Salcombe Lifeboat Station

In a severe north-easterly gale on 23 March 1866, the barque Spirit of the Ocean was on passage from London to Halifax, Nova Scotia, when she was driven ashore and wrecked at Prawle Point, the southern most tip of Devon, just to the east of the Kingsbridge estuary. 38 of the 42 people on board were lost. The event was witnessed by tenant farmer Samuel Popplestone, who raised the alarm. Despite the conditions, he lowered himself down the cliff, and managed to pull the four survivors from the wreck. As a result of his heroism, a brand new award for civilian gallantry was established, and Samuel Popplestone became the very first recipient of the Albert Medal for Lifesaving, awarded in gold.^[5][6][7]

It is likely that the publicity around the events at Prawle Point in 1866 had some influence regarding a lifeboat for the area. The report of the Inspector of Lifeboats, Capt. John R. Ward, RN, following his visit to the town, was read at the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 6 April 1868. It was resolved on his recommendation that a lifeboat station be established at Salcombe. The gift of £640 had been received from Richard Durant of Sharpham, Ashprington , near Totnes, via the Devon central branch of the Institution, to defray the cost of the establishment.^[8]

Sadly, before the lifeboat went on service, the tea Clipper Gossamer was wrecked at Prawle Point on 10 December 1868. A further 13 people were lost, including the Master, Capt. John Thomson and his bride of just two weeks, Barbara Kerr.^[9][10]

A new 33-foot-long (10 m) Peake-class self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars was constructed by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, at a cost of £283, and in September 1869, was transported with its carriage free of charge to Kingsbridge Railway Station, by the Bristol and Exeter and South Devon railway companies.^[11][12]

On 21 September 1869, the lifeboat was drawn in grand procession, accompanied by civic dignitaries, members of benevolent societies, pilots, fishermen, schoolchildren and men of the lifeboat and coastguard, to the head of the harbour. There it was formally presented to the Institution by Richard Durant, and named Rescue in accordance with his wishes. The boat was then launched on demonstration to the assembled crowd, and capsized by crane, to prove its self-righting capabilities.^[12]

"Another life-boat establishment has also been organized by the Society on the Coast of Devonshire, at Salcombe, a port where there is some trade, and where there is a good supply of men to work the boat."

After the naming ceremony, the boat was rowed down the estuary to its new station at South Sands Beach, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Salcombe. A new boathouse, costing £309-10s, had been constructed on a site granted by the The Earl of Devon, allowing easy access to the lower estuary, the Salcombe sand bar, and the open sea.^[12][13][14]

By 1904, the lifeboat on station was the non-self-righting 35-foot Liverpool-class lifeboat William and Emma (ON 524). The lifeboat was launched at 06:50 on 27 October 1916, to the aid of the schooner Western Lass of Plymouth, driven ashore and wrecked on Meg Rock, at Langerstone Point, 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km) east of Prawle Point. Unbeknown to the crew, the last man was rescued from the wreck by the coastguard rocket brigade at 06:52. After a hard row to the wreck, the lifeboat arrived to find everyone had been rescued.

The lifeboat turned for home, and approaching South Sands, the boat was made ready to cross the Bar, the sails were lowered, and a drogue was deployed to keep the boat straight. At this point, an enormous wave hits the boat, which was pitchpoled stern over bow. The whole crew were thrown into the water. Despite their best efforts to cling on, the battering waves finally forced them to lose their grip. Two of the crew, Edward 'Eddie' Distin and William 'Bill' Johnson are found alive, washed up on the shore, but 13 crew drowned. A father and two sons were lost, along with another two pairs of brothers. Eight women were widowed, and 19 children under the age of 18 lost their father.^[3][15][16]

The station was closed temporarily, until a new lifeboat could be placed on service. Speculation will always remain whether a self-righting lifeboat would have resulted in a better outcome. The station re-opened in April 1917, with a new crew, and the 35-foot self-righting lifeboat Sarah Ann Holden (ON 449).^[17][18]

