Brooke Lifeboat Station was located at Brook Chine, near the village of Brook, on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight.

A lifeboat was first placed at Brook in 1860, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

After 77 years service, Brooke Lifeboat Station was closed in 1937.

Appeal The origins of both and Brooke lifeboat stations are linked, as it was the loss of two ships that prompted the opening of both stations.

On 6 December 1859, the barque Mirabita of Malta, on passage from Marseille to London, was driven ashore and wrecked at Chale Bay. 12 of the 17 crew lost their lives. On the same night, the schooner Sentinel, on passage to Sunderland, was wrecked at the same location. Two crew of the six aboard were lost.

A letter was written to the RNLI in 1859, from Edward McAll, Rural Dean and Rector of Brighstone, and John Pellow Gaze, Rector of Brook, appealing for the provision of a lifeboat."It is a matter of painful notoriety, that 14 lives were lost by shipwreck at the back of the Island, about three weeks ago. It was stated by the officers of coastguard and by others at the Inquest, that if a life-boat had been at hand, the whole of these lives might have been saved".

A visit to the area was made by Capt. John Ward, RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats, who concluded that two lifeboats should be placed on the SW coast of the Isle of Wight, one at Brook, and a second one at Grange Chine, Brighstone. Funds for the Brooke lifeboat were raised locally, and both stations would be officially opened on 13 August 1860.

History The first lifeboat to be placed at Brook was a 30-foot self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, built by Forrest of Limehouse, at a cost of £148-9s-6d. A stone-built boathouse was constructed at the top of Brook Chine, on land given by Charles Seely."Lying near the track of all vessels passing up or down the Channel, the coast on this part of the island has always been liable to wrecks, and the want of a lifeboat has been greatly felt on it. Three vessels and several lives were lost here during last winter, which awoke a general local interest in the subject, and led to the establishment of these boats, which, it is to be hoped, will be the means of rescuing the crews of any vessels lost in this locality in future years."

At the ceremony on 13 August 1860, the boat was named Dauntless. Very little is known about the Dauntless. The boat is mentioned on the Service Board, now hanging in St Mary's Church, Brook, but no rescues are recorded. In May 1867, Dauntless was replaced with a 32-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, George and Anne.

On 16 November 1871, the barque Cassandra was driven ashore and wrecked, whilst on passage from Madras (Chennai) to London. The 21 crew were rescued by the Brooke lifeboat.

The George and Anne was launched to the aid of the barque Mignonette on 19 January 1876, which had run aground on Brook Ledge on passage from Berbice, British Guiana. All 14 crew were rescued.

The 34-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat William Slaney Lewis (ON 144) was sent to the station on 30 January 1888, replacing George and Anne. The boat had been funded from the legacy of Mr. W. S. Lewis of Wellington, Shropshire. Only two months later, on 9 March, she would be the first lifeboat to respond to the steamship Sirenia, which had run aground on the Atherfield Ledge. Nearing the wreck, three crewmen were washed overboard. Ben and Philip Jacobs regained the boat, but Second Coxswain Rueben Cooper was washed away. His body was never recovered. Still offering to rescue the crew of the Sirenia, Capt. McIntyre of the Sirenia insisted they continue the search for Mr Cooper, and that they would take their chances of rescue later. All but two of the Sirenia were rescued by the lifeboat, but two crewmen, and two lifeboatmen from Brighstone Grange, would also lose their lives when that lifeboat capsized. For this service, Coxswain John Hayter, would be awarded his second RNLI Silver Medal

The last lifeboat on station at Brooke was the 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat Susan Ashley (ON 579), placed on station on the 5 September 1907. On the night of 3 February 1916, the Norwegian barque Souvenir was bound for Lisbon, when she ran aground on the Great Stag Ledge, east of Brook Chine, about off shore. Spotted at daybreak, the Brooke lifeboat was launched into terrible conditions. Unable to get alongside, the crew had no option but to jump into the sea, and hope to be rescued by the lifeboat. Eight of the 10 men were rescued, but the Captain was lost, and one man died in the lifeboat of exposure. Coxswain Benjamin Jacobs, himself once washed overboard from the lifeboat in 1888, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.

By 1937, with declining numbers of sailing vessels shipwrecked, and a motor lifeboat at both and , it was decided to withdraw the lifeboat. Brooke Lifeboat Station closed on the 31 March 1937.

The ruins of the boathouse are still visible. The Susan Ashley (ON 579) was sold from service, and was last reported wrecked in 1986. The lifeboat service board hangs in St Mary's church, Brook.

Station honours The following are awards made at Brooke.

RNIPLS Silver Medal Lt. William Gould, RN, H.M. Coastguard, Brook – 1845

RNLI Silver Medal Thomas Baker, Coastguardsman, H.M. Coastguard, Brook – 1860 John Hayter, Coxswain – 1886 John Hayter, Coxswain – 1888 (Second-Service clasp) John Hayter, Coxswain – 1892 (Third-Service clasp) John Hayter, Coxswain – 1892 (Fourth-Service clasp) Benjamin Jacobs, Coxswain – 1916

Gold Watch, presented by His Imperial Majesty Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany John Hayter, Coxswain – 1892

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Six crew – 1860 Rev J. Pellew Gaze – 1860 W. Hillier, Honorary Secretary – 1892 J. Cooke, Assistant Coxswain – 1916

Letter of Thanks signed by the Secretary of the Institution Thomas Way – 1860

Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving Brooke lifeboat.

Killed whilst launching the lifeboat, 29 October 1865 Mr McLeod, coastguard.

Washed overboard from Brooke lifeboat George and Ann, whilst on service to the Sirenia, 9 March 1888 Reuben Cooper, Second Coxswain (66)

Brooke lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments Dauntless 1860 1860−1867 30-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) 30-foot x 7-foot (6-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, from RNLI funds, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £148. Pre-496 George and Anne 1867 1867−1888 32-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) Prowse-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr G. Marten and Miss A. Marten of Upper Clapton, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £272-11s-9d. 144 1888 1888−1907 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) 34-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. S. Lewis of Wellington, Somerset, built by Hansen and Sons of East Cowes, costing £347. 579 Susan Ashley 1907 1907−1937 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. C. Ashley of Menton, France, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £844.

Launch and recovery tractors Op. No. Reg. No. Type Comments T4 XA 9192 Clayton 1931 T12 Clayton 1933–1937

See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Independent lifeboats in Britain and Ireland

Notes

References

External links Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station