, I want tugs to get ship off"
Sunday the lifeboat returned to shore. We relaunched at 3pm to spend the third night at sea. As dusk fell at 4.30pm the lifeboat told the coastguard the captain was still refusing to abandon the ship. Suddenly he shouted to us and changed his mind, most likely influenced by the weather warning that had just come from Lloyds in Dover. A severe gale of force 9 with fifty three mile an hour wind gusts was immanent.
Large crowds waiting along the shore gave a loud cheer when the lifeboat burnt her "landing flare". Among the crowd were police to escort two stowaways to the police station.
Despite the extra load of thirty crew members Fred Upton beached safely at 6.15pm. Everyone on the beach dashed forward eager to help. The ships crew were taken to the sailors home in Dover, "If it had been one and a half hours later" Upton said, "We wouldn't have got them off that night"
Coming home across the sands he had to stop engines while climbing head into the seas, or all would have been washed overboard. Ginge went aboard on the first occasion and was welcome with open arms, he asked for bearings and Ginge gave directions, he shifted off the bank then hit another with a shudder, we weren't caught and powered up and drove her over the bank. Upton also took off an Alsatian which behaved like a perfect gentleman, Upton drew the captains attention to wrecks close to his.
The vessel broke her back on Tuesday 13th of January, the severe gales never gave any chance of recovery.
Sunday January 25th
Lifeboat was launched to an unknown steamer reported by the lightship, she had ran aground in heavy seas and a South East gale, We launched at 11:20am and returned at 2:30pm it is assumed she slid of the sands and continued her journey as no trace was found.
August Bank Holiday
The motor yacht "Grey Mist" anchored off Deal, she was the first ship to evacuate troops during the war (from Boulogne) 300 were transported across the channel by B Bailey, F Russell, H Pitcher, A Amble.
August 3rd
The lifeboat searched for the boat "Jorggdansk" which had gone missing and was owned by Ebmere a fish and chip man, they were eventually found in Calais.
Owing to the heavy seas and drizzle the tripping boats didn't work during the regatta
the results of the races were, the one oared punt race-1st Ben Bailey. 2nd Fred Upton, 3rd J Budd; Single sculler race; 1st W Kennedy in the "Seashell" 2nd Ben in the "Ben"
Sunday August 29th
Accompany Tom Blowers swim to France in Fred Upton's Rose Marie and accompanying boat "Sunbeam"
The Rescue race started, the "Undaunted was leading the race to the Bank Buoy but "Our Boys" skipper F Roberts got ahead, the wind was stormy from the South West.
Friday November 26th
Published in the local paper.
Sir, it was stated in the recent Deal Councils meeting report that the entire council were just getting into their stride with regard to the beach plot charges as they thought that the boatmen and burgesses would be satisfied with the new proposals.
I would like to inform the local people of my views which I know are shared by all the fishermen. We feel that we are being tricked into paying by being offered a little bait in the form of a 30% rebate with a time limit of 30 days in which to pay. There is nothing to say that in the future years his emission will not be withdrawn, this is not nearly a question of the money, and I personally don't feel inclined to give the council £20 a year and get absolutely nothing for it.
We got no protection or help, and any Tom Dick or Harry can set up in opposition.
A big item to consider is the amount of damage which is done to the boats being bashed up along the shore and having to be hove over banks as high as 10feet. the bills for broken planks, timbers and keels runs into several pounds a year, yet if we were working from a harbour we would get no damage of this kind.
The Entertainment Committee should know better than anybody else the difficulty of making things pay in our short season of two months. Let them add £2 for every 10ft that they occupy and see how it would help expenses along.
What we have not thrashed out yet is the reason why they should make us pay at all. If anyone would care to look along the beach on the seaward side of the road South of the Mansion at Walmer, they will see the foundations for some houses. This case was fought as it was found that the beach was the fisherman's, they have been drying their nets there for hundreds of years and it was theirs by hereditary right.
