Cromer Lifeboat Station

Cromer Lifeboat Station is located in Cromer, a seaside town located approximately 23 miles (37 km) north of Norwich, on the north-east coast of the English county of Norfolk.

The station comprises two station buildings. A large boathouse, completed in 1999, sits at the end of Cromer Pier, and houses the Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat 16-07 Lester (ON 1287), on station since 2007. A smaller boathouse, built in 1902, and located at the foot of Brunswick Terrace, is home to the D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Mr Eric Sharpe (Civil Service No.54) (D-868), on station since 2022.

A lifeboat was first placed at Cromer in 1804 by a local committee, being taken over by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association (NSA) in 1823. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in December 1857.

History

There has been a lifeboat service operated from Cromer for two centuries – predating the establishment of the RNLI. The volunteer crews at Cromer have gained an exemplary record of gallantry. 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 45 Bronze RNLI Medals for gallantry have been awarded at Cromer, helping make Cromer lifeboat station one of the most well known of the lifeboat stations operated by the RNLI. Some of the most notable rescues and services have been carried out by now famous coxswains, such as Henry George Blogg GM BEM and Henry "Shrimp" Thomas Davies BEM, and their crews.

In the early days of the station, the lifeboats were kept outdoors on the east jetty. From 1804, a privately operated service was funded by subscription, which was administered by a local committee, led by Lord Suffield, the third baron of Gunton Hall. Other dignitaries on the committee included George Wyndham of Cromer Hall, Thomas Mickleburgh, a local merchant, Joseph Gurney, a Cromer draper, and grocer Benjamin Rust.

In 1823, management of the station was taken over by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association (NSA), who became responsible for lifeboat stations between Hunstanton and Gt. Yarmouth. This continued until 1857, until the NSA fell into financial troubles, with the lifeboats in a declining state of repair. At a meeting of the NSA on 21 November 1857, it was decided that the whole operation of the NSA be transferred to the management of the RNLI. This was formally agreed at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 3 December 1857.

The NSA had built a lifeboat house at Cromer, which once stood some 100 yards from the high-water mark, close to where the Inshore lifeboat station now stands. The RNLI altered and renovated this station at a cost of £46-2s-7d, but by the mid-1860s, this station had outlived its usefulness and a new boathouse was planned.

The new site was on the east gangway, and work started on the new station in 1867. The new boathouse project also included building an extension to the sea walls, and a slipway across the top of the beach. The work cost £476-4s-0d and was carried out by a local builder by the name of E. Simmons. The cost of the station was met by Benjamin Bond Cabbell, who also provided a new lifeboat for the station, costing £306. The lifeboat, a 34-foot Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and oars, was duly named Benjamin Bond Cabbell.

A new 38-foot Liverpool-class P&S lifeboat was placed on station in 1902. The cost of the new lifeboat and equipment was defrayed from the bequest of Miss Emily Heartwell of Holloway, London. At a ceremony on 9 September 1902, the new boathouse was inaugurated, and after a short service of dedication by Rev. J. F. Sheldon, the lifeboat was named Louisa Heartwell (ON 495).

At least three-feet longer than any previous Cromer lifeboat, a new boathouse was required, and was constructed at the end of the esplanade, at the foot of Brunswick Terrace, at a cost of £525.

When the new 46-foot 6in motor-powered lifeboat H F Bailey (ON 670) arrived on station in 1923, the 1902 boathouse would not be large enough. Another new boathouse was again required. This time, a much larger boathouse, with a roller slipway, was constructed at the end of Cromer Pier, at a cost of £32,000. The pulling and sailing lifeboat Louisa Heartwell (ON 495) was retained as a No. 2 lifeboat.

A remarkable period of service would occur at Cromer between 1927 and 1941. No fewer than 37 RNLI Medals for gallantry were awarded, along with multiple awards from various governments and The Queen of The Netherlands.

21–22 November 1927, Dutch tanker Georgia, 1 x Gold, 12 x Bronze
17 February 1931, Fishing boat Welcome Home, 1 x Bronze
14–16 October 1932, Monte Nevoso of Genoa, 1 x Silver
13 December 1933, Barge Sepoy, 1 x Silver
9–10 October 1939, S.S. Mount Ida, 1 x Silver, 3 x Bronze
6–7 August 1941, 6 vessels in convoy, 1 x Gold, 1 x Silver, 3 x Bronze
26–27 October 1941, Steamship English Trader, 1 x Silver, 11 x Bronze (incl 1 posthumous)

Cromer continued to operate two All-weather lifeboats until 1967, when the No. 2 boat was withdrawn. The lifeboat on station at the time, the 37-foot Oakley Mk I lifeboat 37-13 William Henry and Mary King (ON 980), was transferred first to Bridlington, and later to North Sunderland. The withdrawal of the second All-weather lifeboat saw the introduction of a new D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat (ILB), (D-101). The 1902 boathouse is still the home of the Inshore boat.

Towards the end of the 1990s, it was decided that the pier boathouse had reached the end of its serviceable lifetime, especially in the face of the elements at the end of the pier. The boathouse was replaced between 1997 and 1999, costing approximately £3 million, funded by bequests and private donations.

The 1923 Cromer Pier boathouse was removed in two halves, and transported by sea, along the coast to Southwold, where it was reassembled. It is now home to the Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum, it's main exhibit being the 44-foot Norfolk and Suffolk-class (P&S) former Southwold lifeboat RNLB Alfred Corry (ON 353).

