DOVER COASTGUARD received information from Cap Gris Nez at 1315 on Tuesday June 29, 1982, that the 50ft French trawler Armandeche was aground on the Goodwin Sands, north north east of South Goodwin Lightvessel.

At 1325 the honorary secretary of Dover lifeboat station was requested to launch the lifeboat and the maroons were fired immediately.The weather was bad, with heavy rain and lightning. There was a strong breeze, force 6, blowing from the south west and the seas were heavy. It was five hours before high water.

Rotary Service, Dover's 50ft Thames lifeboat, slipped her moorings at 1334 and headed out to sea under the command of Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Anthony Hawkins. By now a message had come from the Coastguard to say that the casualty was about 4Vi miles north east by north of South Goodwin Lightvessel, for which course was set.

Passing the lightvessel at 1355, the lifeboat bore away to port to head for South Goodwin Buoy. With wind against tide, the seas were very rough in the shoal waters.

At 1407 the French trawler was sighted aground in very shallow water on the east side of South Calliper Bank.

Approaching to one cable, Coxswain Hawkins decided to launch the lifeboat's Y class inflatable dinghy. Manned by Crew Members Robert Bruce and Alan Perkins, the dinghy was veered in to the casualty, taking with her a line as a messenger for a tow rope.

At first there was lack of understanding because of the language difference, but then Cap Griz Nez helped by translating messages over the VHP radio.

The lifeboat towing warp was passed and at 1459 the tow began. As the five trawlermen refused to abandon ship, despite the pounding taken by the trawler since grounding, Crew Member Perkins went aboard to see how effectively her pumps were dealing with the water she was making.

Arrangements were made to receive the casualty in Dover and then, at 1527, the trawler's pumps failed. Two of her crew were immediately transferred to the inflatable dinghy for safety. The water level was rising in the stricken vessel and by 1534 her three remaining crew members had put on lifejackets and now wished to abandon ship. The towline was cut, the lifeboat approached the trawler and all five of her crew were safely transferred to the lifeboat by the inflatable dinghy. During this operation, a large sea lifted the casualty's quarter on to the lifeboat, the trawling davit landing heavily on her port quarter and damaging her rail and fendering. Coxswain Hawkins could make no attempt to avoid the danger because there was not a moment to lose. Within minutes of the transfer the trawler settled, rolled over and sank, 2.8 miles north north east of South Goodwin Lightvessel. The time was 1538.

The lifeboat remained on scene for ten minutes so that, should the trawler's liferaft break free and surface, she could try to save it; if she could pick it up it would avoid possible later reports of a liferaft adrift from other shipping and a consequent further search. The liferaft did not surface, however, so the lifeboat set course for Dover, heading into the heavy seas. She arrived onstation at 1552, the survivors were landed to return to Boulogne and the lifeboat was refuelled and back on her mooring, once again ready for service, at 1620.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Anthony G. Hawkins, Second Coxswain/ Mechanic Roy W. Couzens, Second Assistant Mechanic Michael F.

Abbott and Crew Members Geoffrey Buckland, David McHugh, Robert Bruce, Alan Perkins and Colin Stroud.

Following the service letters of thanks were received from the owner/skipper of Armandeche and from the French Marine Department..