Although not strictly "a Gang", the boatmen of Deal cannot be excluded from any account of smuggling in Kent. Their seamanship was legendary as was their shallow draft Deal luggers and the 40ft. long galleys, that held as many as 30 oarsmen and with a small sail could make the trip across to France in less than five hours (I have seen estimates of considerably less time), a distance of about 30 miles depending on the points of arrival and departure. The shallow draft Deal Lugger could negotiate the shallows of the treacherous Goodwin Sands where Revenue Cutters and Navy blockade ships could not hope to follow. The additional benefit of the galley was that, if pursued, it was able to steer straight into a head wind making it impossible for the sailing ships of that time to follow. It was also possible for a crew to carry a galley across the Goodwin Sands at low tide also making it totally impossible for any Revenue cutter to follow. The Deal 'fishermen' were probably a thorn in the side of the authorities for much longer than the 180 years that I have presently given them credit for. In fact, a walk along the beach at Deal or Walmer late at night even now could leave one to wonder whether the swell of the dark channel and the rumble of the undertow on the pebble beach could still conceal the return of the Deal Boatmen from another trip to France.

On 14 January, 1784, acting on the direct orders of the then Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, a troop of the 13th Light Dragoons moved into Deal from Sandwich. They were in great danger as it had been known that they were coming to Deal and some three hundred smugglers were waiting for them. Disaster was averted by the arrival of the 38th Foot who had force marched from Canterbury. There had been severe storms for sometime and all the boats were pulled well up on the beach. The troops were quartered on a farm for the night as no lodgings could be found from the people of Deal who had no liking for their unwelcome guests. The next day, the 15th, the troops moved down to the beach and smashed and set fire to the whole fleet of boats and luggers. The burning of the boats only gave the Government forces temporary relief from the activities in Deal.

©P.E. Blanche 1995
Deal with its sharply sloping shingle beach.
Behind the beach are the closely grouped houses and cottages
with their warren of narrow streets and alley ways.

In 1801, an Officer was killed and several men of the Revenue Cutter, Lively, were injured in continuing problems in the Town.

Government Officials:

• Elbeck, Pte. John - of the Westmoreland Militia, died of wounds on 25 September, 1794 while guarding a captured cargo at Deal.
• Smith, James - b. 1818 Aberdeen - Commissioned Boatman in the Coast Guard at Walmer and Deal. (1845 - 1875)

BACK to the main Smuggling page.