I am convinced that if the present case was fought the same thing would be proven about the beach that we occupy today. We would be willing to pay a nominal sum each year for the damage that we do to the parade when we have to save our boats from the sea and also for keeping the beach clean. I am convinced that there are no other reasons whatever why we should have to pay these extortionate dues.
Yours truly
Ben Bailey.
Walmer Lifeboat 1960's
Walmer Lifeboat War Time Service 1943
Walmer Lifeboat Winter 1962
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Yousulf Bach off Sandown 1960's
Boxing up Herring
3 Old Deal Pier 1938
Ben Bailey and the Carefree
Doc and Ben Bailey 1947
Ben Bailey 1950's
1950
Saturday January 14th
The lifeboat launched at 18:01 hrs to the 5,609 ton British freighter "Tacoma City" which was drifting in a dangerous position near the Fork spit
Harris M was successful in getting a boatman's license and he was allowed to carry five passengers in his speed boat.
March 20th
A letter was sent by John Arbuthnot MP on behalf of fishermen complaining about the Harris M affair. Ben was one of the deputation sent to see him. He claimed he would have to leave Deal in the summer months because of the way his carrying capacity had been impaired. One of the provisions was that the speed boat plot must be moved from the Broad Street area to a station south of South Street. This was arranged, reported in the East Kent Mercury.
April 14th
Letter from Harris M
"The boatmen state that their takings were nearly half of the previous summer and that if the speedboat continues to run they will be driven out of business. From that we can only assume that the difference in takings went to the speed boat. Sir, it is not my wish to deprive the boatmen or for that matter any person of some part of their livelihood. To prove my words, I am willing to sell to any boatman or syndicate of boatmen, my speed boat "Jolly Boy" complete with all running gear, landing stage, winch etc. for the nominal sum of £800. This boat is in perfect condition and will stand any survey.
On the boatmen's own showing, at this price they shall be able to reimburse themselves the first season."
Thursday April 20th
Doc Bailey and G Budd rescued three young men when a boat they hired off Tommy Upton capsized a little way off shore.
Whit Monday the Walmer lifeboat was called out to a mystery object on the sands which turned out to be a twisted girder from an old wreck.
Thursday June 29th
Walmer lifeboat was called out to a collision in the vicinity of the South Goodwin Lightship in thick drifting fog between "Franch Comte" and the "Uflington Court" . The French tankers bows were split down to the water's edge and the British ship's bows were bent sideways, help was not needed.
August 22nd
Daily Mail mass channel swim race. Deal supplied seven motor boats and punts and crews. The successful swimmers were piloted by Joe Mercer, Dadd and Alf May.
Deal regatta rescue race revived after last year's protest, this was won by Dr. Bailey
Saturday October 7th
Second year in succession anglers from all parts of the country merged on Deal for the biggest event in the angling world the NFSA Festival, 250 anglers went out and fished the two day festival. 14,224 sizeable fish were weighed in with a total weight of over 2.5 tons.
October 12th
The last of the old Deal pier piles were removed at 9.30am
Tuesday October 31st
The Dean Bro's go herring fishing early morning and catch 50 herrings. They went off again for the second time in the afternoon and caught 2,700 herrings. The Titlark came ashore with 10,000 herrings.
I'M 58 YEARS OLD TODAY.
December 24th
At 7.45am an SOS came from the Italian freighter "Santagata". The lifeboat launched an within a few minutes of reaching the edge of the Goodwins where the ship lay with a broken back Jim Rich fell back off the lifeboat's forepeak and died in arms of comrades. The ship was bound for Leith with a cargo of phosphates and had been aground for several hours. As we races towards the Goodwins it lowered its own lifeboats but one fouled the Falls and ended hanging upside down alongside the ship. Lifeboatmen had to cut them adrift to get alongside. 2 hands went aboard. The motorboat "Carefree" stayed alongside and took off most of the crew. The lifeboat brought ashore the upturned lifeboat and salved two more during Christmas.
