STORIES AND TALES
RECOLLECTIONS
By
JAMES T SKARDON
During the mid 1930’s, the admiralty took over the Nelson Hall, which is situated in Nelson Street. It was called the National Naval Cadet Corps. (NNCC).
I was one of the lads who joined it, along with a good many more north Deal lads. Most of us spent our spare time on the beach, and went afloat in the boats with the old boatmen of Deal, learning the way of life and hardships of the sea.
At Nelson Hall we were trained the Navy way by ex old timers retired from naval life. First was strict discipline, then we had to learn the naval way of seamanship, somewhat different to the way we handled things on the beach. Little did we know at the time that the government of the day was training us for what was to come?
The situation in Europe was far from good, but we didn’t think then, that it would end up in a war with this country. When it happened the older lads volunteered to join up within the first few days. Most went to Lowestoft to take over converted trawlers, which had been commandeered into naval service, becoming the Royal Naval Patrol Service.
My brother George was one of them, and went to sea with just a rifle. During their first few days out they were attacked by a German aircraft, which left him, and others of the crew wounded, from which they were taken to hospital to recover.
Throughout the few years prior to the outbreak of war, Austrian and European refugees came to this country in there hundreds. HMS Robertson at Richburough was taken over to accommodate them. Many used to spend their time in Deal during the day, easily distinguishable by their bicycles with big thick tyres. A few weeks into the war the NNCC was disbanded. The only photo taken of us that I knew Sam Smith had, but before he had the opportunity to show it to me he died. I am uncertain as to how many of the NNCC lads are still with us today.
The summer of 1937, coronation year, saw the review of the home fleet, which took part in the Downs off Deal. The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert lay at anchor off Deal Pier in the tugboat stream. Outside her was the pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood a battle cruiser. Although they were anchored the length of the coast from Kingsdown right around to Broadstairs, ships of all sizes and kinds, and this was but a part of the fleet England had in those days.
Deal was alive with visitors; bring plenty of work to the boatmen, who were kept busy with motorboat trips. Shops and businesses in the town flourished from the extra income.
Many local lads were on these ships, there wasn’t a lot of choice then as during the depression work was hard to find, so the services were another answer. In those days there was no state benefits, it was a case of no work, no money.
In those far lost days the seafront used to be packed with people. Coloured fairy lights lined the length of the promenade and the full length of the pier, right through the summer months. This with the addition of the fleet being fully lit up as well was a spectacular sight, and could never be forgotten by those that saw it. A sight sadly that Deal and the downs will never see again.
Freddie Upton was a very smart man when dressed in his best refinery, and on a few of these evenings asked me to dress in my Sunday best, we sailed out in the Rose Marie to take out dignitaries to the Royal yacht, but were never permitted to board her.
Pubs during those days saw an extra income from the Matlows, ashore on liberty leave each evening. But never was there any trouble.
Before the widening of Queen Street, The old Swan Hotel projected out on one side of West Street, with the White Horse on the opposite corner. Where the Swan, now called the Hole in the Roof, was Pickford’s ice factory. This is where I used to go with my father for ice; he would carry a one hundred weight blocks on his head, with me walking alongside with my wheelbarrow and a hundred weight piece in it. All the fishmongers and butchers of the town and district had to collect their ice from here. Pickford’s moved to Thanet, putting on a twice-weekly delivery of ice to Deal.
In 1939 things at sea became more disastrous; The SS Maharatta went ashore on the Goodwin Sands, almost on the same spot as the first Maharatta, which was lost in 1913. Eight tugs tried to pull her off, but eventually she broke her back and became a total loss. She was one of the East Indies ships, with a cargo of chests of tea and goatskins. Nearly every boat on Deal beach was engaged in salvaging her cargo. This was extremely hard work for us, as everything had to be man handled.
A few weeks later the Belgium ship SS Kabinda went ashore, not far to the south of the Maharatta. War had broken out so no lights were permittable, again eight tugs were used in an effort to refloat her, but she too became a total loss. Her cargo was sacks of coffee, beans and horsehides; again Deal Boatmen salvaged much of this cargo before the sea flooded her holds.
During this period the Downs became a controlled contraband area, with a variety of ships coming in to anchor, day and night.
Trawlers that were converted for mine sweeping duties were used to sweep for magnetic mines, laid in secret by U Boats and minelayers, by the enemy. Very little was known about these types of mines, for Germany had been producing them for quite a period before the outbreak of war. Later on, they were redesigned and dropped on a parachute by aircraft. Trawlers towed empty barges behind them in order to trigger off the mines, but once the mine was exploded the trawler had to return to Harwich to pick up another barge. This practice was carried on until the de-gausng gear was used, this was a better method, which employed large cables secured around the internal lines of a ships side, and charged with a current of electricity, to neutralise the ship, it could be switched on and off as required when in mined areas.
The Germans got to know of this method and added a time mechanism on them. The sweepers would run ahead of the cargo ships with the de-gauser on and not blow a mine. Then up would go a ship as the mines mechanism was activated. During my day’s minesweeping, if we knew that a mine had been laid in the area, it would take us twelve runs over it before it was exploded. By this time we had what was called “LL” sweeps. This is pulsing very high power electricity through two thick cables down onto the seabed, thus blowing up the mines.