Station honours

The following are awards made at Cromer.

Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (EGM)

Henry George Blogg – 1924

George Cross, converted from EGM

Henry George Blogg – 1941

British Empire Medal

Henry George Blogg , Coxswain - 1941

Henry Thomas Davies, Coxswain – 1970

RNLI Gold Medal

Henry George Blogg, Coxswain – 1917

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1927 (Second Service clasp)

Henry George Blogg , Coxswain – 1941 (Third Service clasp)

RNLI Silver Medal

Hon. Auberon Herbert – 1867

William Davies, Acting Second Coxswain - 1917

Private Stewart Holmes, 2/4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders – 1917

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1932

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1934 (Second Service clasp)

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1939 (Third Service clasp)

John James Davies, Second Coxswain – 1941

Henry George Blogg , Coxswain – 1941 (Fourth Service clasp)

RNLI Bronze Medal

George Allen, crew member – 1917

James Allen, crew member – 1917

Edward Walter Allen, crew member – 1917

William Allen, crew member – 1917

Henry Balls, crew member – 1917

Charles Cox, crew member – 1917

George Cox, crew member – 1917

Leslie James Harrison, crew member – 1917

Tom Kirby, crew member – 1917

Gilbert Mayers, crew member – 1917

Walter Rix, crew member – 1917

William Rix, crew member – 1917

George Balls, Second Coxswain – 1927

John James Davies (Senior), Bowman – 1927

Robert Davies, Mechanic – 1927

William Thomas Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1927

Edward Walter Allen, crew member – 1927 (Second-Service clasp)

Richard J. Baker, crew member – 1927

George Cox, crew member – 1927

Harry William Davies, crew member – 1927

James William Davies, crew member – 1927

John James Davies (Junior), crew member – 1927

Leslie James Harrison, crew member – 1927 (Second-Service clasp)

Sidney Charles Harrison, crew member – 1927

John James Davies (Snr), Bowman – 1931 (Second-Service clasp)

John Davies (Snr), Second Coxswain – 1939 (Third-Service clasp)

Henry William Davies, Mechanic – 1939 (Second-Service clasp)

James William Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1939 (Second-Service clasp)

Henry William Davies, Mechanic – 1941 (Third-Service clasp)

Leslie James Harrison, Second Coxswain – 1941 (Third-Service clasp)

Harold V. Linder, Mechanic – 1941

John James Davies (Snr), Second Coxswain – 1941 (Fourth-Service clasp)

Henry William Davies, Mechanic – 1941 (Fourth-Service clasp)

James William Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1941 (Third-Service clasp)

William Thomas Davies, Bowman – 1941 (Second-Service clasp)

Edward Walter Allen, Signalman – 1941 (Third-Service clasp) (posthumous)

Henry Thomas Davies, crew member – 1941

James Richard Davies, crew member – 1941

John James Davies (Jnr), crew member – 1941 (Second-Service clasp)

Robert C Davies, crew member – 1941

William H Davies, crew member – 1941

Sidney Charles Harrison, crew member – 1941 (Second-Service clasp)

Dr Paul Stuart Barclay – 1974

Clive Richard Rayment, Helm – 1981

Richard William Davies, Coxswain – 1994

Medal service certificates

Frank H. Muirhead, crew member – 1981

Christopher B. Craske, crew member – 1981

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

H. T. Davies , Coxswain – 1974

R. W. Davies, crew member – 1974

Richard Davies, Coxswain – 1989

William Davies, Second Coxswain – 1998

Richard Davies, Coxswain – 1999

A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

R. W. Davies, Coxswain – 1991

W. T. Davies, Second Coxswain – 1991

R. J. Hannah, Mechanic – 1991

J. W. H. Jonas, Assistant Mechanic – 1991

P. Jefferies, crew member – 1991

P. Everitt, crew member – 1991

H. Balls, crew member – 1991

J. Howard, crew member – 1991

Silver Medal of the Canine Defence League

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1932

A Gold Watch, awarded by The Queen of The Netherlands

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1927

A Silver watch, awarded by The Queen of The Netherlands

Each of the other members of the lifeboat crew – 1927

Silver medal and a diploma awarded by The Italian Government

Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1932

Bronze medals and diploma awarded by The Italian Government

Each of the other members of the lifeboat crew – 1932

The French Maritime Cross, awarded by The French Government

Henry Thomas Davies, Coxswain – 1948

The Life-saving medal, awarded by The French Government

Each of the other 11 members of the lifeboat crew – 1948

British Empire Medal

Edwin Luckin, Boathouse Manager – 2023NYH

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Cromer lifeboat.

Died on 21 September 1918, after becoming paralysed whilst assisting the launch of the lifeboat H F Bailey (ON 670), on service to the Swedish vessel Fernebo on 9 January 1917.

John Sharp, Driver

Collapsed and died of heart failure shortly after being recovered to the lifeboat H F Bailey (ON 777), after five lifeboat crew, including Henry Blogg, were washed overboard, whilst on service to the steamship English Trader on 26–27 October 1941.

Edward Walter Allen, Signalman

(Allen was posthumously awarded a third-service clasp to add to his previously won 2 RNLI Bronze Medals).