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THE LIFE-BOATThe Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution

VOL. XXXII OCTOBER, 1948 No. 347

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEETMotor Life-boats, 154 :: Pulling and Sailing Life-boats, 2

LIVES RESCUEDfrom the foundation of the Life-boat Service in

1824 to October 31st, 1948 - 76,177

In Pursuit of a Yacht

A STRONG south-westerly gale was blow-ing on the Sussex coast on the morningof Sunday, the 8th of August. Thesea was very rough and there was aheavy swell.

Just after half past eight the coast-guard at Shoreham Harbour saw ayacht three miles out at sea. Her sailswere torn and the gale was driving hereastwards along the coast, out of con-trol. At 8.42 the coastguard rang upthe life-boat station, and at 9.15 themotor life-boat Rosa Woodd and PhyllisLunn was launched. She crossed thebar in heavy breaking seas, and then,hoisting sail to help her engines, settleddown to a long, hard chase. The yachtwas the Gull, of about fourteen tons.She had on board three men, two womenand a boy.

A Long Chase

The chase continued for fourteenmiles, until the yacht reached New-haven. The wind had now backedto the south and was blowing deadon shore. When the Gull reached thewestern arm of Newhaven Harbourshe was about five hundred yards outat sea, with the pursuing life-boat lyingabout a hundred yards behind her. Shemade a desperate attempt to enter theharbour, but, as she gybed, the seaswashed right over her. They left her a

A

waterlogged wreck, and she driftedeastwards of the harbour entrance intoshallow, broken water. Here she man-aged to anchor, but the «able parted.Nothing could now save her from beingdriven ashore.

The seas were tremendous; the riskof the life-boat herself striking in thatshallow water were great; but the cox-swain took her straight into the surf.As he did so a sea smothered the life-boat and he thought that he had losthalf his crew. But they came safelythrough, and he laid her along theweather side of the Gull. Lifeboatmenseized and dragged aboard five of thesix on board. There was still one manleft. The life-boat went in a secondtime and rescued him. It had beendone in the nick of time, for the crewof the yacht could not have long sur-vived the pounding of the seas.

" A Pretty Piece of Work "Many people at Newhaven were

anxiously watching the rescue. Amongthem was the honorary secretary ofthe Newhaven station. He saw it allthrough his binoculars and wrote ofthe coxswain: "His timing and ap-proach were wonderful to watch, andthe whole job, carried out as it was insevere conditions^ in a bad position withvery little water, was indeed a prettypiece of work."

194 THE LIFE-BOAT [OCTOBER, 1948

The life-boat landed the six rescuedpeople at Newhaven, and arrived backat Shoreham Harbour at 3.30 in theafternoon. She had been out for sevenhours.

The owner of the yacht made gifts of£25 to the crew and £25 to the fundsof the Institution "as a small tributeto the services rendered by the Institu-tion and to the skill and courage of thelife-boat crew." The Shoreham Bon-fire Association presented the coxswain

and each of the seven members of thecrew with £5.

For this very skilful and gallantrescue the Institution awarded toCOXSWAIN JAMES UPPERTON a bar tothe silver medal which he won duringthe war for rescuing twenty-one livesfrom a mine-sweeper, and its thanks onvellum to each of the other sevenmembers of the crew.—Rewards,£15 13s. 6d.

Bronze Medal for WeymouthAT the beginning of June the twin-screwmotor yacht Mite (a converted navalmotor launch 110 feet long) was comingup Channel on her way from Malta toLondon. On the 6th of June, when shewas fifteen miles west of Portland Bill,both her engines broke down and herwireless failed. The wind was from thesouth-south-west. It was blowingfreshly. Both wind and sea wereincreasing. There was every prospectof bad weather. Through the drivingrain those on board could just see theland.

Two of the crew volunteered to makefor the shore and summon help. Theysucceeded with great difficulty and atconsiderable risk.

A Long Slow Tow

The coastguard had seen the dinghydriving ashore and had rung up theWeymouth life-boat station. Whenthe men landed the coastguard tele-phoned the information that they gavehim. That was at 1.45 in the after-noon. Five minutes later the motorlife-boat William and Clare Rylandslipped her moorings. At 4.30 shereached the Mite, which was still atanchor. Wind and sea were increasing,but the owner would not abandon theyacht. He asked for a tow. The cox-swain was faced with a very difficultdecision, in the worsening weather, buthe consented, and the long, slow towstarted. In order to clear the bad waterround Portland Bill, the life-boat hadto steer southwards, straight out tosea.

It was 8.30 in the evening when she

passed the Bill. It was then blowinga fresh gale from the south-south-westand a heavy sea was running. Oftthe Shambles the yacht was sheeringwildly. Her steering gear would notwork and she was continually broad-side on to the seas. Twice the tow-rope parted and was fixed again.

Tow Parts Again

It parted a third time, and this timethe coxswain told the owner that hecould not continue to tow. Theweather was now as bad as it could be,visibility was very poor, and the boatswere within two miles of the shore.The life-boat had then towed for twelvemiles. She went alongside the yacht andwith some difficulty, in the rise and fallof the seas, rescued the three men. Itwas safely accomplished, but all thebaggage went overboard.

It was not until half an hour aftermidnight that the life-boat reachedWeymouth. She had then been outin very heavy weather for eleven hoursand all the crew were exhausted. Ithad been a long and arduous service.The yacht was washed ashore later nearLulworth Cove.

COXSWAIN F. J. PALMER showedgreat determination and skill and theInstitution awarded him the bronzemedal for gallantry, with a copy ofthe vote inscribed on vellum.

It also made to him and to eachmember of the crew a special rewardof £2 in addition to the reward on theordinary scale of £2 11s. each. Ordin-ary rewards: £19 5s. 6d.; additionalrewards, £16; total rewards, £35 5s. 6d.

OCTOBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT

v.:vrv •

AFTER THE RESCUE: THE GULL AT NEWHAVEN

See page 193)


The Henry BloggThe First Sea Lord's Tribute to the Life-boat Service

IN December, 1945, the Institutionsent to Cromer one of the first two of anew type of 46-feet Watson -cabinlife-boat. In them, for the first time,the steering wheels were placed amid-ships instead of at the stern. Thisboat was sent to Cromer that she mightbe thoroughly tested by the Institu-tion's most experienced coxswain,Henry Blogg, and his crew. Theywere so pleased with her that they askedif they might keep her at the station,and at the same time the Cromer branchasked that this new boat should benamed Henri/ Blogg. With this requestthe Institution was delighted to agree.

The naming ceremony was held atCromer on August 5th, 1948, in thepresence of a very large audience, andthe occasion was taken to pay finaltribute to Coxswain Henry GeorgeBlogg himself, who had retired theprevious September, at the age of 71,having then completed 53 years' ser-vice as a life-boatman. During those53 years he had taken part in therescue of 873 lives, had been coxswainof the boat for 38 years, and had wonthe Institution's gold medal threetimes, its silver medal four times, theBritish Empire Medal and the GeorgeCross. The station was establishedbefore 1825, and since 1851, the yearfrom which the records of the Institu-tion are complete, its life-boats haverescued 935 lives, so that all but 62of the lives rescued in those 97 yearswere rescued while Coxswain Bloggwas serving.