The first magnetic mine was detonated in the Bristol Channel. During the first part of the war aircraft were fitted with a large ring beneath them and used to explode mines. This didn’t last long as it wasn’t very successful.
On November 23rd 1939, shortly after midnight, the admiralty was informed at 10p.m. that sentries at Shoeburyness had seen a German aircraft drop an object into the sea near the beach. (I won’t go into details) When this was discovered to be a mine, orders were given to recover and examine it at all costs. Later that day another one was found. They were seven feet long and made of some sort of aluminium alloy. By four p.m. The mine was made innocuous, then hoisted on a lorry and taken to HMS Vernon the next day. The men involved were officers and ratings from HMS Vernon, along with soldiers, which were stationed at Shoeburyness. The secrets of Germany’s magnetic mine had been discovered.#
With new information, it was now possible to provide counter measures, which in turn saved countless other ships from destruction. The first ship to be mined was off the East Coast on September 10th 1939. This was the British ship SS Magdepur which sank after contact.
Six days later the City of Paris struck a mine, but escaped with damage. Each day from then on there were more ships falling foul of mines and sinking.
And, so back to the downs. When the trawler HMT Snakefly was hit by a mine, another of HM trawlers went alongside of her, taking her in tow, but with her best efforts to try and beach her she failed, sinking off Harold Road. I am forgetful of whether her crew were all saved or not, but it was in the afternoon. A green wreck buoy marked her position up until the sixties.
Ships that were steaming through the downs, and at anchor, were then being struck by mines, Mines of a different sort though. These were British contact mines that had broken away from their moorings in the minefields. Sea mines were not a new weapon, having been around for more than two centuries, in many different forms.
During the first and second world wars, mines were used for protecting our shipping lanes and ports from enemy naval ships. The mine had a sinker attached to it and was dropped to the sea bed by the mine layer, after a short time the mine would automatically rise to the surface, its mooring wire reeling out to keep it attached to the sinker. The delay in release gave the minelayer enough time to clear the area, thus avoiding a strike by its own mines. These mines hung under the surface at a pre-regulated depth, controlled by a device called “the hydrostat” which gripped the mooring wire once it reached its floating depth, also activating it at the same time. The mine contained 350lb. Of TNT, guncotton trinitrotoluene, which took up about half of its internal area, the rest being an air chamber. The outer surface of the mine held five or more brass horns, each containing a glass tube, which on contact with a ship, would break and cause detonation.
The Dutch coaster Nora was one victim of this type of mine. I used to be on the beach every morning, when on one morning in particular half a dozen mines had been washed ashore, which I reported to the coastguard. I also salvaged hatchways along with lots of other useful articles.
It was around 7am. I was looking out to sea, when suddenly I saw a flash about tugboat stream out, directly off Farrier Street. It was very cold with snow showers obscuring the visibility intermittently. Freddie Upton at that time lived at No.3, now renumbered No.9. With his mother. His boats the “Rose-Marie” and the “Terrier” which was later renamed “Star of the Sea” were berthed opposite the Star and Garter.
I rushed down to Freddie’s house and banged on the door, his mother opened it and said no more only, “what was that explosion?” I said that a ship had struck a mine, and I saw the flash just out by the tugboat stream, and think she ought to give Freddie a call. Freddie came down stairs, and asked what the problem was, this I explained to him.
“Anyone about up there?” he asked me. “No!” I replied. His mother made us a cup of tea, which we drank whilst discussing the situation.
The weather wasn’t very good, a southeast gale blowing and heavy snow showers. “Do you reckon we can get afloat young’un?” He asked me. “We can have a go.” I replied. The engine in the Rose Marie was frozen up, so we made the Terrier ready. Whilst trying to start her engine the starting handle came off and hit him in the shin, so there was nothing we could do. Later that morning we did manage to thaw out the Rose Marie’s engine, and with more help available managed to get afloat.
The vessel was the Nora, and standing off from her was a HM Trawler, I can’t remember her name. Aboard the trawler was the officer in charge of the downs; he was waiting for orders from Dover before he could take the Nora in tow. Freddie asked if we could take over and beach her off the sixth green, running a kedge anchor away from her; here she would be quite safe. The officer in charge had orders meanwhile to tow her to the south side of the pier out of harms way.
“If you do that.” Said Freddie. “She’ll drive down onto the pier with this south east wind.”
Freddie’s advice was ignored, and the Nora was towed south of the pier, later to drag her anchor and become a total loss, taking the pier with her.
During the early 1960’s, my son David located the Nora’s anchor and chain, which we salvaged. The receiver of wrecks tried to claim this, but I refused until a salvage price was agreed. This was set at £90.00, the anchor being collected by Everard shipping of Rochester, on a low loader. Some weeks later the payment was received; this was the sum of £20.00, which after much argument had to be taken. Where the rest went I never knew.#
The Flanders, a Belgium freighter, loaded with general cargo was lying at anchor at the fork spit, when another ship was in collision with her just before 7am. She was taking in water slowly, but again the officer for the Downs had to wait for orders from Dover before he could take action. These never came, we watched her from the distance between snowstorms, slowly getting heavier in the water. By 11am. It was all over; she had sunk, taking her valuable cargo with her. This ship could have been saved, but for the bureaucracy of red tape.
