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CloseCoastguard Disaster at Wells
24 February 1898
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.
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 29 Jun 2025 09:00
Regular exercise
Saturday 5 Jul 2025 13:30
Helicopter exercise
Saturday 19 Jul 2025 12.30pm
ILB at Newfoundland Dog display
Thursday 24 Jul 2025 18:30
Regular exercise
Wednesday 6 Aug 2025 16:30
ILB display at Carnival Open Day
Sunday 10 Aug 2025 08:30
Regular exercise
Sunday 24 Aug 2025 19:00
Annual Lifeboat Service
Wednesday 10 Sep 2025 15:30
ALB low water launch for survey
Sunday 28 Sep 2025 08:30
Regular exercise
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