The Right Hon. The ViscountTemplewood, C.G.S.I., G.B.E., C.M.G.,P.C., president of the Cromer branch,presided, supported, among others, bythe Earl of Leicester, the Lord Lieu-t enant of Norfolk. After Lord Temple-wood had opened the proceedingsAdmiral of the Fleet Sir John Cun-ningham, G.C.B., M.V.O., the FirstSea Lord, spoke.

The First Sea Lord's Speech

"The last time I took part in asimilar ceremony here was during thewar, when I had the privilege of pre-

senting the third gold medal of theInstitution to Coxswain Blogg, andother medals and certificates of theInstitution to the members of hisgallant crew.

"To the people of Cromer I needsay nothing about the wonderful ser-vice which Henry Blogg has renderedto seafarers of all races. . . . It isquite unequalled in the whole hundredand twenty-four years of the Life-boatService. We in the Admiralty had avery lively appreciation of the consum-mate seamanship which Henry Bloggexhibited on so many occasions, andit was chiefly in order to pay suchtestimony as we could to his skill andthe gallantry of the Cromer life-boat'screw, that the Board of Admiraltypermitted me, right in the middle ofthe war, to leave London and come hereto Cromer for the presentation of thatthird gold medal.

" I would like to read to you the letterwhich the Boafd of Admiralty wrote tothe Institution early in 1940, and whichcould not, I think, be bettered as adescription of, and tribute to, the workof all its gallant crews.

• "' I am commanded by My LordsCommissioners of the Admiralty toinform you that they are deeply im-pressed by the fine services of the crewsof the national life-boats, especiallythose on the East Coast, which alreadyin the first few months of warfare haveachieved the saving of so many valuablelives.

"' They are aware that these serviceshave been given in foul weather, highseas and bitter cold, with an exemplaryspirit of courage and endurance, inwhich, without fear or thought of self,the life-boatmen have never spared theirstrength and skill in helping theirbrother sailors in distress from thedangers of the sea and the violence ofthe enemy; and that in a long and greattradition the calls on their seamanshipand hardihood have never been soheavy, or more gladlv answered.

"'On behalf of the Royal Navy, My

OCTOBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 197

By courtesy of} [P. A. Vicary, ' Leander,' Cramer

COXSWAIN BLOGG AND THE FIRST SEA LORD


Lords beg the Royal Life-boat Serviceto accept, as from seamen to seamen,this brief tribute to the spirit andexploits of the life-boatmen in time ofWar.'

"If that letter is not enough topersuade everybody within hearingof me to accede to the invitation atthe bottom of the last page of theprogramme to become an annualsubscriber to the Institution—or tothose who cannot perhaps afford thatannual subscription, to contributegenerously every time they see one ofthe miniature life-boat collecting boxes—I would recount to you an incidentwhich happened within a hundred yardsof this spot, and which I-''described tomy ship's company when I wasCaptain of H.M.S. Resolution in1933.

"It was a winter's .night, blowing anorth-east gale and snowing. The tidewas dead-low, and setting like a millrace to the eastward. The first life-boat was, already out under the com-mand of Henry Blogg, when from aship on the Haisboro' Sound, 'therecame a second call. This was imme-diately answered by the fathers, inmost cases, of the men of the first crew,manning the second boat. With aheavy on-shore wind, the first attemptto launch the old boat was unsuccessful,and she was thrown back on the beach.Undeterred the old men—and some,I am assured, were in their seventies—•determined on another attempt.

" The boat was successfully launchedat this attempt chiefly owing to thewives and mothers of the life-boatmenwading out and pushing the boat untilshe was well afloat. With a very greateffort the crew, rowing hard, were justable to stem the tide sufficiently toavoid the boat being set down on tothe outlying reef. These old men

then rowed and sailed some ten ortwelve miles and were eventuallypicked up and towed into Yarmouthby the first crew. I have never, inthe whole course of my experience,seen,or read of a more gallant action."

The Presentations

Commander H. L. Wheeler, R.N.,the district inspector of life-boats,described the life-boat and BrigadierR. J. P. Wyatt, M.C., T.D., the organis-ing secretary for the South-East ofEngland, presented her to the branchon behalf of the Institution.

Before the dedication service and thenaming of the boat, Sift John Cun-ningham presented to Coxswain Blogga portrait of himself by Mr. T. C.Dugdale, R.A. This portrait was agift from the Institution (which hadalso awarded him an annuity and acertificate of service) and was a copyof the , portrait which Mr. Dugdalepainted for the Institution in 1942 andwhich was shown that year in the RoyalAcademy Summer Exhibition. He alsopresented to him a cheque and anilluminated address, the gifts of hisfriends and admirers, and a clock, thegift of the crew.

Coxswain Blogg then accepted thelife-boat on behalf of the branch, andthe Rev. D. T. Dick, Vicar of Cromer,assisted by the Rev. William Hughes,dedicated her. The singing of "EternalFather, Strong to Save," was accom-panied by the Cawston and DistrictPrize Silver Band.

A vote of thanks was proposed toSir John Cunningham by the Rev. A.Buxton, the chairman of the CromerUrban District Council.

After the singing of the nationalanthem Sir John went to the life-boathouse and there named the boatHenry Blogg. She was then launched.

A Record SummerTHE six summer months of this yearhave been the busiest which the Life-boat Service has ever had in time ofpeace. Its boats have been out on ser-vice more often and have rescued morelives than ever before. The launchesnumbered 339, the lives rescued 262.

Not only are these figures records forpeace-time, but in only one year ofwar were there more launches, in 1940,the summer of the Battle of Britain,and in only four years of war, 1917,1918, 1940 and 1941 were more livesrescued.


The Field Marshal and Mrs. Smuts

THE first of three life-boats built outof a gift of £33,000, which the Institu-tion has received from its SouthernAfrica branch,* was named at Beau-maris, Anglesey, on the 23rd of July,1948, in the presence of a large audienceon the pier and hundreds more watchingfrom the shore. She is a 46-feet Watsoncabin life-boat, and she went to thestation in-September, 1945.

Colonel Lawrence Williams, O.B.E.,D.L., J.P., chairman of the Angleseybranch, presided. Commander E. W.Middleton, R.N.V.R., district inspectorof life-boats, described the boat, andCommodore the Right Hon. the EarlHowe, C.B.E., V.R.D., P.C., R.N.V.R.,deputy chairman of the Institution,presented her to the branch on behalfof the Southern Africa branch and theInstitution. Lord Howe paid tributeto the work of Miss Pattie Price, theSouth African diseuse and singer, whowas the founder of the branch and whohas just been appointed an honorarylife-governor of the Institution. Inaccepting the boat Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, Bt., Lord Lieutenant ofAnglesey and president of the Angleseybranch, said that Anglesey was proud tohave a life-boat bearing the name of sodistinguished a statesman.

•See the Life-boat for July 1948

Colonel R. R. Davies, D.L., J.P.,honorary secretary of the Angleseybranch, returned thanks and the Arch-deacon of Bangor (The Venerable R.Hughes, B.A.) dedicated the life-boat,assisted by the Rev. J. E. Ramage,M.A. (Rector of Llandegfan and Beau-maris) and the Rev. If or Hael Jones.

The Countess Howe then named thelife-boat Field Marshal and Mrs. Smuts.

