RNLB ''Jesse Lumb'' (ON 822) is a historic lifeboat. Built by

J. Samuel White J. Samuel White was a British shipbuilding firm based in Cowes, taking its name from John Samuel White (1838–1915). It came to prominence during the Victorian era. During the 20th century it built destroyers and other naval craft for both the ...

in 1939, ''Jesse Lumb'' served as the lifeboat at

Bembridge Bembridge is a village and civil parish located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom, leading to the implausible claim by some residents that Bembridge ...

on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a Counties of England, county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the List of islands of England#Largest islands, largest and List of islands of England#Mo ...

from 1939 to 1970, becoming the last of her type in service. Since 2000 she has been preserved a
Classic Boat Museum, Cowes
In August 1999 she was inscribed on the

National Register of Historic Vessels National Historic Ships UK is a government-funded independent organisation that advises UK governments and others on matters relating to historic ships.

, becoming part of the

National Historic Fleet The National Historic Fleet is a list of historic ships and vessels located in the United Kingdom, under the National Historic Ships register. National Historic Ships UK is an advisory body which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media ...

Design and construction

''Jesse Lumb'' is a 46-ft Watson-class lifeboat constructed from mahogany with a diagonally planked double skin. She was powered by two diesel engines with twin propellers, and displaced 20.5 tons.The National Register states ''Jesse Lumb'' was powered by twin Ferry VE4 40hp engines, while the Imperial War Museum catalogue states she was powered by two Parsons Barracuda 65hp engines. ''Jesse Lumb'' was named in honour of the owner of Folly Hall Mill in

Huddersfield Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...

, and her construction funded by a £9,000 bequest by Annie Lumb, Jesse Lumb's sister. The lifeboat was named on 21 July 1939.

Operational service

Commissioned in summer 1939 ''Jesse Lumb'' served throughout the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, saving 138 lives during the conflict. On the night of 29/30 January 1940, ''Jesse Lumb'' spent 14 hours at sea in freezing weather while rescuing the crew of the trawler ''Kingston Cairngorm'' off

Chichester Chichester () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publi ...

. Coxswain Harry J Gawn was later awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Bronze Medal. On 8 August 1940, during the

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...

, ''Jesse Lumb'' went to the assistance of a

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

air-sea rescue launch that had been machine-gunned by German aircraft. After the Second World War, ''Jesse Lumb'' participated in other notable rescues; on 5 December 1947 she rescued 18 crewmen from the trawler ''Erraid'', and in 1968 assisted the diesel-electric submarine HMS ''Alliance'' after its stranding on Bembridge Ledge.

Preservation

''Jesse Lumbs service at Bembridge ended in 1970. She then spent some years in the RNLI relief fleet before being acquired by the Imperial War Museum and placed on display at the museum's branch at

Duxford Duxford is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, about south of Cambridge. It is part of the Hundred Parishes area. History The village formed on the banks of the River Cam, a little below its emergence from the hills of north Essex. One of t ...

in Cambridgeshire. She became part of the

in August 1999, with certificate number 1759.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jesse Lumb Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet Ships preserved in museums Collection of the Imperial War Museum Watson-class lifeboats