The Art Gallery   This page is for displaying some of the excellent paintings etc. that have featured scenes from rescues carried out by the Ramsgate Lifeboat.   If you are an owner of such a painting and would be willing to let us display it here please contact me here?   William Broome (1838-1894) Indian Chief Rescue Images courtesy of East Kent Maritime Trust Click here to send this photo as an e-mail card. During the time William Broome was a resident of Ramsgate, he painted many different scenes from the Indian Chief rescue of varying quality. This rescue was one of the most heroic in the history of the RNLI and took place on the 6 January 1881 when the barque Indian Chief was wrecked on the Long Sand at the mouth of the Thames. The lifeboat the Bradford, was towed to the scene of the accident by the steam tug Vulcan and during atrocious conditions the lifeboat managed to save 11 members of her crew. Tim Thompson The Indian Chief Images courtesy of Tim Thompson This painting by Tim Thompson is from the book "Gold Medal Rescues" which was published in 1992. It depicts the Ramsgate Lifeboat Bradford in the foreground returning from the wreck of the Indian Chief, with all her survivors aboard. It is one of more than thirty spectacular paintings in the book, which features selected scenes from Gold Medal rescues carried out during the RNLI's 170 year history. The Gold Medal is awarded for extraordinary acts of courage, skill and initiative during a sea rescue. Tim Thompson has also provided paintings for two bestselling marine titles, The Story of the America's Cup and The Story of Yachting.   JB (William/John Broome?) Images courtesy of Armand Sokolowski This painting features the Ramsgate lifeboat in the center with a ship in distress to the left and the Goodwin light ship to the right.   This painting has the monogram "JB" in the lower right-hand corner and this is one of the reasons for believing that William Broome could be the artist. There have been instances when it is thought that William Broome has signed his work J or John Broome. Other clues are, the floating spar in the left foreground, the style and manner of depiction of the lifeboat, the lightship in the right middle distance and the treatment of the waves all point towards a Broome painting.   From this photo of William Broome's signature, you can see that the style of the "B" is very similar plus the colour used seems to be identical. (Photo courtesy of Ian Barlow).   The owner of this painting would be very interested if anyone can supply any further information about the painting. If you can help, please send me an e-mail. William Broome? (1838-1894) Ramsgate Harbour 1881 Images courtesy of Dave Granger According to the Ramsgate Maritime Museum they have an oleograph of this scene, which is unsigned though it looks to be in the style of William Broome. On the back of their painting there is a note that reads "Ramsgate Harbour 1881. The Vulcan and Tug Aid towing the Indian Prince after she had been aground on Long Sands after rescuing men from another vessel." As many of these details are so similar to those of the Indian Chief rescue, which took place in 1881, it would seem that this is a fictional scene inspired by that rescue rather than a painting of a real event. This is backed up by the fact that the museum has found no trace of a vessel called Indian Prince through their research. They also point out two other differences. Only one steam tug was used in the Indian Chief rescue and that was the Vulcan, the Aid was not used. The Indian Chief was wrecked on the Long Sand and was definitely not towed back to Ramsgate. The year is of course the same and the lifeboat is no doubt meant to be the same one that served at Ramsgate at that time which was the Bradford.   Note: The museum painting doesn't show so much of the harbour but instead shows the tug Aid on the left-hand side. William Broome (1838-1894) 1887 Images courtesy of David Eddy   This is another splendid painting by William Broome, in this case it is signed J Broome. It features the Ramsgate lifeboat being towed out of the harbour by the steam tug Vulcan. This is another version of the painting but this time it is signed is William Broome and is dated 1881. So it is presumably showing the Ramsgate lifeboat Bradford being towed out to the wreck of the Indian Chief by the tug Vulcan. Image courtesy of Ian Barlow R Robert Indian Chief on the Goodwin Sands circa 1900   There are a number of historical inaccuracies which suggest that the painting here has a generic or sensational purpose rather than as a record of events. Some of the errors are of course shared by other similar pictures which may suggest an element of mutual influence or plagiarism. There must be little doubt however that this is the event that is portrayed. Among the inconsistencies are the fact that her crew seem to have left the casualty yet all masts are standing; the casualty appears to have gun ports, which seems unlikely; the lifeboat has no mast(s) and is called "Ramsgate Lifeboat" at the bow; the tug is named Vulcan  yet has two athwart ships funnels and no ventilators, but is fitted with the forward horse of the Aid.   