Category: Marine

The Story of the Storaa a Wartime Warrior

The Ship that Woke Hastings

By Jenny Ridd

At 12.30 on the night of 3 November 1943, there was an almighty explosion about ten miles off the coast of Hastings. Convoy CW221 was sailing from the Thames to Cardiff laden with supplies for the D Day invasion when German E Boat S138 fired a torpedo. The starboard bow of the SS Storaa was badly holed and she sank bow-first within thirty seconds, taking with her the bodies of 21 men. Sixteen men survived, but the Captain, a hero named Jens Fage Pedersen, and the Dover Pilot, Watson Peverley were both among the casualties. Continue reading The Story of the Storaa a Wartime Warrior

Engine Failure at Sea

Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat was launched at 4.30 pm on 11 April to the aid of 35 foot Rye fishing vessel ‘Vic Anna’, suffering engine problems in rough water off Rye Harbour. Continue reading Engine Failure at Sea

Primrose-The Last Rye Barge

The rescue of PRIMROSE The Last Rye Barge

On Sunday, 4 October 199t Rye Barge 2, the strangest sight met people’s eyes at Rye Harbour. A huge crane lifted an old boat out of the water and on to an 80 ft long flatbed truck which then drove very slowly to Hastings under police escort. There the boat was lifted again by crane into the back yard of the Shipwreck and Coastal Heritage Centre in Rock a Nore, where she has rested ever since. Continue reading Primrose-The Last Rye Barge

The Port of Rye

The port was always used for commerce as well as military purposes. The Romans shipped much of their iron exports from it, for even in Roman days the Weald of Kent and Sussex were producing iron. Continue reading The Port of Rye

The Port of Rye

The port was always used for commerce as well as military purposes. The Romans shipped much of their iron exports from it, for even in Roman days the Weald of Kent and Sussex were producing iron. Continue reading The Port of Rye

Else Kuhlke At Rye 1933

“Timber boats” as they were known locally, were a common sight at The Strand in the years between the Wars. By 1934 Hitler had sole charge of Germany and a programme of re-armament began. This effort required vast amounts of raw materials and soon the German coasters that brought in the timber were re-loaded with scrap metal from the Gasson’s scrap pile close to Brede Sluice. Continue reading Else Kuhlke At Rye 1933