After the naming of the boat LadyHowe presented medals won by theMoelfre life-boat for the rescue of sixtylives from the s.s. Gleneden in January,1940, and for the rescue of four froman aeroplane's rubber dinghy inOctober, 1943. She also presentedcertificates of services to the second-coxswains of Moelfre and Beaumaris.Lord Howe then presented to ColonelLawrence Williams the vellum record-ing his appointment as an honorarylife-governor of the Institution.

A vote of thanks was proposed byMrs. E. Moseley, chairman of the MenaiBridge Ladies' Life-boat Guild, andseconded by Miss Mary C. Burton,chairman of the Beaumaris Ladies'•Life-boat Guild. The singing was ledby the Llandegfan and BeaumarisChurch Choirs, accompanied by theband of T.S. Indefatigable, and membersof the Beaumaris Ladies' Life-boatGuild sold the programmes.

R.A.F. Crest for a Life-boat

THE Royal Air Force has presented asilver and enamel R.A.F. crest to theLerwick life-boat and it has been fittedin the after-shelter. With it came amessage from the officer commandingthe No. 18 Group: "The crest is sent inrecognition of the splendid way inwhich you turned out to rescue thecrew of one of our Lancasters on July23rd. .•. . It will remind you of ourgratitude for your efforts and also letyou know what a sense of comfort it isto us when flying over the sea to know

that your gallant crews are alwaysready to go to our assistance."

The life-boat had put out at 3.40in the afternoon, travelled nearlyfifty miles with an aeroplane guidingher, and reached the Lancaster fivehours later, only to find that H.M.Sloop Welcome, which was-already atsea, had arrived just before her andrescued the men. When the, life-boatgot back to her station at 2.25 nextmorning she had been at sea nearlyeleven hours. (See page 218.)


The Winston Churchill

IN January, 1948, the latest life-boatprovided by the Civil Service Life-boatFund, a 46-feet Watson cabin boat,went to Blyth in Northumberland.She is one of eight Civil Service motorlife-boats now in the fleet. Since thefund was founded in 1866 it has givento the Institution over £156,000, outof which twenty-five life-boats, includ-ing the new Blyth boat, have beenprovided and maintained. These boatshave rescued over 2,200 lives.

For 34 years, until his death in

Message from Mr. ChurchillThe naming ceremony was held on

the 17th of July, 1948. The Duke ofNorthumberland presided, and readthe following message from Mr.Churchill:

"The hazards and dangers of thesea and of all who serve in the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution are sternand many. They call for the highestskill and, very often, sacrifice from themen who face the fury of the oceansto save the lives of mariners in distress.

A DUCHESS AT THE WHEEL

On board the Blyth Life-boat after the naming ceremony

January, 1947, at the age of 86, LordSouthborough had been the fund'schairman and honorary treasurer, andwhat he described as "his final act forthe fund" was his correspondence,when he was dying, with Mr. WinstonChurchill asking him to honour thefund and the Life-boat Service byallowing this new life-boat to be namedafter him.

The Blyth life-boat station was estab-lished in 1826. Of its first two life-boats, during the next 40 years, thereis no record, but since 1866, its boatshave rescued 235 lives.

"It is a pride to me that this, thenewest life-boat in the country, shouldbear my name. I send my heartfeltgood wishes for the happiness andsafety of all who sail in her."

Commander H. L. Wheeler, R.N.,the district inspector of life-boats,described the life-boat, and the RightHon. Sir Richard V. N. Hopkins,G.C.B., P.C., who succeeded LordSouthborough as chairman of the CivilService Life-boat Fund, presented thelife-boat to the Institution. She wasreceived by Mr. Arthur G. Everett, amember of the Committee of Manage-


ment, and he presented her to theBlyth branch. On behalf of the branchshe was accepted by Captain H. Rowe,its honorary secretary.

The Rev. Edwin King, T.D., M.A.,HON. C.F., dedicated the life-boat,assisted by Mr. J. Price, lay readerto the Seamen's Mission. The hymnswere led by the choir of St. Cuthbert'sChurch, Blyth, accompanied by theBand of the Newcastle-on-Tyne CityPolice.

The Duchess of Northumberland thennamed the boat Winston Churchill.

She then presented to Mrs. Colpitts,the honorary secretary of the Blyth

Ladies' Life-boat Guild, the statuetteof a life-boatman awarded to her bythe Institution.

A vote of thanks was proposed bythe Mayor of Blyth and seconded byCouncillor J. F. Thompson, chairmanof the branch.

The boat then went afloat, and onher return the Duke and Duchess ofNorthumberland, with the principalguests, and members of the crew, were 'entertained to tea by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. A feature of the tea was alarge christening cake which was cutby the Duchess.

Douglas Naming Ceremony

THE naming ceremony of the new life-boat at Douglas, Isle of Man, was heldon June 3rd, 1948, with a gale blowingand such heavy rain throughout theday, that it was impossible to hold itin the open. It took place inside theboathouse, and instead of the 4,000or 5,000 people who had been expectedto attend, there was. room only for100.

Douglas was one of the first placesin the British Isles to be provided witha life-boat. The station was openedin 1802, and the boat was one of thethirty-one boats built by Henry Great-head, who had built the first life-boatstationed at the mouth of the Tyne in1789. She was a gift from the Duke ofAthol. In its early years the stationwas maintained by the Isle of ManLife-boat Association. It was takenover by the Institution in 1868-, andsince then it has had, including thenew boat, seven life-boats. They haverescued 135 lives. The new boat is a46-feet Watson cabin boat, and hasbeen built out of a legacy from Mrs.M. E. Walton, of Derby.

Mr. A. J. Loudon, chairman of theDouglas branch, presided. The boatwas described by Commander E. W.Middleton, R.N.V.R., the districtinspector of life-boats, Captain N.Harding Clarke, the organising secre-tary for the North-west of England,

presented her to the branch, and shewas received by His Honour R. D.Farrant, J.P., C.P., president of thebranch. The Venerable the Arch-deacon of Man (The Rev. C. V. Stock-wood, M.A.) dedicated the boat,assisted by the Rev. C. Edgar Jamesand the Rev. F. M. Cubbon.

Lady Bromet, wife of His Excellencythe Lieutenant Governor of the Isleof Man, then named the life-boat MillieWalton.

A vote of thanks to Lady Bromet wasproposed by the Mayor of Douglas(Councillor F. M. Corkill, J.P.) andseconded by Mr. A. E. Kitto, the hono-rary secretary of the branch. Thesinging was led by the Lon DhooChoir and accompanied by the BrassBand Quartette.

As the life-boat ran down the slipwayinto the gale she was welcomed by thesirens and whistles of a large num-ber of trawlers, stormbound in theharbour.

It was in Douglas that Sir WilliamHillary, Bt., wrote in 1823 the appealwhich led to the founding of the Insti-tution in the following year, and beforethe ceremony a wreath was laid on hismemorial with the inscription: "Fromthe Life-boat Service to the gloriousmemory of its Founder and one ofthe greatest of its life-boatmen, Lieut.-Colonel Sir William Hillary, Baronet."


Life-boat Christinas Card and Calendar

THIS year there will again be aChristmas card and pocket calendarfor sale.

The card is of eight pages with theInstitution's crest embossed on theoutside. Inside are Christmas greetingsand the above picture of a life-boatrescue in colours. Name and addresscan be printed in, if not fewer than adozen cards are ordered, at an addedcost of 13s. 6d. for the first two dozenand 9d. for each additional dozen orpart of a dozen.