Freddie had a hut on the foreshore, from which we always kept a look out. It was in the forenoon, when staring out to sea watching the shipping we heard a vessel blowing her siren continuously. Realising that she was in trouble when we saw her haul round the pierhead, steaming hard out for the shore, when she suddenly capsized. She was the Denard, a French coaster, laden with pitch. Freddie always kept the Rose Marie ready to launch, with her bows facing the sea. Boatmen manned her and I was given orders to let go the slip. She ran down the beach and hit a large swell rolling in, throwing her on her beam end. Her crew, “Dongo Middleton” “Tom Tilly “(Sparks). And “Georgie Baker” (Frenchie) were all thrown into the sea. Frenchie was calling out “Save my hat!” I saved his hat and gave it to him, but asked why he shouted out to save it. His reply was, “I only bought it yesterday, and didn’t want to loose it.” Not a thought for his life.#
An Italian tanker, of which her name I cannot remember, had been in collision with another ship. She was empty of oil, which was one good thing. We launched to her in the “Rose Marie” but this time Freddie took command before the naval officer of the Downs came on the scene. She was beached off Farrier Street. The divers working on her employed us for a couple of days. She was patched up with under water quick drying cement, and then kedged off into deeper water. She was later taken to the shipyard and repaired. This was one ship that was saved, although it could have been against us when Italy entered the war.
On another incident, I left my house in Brewer Street, after having dinner, and walked the few yards to the beach. Here I saw a coaster bouncing about alongshore. It was high tide at the time, and I asked the crew if they required any assistance, but they were adamant, and refused. Just then, Ronnie Walmesley, a mate of mine came along. We stood together watching her bumping too and fro in the fresh easterly wind, slowly being driven northwards.#
The coastguard by this time had arrived with their rocket apparatus, with Benny Bailey arriving on the scene as well. We all helped to set the apparatus up on the beach, but every time we were ready to fire, the vessel had drifted too far away to reach. Three rockets were eventually fired, but each one missed. We were almost at Pegwell bay by the time we managed to get a line aboard her. Benny Bailey ran out to her as she momentariously grounded, and by now the tide had ebbed somewhat.#
Ramsgate lifeboat arrived on the scene and ordered Benny Bailey off, putting on board their own men and a line. She was pulled clear and towed to Ramsgate.
We helped to pack the coastguards gear up and were carrying it back, when, thankfully a lorry pulled up alongside us, and took us and all the gear back to Deal via the sandhills.
One day we watched a contact mine drift through the ruins of the pierhead, and out the other side without exploding. This one came ashore on Walmer beach.
These few months of the war kept us very busy in the downs, with shipping. A keen eye was kept out constantly for vessels requiring pilots, and pilots wanting to be brought ashore. Many boats were employed in this service. Some of the pilots taking rooms in our own houses, until another ship required their assistance, on passage to Dungeness, or up channel to Gravesend. Signals used to be hoisted up ships masts in the form of flags, stating what they required, a doctor being requested frequently.
Doctor Hall was the one always called for sea duties, going afloat with Freddie in the Rose Marie, until later on the lifeboat took over the duty#
Ships used to lie in the downs for many weeks, and frequently ran short of provisions. This again was a good source of income for the boatmen, keeping them busy running out supplies?
We used to take a barrow to the butchers, grocers and green grocers, to collect the provisions for the ships. Newspapers were always popular. Provisions were sorted out to order then taken out to the ships requiring them. Water tender also came to the Downs daily, replenishing any ship that had run short of water. This vessel was stationed at Dover.
Looking back, I think one of the biggest blunder to take place in the channel, was the dash of the German Battleship, “Scharnhorst,” and her escort, on February 12th. 1942.
The French resistance had already sent a message that the ships were about to leave Brest, within a day or so. No one believed them. A code name of “Miller” was put forward for this, and to cut a story short, other than looking for a Mr. Miller, with the code being locked away, no one knew anything about it.#
The six swordfish aircraft that went out to attack her with torpedoes from Manston didn’t stand a chance. The gunfire could be heard up the North Falls. The cross channel guns opened fire later in the afternoon. It was around 2p.m. when the swordfish attacked her. It was too late however to help the swordfish, as the ships were well out of range of our shore based guns. A few days after this the Germans executed some of the dockworkers suspected of being part of the resistance.
I can tell you now, that not all the guns were at the tunnels; it would have been the wrong thing to have kept them all confined together.
I was home on leave from the navy, and went with my father to the country, delivering fish, and remember him supplying fish to the soldiers.
We went to Danbridge, Wingham, where there was an 18in. gun hidden in the trees. They told me, as I was in uniform, that the gun was only taken to the tunnel cutting at night time, by way of the East Kent light railway, known as “Paddy.” There was also another one at Sheepherdswell
The Earl of Guilford’s mansion at Waldershire was taken over and used as a hospital for wounded personnel. Mrs. Kingdom (late), Sylvia White, and my wife Mollie Skardon, were all Red Cross nurses there. They all came from Eastry.
Many nurses served there from all over the area, and did a great job towards the war effort, giving all their time to nurse injured men back to good health. Whether or not they received any recognition for their services, I don’t know. But they all deserved a medal.
One last item on mines. The Acoustic mine, we had to sweep this using a thing we called the “Bucket”. It was dropped over the bow of the minesweeper and ran underneath too amidships. The hammers were switched on and it made a hell of a noise throughout the ship.
