s.s. 'Hawk' - Particulars of Test Certificate of Bower Anchor for Hawk - undated.

[© Lloyd's Register Foundation : Unique Reference Code : LRF-PUN-CFF83-0346-L] [760] [20200701]

The only reference to Hawk is during November 1888 when she was involved in towing the lifeboat after they offered assistance to a barque, as reported by the Clacton Lifeboat Station :

1888 November 5th – 7th, Barque Minnet, of Helsingborg, saved 15.

'Signal having been heard, the Lifeboat, temporarily placed at Clacton-on-Sea whilst the boat belonging to the station was being altered, was launched at 3am, and proceeded to the Swin Middle Light-vessel. The Lifeboat men were informed that the signals made there were in reception of those shown from the Maplin Lightship. The Lifeboat therefore made for the Maplin Sands, and found the barque Minnet, of Helsingborg, timber laden, ashore there. Some of the Lifeboat men boarded the vessel, to make arrangements for an attempt to get her afloat, and the boat proceeded to Gravesend to procure the services of a steam tug. When the steamer arrived she was unable to get near the ship, and ultimately it became necessary to abandon vessel, as it was feared she would soon break up. Her crew of twelve men, a pilot, and two fishermen who were on board, with the crew’s baggage, were then taken aboard the Lifeboat and landed at Sheerness, the boat being taken into the dockyard, and her crew receiving most kind treatment at the hands of the Port Admiral and the authorities of the Royal Navel Barracks. The boat returned to her station at 1.15pm, on the 7th November, after an absence of fifty-eight hours, being towed part of the way by the steamers Hawk and James Southern, both of London.' [796]

Many thanks to the crew at Clacton for the story and, of course, for risking their lives for others.