The pocket calendar has a black andwhite picture of a life-boat in a roughsea on the front and the Institution'screst on the back. It can only besupplied in dozens and the price is2s. for the first dozen and Is. Qd. foreach additional dozen.

There will also be a hanging calendarwith the same picture as the card, butowing to the high purchase tax whichwould have to be paid on all thecalendars printed, if any were sold,there will be none for sale.

A Fishing Calendar for 1949

ME. H. JENKINS, the Lowestoft photo-grapher, whose photographs of life-boats will be familiar to readers ofThe Life-boat (one of them will be foundon page 212) has, for the eleventh year,produced a fishing fleet calendar. It

has fourteen very beautiful seascapesin photogravure. The price, includingtax and postage, is 6s., and the calendarcan be obtained from Messrs. H.Jenkins Ltd., Photomarine, Lowestoft,Suffolk.


Services of the Life-boats in June, July and August145 lives Rescued

During June life-boats went out onservice 50 times and rescued 29 lives.

FISHING ALONE AT SEVENTY-FOUR

Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.—At 10^50 inthe morning of the 3rd of June, 1948,information was received that a man.who had left harbour alone in the earlyhours to line-fish, had not returned.He was seventy-four years old. Themotor life-boat Sarah Ward and WilliamDavid Crosweller . was launched at11 o'clock in a strong north-westerlybreeze with a rough sea. She foundthe boat drifting seawards between sixand seven miles to the southward,rescued the man and, with his boat intow, arrived back at her station at1 o'clock that afternoon.—Rewards,£7 Is. 6d.

AMBULANCE WORKGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—

At 6.48 in the evening of the 3rd ofJune, 1948, the coastguard telephonedthat the s.s. Wandle, of London, wasapproaching the harbour and wishedto land a sick man. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at6.54 in a strong westerly breeze witha heavy swell. She found that adoctor was wanted, wirelessed for oneand returned ashore. With the doctoron board she again went to the Wandleand after he had treated the sick man,brought them both ashore, where anambulance was waiting. The life-boatreached her station again at 7.53.A donation to the funds of the Institu-tion was received from the owners.—•Rewards, £12 2s. Gd.

ALONE IN A ROUGH SEAMargate, Kent.—At 12.55 in the after-

noon of the 6th of June, 1948, the coast-guard reported that a rowing boat, theBoy Bill, of Westgate, with one manon board, was drifting seawards oneand a half miles to the north-west, andthe motor life-boat The Lord South-borough, Civil Service No. 1, waslaunched at 1.5 in a strong south-south-west breeze with a rough sea.

She found that the local motor boatBittern had taken the boat in tow, andescorted both boats to Westgate.While returning to her station the life-boat came up with the Westgatebathing-safety boat about one mile offshore. One man was on board but hecould make no headway and was verytired. The life-boat towed the boatto Westgate and arrived back at herstation at 2.15.—Rewards, £8 16s.

TOW ABANDONED

Weymouth, Dorset.—On the 5th ofJune, 1948, the engines of the sixty-three-ton motor yacht Mite, on passagefrom Malta to London, broke downsome fifteen miles west of Portland Billin a south-south-west gale with a veryrough sea. The motor life-boat Williamand Clara Ryland rescued three menon board her.—Rewards: bronze medaland £35 5s. 6d. (See page 00).

A LONG TOW

Aldeburgh, Suffolk. —At 3.20 in theafternoon of the 6th of June, 1948, thecoastguard reported that a sailing yachtto the south-east of Aldeburgh, withonly one man aboard, was makingheavy weather, and the No. 2 motorlife-boat Lucy Lovers was launched.It was then 4.9. The sea was slight,but there was a strong and increasingsoutherly wind. The life-boat foundthe yacht Waterwitch off Southwold,took her in tow and made for Lowest oft.Twice the tow-ropes parted, and at theharbour entrance it seemed certainthat the yacht would be driven ashore,but the life-boat got another line toher and brought her safely in. Shearrived back at her station at 7.50 thenext morning.—Rewards, £53 14s. 6d.

ALONE ON A YACHT

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—At 9.15 inthe evening of the 6th of June, 1948, thepolice reported that a yacht was drag-ging her moorings in a dangerous posi-tion at the mouth of Lymington river,with one man on board, and the motorlife-boat S.G.E. was launched at 9.55,


in a fresh south-westerly gale with avery rough sea. She found the motoryacht St. Monance, of London, at thefirst buoy in the river, took off theman and returned to her station,arriving at 11.10.—Rewards, £5 13*.

TWO BATHERS DROWNED

Penlee, Cornwall. — At 12.40 in theafternoon of the 7th of June, 1948, thePorthleven coastguard telephoned thata man was in the sea, shouting for help,eight hundred yards east of Porthlevenpier. The motor life-boat W. and S.was launched at 12.45. A moderatesoutherly breeze was blowing and thesea was rough. The life-boat found aman and a woman. Both were uncon-scious and all attempts to revive themfailed. Owing to the bad weather thelife-boat took the bodies to Newlyn,arriving at 4.30, and returned to herstation the next day.—Rewards,£15 14s. 6d.

SAILING BOAT TOWED IN

Skegness, Lincolnshire. — During theevening of the 8th of June, 1948, thecoxswain had under. observation thelocal sailing boat Venture, which hadput out with three men and a boy. Thebreeze from the north-north-west waslight, and the sea slight, but he sawthat the boat was in difficulties with thetide, and at 9.55 the motor life-boatAnne Allen was launched. She foundthe sailing boat one and a half milesnorth-east of the pier, towed her tothe shore and arrived back at herstation at 10.55.—Rewards, £9 14*.

BROKEN DOWN OFF THE FASTNET

Baltimore, Co. Cork;—At about 9.20 inthe morning of the 9th of June, 1948,fishermen returning to harbour reporteda boat in distress off Fastnet Rock.It was thought that she might be thelocal motor fishing boat Ebenezer, withthree men on board, which was overdue,and at 10.10 the motor life-boat Sham-rock was launched. Only a breeze wasblowing, from the south-east, but thesea was very rough. The life-boatfound the Ebenezer two miles east ofthe rock, with her engine broken downand her sails partly blown away. Thelife-boat towed her to harbour andarrived back at her station at 1.30 thatafternoon.—Rewards, £9 17s.

ON THE MERSEY REVETMENT

New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 7.55 inthe evening of the 9th of June, 1948,news came that a fishing boat was onthe revetment near C.7 black buoy,with the tide ebbing, and was in somedanger. At 8.10 the No. 2 motor life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson waslaunched in a moderate easterly breezewith a choppy sea. She found thatthe fishing boat was the JiB of Liver-pool, with two men on board. Themen had been shrimping, but theirnets had fouled and their boat hadbeen carried on to the revetment bythe tide. The life-boat towed her in,arriving back at her station at 9.50.—Rewards, £5 15s.