These mines, like the magnetic mines, were dropped by aircraft and E– Boats in the approaches to ports and river estuary’s. So in all we swept for three kinds of mines. The contact mine, which was moored to the seabed, was swept with Oropesa cutting gear. The magnetic mine, by “LL” electric power, and the “Acoustic mine”, by electric vibration hammer. Mine sweepers which were called “BYMS” (British Yacht mine sweepers) were on a lease lend arrangement from America. These were the types I served on.
In the early days, boats caught smuggling goods were sawn in half by the customs, and then used as garden sheds. One existed in Sandown road for many years on the allotments, which have now been built on.
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Read the true smuggling story
By Nick Palmer
further down the page
The Chinese Junk “BOLEH”
Many years ago I had a job with the Royal engineers at Old Park Barracks, Teaching the army lads all there is to know about boats and sailing, I was only skilled in Square rig and lug sails,( don’t know much at all about modern yachts).
On the list of boats held at Dover was one called “BOLEH” a fully rigged Chinese junk, with a single running mast, The main section of the mast was like a tripod about 40ft tall with a central mast 60ft in length running up inside this one, this was hauled up ant the sail raised afterwards. No reefs, just an original Chinese sail, in a full-blown gale the most it achieved was 5.5 knots and she rolled like a pig in dirty weather.
One weekend we left Dover on route for Boulogne, and for the next eight days, we would visit ports along the French and Belgium coast, just to give the novice lads an insight into sailing. They had to work the assault crafts when coming home.
We left Dover on a fairly clear warm morning, in August if I remember; wind was around force 3-4 from the sou-west. I took some time to reach Boulogne.
The night was spent ashore and, like many of us young lads, (I was only 17) we got sloshed. The following morning we were bound for Calais, visibility had decreased to half a mile, and the vessel had no compass or navigational equipment, the aim was to teach seamanship, so none was put aboard, all we had was flares.
Some two plus hours into the voyage the fog set in dense, I being in charge decided to hug the coast, just in case we missed Calais. It wasn’t long after, around mid afternoon, we were hailed upon by the Dunkerque lifeboat, we had been reported missing.( What a humiliation, a fisherman losing his way, No chance) our speed was just about static, as the wind was virtually nil. Well the lifeboat was sent packing, and after trying for some hour or so to get us to take a rope, they got the idea, ant went away with much bad language.
We hailed Calais Harbour late in the evening on that same day, without mishap or losing our way.
Our voyage eventually took us along the coast, past the Dunkerque beaches and a night ashore before starting off home.
Now remembering that this old tub made at best, 5.5 knots in a force 8, the next day would test her well. As a further note, the toilet on this boat was, a set of steps going down the transom to a circle of wood with a hole in it, bolted to the stern, you wanted to go, you used this.
Mid channel, about 15 miles from the East Goodwin lightship we hit severe weather, it was blowing over a nine from the sou-west, just the direction we wanted to go, so hours were wasted tacking up against the weather and tide. I was on the helm late that afternoon, when we encountered huge seas about half a mile east of the lightship, she took a heavy lurch and the main halyard wire broke, giving to the mainsail crashing to the deck. All steerage an way was lost and she broached the seas, very uncomfortable, as I was on the helm at the time I had to shin up the running mast to reeve a new wire through, the mast could not be lowered without the wire resetting, so it was around 90 ft to the top, with no ropes or safety gear. Who needed it anyway, I was afeared of nothing in those days.
Three quarters of the way to the top I froze, I was being swung from Starboard to Port at an alarming rate, and looking down made it worse, you can imagine, about 80 feet in the air rolling heavily beam on to the seas in a full gale. T his did me in, I’d never been so scared in all my life, hence to say, after a long while trying to gain the deck again, I never went aloft. The army captain on board decided not to risk his boys, so the only other way was under engine power to Dover, still some 20 miles distant and with a head sea.
The army Captain argued with me about where to cross the Goodwin sands, huge seas were breaking over them, and against my advice he decide to take command and set a direct course for Dover. Right across the South Galloper, were many wrecks lie, and some uncover.
Well if there’s a God up there he was with us that evening, this chap set his course, put the engine at full, and on a falling tide, headed across the sands. We struck several times and how we ever made it, God only knows, I’ve done many rescues over these sands, in my own boat, and when I was on the lifeboat crew, but there.
We did eventually arrive in Dover, the Dover Lifeboat picked us up about 4 miles off and completed our voyage, what humiliation, and then it wasn’t my doing.
I left the Civil service just after this and went back fishing; it’s more interesting, although harder work.
But from that day till now even, I cant climb a ladder or bear to be more than 6 feet of the ground; I just freeze, funny isn’t it.
Deal as it Was
Sandown Castle to just past the coast guard station. there was a small sea wall with occasional wooden groins, these were replaced in the 1950’s with the now metal groins, with greenheart wood, and a new sea wall was built from the coastguard station southwards to Farrier Street, the beach used to come right up to the houses at North street and alongto the sea girt, before it was pulled down in this period.
South of the coastguards stood the rowing club, the RNA held meetings in here in the 1980’s, the Forrester’s, North Star, and the Angling club which is the old North Deal Lifeboat house. Mick Walls had a small amusement park and skating ring just north of the seagirt, now built on there were public toilets there as well.
