# Brook Lifeboat Station

Brook Lifeboat Station was located at Brook Chine, near the village of Brook, on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight.
A lifeboat was first placed here in 1860 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Brook Lifeboat Station was closed in 1937.
Every reference to the name of the village, in books, on old and new maps, the bay, etc., is always "Brook". Only in RNLI documents, and on the service board, does it refer to the name "Brooke".

## Appeal

The origins of both Brighstone Grange and Brook lifeboat stations are linked, as it was the loss of two ships that prompted the opening of both stations.
On 6 December 1859, the barque Mirabita of Malta, on passage from Marseille to London, was driven ashore and wrecked at Chale Bay. 12 of the 17 crew lost their lives. On the same night, the schooner Sentinel, on passage to Sunderland, was wrecked at the same location. Two crew of the six aboard were lost.
A letter was written to the RNLI in 1859, from Edward McAll, Rural Dean and Rector of Brighstone, and John Pellow Gaze, Rector of Brook, appealing for the provision of a lifeboat. "It is a matter of painful notoriety, that 14 lives were lost by shipwreck at the back of the Island, about three weeks ago. It was stated by the officers of coastguard and by others at the Inquest, that if a life-boat had been at hand, the whole of these lives might have been saved".
A visit to the area was made by Capt. John Ward, RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats, who concluded that two lifeboats should be placed on the SW coast of the Isle of Wight, one at Brook, and a second one at Grange Chine, Brighstone. Funds were raised locally, and both stations would be officially opened on 13 August 1860.

## History

The first lifeboat to be placed at Brook was a 30-foot self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, built by Forrest of Limehouse. A stone-built boathouse was constructed at the top of Brook Chine, on land given by Charles Seely. At the ceremony on 13 August 1860, the boat was named Dauntless. Very little is known about the Dauntless. The boat is mentioned on the Service Board, now hanging in St Mary's Church, Brook, but no rescues are recorded.
In May 1867, Dauntless was replaced with a 32-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, George and Anne.
On 16 November 1871, the barque Cassandra was driven ashore and wrecked, whilst on passage from Madras (Chennai) to London. The 21 crew were rescued by the Brook lifeboat.
The George and Anne was launched to the aid of the barque Mignonette on 19 January 1876, which had run aground on Brook Ledge on passage from Berbice, British Guiana. All 14 crew were rescued.
The 34-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat William Slaney Lewis (ON 144) was sent to the station on 30 January 1888, replacing George and Anne. The boat had been funded from the legacy of Mr. W. S. Lewis of Wellington, Shropshire. Only two months later, on 9 March, she would be the first lifeboat to respond to the steamship Sirenia, which had run aground on the Atherfield Ledge. Nearing the wreck, three crewmen were washed overboard. Ben and Philip Jacobs regained the boat, but Second Coxswain Rueben Cooper was washed away. His body was never recovered. Still offering to rescue the crew of the Sirenia, Capt. McIntyre of the Sirenia insisted they continue the search for Mr Cooper, and that they would take their chances of rescue later. All but two of the Sirenia were rescued by the Brighstone Grange lifeboat, but two crewmen, and two lifeboatmen from Brighstone Grange, would also lose their lives when that lifeboat capsized. For this service, Coxswain John Hayter, would be awarded his second RNLI Silver Medal
The last lifeboat on station at Brook was the 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat Susan Ashley (ON 579), placed on station on the 5 September 1907. On the night of 3 February 1916, the Norwegian barque Souvenir, bound for Lisbon when she ran aground on the Great Stag Ledge, east of Brook Chine, about 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) off shore. Spotted at daybreak, the Brook lifeboat was launched into terrible conditions. Unable to get alongside, the crew had no option but to jump into the sea, and hope to be rescued by the lifeboat. Eight men of the 10 were rescued, but the Captain was lost, and one man died in the lifeboat of exposure. Now Coxswain, Benjamin Jacobs, himself once washed overboard from the lifeboat in 1888, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.
By 1937, with declining numbers of sailing vessels shipwrecked, and a motor lifeboat at both Yarmouth and Bembridge, it was decided to withdraw the lifeboat. Brook Lifeboat Station closed on the 31 March 1937.
The ruins of the boathouse are still visible. The Susan Ashley (ON 579) was old. She was later reported wrecked in 1986. The lifeboat service board hangs in St Mary's church, Brook.

## Station honours

The following are awards made at Brook.
* RNLI Silver Medal
       John Hayter, Coxswain - 1886
       John Hayter, Coxswain - 1888 (Second-Service Clasp)
       John Hayter, Coxswain - 1892 (Third-Service Clasp)
       John Hayter, Coxswain - 1892 (Fourth-Service Clasp)
       Benjamin Jacobs, Coxswain - 1916
* Gold Watch, presented by His Imperial Majesty Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany
       John Hayter, Coxswain - 1892

## Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Brook lifeboat.
* Washed overboard from Brook lifeboat George and Ann, whilst on service to the Sirenia, 9 March 1888
       Reuben Cooper, Second Coxswain

## Brook lifeboats

| ON | Name | In service | Class |
| Pre-364 | Dauntless | 1860−1867 | 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| Pre-496 | George and Anne | 1867−1888 | 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 144 | William Slaney Lewis | 1888−1907 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 579 | Susan Ashley | 1907−1937 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
    Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

### Launch and recovery tractors

| Op. No. | Reg. No. | Type | In service | Comments |
| T4 | XA 9192 | Clayton | 1931 | |
| T12 | IJ 5658 | Clayton | 1933–1937 | |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat or vehicle carried on the hull.