ON THE ROCKS IN A FOGWhitby, Yorkshire. — At 5.15 in the

morning of the 13th of June, 1948,during a thick fog, information was re-ceived that a steamer was on the rocksto the south of the East Pier, and theNo. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hep-worth was launched at 5.30. Thenortherly breeze was light, with amoderate sea. She found the s.s.Cerne, of London, of 2,500 tons, loadedwith coal for London, on the rocks fourhundred yards east of the pier. Themaster asked for Lloyd's agent, and afishing boat went ashore for him. Thecoxswain boarded the Cerne, at themaster's request, and gave him advice,and the master asked the life-boat tostand by. On the arrival of Lloyd'sagent the life-boat helped to pass ropesfrom the steamer to several fishingboats, and they pulled her clear on therising tide. She was undamaged. Asher help was no longer needed, thelife-boat returned to her station, arriv-ing at 7.50.—Property Salvage Case.

AGROUND NEAR DONNA NOOKThe Humber, Yorkshire. — At about

7.45 on the morning of the 13th ofJune, 1948, the coastguard reported avessel aground two and a half milesnorth-north-west of Donna Nook, andthe motor life-boat Milburn, on tem-porary duty at the station, was launchedat 8.30, in a fresh northerly breeze witha moderate sea. She found the cabincruiser Alisdair—on her -way to Grimsbyfor engine repairs—well ashore. The


life-boat passed tow ropes to her toprevent her being carried further in bythe flood tide and, when the water wasdeep enough, pulled her afloat. Afterrecovering the cruiser's anchor andcable, which had been slipped duringthe operations, the life-boat returnedto her station, arriving at noon.--—Property Salvage Case.

ASHORE IN A FOGCampbeltown, Argyllshire.—At 1.53 in

the afternoon of the 14th of June, 1948,during a thick fog, the Southend coast-guard reported that information hadbeen received that a vessel was onPatersen's Rock, Sanda. Two coast-guards went out in a motor boat andthe motor life-boat City of Glasgow waslaunched at 2.1 in a light southerlybreeze with a moderate sea. Shefound the motor fishing vessel Seafarer.of Maidens, with a crew of seven, onthe east side of the rock. She waslying on her port bilge and rollingheavily. Helped by the two coast-guards in the motor boat, the life-boatpassed ropes to her. By means o'fthem she kept the Seafarer on an evenkeel until the tide rose; and then atthe third attempt, refloated her. TheSeafarer went on her way, and thelife-boat returned to her station, arriv-ing at 7.20 in the evening.—Rewards,£11 14s. 6d.

DRIFTING ON THE ROCKSWalmer, Kent..—At 11.16 on night

of the 14th of June, 1948, theDeal coastguard telephoned that avessel was burning a flare and her crewshouting for help half a mile north-eastof Leathercoat Point, and the motorlife-boat Langham, on temporary dutyat the station, was launched at 11.20,in a light southerly breeze with a swell.She found the motor vessel Oceana, witha crew of four, a quarter of a milefrom the shore. Her engine had brokendown and she was in danger of goingon the rocks. Four life-boatmenboarded her and the life-boat towedher to Dover, arriving back at herstation at 3.30 the next morning.—Property Salvage Case.

CHARTS OUT OF DATECanter, Norfok. — At 7.40 in the

morning of. the 15th of June, 1948,

continuous short blasts on a steamwhistle could be heard to the north-east,and five minutes later the Great Yar-mouth coastguard telephoned that atanker was aground about three anda half miles north by eastof BritanniaPier. The motor life-boat Jose Nevillewas launched at 8 o'clock, in a moderatenorth-easterly breeze with a slight sea,and found the s.s. Thule, of London,an oil tanker of 10,500 tons boundfor the Humber, with sixty-seven per-sons aboard, stranded about two milesto the north-east. The master askedthe coxswain to- check his position onthe tanker's charts, but the coxswainsaw that they were out of date and,at the master's request, the life-boatreturned to her station and telephonedfor up-to-date copies. They were sentfrom Lowestoft and the life-boat tookthem out to the Thule, stood by herand took soundings. Early in theafternoon the tanker refloated and asher services were then no longer needed,the life-boat returned to her station,arriving at 2.30.—Rewards, £20 Os. 6d.

ONE MAN ON BOARDLowestoft, Suffolk. — At 9.59 on the

night of the 16th of June, 1948, thecoastguard reported that a fishing boat,with a rope round her propeller, wasburning oily rags half a mile off Cortonbeach. The motor life-boat MaryScott, on temporary duty at the station,was launched at 10.10 in a light westerlybreeze with a calm sea, and found thelocal fishing boat Kestrel, with one manon board, one mile east of Corton village.The life-boat towed the boat to theharbour and arrived back at her stationat 11.40.—Rewards, £5 5s.

SHRIMP BOAT IN DISTRESSGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston. — At

7.56 on the morning of the 17th of June,1948, the Gorleston coastguard tele-phoned that three men in a shrimp boat,two miles to the south-south-west,were showing a flag on a pole and appar-ently needed help. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at8.10, in a moderate south-south-westbreeze with a moderate swell, and foundthe shrimp boat, the Pride, of GreatYarmouth, three miles to the south-east.Her engine had broken down. The


life-boat towed her to harbour, mooredher in the river, and arrived back ather station at 8.55.—Rewards,£9. 10*. 6d.

SEARCH IN A ROUGH SEA

Falmouto, Cornwall.—At one o'clockin the morning of the 18th of June,1948, a woman reported that her hus-band and another man had put outfishing in a motor launch the previousmorning and had not returned. At 1.30the motor life-boat Crawford and Con-stance Conybeare was launched, andsearched widely in a strong south-westerly breeze, with a rough sea.Eventually she found the launch mooredin St. Mawes Creek. She had run outof petrol. The life-boat took her intow and arrived back at her station at5 o'clock.—Rewards, £8 10s.

A LONG SEARCH

Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 10.20 in themorning of the 19th of June, 1948,while the motor life-boat City of Brad-ford I, on temporary duty at the station,was out on a practice run, the PostOffice at Portmagee reported that alocal fishing boat, the Naomh Fiontan,was overdue and anxiety was felt forher safety. The news was passed tothe life-boat at sea and she made anextensive search round Great SkelligIsland where the boat had last beenseen. Eventually she found her underBolus Cliffs with two other fishing boats.Her engine had failed during the nightand another boat had come to her help.The life-boat arrived back at herstation at 6.35 that evening.—Rewards,£17. Is.

OFF SEAFORD HEAD

Newhaven, Sussex.—At 7.20 in theevening of the 20th of June, 1948,the coastguard reported a small vesseloff Seaford Head flying distress signals,and the motor life-boat Cecil and LilianPhilpott was launched in a south-westerly breeze with a heavy swell athalf-past seven. She found the localmotor boat Colorado, with a crew ofthree, in difficulties off CuckmereLedge, towed her into harbour, andarrived back at her station at 9.15.—Rewards, £7 16s.

