Last month we looked at the foundation of the Duncannon Lifeboat station in 1869. This month we will look at the service record of the station and some of the shouts, which the lifeboat, Richard and Anne Warner (sometimes the Warner was unused ) completed. The decision to close and relocate the station is also discussed.
From the outset the RNLI depends on volunteers and fundraising to sustain the services provided around our coastline. The following are the Hon Secretaries that served at Duncannon during the lifespan of the station: A P Allen 1869, James Haughton 1869-1870, Capt SD Bartlett 1870-1880 and J McGonagil, 1880-1886[I]
Duncannon Lifeboat service record.
| Date | ship | origin | description |
| Jan 25 1873 | brig Waterloo | Cork | Service not reqd. |
| Dec 30 1873 | barque Nymph | Stood by | |
| Jan 19 1875 | brig Vittoriso G | Venice | Rescued 9 |
| May 27 1877 | schooner Charles | Bridgewater | Service not reqd. |
| Feb 8 1881 | brig Victory | Cork | Service not reqd. |
| Mar 3 1881 | brig Dayspring | Dublin | rescued 1 |
| Dec 27 1882 | steamer Szepary | Fuime | Service not reqd. |
| Feb 13 1884 | ship Earl of Beaconsfield | Glasgow | Rescued 33 |
Interesting to note that even the remark “Stood By, service not required”, still carries significance. Just the fact that a lifeboat is right beside you as you struggle with a disabled ship or shifted cargo into a foreign and unfamiliar port can give you great solace. For example, the brig Waterloo was stranded aground on a sand bar when the lifeboat came to the rescue in a southerly gale. While standing by, a large sea broke over the vessel and she floated free. As the sails and rigging were undamaged the vessel was able to make her own way.[ii]
I found mention of another instance in 1874 but it is not part of the service record. Perhaps this was misreported, but I will include it with that proviso. It involved the case of the timber-carrying barque Nemphen. She was in so perilous a condition coming up the harbour that the lifeboat was reported to have gone to her assistance. Having struck the bottom several times they managed to make it to Ballyhack where it was said she was in a leaky condition with her windlass broken. The article states that the lifeboat shepherded the ship to safe anchorage. On the same day the schooner Love Star was also at Ballyhack, with a damaged mast and 4 feet of water in the hold. The vessel was carrying a cargo of turpentine.[iii]
When the steamer Szepary grounded at Bannow in 1882 the Duncannon lifeboat went overland to assist and was launched with great difficulty into a raging sea and pounding surf. Having battled to the scene of the grounding, it was found that the Fethard Coastguard crew, employing the rocket apparatus, had managed to get the crew of thirteen safely ashore.[iv]
Now to turn to the three rescues listed. In 1875 nine members of the crew of the brig Vittorioso G were safely rescued by the lifeboat. The Lifeboat Magazine of the RNLI reported it as follows:
At 9 am on January 19th, the Life-boat Richard and Anne Warner was summoned to the assistance of the Vittorioso G, a brig belonging to Venice, which was wrecked in Bannow Bay, on the Selskar rocks, during a moderate S.W. gale. The Life-boat had to be conveyed a distance of seven miles by land, through miry lanes and soft roads, at first only by men hauling on the drag- ropes, though by-and-by, as she pushed on her way, horses came galloping in by ones and twos, and were promptly attached to the boat carriage. It was not till after noon, however, that the panting horses were pulled up on the brink of the sea, at Fethard Strand, the launching- place nearest to the wreck. Amidst the cheers of a large concourse of people the Life-boat was then launched through the surf, and after two hours’ hard work with the oars her crew had the satisfaction of landing with the whole of the crew of the wrecked vessel, consisting of 9 persons.[v]
Locally it was reported that the ship was on a trip from Cardiff to Constantinople with a cargo of coal. The crew were said to be in the care of the Italian vice council in Waterford Mr Goidanich. Captain Bartlett (who ran the paddle steamer from Duncannon at the time and who was listed as Hon Sec of the lifeboat, but presumably acted as Cox on the day?) and the crew of the lifeboat were said to have acted gallantly. [vi] Captain Bartlett was afterwards awarded a silver medal by the Italian Government.
Although only one person was rescued from the Dublin registered brig Dayspring in 1881 it was a fortunate man indeed, for the rest of his crew had already perished before the lifeboat reached the scene. The brig was enroute to Waterford from Newcastle with coal when she grounded off Broomhill. As the tide was rising and the wind SSE the lifeboat needed a tow to get down to the vessel, which was duly provided by the steam tug Resolute. However, the Dayspring had gone to pieces before they could reach the scene, the unnamed captain was taken from the water where he was seen clutching a piece of his shattered ship. His five crew were lost.[vii] The survivor was named as Captain McKener in another account.[viii] (There was a follow up Board of Trade inquiry which tells a very different story of this event – but it’s too long to include here, it might make another blog. If interested email me and I will send it on. The Captain’s name is given as Francis McKevitt)
Again, another shout is reported in a local newspaper in 1881, but was not listed in official reports. Very likely a newspaper error. But it was reported that a brig called the Nancy McSweeney carrying coal to Waterford went ashore on the Waterford side and went to pieces in a hurricane. The report claims that the Duncannon lifeboat went to the scene and rescued the crew. [ix]
The final rescue listed was from a ship I have featured before, and if you want to read the account I have linked it here: Earl of Beaconsfield. This was another overland journey to Fethard and a 26 hr rescue in total.
