RNLB H F Bailey (ON 777) is the most famous Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat to have served from Cromer, because she was used by Coxswain Henry Blogg to perform many of his most famous lifesaving exploits. The lifeboat was on station for the ten years between 1935 and 1945.Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004, Appendix 1 Lifeboat Summary. She is now part of the National Historic Fleet and has been preserved in the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer.
From 1923 to the end of the Second World War in 1945 the Cromer station had four motor-powered lifeboats all called H F Bailey after the donor, Mr Henry Francis Bailey, a London merchant who had been born in Norfolk and had died in 1916.Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004, page 54.
Construction H F Bailey was built at the yard of Groves and Guttridge Ltd on the Isle of Wight. Her hull is constructed using double diagonal planking of Honduras mahogany on a framework of teak ribs and beams, with the stem and stern posts and her keel of English oak. The stern and stem posts are grown to the required shape to give the lifeboat its strength and sturdiness. She is long and wide. The hull is divided into seven watertight compartments, of which the engine room is one. The hull is fitted with 142 mahogany air cases, each individually made to fit into its allocated position in the hull. Her equipment included the latest innovations of the time which included a line throwing gun and an electric searchlight.Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004, Two New Lifeboats, page 73.
Further use RNLB HF Bailey went on to serve Helvick Head Lifeboat Station in County Waterford, Ireland until 1969 when the station was closed. It remained closed until 1994 when it was reopened by the RNLI. The lifeboat stationed there today is an Atlantic 75 and provides cover in the area between Youghal and Tramore Lifeboat Stations.
Rescues and service +Rescues by H F Bailey (ON 777) DateCasualtyLives saved1936 26 March Steamship Boree of Caen, landed 7 from steamship Cadeuceus 2 April Fishing boat Little Madge of Sheringham, in tow of lifeboat J C Madge of Sheringham and fishing boats John Roberts and White Rose of Cromer, stood by boats 20 April Barge Will Everard of London, stood by vessel 7–11 August Steamship San Francisco of Le Havre, rendered assistance 16–18 November Steamship Nesttun of Tvedestrand, rendered assistance 18 November Steam drifter Pitagaveny of Banff, saved 10 19 November Steamship Yew Forest of Glasgow, took out a doctor 19 November Steamship Lindisfarne of Newcastle on Tyne, rendered assistance 1937 9 November Spritsail barge Hibernia of London 31938 10 February Fishing boat Urgent of Cromer, stood by boat May 30 Fishing boat G V H of Great Yarmouth, saved boat 2 7 August Motor vessel John M of London, stood by vessel 2 November Steamship of Santander, saved 5 27 December Steamship Otto H of Pori, rendered assistance1939 18 June Rowing boat of Cromer, Landed 5 9 October Steamship of Piraeus, saved29 1 December Steamship Realf of Moss, landed 32 and 10 naval ratings from Santa Gata 8 December Steamship Corea of Goole, saved 7 12 December Steamship Corbrook of London, stood by vessel 21 December Motor vessel Dosinia of London, assisted to save vessel 511940 9 January Steamship Upminster of London, stood by vessel 11 January Steamship Traviata of Genoa, landed 30 and saved1 11 January HMT Holyrood, gave help 12 January Light Vessel No 58, saved a ship's boat3 18 January Steamship Asteria of Piraeus, saved11 18 January Light Vessel No 58, saved a ship's boat4 30 January Steam trawler Pelton of Grimsby, gave help 27 August Aircraft, salvaged wreckage and gear3 October MV Actuosity of London, saved 815 November HMT Dungeness, saved 1125 November HMT Dungeness, salvaged gear7 December Steamship Royston of Newcastle on Tyne, stood by 12 December Steamship Royston of Newcastle on Tyne, gave help 1941 15 January Steamship Lieutenant Robert Mory of Belfast, landed 19 and gave help 25 January Steamship of Liverpool, saved 101 8 March Boat from steamship Corduff of London, saved 13 8 March Steamship Kenton of Newcastle, saved two boats 13 March Steamship Essex Lance of London, gave help 14 March Steamship Essex Lance of London, gave help 26 March Steamship Kentwood of London, stood by 24 July Aircraft, saved dinghy and picked up a body 6 August (Convoy FS 559) Steamship Oxshott of London, saved 16 6 August (Convoy FS 559) Steamship of Rouen, saved 31 6 August (Convoy FS 559) Steamship Deerwood of London, saved 19 6 August (Convoy FS 559) Steamship Betty Hindley, saved 22 15 September Motor vessel Pontfield of Newcastle, gave help September 23 Steamship J B Paddon of London, landed an injured man Between Sept 17 – 6 Nov Steamship Teddington of London, gave help on 22 occasions 16 October British aircraft, landed a body 26 October Steamship of London, saved 441942 29 January Aeroplane dinghy seven miles north of Cley next the Sea, saved 1 2 February Motor vessel Sedulity of London, landed an injured man 15 March , picked up 11 bodies after torpedo attack 11 April British aeroplane, landed 6 25 May Yacht Betty of Gorleston, gave help 20 July Aeroplane, gave help 18 November Motor fishing boat Silver Queen of Lowestoft, saved vessel21943 12 March Barrage balloon, salvaged balloon 26 July Wellington Bomber aeroplane, saved 51944 20 June Aeroplane, salvaged wreckage 29 July Aeroplane, salvaged gear 7–10 December Steamship Samnethy of London, saved1945 4 FebruaryMotor vessel Valder of Hartlepool, gave help
Gallery
See also Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey ON 694
References
Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004, Leach, Nicholas & Russell, Paul, Pub: Tempus Publishing, 2004, .
Further reading The History of Cromer Lifeboats and Crew; H.F. Bailey 777 1935–1945 Cromer, Kitty Lee, 1991,