FIVE BROTHERS LOST IN COLLISION

Cadgwith, and Penlee, Cornwall andSt. Mary's, Isles of Scilly.—At 11.5 onthe night of the 25th of June, 1948,during a thick fog, the Cadgwith coast-guard telephoned the Cadgwith life-boat station that the American steamerChrysanthy Star had radioed that shehad collided with a small vessel tenmiles south-south-east of Lizard Point.The Cadgwith motor life-boat Guide ofDunkirk was launched at 11.25, in amoderate north-westerly breeze with acalm sea. After she had set out anothermessage said that the fishing vesselEnergetic, of Porthleven, had been sunk,but that the steamer had picked uptwo of her crew of seven. The coast-guard also informed the Penlee station,at 12.55 next morning, and at 1.20 themotor life-boat W. and S. was launched.The two life-boats made a very widesearch, but found no trace of the fivemen and returned to their stations,Cadgwith arriving at 6.15 in the morn-ing of the 26th and Penlee at 8.30. Inthe meantime the St. Mary's coast-guard had telephoned the St. Mary'sstation at 7.2 in the morning that theChrysanthy Star had wirelessed that ofthe two rescued men one had diedand had asked that the life-boat shouldbring them ashore. The motor life-boat Cunard was launched at 7.46, ina light west-north-west breeze with asmooth sea and fog, and found thesteamer eight miles south of WolfRock. She arrived back at her stationwith the rescued man and the body.Five of the six men lost were brothers.—Rewards: Cadgwith, £27 8s.; Penlee,£18 5s.; St. Mary's, £16 12s.

LONDON SHIP ON THE ROCKS

Dfracombe, Devon.—-At 4 o'clock inthe morning of the 26th of June, 1948,the coastguard telephoned a reportfrom the Bull Point Lighthouse that avessel appeared to be ashore at MortePoint but that she had made no distresssignals. At 4.37 another message camethat she had asked for help, and at5 o'clock the motor life-boat BicTiardSilver Oliver was launched in a moderatesouth-westerly breeze with a choppysea. She found the motor ship Amenity,of London, of four hundred and sixtytons, bound in ballast for Cardiff, with


a crew of eleven, fast on the rocks.The tide was on the flood and the life-boat stood by. With the help of thecoxswain's advice, the Amenity wasrefloated and steered into deep water.A life-boatman then boarded her and,escorted by the life-boat, piloted herinto harbour, where she was beached.The life-boat reached her station againat 8 o'clock that morning.—Rewards,£20 13s.

A HARD TOW IN A GALEPortpatrick, Wigtownshire. — At 2.40

in the morning of the 28th of June,1948, the coastguard telephoned that afishing boat, which was at anchor inClanyard Bay, appeared to be in diffi-culties, and the motor life-boat JeanieSpeirs was launched at 3.15. A north-north-west gale was blowing, with arough sea. She found the motorfishing vessel Homeland, of Drummore,dangerously close inshore and the twomen on board very much exhausted.She rescued them and took their vesselin tow. Twice the tow rope parted,but was made fast again and the life-boat towed the Homeland to the har-bour, arriving back at her station at8.45.—Rewards, £13 19s.

STRANDED ON THE HARBOUR BAR

Berwick - on - Tweed, Northumberland.—Just after 4 o'clock in the afternoon ofthe 29th of June, 1948, the coastguardreported that a motor launch, in tryingto enter the harbour in a fresh northerlybreeze, with a heavy swell, had run onthe bar, and at 4.7 the motor life-boatJ. and W. put out. She found thelaunch with her steering gear out ofaction. The life-boat towed her off,and into the harbour, arriving back ather station at 5 o'clock.—Rewards,£7 2s. Gd.

FISHING BOAT CAPSIZES

Filey, Yorkshire. — At 5.10 in theevening of the 29th of June, 1948, thecoastguard saw the salmon fishing boatLady Shirley capsize. . A fresh breezewas blowing from the north-north-westwith a moderate swell. The .boat wasclose in shore, about three-quartersof a mile south of the life-boat station.Ten minutes later the motor life-boatCuttle reached the scene of the capsize,

but there was no sign of the men. Thecoxswain anchored and veered downthrough the heavy surf. The seas werebreaking over the life-boat, and thewater was so shallow that at times shewas bumping on the sandy bottom.There, in the surf, she saw the upturnedboat, with her net. The life-boatmenhauled the net aboard and found threemen entangled in it. They tried torevive them, but without success.There had been a fourth man in thefishing boat, but his body was not found.It was a service of considerable danger,carried out among sandbanks and inheavy breakers with great skill, and theInstitution sent special letters of appre-ciation to the coxswain and eachmember of the crew.—Rewards, £16 3s.

The following life-boats went out onservice but could find no ships in dis-tress, were not needed, or could donothing.

Appledore, Devon.—June 3rd.—Re-wards, £18 15s.

Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire. — June5th.—Rewards, £11 14s.

Padstow, Cornwall.-—June 9th.—Re-wards, £4 13s.

A LONG SEARCH FOR AN AEROPLANEPort St. Mary, Port Erin, Douglas, and

Peel, Isle of Man.—At about 10.15 onthe night of the 10th of June, 1948, theRamsey coastguard telephoned the PortSt. Mary, Port Erin, and Douglas life-boat stations that an aeroplane, witheight persons aboard, was believed tohave crashed into the sea near ChickenRock. The aeroplane, a De HavillandRapide, was on private charter and wasbound for Ronaldsway from Birming-ham. The Port St. Mary motor life-boat Sir Heath Harrison was launchedat 10.55 and the Port Erin motor life-boat Matthew Simpson and the Douglasmotor life-boat Millie Walton, fiveminutes later. They searched over awide area to the east of the island, in afresh south-easterly breeze with amoderate sea, but found nothing. Thecoastguard informed the Peel station at11.16 and the motor life-boat HelenSutton was launched at 11.55 to searchbetween Peel and Port Erin. She alsofound nothing. The Helen Suttonreached her station again at 6.20 thenext morning, the llth, the Matthew


Simpson at 6.30, the Sir Heath Harrisonat 7.25 and the Millie Walton at 7.30.Between 7.30 and 7.40 the coastguardasked that the search be renewed assoon as the life-boatmen had refuelledtheir boats and had some food. ThePeel life-boat was launched again at8.15 and the Port Erin and Port St.Mary life-boats fifteen minutes later.They searched between Peel and Derby-haven. Then the Douglas life-boat wascalled out at 9.45 to search the areabetween St. Annes Head and ScarlettPoint and was launched at 10 o'clock.Again no trace of the aeroplane wasfound, and the life-boats returned totheir stations, Port St. Mary arriving at1 o'clock in the afternoon, Port Erinat 2 o'clock, Peel at 3.45 and Douglasat 4 o'clock. The wreckage of theaeroplane was found later. She hadnot come down in the sea but hadcrashed in the hills near Fleshwick.The Lieutenant Governor of the Isleof Man sent his thanks to the crews.—Rewards: Port St. Mary (both services),£3619s.; Port Erin, first service, £20 Is.;second service, £14 11s.; Douglas,first service, £21 14s.; second service,£16 11s.; Peel, first service, £24 12s.;second service, £26 Is. Total Rewards£160 9s.

Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—June llth.—Rewards, £18 2s. 6d.

Maryport, Cumberland.—June 12th.—Rewards, £20 9s.

Ramsey, Isle of Man.—June 12th.—Rewards, £16 6s.

Sheringham, Norfolk.—June 12th.—Rewards, £25 15s.

AMERICAN STEAMER LOSESPROPELLER

Baltimore, Co. Cork.—At about 4.30in the afternoon of the 13th of June,1948, it was reported that the s.s.Dwight W. Morrow, of Jacksonville,U.S.A., had wirelessed that she had losther propeller twelve miles west ofFastnet, but that she was in no imme-diate danger. About 5.15 Valentiaradio reported that the steamer wasnow asking for help and a tow, and themotor life-boat Shamrock was launchedat 5.35, in a moderate southerly breezewith a smooth sea. She found theDwight W. Morrow anchored four mileswest by south pf Mizen Head. She

was in no danger so the life-boat madefor the near-by harbour of Crookhaven.There she stood by until a tug arrivednext morning, and -when the tug hadthe steamer in tow the life-boat re-turned to her station, arriving at 2.30that afternoon.—Rewards, £3812s.

