A fascinating part of Deal and Walmer’s history is found in the room next to Royal Marines displays with a collection of historic Service Boards loaned to the Museum by the RNLI. They list the names of the various boats and lives they gave help to over the years.
On the board shown above you’ll see that in 1951, the Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No 2) Lifeboat went to the aid of the amphibious jeep Half Safe which had broken down on the Goodwin Sands.
The HalfSafe was an amphibious vehicle modified by Australian engineer Ben Carlin in the late 1940s.
Carlin and his wife, Elinore, had embarked in 1949 on an extraordinary journey, circumnavigating the globe over a period of ten years in this unique vehicle.
Invented during the early years of WWil, amphibious vehicles were half boat and half truck which could run on land and water to unload cargo and men where there were no docks. These odd hybrids played a crucial role in the allied invasions in Sicily, the Pacific and the biggest invasion of all – D-Day. In fact, more than 40% of all over-beach supplies in Normandy were transported by them in the first four months.
Look up and you will see a photograph of Richard Roberts, one of Walmer’s most decorated Lifeboat men, wearing a cork lifejacket like the one on display in the Maritime Gallery.
He then turned out as an ordinary hand when required and by 1918 when 80 years old, he had participated in the rescue of some 485 lives.
The RNLI awarded him a silver medal and subsequently a 2nd and 3rd Service Clasp for his astonishing service. He died on 18 August 1933 aged 95 years. You can read more about him here.
As you return through the Maritime Gallery, look for his photo and a picture of three Coxwains known as the Heroes of the Goodwin Sands.
NOW RETURN TO THE MARITIME GALLERY