 Hence there have always been two lifeboats located at the joined towns of Deal and Walmer along the coast opposite the sands.In 1830, Gold Medals were awarded to Captain P Graham RN, Lieut HW Johnson RN and Lieut WS Watts RN, and a Silver Medal to John Durban for rescuing 13 crew from the ship "Mountaineer" and three other Deal boatmen on 24 November 1829.It was 26 years later however, in 1856, that an actual lifeboat station was established.