The neighbouring stations at Torbay and Plymouth were equipped with motor lifeboats in 1922 and 1926 respectively. With local lifeboat cover provided by the P&S lifeboat at Hope Cove just 6 miles (9.7 km) away, at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on 17 September 1925, it was decided to close Salcombe Lifeboat Station. The Sarah Ann Holden (ON 449), which had been relocated to moorings nearer the town in 1922, was sold from service.^[19]

However, the decision was reconsidered in 1930, when the station at Hope Cove was closed. At the time, a motor-lifeboat from either Torbay or Plymouth, typically capable of 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), and each over 20 nmi (37 km; 23 mi) away, would have taken about three hours to reach Salcombe. The lifeboat station was re-established at Salcombe, with crew facilities provided in the Unity building on the quay, and the 40-foot self-righting motor lifeboat, Alfred and Clara Heath (ON 672), with a single 45-hp Tylor petrol engine, was transferred from Torbay.^[14][20][21]

The 47-foot Watson-class lifeboats were not inherently self-righting, but after the capsize of the Fraserburgh lifeboat in 1970, they were fitted with air bags, that would self-inflate, and bring the lifeboat upright in case of capsize. This was put to the test when the Salcombe 47-foot Watson-class lifeboat The Baltic Exchange (ON 964) was launched on 10 April 1983 into a force 9 gale, gusting force 11, to reports of two divers clinging to an upturned dinghy, and possibly two more missing. The lifeboat was hit by a series of massive waves, the first knocking the lifeboat over, with crew member Michael Hicks washed overboard. The second wave capsized the lifeboat, but the air-bag automatically inflated, bringing the lifeboat upright. The lifeboat was at full speed when capsized, and from the water, Hicks watched in disbelief as the lifeboat rolled a full 360°, and then continued away again at full speed.^[22][23]

The boat was soon circled back round, and Hicks was recovered to the boat, and although sustaining some damage, the boat was able to continue the search. However, with the Torbay Arun-class lifeboat Edward Bridges (Civil Service No. 37) summoned, the Salcombe boat was taken to calmer conditions to drain some of water in the engine room, and then taken to Brixham. The first two divers were recovered by helicopter, with the other two divers already having made shore in a second dinghy.^[23][24]

The Baltic Exchange (ON 964) remained on service at Salcombe until 1988. The boat was replaced by a new Tyne-class lifeboat, powered by twin 425-hp 6V92TA Detroit Diesel engines, and costing £584,362. Again funded by the members of The Baltic Exchange, the new lifeboat was named 47-022 The Baltic Exchange II (ON 1130}.^[25]

In 2003, a B-class (Atlantic 75) Inshore lifeboat was additionally stationed at Salcombe. After a short period with a boat from the relief fleet, Joan Bate (B-794) served the station until 2018. A boathouse was built beside the existing crew facilities, along with a new slipways for the ILB, and a new pontoon for the moored lifeboat was provided in 2004.^[14][17][26]

After 22 years service, The Baltic Exchange II was sold from service in 2010, replaced by the £2.5 million Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat, 16-09 The Baltic Exchange III (ON 1289), driven by twin 1,015-hp Caterpillar Inc. C18 diesel engines, delivering a top speed of 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph).^[27][28]

Following a comprehensive coastal review, major changes were announced by the RNLI in 2025, which will see some lifeboats replaced and others reallocated. In 2027, Salcombe are scheduled to lose their Tamar-class lifeboat, to be re-allocated to a station requiring a larger and more modern boat, but will receive a brand new state-of-the-art Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, costing in excess of £2.7 million.^[29]

In February 2026, it was announced that The Baltic Exchange are actively fundraising to finance the new lifeboat at Salcombe in 2027, which will carry the name The Baltic Exchange IV.^[30]

The main crew facilities are in a three-storey building on the waterfront of Union Street. Next door is a similarly constructed single-storey boathouse for the ILB with its own slipway.

The RNLI aims to reach any casualty up to 50 miles (80 km) from its stations, and within two hours in good weather. To do this the Tamar class lifeboat at Salcombe has an operating range of 250 nautical miles (460 km) and a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h).^[31] Adjacent lifeboats are at Plymouth to the west, and Torbay to the east; there is also an ILB at Dart Lifeboat Station in Dartmouth between Salcombe and Torbay.^[4]

The Baltic Exchange (incorporated as The Baltic Exchange Limited]) is a British financial services company and membership organisation for the maritime industry. It provides freight market information.