Aboard the Lifeboat
Yousulf Bach on fire 1960's
Yousulf Bach 1960's
Walmer Lifeboat 1960's
Helena Majesta ashore on the Goodwins
Wrecked
Queen Mother's Visit to Walmer
Launching Walmer Lifeboat
Bruce Brown Lifeboat Enginner
Carefree coming ashore 1970's
Ben Bailey and Harry Brown
South Goodwin Lightship
Fred Upton; Harry Brown; Daniel Burton in rear right
Dickie Lill 1960's
Spratting
Bevan's awarded
1955
22nd June
Doc Bailey A bathing float overturned and two swimmers in a moderate SW wind were blown onto the pier, the occupants jumped on a pylon and were take off by Doc in the "Girlie".
£5 awarded.
10th July
G Budd awarded £6
14th August;
Ben Bailey in the Carefree went to the aid of a cabin cruiser "Sybarite" broken down and drifting 1.5 miles South of the South Goodwin lightship, he was away for four hours but the cruiser was taken in tow by another vessel that happened to be passing. £4 awarded.
1st September
W J Bailey saved capsizes sailing dingy and crew awarded £3.
September 1955
July and August saw the 8000 ton Liberian cargo ship Signet ashore in Sandwich Bay after a collision in mid channel. The vessel was refloated and beached opposite the Coastguard Station, where work began on unloading her cargo and repairing the ship.
During the month of August Deal Corporation recently renewed 63 Boatmen's licenses and granted a further 11. A total of 77 boats are now licensed on the beach.
1956
29th February
A piling rig collapsed on the pier and fell into the sea at 5:10pm, the men were 400 yards off shore clinging to piles and very exhausted, it was bitterly cold, they suffered leg injuries from hitting the piles and were rescued in the "Girlie" by Doc Bailey.
22nd April.
Doc Bailey and crew rescued a capsized sailing dingy and her crew that were clinging to the upturned hull. The Lady Irene launched at 4:20pm and towed them ashore. £6 awarded
23rd April.
W J Bailey rescued a rowing boat that had been stolen by four youths and rowed well out to sea, the boat was found drifting close to the Goodwins. £4 awarded.
9th May.
G Riley saved a paddle punt in difficulties in a rough sea. £2 awarded.
20th May Ben Bailey, Suit Ambrose and G and A Budd launch at 3pm to the French yacht "Bellatrix" ashore on the Goodwins a moderate SE sea was running, they stood by for four hours Dover and Walmer lifeboat arrived on the scene and two aircraft flew over. £4 awarded.
7th August.
Tom Upton launched in the Skylark, to a skiff which had capsized half a mile offshore the skiff and occupants were saved. £1 awarded.
8th August.
G Budd rowed out to a boat caught against the pier by a strong tide, two men and a boy were saved. £1 awarded.
12th August.
Jim Hickman went to a boat driven out of control seaward. £2 awarded.
1957
31st January.
Ben Bailey, Doc Bailey, Dickie Lill, and J Budd launched the Girlie at 11am to a rowing boat with two souls aboard it, which was blowing out to sea by a SW gale and a strong flood tide. Dickie Lill and J Budd were put aboard the boad and bought it ashore. £5 awarded.
3rd March.
Dickie Lill launched in the "Judy" at 10:30am and saved 1 man that was in a canoe that got swamped. £2 awarded.
26th March.
Ben, Doc and J Budd launch in the Teddy Bear and save two from a boat that capsized. a fresh wind was blowing with very cold sea. £5 awarded.
12th May.
The vessel "Joan" had engine failure , the two occupants set off flares, they were very near to the Brake Sands in a heavy broken sea. The wind was SW strong to gale force. The Sunbeam was launched at 12:30pm and picked the boat up 1.25 miles ESE of the Guilford hotel and towed them back. £5 awarded
8th June.
