Swanage RNLI Volunteers congratulate Swanage National Coastwatch Institution

2025 is a special year in Swanage, as volunteers from both charities mark milestone years in their respective histories and celebrate together as they commemorate the tragedy that served as the driving force behind the establishment of both services to the town.

On January 23rd 1875, the Wild Wave, caught in a storm, took shelter in what the Captain believed to be Studland Bay. After striking the rocks, the ship was tossed onto its side by the rough waves and gale force winds, and Captain Bartlett ordered his crew into the rigging for safety. Their predicament was spotted by a member of the coastguard team stationed at the Lookout, and after several failed attempts to launch a rocket line out to the stricken ship, Chief Officer John Lose ordered two of the station’s open rowing boats to launch and sent a request for Poole to launch their lifeboat.

Thanks to changing winds, the coastguard team were able to attach a line to the stricken vessel and rescue the whole crew. Poole lifeboat was seen coming around Old Harry, being towed by one of the station’s steam tugs, and turned back to the station after the coastguard signaled “All hands saved.”

For his role in saving the crew of the Wild Wave, Chief Officer Lose was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal and the crew were given £30, raised by public donation. Surprisingly, the rescue had been watched by several local people, who were alerted to the rescue by the sound of the rescue rockets. One of these was the distinguished Swanage resident and artist John Charles Robinson, who had been the first curator of the Victoria and Albert Museum and was later to become the Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures. Not long after the rescue he wrote to the Times, “… It will scarcely be believed that along all the line of the coast of Dorset and Hants, from Portland to Hurst Castle, there is not a single lighthouse nor a single harbour of refuge! Swanage has hitherto had no lifeboat, but after this morning’s work we shall supply that want.’

The sinking of the Wild Wave off Peveril Point in January 1875 led to the foundation of the RNLI lifeboat station in Swanage, which opened on September 16th 1875, and, over a century later, the National Coastwatch Institution opened in the former Coastguard lookout overlooking Peveril Point.

Later this year, volunteers from both Swanage RNLI lifeboat station, and the Swanage National Coastwatch Institution are hosting a joint open day to celebrate their milestone anniversaries. More details regarding the open day will be following.

For more information please contact:
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Charmaine Tideswell, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Regional Media Manager Hatti Mellor, [email protected]
or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

RNLI online:
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI:
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.


Learn more about the RNLI:
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries:
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.