Top of exchange street Opposite the Mission to seaman’s House, were Claire Hickman’s boats, the “If Not” and “Why Not” Alf
( Sonny ) Betts boat the “Rose Mary” also the Skylark; the Royal Exchange Hotel (pub) was located here, and just to the south the “The Mary Hougham Alms Houses;” which were for allocation to fishermen only.
The sewer pipe was in location opposite Golden Street
The Seagirt had a Lewis Gun on its parapet during the Second World War
This area was the capstan grounds with a few boats still in location in the 1950’s
Moving South past the Alms houses we pass several pubs including the Pelican, and Three Compasses, almost opposite the Covering Seats at the top of Farrier Street lies Mc Donald’s paper shop..
Entering Farrier Street we precede townwards and on the left is the Deal Lugger shop. Turn left into middle street and on the left is Old Mother Crews shop, then the fat Ladies junk store a bit further along on the right is Barlow’s shop with Bob Ables Deal marine craft boat building store ( I served my apprenticeship here) opposite side of the road Coppin Street, is Terry Franks gun and tackle shop and my Uncle Georges shop.
Turn up Coppin street, and half way up were the Harris family, and the Buds; then next to the three compass's was Tommy Upton’s house, on the right was Jonny Buds house , behind this was formed the first Salvation Army hall, which backed onto our house at 6 Brewer Street. The top of Coppin Street we see Togo Harris boat; moving south we come to Jim Skardons boat “ Mary Anne” then Tommy Upton’s Boats, in the early 1960’s the Golden Harvester and Skylark were here as well, and Bob Able took over Tommy Upton’s plots with his fleet of Blue Line boats, I used to skipper the Heidi.
Tommy Had a Large beach hut opposite Brewer Street from which the Parrot resided. We then go south and come to the Fascinator and Bill Baileys boats, then Togo (John) Bud’s boats reaching the royal hotel. Opposite side of the road at the top of brewer street we have Adelaide house, going down Brewer Street My family’s home was at no 6, a fish business and large smokery, father used to buy thousands of herring for smoking in the winter,for smoking into bloaters, and trade was good, horses were kept here, and later the stables were turned into a cold store and shop, at No5 was Bill Bailey at No4 was Mrs Upton, at No3 were the Willis brothers, who were bait diggers, then at No2 the nutty Moore’s sisters, then Dola Dairies to the bottom of the street. On the other side from the top of the road was Mr. Winstanley, in the cottage were 2 old ladies cant remember their name then the wood yard which went through to Oak street, then the nook, with the Sunday School (feed my lambs) once a soup kitchen, at the bottom of Brewer St, in middle street was Johnny Rogers a bait digger, turn left and you have Skardon’s fish and chip shop,(my Uncle Bob) almost next door was a small junk shop; opposite this was the old Mansion, now a car park, the first Nuclear shelter was situated here, We turn up Oak Street.
On the right was Edgintons building stores; on the left a derelict bomb site, then Bob Skardon, next door was George Skardon then Cavell’s office, opposite this was the storage yard for Cavell’s wood. Next the alley and the Star and Garter on the corner.
We turn right into Beach Street, with Goymers café on the right the Divito's Ice cream parlour, and the Royal hotel on the seaward side.
The Skipjack lay to the South of Tommy’s hut, from which trips were offered during the summerseason before the war broke out. During the war, scaffold poles and barbed wire stretched the length of the foreshore to prevent an invasion, with a couple of breaks to allow boats to be launched.
One of Tommy Upton’s Boats the “Minnie Ha Ha” was bought by my Father James Skardon in the late 1050’s, taken down to his farm and completely rebuilt, she was then named “Fair Chance” and stationed at the top of King street with the Mary Anne and his other boat the Fairway, which was once owned by Harry Meakings and called the Lady Beatie”
Tommy Upton’s owned the paddle punts; Golden Warbler; Tom; Kittiwake; Isobel; and the forsale mizzen punts; Fascinator, (later owned by Burt Tookie) and the Kingfisher: He owned the Galley Seaman’s Hope and Bluebell;
Harry Upton had the punt Ethel and the cod punt Little Dick,
Bill Bailey was situated a bit further south opposite the Star and Garter Pub, and lived in 5 Brewer Street, he had the motor boat Irene, skippered by Frank Preston also two paddle punts one was the Jessie.
In the 1950’s Bob Ables boats graced the stage at the top of brewer street, with Johnny (nutty) Revel, Joey Smith, Ernie Slack, myself David Skardon, I was also the as beach help, along with old George (Bubbles) Fouey as winchman,, these boats were used for angling parties, although in the winter sprats and herring were pursued. I used to trammel netfor Huss during the spring and summer.
William Skardon was charged with unlawfully assaulting and beating Sarah Garrett, landlady of the "Anchor" on 18th October. Skardon admitted the fact, but in the usual cowardly plea of being drunk at the time. The magistrates admonished him on his unmanly conduct.
Sept.21st 1878. Borough Petty Sessions
Richard Grant, landlord of the Hare and Hounds was summoned for having his house opened at 52 minutes past 11 on the morning of Sunday 15th Sept. and George Skardon was charged with being on licensed premises, Skardon said that he and his wife were, on Saturday night invited to spend the day at Granta's house, but as they both attend a gate at one of the railway crossings, they could not both go, and his better half was left at home. He bought no beer. His wages would not allow it.
Case dismissed
Fatal Accident at Walmer July 20th 1878.