Johnny Revell rescued a punt and towed it in. £2 awarded.
23rd June.
Alf May rowed out to a capsized cane and rescued it. £4 awarded.
28th June,
H Bailey, J Hurd and Jim Skardon, launch in the Teddy Bear to help search for Yugoslavian who had jumped from a ship in the dark and thick fog, and tried to swim to the South Goodwin Lightship. £3 awarded. G Riley also launched and was awarded £5.
29th August
Ben and Doc Bailey, Suet Ambrose and Dickie Lill launch the Girlie to go to the Rubber boat "Judy" with three children and two old ladies aboard it, they were being carried by the strong flood tide into the pier piles, Dickie landed girlie and Ben came back out in the Sunbeam and towed it in. £3 awarded.
30th August.
Ben and his crew above launched in the Girlie and saved the RM sailing dingy from driving into the pier piles in a strong tide. the officer his wife and two children were in great danger of capsize and disappearing under the decking, they managed to get a rope on her and tow them clear. The rose Marie had already failed and parted the scene. Ben used the Sunbeam.£6 awarded.
Alf May rowed out to a broken down boat and towed it back. £3
BEVANS AWARDED
1958
20th April
Cyril Williams went to the rescue of four people in trouble in a hired boat. £5 awarded.
19th June.
Suet launched in the Carefree and towed in an outboard motor boat which had broken down. £3;10s awarded
6th July.
J Budd went to the aid of a motor boat with a fouled screw and in danger of drifting onto the sewer outfall. £1 awarded.
30th July.
The Sunbeam launched to a boat requiring assistance, and stood by she was the "Iyebrat" and had grounded on the beach. £6 awarded.
17th August.
C Williams took a motor boat to the assistance of a outboard dingy boat. £2 awarded.
18th August.
Upton pulled in a swimmer in difficulties. £5 awarded.
29th September.
C Williams rowed out in thick fog to search for some paddle punts, he foud three of them and assisted them to the shore. £3 awarded.
1970
22nd February.
H R Able in the "Ocean Gift" aided a drifting dingy. £1 awarded.
29th March.
Dickie Lill in the Lucky Star towed in the Salley which was filling with water. £5 awarded.
17th May.
Ron Davies, in the motor boat Jill went to the aid of the Carol Ann which had broken down with engine failure. £3 awarded.
31st May.
H Carty in the EY towed in the Ocean Gift. £1 awarded.
14th June.
Marjory Ellen went to the assistance of the Lady Haig and towed her home in a Northerly force five. £4 awarded.
14th June.
Golden Vanity towed in the Seafarer which was drifting onto the Goodwin sands in a strong wind and tide. £6 awarded.
21st June.
Why Not went to the assistance of a capsized vessel. £4 awarded.
22nd June.
Lady Francis aids the vessel EY. £1 awarded.
4th July.
Motor boat Jill went to the aid of a water logged dingy. £3 awarded.
5th July.
Motor boat Kirkby went to the aid of the broken down "Lady Nikie". £1 awarded.
30th August.
Dave Skardon in the Rob Marie went to the aid of the Carol Ann which was sending up flares near the South Goodwin with a strong Sou West wind freshening. £3 awarded.
1971
24th May.
The Evelyn goes to the aid of the Lady Irene which is broken down in the shipping lane. £3 awarded.
30th May.
The Cornishman launches to the Sea Girl which is two miles off Kingsdown with a fire in the engine room, they tried to put the fire out and tow the vessel ashore, but took off the crew and stood by. £20 awarded.
30th May.
Ben Bailey launched the Golden Spray to the vessel above and stood by. £3 awarded.
12th June,
John Budd, Ben Bailey and Roy Hukings, launch the Sea Boy to a RM sailing craft that had a broken mast South of Deal pier, in a strong flood tide. £5 awarded.
3rd July.
