RNLI: What role did they play in war?

[Guest mruk]

Dear All,

Sorry if this question has already been raised, and please excuse my ignorance, but what role did the RNLI play in the war, and were lifeboat crews exempt from military service? If not, who took over their voluntary role?

Kind Regards,

Dave

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

The majority of RNLI Crews were Seamen anyway,Trawlermen & Fishermen,etc so would be serving in the Mercantile Fleet then as now,so would not generally have needed to Volunteer for military Service,many too would have been well past the normal recruiutment age.

The book "Henry Blogg [GC;BEM;RNLIGMx 3;] Of Cromer" by Cyril Jolly,{1958} Harrap Publishing.has a chapter on the Cromer Lifeboat in WW1.

"The First World War brought it's own problems & opportunities.Cromer soon lost some of its younger members for War Service,so that the Lifeboat had to be manned by older men.Moreover as early as 1915,life @ night was made unpleasant by Zeppelins,which chose Cromer as their entrance from the North Sea...."

Rescues would & did continue as normal

The closing epitaph of the WW1 Chapter reads"Human life was cheap just then on the Somme;but on Haisborough Sands it kept its true value & was worth the risk & the labour..."

[historydavid]

During the war, as now, the life boats ventured out to any vessel that was in difficulties, in the most appalling weather conditions.

Many seamen, both commercial and RN owed their lives to the bravery of the life boat crews.

Best wishes

David

[Adrian Roberts]

The Lifeboatmen carried on much as usual.

On October 27th, 1916, the Salcombe lifeboat "William & Emma" was lost during an attempted rescue in appalling weather, with only two survivors from her crew of fifteen. The two survivors were teenagers, and most of the others were middle-aged men, local fishermen exempt from specific war service.

Unusually, the names of those lost are insribed on the Salcombe War Memorial.

Adrian

[Guest mruk]

Many Thanks Gentlemen,

You've managed to clarify a few things. There was also a couple of programmes aired on TV last night which I wanted to see ['Trawlermen' and 'Working the Sea']. Unfortunately, I missed them.

Kind Regards,

Dave

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

If you get the opportunity & they are repeated{often late with signing}both are well worth the effort~Trawlermen especially makes one appreciate how the Cod gets on your Plate!