Frei Hagrus? Goodwin Sands 1888 Images courtesy Stephen Cahill The signature on this painting seems to read something like Frei Hagrus. Though it could very well be a copy of a William Broome painting, as it has many similarities, like the floating spar in the foreground and even the signature is painted in the same colour that he often used. The painting measures 52" x 33" and is dated 1888. It could well be depicting the Indian Chief rescue. If this is the case though, it should be noted that it is unlikely that there would be any other vessels in the area, other than the Indian Chief, lifeboat, light ship and the steam tug Vulcan. The light ship has Goodwin Light written on her side. The owner of this painting would be very interested if anyone can supply any further information about the painting. If you can help, please send me an e-mail.   William Broome (1838-1894) Images courtesy of East Kent Maritime Trust (W. H. Lapthorne Collection) A painting of the Lifeboat Northumberland at the wreck of the French barque Eleinore aground on the Goodwins in 1861.   From a picture by E. W. Cooke, R.A. The Ramsgate Lifeboat: Morning After A Heavy Gale-Weather Moderating From my collection This engraving appeared in the 16 April 1864 edition of the London Illustrated News. The lifeboat to the right of the picture would be the Northumberland, which was the first lifeboat to be based at Ramsgate and served there between 1851 and 1865, during which time she saved at least 400 lives. The ship in the top left-hand corner is one of the Goodwin light vessels.   Drawn by M. J. Burns The Wreck of the "Indian Chief" From my collection The engraving above accompanied an article in the February 1912 edition of the American publication Harpers Monthly Magazine titled "Life-Savers of the Goodwin Sands" which was written by Walter Wood. It shows the Ramsgate tug Vulcan thrashing out to sea with the lifeboat Bradford in tow. The engraving to the right is also by Burns and shows the lifeboat standing by the wreck of the Indian Chief throughout a bitterly cold night.   Drawn by F. W. Burton Our Storm Warriors From my collection These two drawings appeared with an article in the Saturday, 30th June, 1888 edition of the Boy's Own Paper. The article was called "A Famous Lifeboatman" and was about the second coxswain of the Ramsgate lifeboat Richard Goldsmith. The drawings were draw for the paper and featured scenes from the Indian Chief rescue.   The Lifeboat Bradford at the Wreck of the Indian Chief ? From my collection The above picture is from the book Heroes of the Goodwin Sands and was describe as "The Lifeboat Bradford at the Wreck of the Indian Chief". This is most likely incorrect as the tug which took part in the Indian Chief rescue was the Vulcan and she only had one funnel. The only tug at Ramsgate which had two funnels was the second tug to have the name AID (there were three in all), though she had a very special design in that she was double ended, unlike the vessel in this drawing. The painting on the right-hand also appeared in this book and is entitled "Leaving Ramsgate Harbour in Tow".   Capt. T. H. Willoughby Beddoes, R.N. And Waited For The Dawn From my collection This painting appeared in the book Brave Men All and was entitled "The Ramsgate Life-boat Bradford and the Tug Vulcan going out to the Indian Chief, wrecked on the Long Sands on January 5th.1881. The artist Capt. T. H. Willoughby Beddoes, R.N., was the Inspector of Lifeboats in the Western District from 1883-1899. His son Major C. E. W. Beddoes, O.B.E., presented this painting to the RNLI in 1930.   Ramsgate Lifeboat 'City of Bradford' - 1st Gift of the City of Bradford   Images courtesy of East Kent Maritime Trust An engraving of the Lifeboat Bradford approaching the stricken Danish barque Aurora Borealis ashore on the South Calliper of the Goodwin Sands, 5th of January, 1867.   Wreck of the "Indian Chief" From my collection This painting appeared in the book "Our Sea-Coast Heroes" by Achilles Daunt.   ? Circa 1850 Images courtesy John Oakes Titled: An American Brigantine in distress on the Goodwin Sands with the Ramsgate Life-Boat approaching. ENGLISH SCHOOL  Circa. 1850. The painting depicts the ship in difficulty in perhaps a force 8 or 9, with the rigging torn. Approaching is the lifeboat with a crew of 12 men. In the distance is a wide hull paddle steamer. The description ties in with the wreck of the Clio, of Boston which went aground on the Goodwin's on the 19th April 1849. See poem.   The Tug "AID" and the Lifeboat off to the Goodwins From my collection From a postcard.   Alfred Shepherd The Ramsgate Lifeboat 1978 Alfred Shepherd was the Art Master and later the Headmaster at Hereson School in Ramsgate. After he retired he had a number of local exhibitions, one being “50 Painting of Ramsgate” at the Broadstairs Library. This was one of the 50.

I would like to thank the Ramsgate Maritime Museum for all the help they have given me in trying to identify some of these paintings.