Torbay, Devon.—June 17th.—Rewards,£8 19s.

Lerwick, Shetland*.-—June 14th.—Re-wards, £4 10s.

Dungeness, Kent —June 20th. — Re-wards, £25 4s.

Portrush, Co. Antrim.—June 21st.—Rewards, £6 7s. 6d.

TREE-TRUNK MISTAKEN FOR VESSEL

Cromarty.—About 4.50 in the after-noon of the 24th of June, 1948, thecoastguard reported information re-ceived that a small vessel appeared tohave broken down a quarter of a milesouth of South Sutor, and the motorlife-boat James Macfee was launchedat 5 o'clock in a light south-easterlybreeze with a slight swell. She founda drifting tree-trunk. As it was dan-gerous to navigation, she towed it tothe harbour, and arrived back at herstation at 6.15 that evening.—Rewards,£2 5s.

Skegness, Lincolnshire.—June 26th.—Rewards, £11 7s. 6d.

Falmouth, Cornwall.—June 29th.—Re-wards, £7 Is. Qd.

JULY

During July life-boats went out onservice 63 times, and rescued 57 lives.

LIFE-BOAT AS AMBULANCE

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—At 3.27 in the morning of the 1st ofJuly, 1948, the coastguard reported thatthe s.s. Afon Gwili, of Llanelly, hadanchored about a mile to the south-eastof Yarmouth, and had asked for adoctor for a badly injured man. Themotor life-boat Louise Stephens waslaunched at 3.43 in a strong northerlybreeze and a rough sea, with a doctoron board. The man, who had a badlyinjured foot, was brought ashore inthe life-boat, which arrived back ather station at 5.2.r—Rewards,£10 13s. 6d.


A ROUGH TOWWalton and Frinton, Essex.—At about

12.25 in the afternoon of Sunday, the4th of July, 1948, the coastguard tele-phoned that information had been re-ceived from the pilot cutter Penlee thatthe motor vessel Lenrodian, of Sheer-ness, was in distress near No. 39 Buoy,in the neighbourhood of the WestSunk Light vessel. The motor life-boatE.M.E.D. was launched at one o'clock.-It was blowing half a gale from thesouth-west with a rough sea and heavyrain. At 2.45 the life-boat found themotor vessel, and her skipper at onceasked to be towed to Harwich. Life-boatmen went on board and after longand difficult manoeuvring the life-boattook the Lenrodian in tow, and arrivedat Harwich at 5.20 after a very roughpassage. She arrived' back at herstation at 7.40 that evening.—PropertySalvage Case.

FOUR YACHTS IN DISTRESSSwanage, Dorset.—At 12.40 in the

afternoon of the 4th of July, 1948, thecoastguard telephoned that a smallsailing yacht was in difficulties in Dur-leston Bay, and the motor life-boatThomas Markby, was launched in astrong south-west breeze with a mod-erate sea at 12.55. She found theGadfly of Poole, about half a mile south-west of Peveril Ledge Buoy, with acrew of two. She had lost her, sails andher dinghy and was in danger of foun-dering. The life-boat towed her intoSwanage Bay and then returned to herstation, arriving at 1.55.—Rewards,£7 12s.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. — At 2.50in the afternoon of the 4th of July, 1948,the Totland Bay coastguard telephonedthat a yacht was in difficulties one milesouth of Highcliffe and at 3.0 o'clockthe motor life-boat S.G.E. was launched.A moderate gale was blowing withheavy rain, and the sea was very rough.The life-boat found the motor yachtMari, of Littlehampton, a mile eastof Christchurch with the owner and hisson on board. She had anchored, butwas dragging towards the shore. Whenthe life-boat arrived the owner tried toweigh anchor but fell into the sea.He was hauled into the life-boat andgiven dry clothes and food. A life-

boatman boarded the Mari, and buoyedand slipped her anchor. The owner'sson was taken into the life-boat, andshe then towed the Mari to Yarmouthharbour, arriving back at her stationat 7.20 that evening. The owner ofthe yacht sent a donation to the In-stitution.—Rewards, £9 9s,

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 3.40 inthe afternoon of the 4th of July, 1948,the North Foreland Radio reported asmall yacht, the Diver, of Gillingham,anchored close to No. 1 Yantlett Buoyand in need of help. The motor life-boat Greater London, Civil ServiceNo. 3, was launched at 3.55. The seawas very rough and a southerly galewas blowing, with heavy rain. Thelife-boat found the yacht, with two menaboard, in tow of a landing craft a milenorth-east of East Nore Buoy. At therequest of the landing craft's captainthe life-boat took over the tow, and asthere was insufficient shelter at South-end she took the Diver to Sheerness.There she found that one of the twomen was seriously ill. It was thenabout half-past five. The other man,his brother, begged the life-boatmento take the sick man up the Medwayto his home near Gillingham. This theydid. The life-boat arrived back at herstation at a quarter to nine that evening.•—Property Salvage Case.

Blyth, Northumberland. — In theafternoon of the 4th of July, 1948, astrong north-westerly breeze was blowing with a rough sea and heavy rain,and at 4.42 the coastguard telephonedthat a yacht had capsized in the bay ina strong squall. The life-boat crewassembled, but the pilot boat had putout and the life-boatmen dispersed.At 5.2 the coastguard reported thatseveral yachts were at sea and probablyin need of help and the motor life-boatWinston Churchill, Civil Service No, 8,was launched immediately. She foundthe local yacht Rozel with a crew ofsix, making very heavy weather halfa mile south of St. Mary's Lighthouse,and in danger of foundering. The life-boat took her in tow and ran with thesea for North Shields, where the Bozelwas moored. The life-boat then re-turned to her station, arriving at 8.45that evening.-^-Rewards, £11 6s.


SIX BOATS IN DISTRESSTynemouth, Northumberland. — Late

in the afternoon of the 4th' of July,1948, a sudden freak squall broke fromthe north and at 4.59 the coastguardtelephoned that three small sailingyachts had capsized in the haven.Within fifteen minutes the motor life-boat Tynesider had put out. Mr. E.Selby Davidson, the honorary sec-retary of the station, was on board her.The sea was rough, and a strong northerly breeze was blowing, with torrentialrain. When she reached the harbourentrance the life-boat saw that the tugWearmouth had gone to the help ofthe yachts. She then saw a motorfishing boat, the Girl Carole, of SouthShields, in difficulties near the rocks ofthe south pier. Her engines had brokendown. The life-boat went to her help,rescued the crew of two and took theboat herself in tow, but she quicklyfilled with water and had to be aban-doned. The life-boat then left the har-bour and there she saw two other boatsin distress two miles to the south of thesouth pier. She found that they werethe motor yawl Vigilant, of Sunderland,and the motor fishing boat May, ofNewcastle. The Vigilant had gone tothe help of the May and had taken herin tow, but seas broke over her, flood-ing her engine room, and she too washelpless. With some difficulty, in theheavy seas, the life-boat got a rope tothe Vigilant, rescued her two men andrescued the two men from the May.All four were exhausted and the life-boatmen gave them rum. The life-boattook the two boats to North Shieldsand arrived back at her station at 7.45that evening.—Rewards, £11 19s.

