HM CUSTOMS CUTTERS

Cutter Duty . . . . .

'When I jointed the Waterguard in 1953 direct from service in the Royal Navy, the seagoing smuggling deterrent was also HMRC Vigilant, an ex-RN trawler HMS Benbecula. She was commanded by a Captain Barber with a first officer and navigator Lawrence, an ex squadron leader RAF, 2nd officer Bob Bishop, a cook, five seamen and an engineer.

On her patrols she carried a Preventive Officer and two APOs. The PO had his own cabin and the APOs shared another. She was equipped with a fast motor launch and another much slower and nicknamed the 'Tortoise'! Vigilant's home base was at 50 Berth Southampton. I did two patrols with her, one with Tom Hill PO and John Bell APO, and another with John Relleen PO and Dave Down APO. The patrols were of about two weeks duration, in which time we visited Grimsby, Kings Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Blyth, Fleetwood, Isle of Man, Abersuch, Pembroke, Milford Haven, among others I am unable to remember. In the Isle of Man, we met up with Bill Oats PO who was based in the Custom House, Peel. At Fleetwood we were contacted by George Milray PO of Preston Waterguard who took us round the attractions of Fleetwood and Blackpool, including the infamous pub "The Steamer" of which I shall say no more! Whilst weather bound in Blyth, the Polish fishing fleet came in for shelter.

We spent the time rummaging some of them and found much of their accommodation filled with rolled up carpets which were bought in this country to be smuggled back into Poland. How on earth you can conceal carpets for smuggling I wouldn't know. Also in Blyth the resident Waterguard Officer was an APO who owned and ran a local night club. One of the trawler skippers turned out to be the 1st Lieutenant of a Polish submarine which was attached to my flotilla with the depot ship in the Mediterranean during the war. We finished up with a basket full of herrings which enlivened our menu on the Vigilant, where Bob Bishop prepared rollmops from some of them.

In Fleetwood we rummaged trawlers to check the seals on their bond lockers as they were allowed to ship bonded stores if they were bound for the fishing grounds above a certain latitude, and some of the impatient skippers couldn't wait that long. The docks today are devoid of fishing trawlers but a large marina has taken their place. A lone, what was, Waterguard Office still remains by the entrance lock.

Whilst in Great Yarmouth we embarked on the 'Tortoise' and did a patrol on the Norfolk Broads much to the surprise of the occupants of the pleasure cruisers.

There are many more memories of the old Vigilant but time and space will not permit. I am unable·to remember when she was finally phased out, but it may have something to do with when the Captain refused to take her into Douglas Harbour because of the weather conditions, but that is all hearsay!' - Laurie Pearce

HM CUSTOMS LAUNCHES