It's charitable activities combine a number of maritime societies as an independent charity supporting largely maritime causes. The charity has so far funded three All-weather lifeboats for the RNLI at Salcombe, plus an additional B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, David Bradley (B-882) at Lymington, in memory of former Baltic Exchange employee David Bradley. Funding has also been provided to the Sailors' Society, The Mission to Seafarers, National Coastwatch Institution, The Marine Society, and The Ahoy Centre.^[32]

On 7 December 1939, a few months after the start of World War II, the Samuel and Marie Parkhouse went to the aid of the SS Louis Sheid. This had already picked up 62 survivors from the SS Tajandoen which had been hit by a torpedo from Günther Prien's U-47, but was now in trouble herself, after hitting rocks near Thurlestone. It took the lifeboat crew two journeys to Hope Cove to land the survivors of the torpedoed ship, but the crew of the Louis Sheid eventually got ashore after it ran aground in Bigbury Bay.^[33] Coxswain Edwin Distin (a survivor of the 1916 capsize) was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal for his seamanship during this rescue. The rest of the crew were awarded bronze medals.^[17]

Four years later Distin was himself awarded a bronze medal when, on 4 December 1943, he rescued eleven people from a salvage craft off Start Point.^[17]

On 8 January 1992, the Baltic Exchange II went to help the MV Janet C, which was adrift without power near Start Point. The crew managed to get a line across and held the 1,200 long tons (1,200 t) coaster off the rocks for three hours, until a tug was able to take over the tow. Coxswain/Mechanic Frank Smith was awarded a bronze medal for his courage, seamanship and determination during this service.^[14]

The following are awards made at Salcombe:^[17][34]

• Albert Medal for Lifesaving (Gold) awarded by Queen Victoria

  Samuel Popplestone – 1866 (the first recipient of the award)

• RNLI Silver Medal

  Edwin William Distin, Coxswain – 1940

• RNLI Bronze Medal

  Edwin Chant, Second Coxswain – 1940

  Gerald Shepherd, Bowman – 1940

  John Allen, Mechanic – 1940

  Phillip Edwin Chant, Asst. Mechanic – 1940

  Thomas Cheeseman, crew member – 1940

  John Field, crew member – 1940

  George John Lake, crew member – 1940

  Edwin William Distin, Coxswain – 1944

  Frank Yeoman Smith, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1992

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

  Dr Cock, chairman – 1917

  Charles Turner, Honorary Secretary – 1917

  H. W. Distin, Coxswain – 1972

  John Griffiths, Coxswain – 1979

• A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

  John G. Griffiths, Coxswain – 1983

  Brian Cater, Acting Second Coxswain, & Asst. Mechanic – 1983

  Frank Y. Smith, Motor Mechanic – 1983

  Stanley Turns, crew member – 1983

  Roger Evans, crew member – 1983

  Michael Hicks, crew member – 1983

  David Lamble, crew member – 1983

  John Marjoram, Staff Coxswain – 1992

  Frank Smith, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1997

  Sam Viles, Helm – 2012

• Certificates of Appreciation

  Iain Dundas, crew member – 2010

  Adam Lilley, crew member – 2010

• Letters of Thanks

  Esther McLarty, crew member – 2012

  Matt Davies, crew member – 2012

• Commander, Order of the British Empire (CBE)

  Mark Peter Louden Dowie, CEO (RNLI). Former Lifeboat Operations Manager, Salcombe. For services to Maritime Safety – 2024KBH^[35]

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

  Frank Yeoman Smith, Former Coxswain/Second Mechanic – 2002NYH^[36]

In memory of those lost whilst serving at Salcombe:^[17]

• Lost when the Salcombe lifeboat William and Emma capsized, after a service to the schooner Western Lass of Plymouth, 27 October 1916.

• 
  William and Emma (1904–1916)
• 
  Samuel and Marie Parkhouse (1938–1962)
• 
  The Baltic Exchange II (left, 1987–2008)

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats