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Wells Lifeboat RNLI Lifeboats Wells Norfolk UK
Wells Lifeboat

Coastguard Disaster at Wells

24 February 1898


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On Febrary 24 1898, the gunboat Alarm anchored off Wells to bring a few trivial stores for the coastguard. The coastguard's cutter set off with five men but was capsized and all five were drowned. Next morning the commander of the gunboat, not knowing what had happened, sent one of his boats with six men to bring the stores ashore. This too was capsized and all the crew drowned.

The lifeboat Baltic then went out to the gunboat and was able to prevent another and larger one of their boats being sent. The lifeboat was out all night.

A monument to those who lost their lives was erected on Wells Quay, besides the Harbour Office, in 1998, 100 years after the tragedy.

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Exercise Launches

You are welcome to watch the lifeboats launch on exercise from a safe distance on the beach bank or beach; please keep clear of the boats and launching vehicles and keep children and dogs under supervision. Exercises are roughly every two weeks and we try to post dates and times in advance when we can. All dates are subject to change or cancellation at short notice for operational reasons.

Sunday 24 Mar 2024 09:30
Launch & Recovery on Holkham beach

Sunday 7 Apr 2024 08:30
Regular exercise

Thursday 25 Apr 2024 18:30
Regular exercise

Thursday 9 May 2024 18:30
Regular exercise

Thursday 23 May 2024 18:30
Regular exercise

Saturday 8 Jun 2024 08:30
ILB attending Norfolk Superhero Challenge

Sunday 9 Jun 2024 08:30
ALB exercise

Sunday 23 Jun 2024 08:30
Regular exercise

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a registered charity, number 209603.
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