An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon touching the death of Charles Ramsey Skardon aged 54 years, which took place on the previous evening. Mr. Edward Harrison, builder, Walmer, deposed that about 6 o'clock on the previous evening, the deceased with another man in the employ of Mr. Prescott. Carrier was taking some timber on a jigger into his yard which is situated between Church Street and Broad Lane Walmer. The jigger was being drawn by two horses, the deceased was guiding the pole while a man called Spicer was with the horses, as they got through the gates, and the deceased left the pole and was pressed against the fodder stack by one of the wheels of the jigger. A verdict of accidental death was returned
January 1884, Death of James Taylor Wratton of Deal.
An inquest held at the town hall on Monday last on the body of James Taylor Wratton of Deal, who died at the seaman’s infirmatory Ramsgate, from the effect of immersion in the water, he having the Sunday evening fallen into the inner harbour. William Wratton of 2 Gravel Walk Deal. Identified the body as that of his son aged 22. occupation labourer. He left here on Sunday morning at about a quarter past one for the purpose of coming to Ramsgate; he came in a cart to purchase fish. Robert Skardon, fish dealer 104 Middle Street Deal di say that he left Deal with the deceased about 2am in a wagon and arrived at Ramsgate about 5am. He had left him standing near the fish market, later heard a splash in the water, he and another man got into a boat and took deceased out of the water. They found there was life in him and took him to the infirmary. Verdict accidental death.
Confirmed Kent Directory 1882
Robert Skardon Coal deliverer 104 Middle Street.
THE FAIRWAY
HARRY MEAKINGS OLD "LADY BEATIE"
Angling parties were also run from this boat and many were skippered by the late David Trice.
A mishap on a nice June morning saw the Fairway being put out of service for several weeks. I was about 16 at the time and had an angling party booked for a days fishing, a rare occurrence for me. Our winch had broken down and the Fairway was stationed on Togo Harris’s plots opposite the Star and Garter Hotel, a calm day with eight o’clock high water saw us getting ready for launch, the anglers had arrived and the boat was ready, she was sitting on top of the high water bank, a really steep one this particular day, slip chain on and ready.
Anglers aboard I started the engine, father on the slip and Terry Harris on a lower wood, “let go!” Over the bank she went just to bury herself in the shingle below the fall, stuck fast and not going anywhere, so wires were attached and we started to heave her out for another attempt, when disaster happened. Just as she started to tip over the top of the bank and loud crack was heard, her keel had ripped away from the stem and ten feet back, and she broke her back. Ropes were lashed around her length and she was hauled up onto the promenade, where she lay for several weeks.
Eventually she was moved to Sid Watson’s yard in Sandwich where a new keel was fitted into her, and once again she returned to the beach at the top of King street, its fro here on she earn her name as Deals second lifeboat with the evening and daily times.
The Fairway: the "Lady Beatie” the one and same boat that belonged to Harry Meakings, which used to be stationed almost opposite the Time Ball Tower, still fitted with the old Thorneycroft handy Billy petrol paraffin engine, father purchased her and she was bought to the beach at the top of Brewer Street. Here she was refitted with bilge keels and made fit for beach work.
She had several adventures whilst we owned her, and became known by the national papers as Deal's second lifeboat, a name the evening express fortuned upon us, pity I never owned a camera in those days, some of the pictures would make good viewing.
Used for angling parties in the daytime and trawling at night, she did more than her share of work and earnt good money.
One nice calm night saw us leaving for Broadstairs trawling; we had the last few nights found good fishing on plaice off the Broadstairs knoll. On reaching the ground just after dark we proceeded to shoot the trawl as usual, when the engine suddenly died, what a night! we carried on board two 14 foot long oars, a relief on this night, shipping them and hauling one a piece we steadily rowed towards Ramsgate harbour, goodness knows how long this took, crossing the harbour mouth we pulled hard for the Princes golf club house, just discernable in the distance. A long hard row saw us heave abreast of the club house around 4 in the morning, by now the tide was easing and the first ebb was trickling through. We heaved too off King Street Deal around 6am both the worst for wear; the Fairway was hauled up and left on her moorings for the day. The following day the engine was stripped and a liner was found to be cracked, this after two weeks was fixed and fishing continued.
THE GANNET
A night in November saw us launching for a trawler called the Gannet
the sea was rough wind from the nor’ west and a heavy swell was rolling just under the high water bank, we were sat in the Fairway listening to the faint mayday call from the trawler Gannet, which was lying at anchor, off the sixth green with a fouled propeller, after contacting the vessel we decided to launch, must have been mad when I look back. A tow was secured to the Gannet and a steady pull against a heavy Northerly swell and wind commenced, around one hour later we hauled into Ramsgate Harbour, secured to trawler, and set sail back to Deal Beach, arriving at low tide about 5am. Our reward for a cold wet night afloat was the grand sum of nothing, so although doing a good deed at the end of the day we were 10 gallons of fuel and 3 men’s time out of pocket, but then we rescued 2 men and a trawler. This was one of many
Number 6 Brewer street
This was home to the Skardon family way back in the 1800's, previous to this it was a public house, and internally showed lots of signs of its previous use, my grandfather had it refaced in 1887 and it was done again in 1955, the cellar was used for storage of saw dust which came from the Hogbins log merchants, this was usually full to the floor joists. Many scary tale abound in this property, but pegleg is the scariest, At the back of the house was the stables, you see the picture of me on the first page of this site outside the stables. Horses were kept here, and above the horses were the smoking looms, where thousands of herring, sprats and cod were smoked. Next door at number 5 Brewer Street, this was my grand father’s house as well, it was rented out to Bill Bailey who had boats by the Royal Hotel, in latter years mi Grandfather gave it to Bill as a gift, Bill and his wife stayed there until they passed away. At the rear of number 5 was also a huge herring hang which was still used by mi dad when I was younger.
