Last lifeboat launch during WW2 was in Devon

The last lifeboat launch of World War Two in the UK happened in Devon, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has said.

The RNLI has reflected on the role it played during the war as the country marks 80 years since Victory in Europe, or VE Day.

On 8 May 1945 it was the end of nearly six years of war, when Nazi German forces surrendered unconditionally to the Allies.

The charity said the Torbay and Salcombe lifeboats were launched one-minute before it was announced the war had come to an end.

It said the boats had launched "to a Norwegian minesweeper which had encountered an explosion off the coast of Devon".

They conducted a search of the area but the charity said "sadly, only two cushions were found".

The RNLI said: "During the war, many lifeboat crews also lost their lives during rescue efforts.

"In all, 12 lifeboat crews lost their lives trying to save others and a total of seven lifeboats were lost in various ways – from air raids on lifeboat stations, to being captured."

Hayley Whiting, RNLI heritage archive and research manager, said it was important to "reflect on the valiant work of our volunteer crews" and the "courage and determination they used to save lives at sea".

She added: "The RNLI has a rich history and has been saving lives at sea for over 200 years, it played a vital role in World War Two and saved a total of 6,376 lives."

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