On two occasions the lifeboat station was mentioned concerning controversies, that I am aware of. In one the station was acquitted, while the other was a moot point following the loss of the Alfred D Snow– two years after the station had closed- but an interesting what if nonetheless. In that situation it was speculated that if the harbour lifeboat station was still at Duncannon, they may have reached the grounded vessel.
The other controversy involved the loss of the SS Kinsale at the Hell Hole in 1872. A story we have covered previously. Following the loss, an article appeared in the Freeman’s Journal claiming that the locals were little better than wreckers following their conduct. A nasty slur. However, they were stoutly defended by Rev Thomas Doyle, curate of Ramsgrange. In his letter of rebuttal to the newspapers, he asked where was the Duncannon lifeboat. [xi] I’m speculating here, but the fact that he tried to implicate the lifeboat, might suggest the crew were not made up of locals at the time? Or some rivalry between the communities perhaps?
An RNLI inspector, Captain Roberts was dispatched; they launched the lifeboat and visited the scene. Roberts later recorded that because of the shallow nature of the coastline, there was little the lifeboat could have done when grounded in the Hell Hole. Had the alarm been raised when the Kinsale broke down, there may have been a chance. [xii]
In 1885 the local lifeboats were inspected. Although the writing was on the wall for the Duncannon station due to the new facility at Dunmore East (1884) and the preparations then underway to move the Wexford station to Fethard. The inspection was reported on and I think it is well worth repeating here.
On Wednesday Lieut Tipping, R.N, visited the Tramore station. The local secretary. E Jacob, Esq of Waterford, has always acted with great energy and taken much interest in forwarding the views of the Lifeboat Institution both at Tramore and elsewhere, On the 9th inst in his steamship Waterwitch the Inspector proceeded from Waterford to Duncannon, where the lifeboat under the coxswain Mr Gleeson was launched from its stage, with the crew on board. He was then taken in tow by the Waterwitch, and against a headwind and sea towed out of the river to Dunmore. Lieut Tipping also visited Fethard, on the Wexford coast, where a new lifeboat house is to be built and a fine boat is now ready for this station. The Dunmore lifeboat of twelve oars was run into the sea from the lifeboat house and manned by a strong capable crew. The local secretary. Rev W Gilmore went aboard with the Inspector (Lieut Tipping) The two lifeboats had an exciting race under oars out at sea. when they then made sail, and cruised about under Lieutenant Tipping’s orders. The boat then returned under sail Duncannon, where she arrived about 10 pm. Major. Mrs. and Miss Florence Wheeler Cuffe took passage in the Duncannon lifeboat. A great number of people witnessed this interesting scene from the shore—the two lifeboats vying with each other. The Duncannon boat had only ten oars and was beaten in the pulling, but sailing back she was in first.[x]
According to Jimmy White, the Duncannon Lifeboat Station was closed in 1886, with the opening of the Fethard Station. He included this press clipping: “Fethard, County Wexford – With the full concurrence of the Committee of the late Waterford Harbour and Duncannon Branch, the Duncannon Life-boat Station has been abolished, and a new Life-boat Establishment in its place has been formed at Fethard, to guard Bannow Bay and the neighbouring part of the coast… The new boat, which is one of the 34 feet 10-oared class, is provided with a transporting carriage. It was sent to its station in July last. The whole cost of this new Life-boat Station has been met from the bequest of the late Mrs. Helen Blake of Handcross House, Sussex, – received through the Lords Commissioners of H.M. Treasury – and the boat is named after the deceased lady.” [xiii]
The RNLB Helen Blake lives still in the memory of the locality following the disaster of 1914 in the bid to aid the stricken Mexico. David Carroll clarified to me that this was the third vessel which carried the name. A generous bequeath indeed.
I’m indebted to Walter Foley for access to original information by Jimmy White for this piece. Kevin Downes who gave me information previously. Also to Liam Ryan, Fethard and David Carroll for their generous assistance. Also, acknowledge the help of Hayley Whiting, Heritage Archive and Research Manager, RNLI. Thanks also to marine artist KB Cleare for the use of his original artwork for the piece. All the errors and omissions are, of course, my own.
that of the Old Dublin Society. He has lectured extensively on maritime matters and he has written a great many articles for historical journals on maritime and diving-related subjects. Many of Cormac’s lectures are given in aid of the R.N.L.I. He has recently published a book entitled ‘Ringsend Sailing Trawlers’. Cormac has an abiding interest in maritime art and he has been known to take up a brush occasionally. He is a member of, Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. Maritime Institute of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire Borough Historical Society, Irish Maritime Archaeological Society, The Old Dublin Society, Historical Diving Society. Tallaght Historical Society. Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association.
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