CAPTAIN FRANCISCO ALVARES (Ades 1) lifeboat
Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 9:29 pm
Built as a lifeboat of one of the Ramsgate type, was built by J. Samuel White at Cowes, Isle of Wight for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1928.
Launched as the GREATER LONDON.
Dimensions; length 14.81m beam 3.96m.
Powered by ?. She was the first motorized lifeboat stationed in Southend-on-Sea.
After completion stationed at Southend-on-Sea in the River Thames Estuary.
She was one of the 19 RNLI lifeboats who went to Dunkirk to bring back the British Expeditionary Force to the U.K.
01 June manned by crew of the Royal Navy she was towed from the U.K. to Dunkirk by the naval drifter THRIFTY together with some other lifeboats. The lifeboats were mostly used to ferry troops from the port to waiting ships on the road.
The work ended on 4 June and the GREATER LONDON left Dunkirk with on board 48 troops, when leaving the port she saw that the destroyer HMS KELLETT was in the problems after she tried to embark 200 French troops from the mole, but some obstructions under water prevented her from coming alongside. She took on board in the port as much troops she could as possible before leaving. Her bow was stuck on the beach when leaving, and when she tried to get off one of her propellers got tangled, and she could not be moved. She was pulled off by the GREATER LONDON and arrived safely at Margate on 4 June with on board 30 troops.
The GREATER LONDON arrived the same day at 11.35 a.m. at Ramsgate with on board 48 troops.
From 1941 till 1945 used as a relief boat.
After 1945 again stationed at Southend-on-Sea and used as a relief boat..
1957 Sold to Asociación Honoraria de Salvamentos Marítimos y Fluviales, Uruguay and renamed CAPTAIN FRANCISCO ALVARES (Ades 1). Used there as again as a lifeboat until 1983 (other source give 1993).
Could not find her fate but most probably demolished. Some Uruguay web-sites mention her but don’t give a fate or where stationed in Uruguay.
Source: B.E.F. Ships before, at and after Dunkirk by John de S. Winser. And various web-sites.
Uruguay 1995 5p sg2203, scott?
Launched as the GREATER LONDON.
Dimensions; length 14.81m beam 3.96m.
Powered by ?. She was the first motorized lifeboat stationed in Southend-on-Sea.
After completion stationed at Southend-on-Sea in the River Thames Estuary.
She was one of the 19 RNLI lifeboats who went to Dunkirk to bring back the British Expeditionary Force to the U.K.
01 June manned by crew of the Royal Navy she was towed from the U.K. to Dunkirk by the naval drifter THRIFTY together with some other lifeboats. The lifeboats were mostly used to ferry troops from the port to waiting ships on the road.
The work ended on 4 June and the GREATER LONDON left Dunkirk with on board 48 troops, when leaving the port she saw that the destroyer HMS KELLETT was in the problems after she tried to embark 200 French troops from the mole, but some obstructions under water prevented her from coming alongside. She took on board in the port as much troops she could as possible before leaving. Her bow was stuck on the beach when leaving, and when she tried to get off one of her propellers got tangled, and she could not be moved. She was pulled off by the GREATER LONDON and arrived safely at Margate on 4 June with on board 30 troops.
The GREATER LONDON arrived the same day at 11.35 a.m. at Ramsgate with on board 48 troops.
From 1941 till 1945 used as a relief boat.
After 1945 again stationed at Southend-on-Sea and used as a relief boat..
1957 Sold to Asociación Honoraria de Salvamentos Marítimos y Fluviales, Uruguay and renamed CAPTAIN FRANCISCO ALVARES (Ades 1). Used there as again as a lifeboat until 1983 (other source give 1993).
Could not find her fate but most probably demolished. Some Uruguay web-sites mention her but don’t give a fate or where stationed in Uruguay.
Source: B.E.F. Ships before, at and after Dunkirk by John de S. Winser. And various web-sites.
Uruguay 1995 5p sg2203, scott?