December the 9th 1881, the Jersey barque 'Chin Chin' ran aground at South Foreland in a south westerly gale. When the crew of the lifeboat were summoned it was found they were one man short. Major Henry Scott the then chairman of the Dover Branch of the RNLI volunteered to join the crew as an oarsman. The 'Henry William Pickersgill RA' was launched and headed through the exceptionally heavy seas to the casualty.

When they got through the floating wreckage they managed to manouevre the lifeboat alongside and rescue the crew of five men. For his gallantry Major Scott was awarded a Silver Medal by the RNLI.

This was the first of eight services made by the 'Henry William Pickersgill RA' between 1878 and 1888.