Fred Upton launches in the Rose Marie to a vessel with a man on board suffering from a stroke near the Fork Spit. £12 awarded.
26th July.
Darky in the Lady Irene launches to a RM sailing dingy capsized and drifting into the pier. £3 awarded
7th August.
Percy Luckhurst launches to a fibre glass dingy that sank. £8 awarded.
19th September.
Ben Bailey launches the Lady Irene to three RM swimmers. £1 awarded.
1972
23rd March.
Marjory Ellen tows in the Emma Jane. £3 awarded.
16th April.
Marjory Ellen tows in the Seafarer that has a fowled screw. £2 awarded.
27th May.
Ben Bailey launches the Golden Spray to a yacht that had its sails carried away in fierce winds. £2 awarded.
8th June.
Fred Upton launches in a punt to a dismasted capsized yacht. £10 awarded.
11th June.
The Tina Ann aids a capsized 9 foot dingy. £10 awarded.
21st June.
Dave Skardon in the Spray goes to the aid of a vessel drifting onto the Brake sands in fairly heavy seas and bad weather. £3 awarded.
28th June.
Marjory Ellen goes to the aid of a yacht with a young boy on board. £5 awarded.
30th June.
Ray Wilkinson in the Lucky Star rescues a RM sailing dingy. £2 awarded.
2nd August.
The Lucky Star with Darky, John and Tom aboard, go to the aid of the motor boat Violet with an oar up in the air, 2 miles SE of Deal Pier. A strong flood tide was running and a NE wind with a heavy sea. The Lucky Star was nearly wrecked when Darky towing the violet let the Violet go, it smashed into the transom of the Lucky Star, Darky Budd was flung out of the boat on beaching. £4 awarded.
3rd October.
Dave Skardon in the Spray towed a cabin cruiser to safety after it was nearly blown onto the beach in a heavy swell and strong ENE wind. £1 awarded.
27th October.
The Golden Vanity saves a rubber dingy nearly sunk. £10 awarded.
5th November.
The Ocean Gift rescued a dingy with a bad leak and broken down engine. £7 awarded.
11th November.
Lady Haig towed in a broken down vessel. No award.
11th November.
Dave Skardon in the Spray goes to the aid of a cabin cruiser aground in heavy weather on the South Sands head that was firing flares and had engine failure. £3 awarded.
12th November.
Ben Bailey and Darky aid the Lady Jean which had herring nets fouling her propeller, and had sent up a flare. £2 awarded.
8th December.
Golden saves an outboard dingy with engine failure close to the Brake Sands. £10 awarded.
1973
5th May
The Aurora goes to a twelve foot dingy firing flares, the overloaded boat with five persons aboard was partially submerged and had engine failure 1 mile South of the Fork. the sea was rough, passengers taken off their boat. £15 awarded.
12th November.
Dave Skardon in the Spray goes to the aid of a Motor Vessel with a Net Fouled Screw.
17th November.
Bill Budd in the Princess Elizabeth aids a motor boat broken down.
1974
5th May.
Albert Tucker in the Aurora aids a home made canoe trying to cross the channel.
12th July .
Bill Budd in the Princess Elizabeth rescues a power boat near the South West Goodwin buoy that ran out of fuel.
2nd August.
Dickie Lill in the Lucky Star goes to the aid of skin divers in a rubber boat.
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Prins Hendrik
Ben Bailey
Boatman & Lifeboatman
of
Deal Kent
Thanks go to Coral Bailey
who kindly donated Ben's picture's
and memoirs for this page
and also Ben Bailey
without whom this history would
have been lost
coaster Perseus on fire back of sands
coaster Perseus on fire back of sands
coaster Perseus on fire back of sands
South Goodwin Service nov 27th 1954
Galley Undaunted
Galley Undaunted
Suet Ambrose
Fred Upton-Bruce Brown-Ben Bailey-Roland Raines
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