Schermuly Pistol Rocket Apparatus

Lost ships can be replaced but lives are gone forever William Schermuly left his career as a seamen in 1880 and began working on ways to save the lives of men who were in distress or in trouble at sea. In 1897 following a decade of experimenting with various ideas and methods, Schermuly developed a practical ship line throwing appliance, however it would not be until 1920, with his son that Schermuly would invent the

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Coastguard and Rocket Apparatus

Woolacombe and Mortehoe’s coastline have had many shipwrecks over the years. The coastguards have played an important role in protecting the people that found themseles in trouble. The first records of the rocket apparatus at Woolacombe are incomplete, however the first entry in the Rocket Apparatus Records book is dated 1890, and details a wreck that happened on June 23rd at 03:00 in the morning. At this time there were only two coastguards and a

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