Page Two

On the 11th September 1903 the news of a wrecked vessel at Holkham was received by the coastguard station and as the Wells lifeboat was unable to launch, Coxswain Loose decided to launch.  The wind was strong and blowing from the northwest.  The vessel was the "Eliza Patience", a ketch sailing from Hull to Lowestoft with oilcake.  Although the Brancaster lifeboat quickly arrived despite the very heavy seas, the Wells lifeboat had managed to launch and saved the shipwrecked crew although the vessel's captain had drowned.

In April 1905 the Rev. E. Kerslake, founding member of the Brancaster Lifeboat Station,  retired from the post of Hon. Secretary on account of ill health after 31 years and was awarded the thanks of the RNLI on vellum.  He was succeeded by the Rev. E.S. Daubeney, Rector of Brancaster, who in turn resigned two years later and was succeeded by Major General J. Boughey.

On 30th September 1905, a large Italian barque the "Maria di Porto Salvo" was wrecked off Brancaster.  The lifeboat was launched, but by the time they reached the wreck the crew had already abandoned her in the ship's boat and were trying to land on Scolt Head Island.  In the meantime nine fishermen from Brancaster Staithe, seeing the wreck,  went out to her in a whelk boat and seeing the Italians had left the wreck, landed part of their crew on the Island - the remainder then made for the shipwrecked Italians struggling to reach the shore.  The party of fishermen on the beach saw the ship's boat heading for the Bridgirdle Sands and after waving them away from this dangerous spot helped them land.  As soon as the boat touched, one of the Italians leapt out and was sucked under by the undertow, but one of the fishermen quickly pulled him from the sea, saving his life.

Coxswain Robert Ellard Loose retired in 1908 on account of age (61) and was succeeded by his son, William Henry Loose.  Coxswain Loose was awarded a long service certificate by the RNLI in the presence of the local lifeboat committee at the Coastguard Station.  It was said that in the 29 years that Coxswain Loose had served in the lifeboat, he had not missed one practice or service launch.

A Billyboy moored in Brancaster Staithe Harbour at the turn of the century having brought coal from the north.

In 1909 a Billyboy making for Overy Harbour with a load of coal ran aground on the Bridgirdle sands in a strong northeast wind which was soon blowing at gale force.  The lifeboat was ordered to launch.  Three times it was attempted to launch but each time the violence of the breaking seas on the beach swept her back and on the final attempt broke her own launching carriage.  This meant that it was impossible to launch and the wreck quickly broke up and three crew were drowned.   She was the Billyboy "Brilliant" of Goole.  Her captain's name was Ben Dawson, an Overy man.  The Wells lifeboat also launched but arrived too late.   As a result of this unfortunate incident, the RNLI ordered that a large rope and anchor be placed on the beach so that when the lifeboat launched the crew could haul the heavy lifeboat through the broken water and should more easily float in bad conditions. next page the 'Winlaton'

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