At regatta time forest fun fair in the fifties when I were young, still had steam engines drawing some of the rides, father had a hose from the stables to the seafront where he supplied the water for these engines, free of charge, needless to say, I never paid for a ride on the Galloping horses, good old days
BELOW JACK LEA & JIM SKARDON IN THE RNA
Click the cutting to enlarge
ROBERT DAY a DEAL CHARACTER
Although not so relevant to the History of Deal
I have been sent some very interesting information in reference to an old Deal family that lived and were raised in Silver Street Deal, the history of the above may be of great interest to those researching the old time conflicts and those which involved old Deal characters
This is a fairly detailed summary of the early life and military career of Robert Day from Deal, who was eventually killed in the last week of WW1..
Written by Nick Palmer
Please click on the photograph to download the story
This story is taken from the Eastbourne newspaper and sent to me by Nick Palmer;
ALLEGED SMUGGLING
DEAL MEN ARRESTED AT
EASTBOURNE
POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS
Three Deal men were arrested at Eastbourne on Wednesday on charges of smuggling. The long narrow boat in which they came here in is now lying on the beach near the Rocket apparatus house. Long and narrow, it is undecked, and measures about 28ft. by7-ft.6in. When we saw the boat on Saturday night there were no oars or sails in it; these had been taken charge of by the coastguard.
The boat is called the "Dizzy", and she has painted on her stern the name of the owner, "K.C.Grigg, Deal". A veteran Eastbourne boatman informs us that craft of this description are called "flat punt" because they carry a large flat sail, and that they travelled a more rapid rate than the boats here.
There are five or six seats for oarsmen so that when there is no wind the boat may be propelled by rowers. The Dizzy, which has been seen on this part of the coast before, is not a new boat, and her value has been roughly estimated at £40
On Thursday at the Eastbourne Police Court, before the Mayor (Alderman H. W. Keay) and Alderman Neville Strange, Robert Day (32), of 12 Silver Street Deal; William Bailey (44), of 159 West Street, Deal; and Samuel Pritchard (47), a boatman, of 21 Middle Street, Deal. were charged with being concerned together in unlawfully Importing certain goods liable to duty; viz, 40 boxes of cigars, 144lbs, of tobacco, and two bottles of Eau de cologne, for which no duty had been paid, on the 15th inst., in the borough of Eastbourne.
William Henry Jackson, the coastguard who fired the rockets on the occasion of the recent wreck of the Caroline, was the first witness. In answer to the magistrates Clerk, (Mr Owen Langham), he said-- I am stationed at the Eastbourne Coastguard Station, Yesterday, at a quarter to three, I was on duty at the fishing station, when I saw a sailing boat, landed by the prisoners in the ordinary way. It run up on the beach about half a mile from me. I watched the boat, but saw nothing unusual occur. I had suspicions that something was wrong, and I and the man on duty with me watched the boat for some considerable time, to see if anything left the boat. At 5.30 we went down to the boat, and overhauled her. The defendants were sitting on the beach outside the boat having their tea. I asked Day the usual question: "Have you anything liable on board" and he answered "No." I told him I should search the boat, and he said, "Allright." I proceeded to search the boat, and I found the articles produce. They were concealed as ballast in the bottom of the boat, and covered with a tarpaulin. It was an open boat, and had no deck at all. The three packages and boxes of cigars were stowed in conjunction with the ballast; the package in the bread bag was stowed under a hawser, forward, and the two bottles in a locker. Of tobacco -- some Cavendish and some plug -- there is about 144.5lbs,; there are 40 boxes of cigars, weighing about 20lbs,; and of Eau de cologne there is about five gills in two bottles. I told defendants I should have to arrest them on a charge of smuggling, which I did. I confiscated the boat, seized the goods, and handed them over to the Chief Officer of my station.. They were afterwards taken to Latimer Road Police Station, and given in charge of police.
Mr. E. J. Fillery (Chief Officer of Coastguard at Eastbourne) handed in a telegram which he had received from the Officer of Customs at Newhaven, asking that the case might be remanded for a week.
Day alleged that the weight of tobacco had not been correctly stated. The witness Jackson explained that the exact weight had not been ascertained. Pritchard - I think the case ought to be carried on at once, rather than be adjourned. We are a long way from home, and have got no friends here. Defendants were remanded till Friday; they are now detained in Lewes jail.
