Page Three of Three

The next launch was on March 6th 1883.  On this occasion assistance was rendered to the Norwegian barque 'Margaret' of Christiania.  In November of the same year, Mr. E.J. Dewing resigned as joint honorary secretary because of ill health.   In 1884, the look out was replaced, as the original was now in bad condition.   Three years later the RNLI presented the Rev. E. Kerslake with a binocular glass in recognition of his long and valued co-operation as Hon. Secretary of the Brancaster branch.

On 17th April 1890 the life-boat launched to a vessel in distress;   on this occasion no service was rendered.  A member of the crew, Henry Southerland was down at the harbour when the signal gun was fired;  the tide was in and there being no boat available he swam across and made his way to the boat-house, took his place in the lifeboat and was out on service several hours.  A few days later he caught a chill and died of inflammation of the lungs.  He was 28 years of age.    The RNLI voted £25 to his widow.

A vessel was seen stranded out on the Burnham Flats in April of 1892 but soon after suddenly disappeared.  The lifeboat was launched at 7 o'clock but did not sight the wreck until 11.30 am.  There was a heavy sea running with a full gale from the north.   The lifeboat after launching proceeded under canvas to where the vessel had been first seen and when the crew did sight her she was on her beam ends, with the sea breaking over her.  When the life boat approached, they found a man lashed to the mainmast head.  They rescued him, though with difficulty and found that he was the owner and captain of the vessel which was the German Brig 'Felix' of Stettin bound for Wisbech with oak wood.  He was the only survivor.  His crew of seven had all perished, some falling from the rigging numbed from the wet and cold and others having been thrown overboard when the ship suddenly keeled over.  The body of one of the crew, a sixteen year old boy, was washed ashore at Thornham and is buried in Thornham Churchyard.

The lifeboat was launched twice more that year to vessels in distress;  on August 10th assistance was rendered to the ss 'Magador' of Liverpool and on October 14th the lifeboat put out to the German schooner 'Rensche' of Papenburg saving the entire crew of five.  In August the following year His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor awarded the Coxswain and Crew £18.15.0d for this service.

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