Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey III

"H F Bailey" (ON. 777) is the most famous Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat to serve from Cromer, because she was used by Coxswain Henry Blogg to perform many of his most famous lifesaving exploits. The lifeboat was on station for just ten years — between 1935 and 1945. [ "Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004", Appendix 1 Lifeboat Summary.] From 1923 to the end of the Second World War in 1945 the Cromer station had four motor-powered lifeboats all called "H F Bailey". So called after the donor, a Mr Henry Francis Bailey of Brockenhurst, [ "Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004", page 54.] a London merchant who was born in Norfolk and had died in 1916.

Construction

"H F Bailey" was built at the yard of Groves and Guttridge Ltd on the Isle of Wight. Her hull is constructed using double diagonal planking of Honduras Mahogany on a framework of Teak ribs and beams with the stem and stern posts and her keel of English Oak. The stern and stem posts are grown to the required shape to give the lifeboat its strength and sturdiness. She is convert|46|ft long and convert|12|ft|9|in wide. The hull is divided into seven watertight compartments, of which the engine room is one. The hull is fitted with 142 mahogany air cases, all individually made to fit into its allocated position in the hull. Her equipment included the latest innovations of the time which included a line throwing gun and an electrically powered searchlight. [ "Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004", Two New Lifeboats, page 73.]

Rescues

*SS "Cantabria", 2nd November 1938
*SS "Mount Ida", 9th October 1939
*SS "English Trader", 26th October 1941

References

* "Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004", Leach, Nicholas & Russell, Paul, Pub: Tempus Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-7524-3197-8.