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DEAL BOATMEN IMPRISONED FOR SMUGGLING
Before the Eastbourne Borough Bench on Friday of last week Robert Day, William Bailey, and Simon Pritchard, three boatmen, of Deal, were charged on remand with being concerned together in unlawfully importing certain goods liable to duty, viz. 40 boxes of cigars, 144lbs of tobacco, and two bottles of Eau de cologne, on which no duty had been paid, on the 15th inst, in the Borough of Eastbourne. Mr Bedford (Newhaven), prosecuted on behalf of H.M. Customs, and prisoners were defended by Dr. F. W. Hardman, LLD, of Deal. The defendants, it was stated, came ashore with a boat at Langley Point, and the coastguard of the Eastbourne station discovered the tobacco and cigars concealed as ballast, while the Eau de Cologne was in the locker. - John Rivier Upshaw, Examining Officer of Customs, stated that he had received from Mr. Fillery, the Chief Officer of Coastguard at Eastbourne, a certain quantity of tobacco and cigars and spirits. He has ascertained that on the 25lb of cigars, 63lbs. 140z. of plug, and 44lbs. 7oz. of other manufactured tobacco, and 134 gallons of perfumed spirit, the treble duty amounted to£155 1s, 6d. It was a Dutch tobacco of a very good quality, one of the best they could buy in Rotterdam. The value of the plug tobacco was 2s. a lb. and the other manufactured 1s. 6d.. of the cigars10s. and of the perfumed spirit 17s. 3d. the duty leviable being respectively on these 4s.4d. 3s. 10d. 5s. 6d. and 19s. 1d. -- The Bench imposed the full penalty of £51 13s. 10d. on each defendant, in default three months imprisonment without hard labour.-- A second charge -- of having been onboard the boat for the purpose of importing certain prohibited goods -- was preferred against defendants, and the Mayor said in this case a conviction would simply be recorded.
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William Bailey Drowning
Found Drowned
(Dover Telegraph 22.8.1835 p.8 col.1)
William BAILEY, drowning (referred to in Bailey list 19-21) Deal Walmer & Dover British Telegram Sat. June 4? 1870 “Latest Intelligence” INQUEST: On Monday afternoon last an inquest was held at the Town Hall, before J.C.MARTIN Esq., coroner, on the body of a Deal boatman named William BAILEY, who was drowned off Broadstairs, from the Deal galley punt “Ida”, on 12th April. The jury having viewed the body which was lying at No.3 Pier-store, the following evidence was taken: Henry ERRIDGE, a Deal boatman, deposed that on Saturday evening last, he was in a boat with two others, coming from Broadstairs, and at half-past six o’clock they saw the body of the deceased floating on the water, about a quarter of a mile from Ramsgate. A rope was made fast to it, and it was towed into Ramsgate Harbour, and given up to the police. Witness had known the deceased for many years, but did not identify the body, as it was in a very decomposed state, and he could not recognize the features. The clothing on the body exactly corresponded with that described in the handbill produced, announcing the loss at sea of William BAILEY. The body was conveyed to one of the pier stores, and the knife produced was taken from one of the pockets of the clothing. - James William REDSULL, boatmen of Deal, said the knife referred to by the last witness was his property, and he could identify it by the letter “B” which he cut upon it more than two years ago. He saw him use it to cut a piece of rope a fortnight before he was lost. He believed the deceased was about 52 years of age. William HILLER, boatman, of Broadstairs said, on Sunday the 10th of April, shortly afternoon, he was near the Coastguard Station at Broadstairs, when he saw two men struggling in the sea, about 50 fathoms distant from the cliff. He also saw a part of a mast and sail sticking out of the water near them, as if their boat capsized. The Broadstairs lifeboat went to their assistance, and saved one man, but the other sank before they could reach him. The rescued man was brought ashore in an exhausted state, but was restored; he stated that the man who was in the boat was named William BAILEY. The weather had been squally all the morning, the wind blowing from the west. Superintendent PRITCHARD, of the Harbour Police stated that he received the body of the deceased on Saturday evening, from three boatmen and it was taken to one of the stores. The clothes on it correspond in every way with the particulars stated in the bill produced, announcing a reward for the recovery of William Bailey's body. The body was very much decomposed. The Jury almost immediately returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”.
The Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday November 12th 1892
DEAL
Extensive Seisure of contraband goods
Some extensive seisures of tobacco were made at Deal last week by the Customs officials. At the petty sessions on Thursday, Edward Spratling, grocer's manager, was charged with harbouring and receiving 431lbs of manufactured and cavendish tobacco with intent to defraud Her Majesty's Customs.-- Robert Day, boatman, was similarly charged in respect of 9.5lbs; Earnest Dean in respect of 4.5lbs. The cases were adjourned until Thursday next, the treble value and duty being deposited, and the defendants admitted to bail.
The Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald,
Saturday November 19th 1892
DEAL
Harbouring Contraband Goods
The case in which three defendants were charged with harbouring uncustomed tobacco were again heard on Thursday at the Deal Petty Sessions, Dr. Hardman defending in each case. The bench, after a lenghty hearing, imposed a penalty of the single value and duty, viz. £15.7s. and 19s. costs in the case of Edward Spratling, grocer's assistant.; £3 1s. 9d. and 25s. costs in the case of Robert Day, boatman; and £2 8s. 3d. and 19s. costs in the case of Earnest Dean, boatman
Election of Mayor.
The preliminary unofficial meeting of the Deal Town Council, to appoint the Mayor elect, was held at the Town Hall on Friday evening, at seven o'clock, when the whole of the members of the council were present, and it was unanimously decided that Alderman Lush be re-elected
Deal Boatmen
Emigrating to New Zealand
1850's
Many Deal Boatmen emigrated to New Zealand in the mid 1800's this article
gives an account of a few of those families