ENGINE FAILED: SAILS BLOWN AWAYAppledore, Devon.—At 5.15 in the

afternoon of the 4th of July, 1948, theWestward Ho coastguard telephonedthat a yacht appeared to be in diffi-culties eight miles north-east of Hart-land Point, and at 5.35 the motor life-boat The Brothers, on temporary dutyat the station, was launched: A mod-erate north-westerly breeze was blow-ing, with a moderate sea. The life-boatfound the motor yacht Mafalda, ofArdrossan, with a crew of three, driftingtowards the rocks between Hartlandand Clovelly. Her sails had carried

away and her engine had broken down.The life-boat towed her to AppledorePool and arrived back at her stationat 8.45 that evening.—Property SalvageCase.

TO THE HELP OF COBLESAmble, Northumberland. — In the

morning of the 5th of July, 1948, thelocal fishing cobles, Hephzi-Bah, andThe John, were at sea. At 9.30,although the breeze from the north-north-west was moderate, a rough seawas running, and at 9.53 the motor life-boat Frederick and Emma was launched.She found the cobles off Coquet Islandand accompanied them into harbour,arriving back at her station at 11o'clock.—Rewards, £6.

ANOTHER YACHT IN DISTRESSThe number, Yorkshire. — At 6.45

in the evening of the 7th of July, 1948,the Donna Nook coastguard reported ayacht firing red rockets two and a halfmiles east of Donna Nook, and at7 o'clock the motor life-boat Milburn,on temporary duty at the station, waslaunched. She searched in a lightnorth-easterly breeze with a smoothsea and found the motor yacht DawnPatrol, of Brough, at anchor with herengine broken down. She was in noimmediate danger but the crew of twoasked for a tow, as they -wished tospend the night ashore. The life-boattook the Dawn Patrol in tow, mooredher off Spurn Point and returned to herstation with the yacht's crew at 9.45.—Permanent paid crew.

SIXTEEN FRENCHMEN RESCUEDCromer, Norfolk.—At 10.40 in the

morning of the 8th of July, 1948, thecoastguard reported that the motorvessel Francois Tixier, of Dunkirk,bound from Goole for Rouen with acargo of coal, was flying distress signalsfour miles north by west of Sheringham,and the No. 1 motor life-boat HenryBlogg was launched at eleven o'clock ina squally north-westerly gale with avery rough sea. She found that themotor vessel's cargo had shifted, andshe had a heavy list. The list made itimpossible for the life-boat to get along-side, so ropes were passed to her andthe crew told to leave her as she


could not last long in such weather.They could speak no English but aftermuch hesitation the captain of theFrancois Tixier decided to abandonship. By this time she was almost onher beam-ends and the rescue of hersixteen men was very difficult. Withthe aid of the breeches buoy the life-boat took off eleven. When the twelfthman was in the buoy, the ship rolledover and sank, flinging him and the fourremaining men into the sea. Theymanaged to clamber on to a raft andthe life-boat picked them up. In thatweather she could not return to Cromerand made for Gorleston, where shearrived at 6.30 in the evening.. Lettersof thanks were received from the FrenchConsul General through the FrenchConsular Agent at Lowestoft and fromthe master of the vessel, and the FrenchMinister of Mercantile Marine and theMinister for Foreign Affairs sent their"most lively congratulations" to thelife-boat's crew. A gift of £100 was alsomade by the owners to the coxswain andcrew.—Rewards, £50 13s. 6d.

FISHING VESSEL TOWED INMargate, Kent. —At 12.17 in the

afternoon of the 10th of July, 1948, thecoastguard telephoned that a motorfishing vessel had broken down and wasdrifting three and. a half miles north-north-east of the pier. A strong north-north-west breeze was blowing, with arough sea. The vessel made no dis-tress signals, but at 12.56 she was seento be drifting over the sands, and at1.5 the motor life-boat Lord South-borough, Civil Service No. 1, waslaunched. She found the vessel to beNo. 639, of Milford Haven, with a crewof five. Her engine had broken down.The life-boat stood by until the vesselgot her engine going. The skipperthen asked to be escorted to Ramsgate,but ten minutes later the engine brokedown again. The vessel was now broad-side on to the seas, and rolling heavily.The life-boat passed a line to her andtowed her into Ramsgate. She arrivedback at her station at 6 o'clock thatevening.—Property Salvage Case.

SAILING DINGHY CAPSIZEDDungeness, Kent.—At 1.30. in the

afternoon of Sunday the llth of July,

1948, the Fairlight coastguard tele-phoned that a sailing dinghy had cap-sized half a mile off Winchelsea beach,and the motor life-boat Langham, ontemporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 1.45. A strong west-south-west breeze was blowing with a choppysea. She found the sailing dinghyWendy upturned, but no trace of hercrew of three. One had swam ashore,two others had been picked up by aspeed boat. The life-boatmen rightedthe dinghy, baled her out and took herin tow, arriving back at their stationat 5.45.—Rewards, £29 19s.

ANGLERS IN DISTRESSEastbourne, Sutiex.—At 7.45 in the

evening of the llth of July, 1948, theEastbourne Angling Association re-ported that their motor boat Lesal,which a party of four had taken outfor a day s fishing, was overdue, and at7.58 the motor life-boat Jane Hollandwas launched. A fresh south-westerlybreeze was blowing with a moderatesea. She found the Lesal three milessouth-east of.._the .. liferboat istation.The starting-handle of the engine hadbroken. The life-boat took the boatin~tow 'and arrived-back at 'her stationat 9.5.—Rewards, £18 19s.

SICK NORWEGIAN SAILOR LANDEDGreat Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.

—At 8.12 in the evening of the llth ofJuly, 1948, the Gorleston coastguardtelephoned that the s.s. Tora Elise, ofArendal, Norway, which was passingto the northward, was flying the .signalfor a doctor, and the motor life-boatLouise Stephens was launched at 8.33,with a doctor on board, in a lightnorth-north-west breeze with a moder-ate sea. She came up with the steameroff Yarmouth, took off a sick seamanand returned to her station, arrivingat 9.45. -The seaman was sent to theSailors' Home.-—Rewards, £10 13s. 6d.

YACHT TOWED INBerwick-on-Twe«d, Northumberland.—

At 10.12 on the night of the llth of July,1948, the coastguard reported red vereylights being fired from a yacht offBummouth, and the motor life-boatJ. and W. was launched at 10.26 in alight northerly breeze with a slight sea.


ABERYSTWYTH LAUNCHES

^ •̂•̂ ^ •̂__j

By courtesy of} [Ford Jenkins, LowtetoftRETURN FROM SERVICE

The Lowestoft life-boat towing in the motor-cruiser Dimajl.(See page 214).


1031 FEET AND 41 FEET

The s s. Queen Elizabeth and the new Sennen Cove motor life-boat which went to her stationlast July.

By cmatay of] [West Lancashire Evening Gtuett*

NOT UNNOTICED

The Blackpool life-boat coming ashore after searching for a swimmer.


She found the yacht Foxlrott, of Blyth,with a crew of three, a mile north-eastof Berwick High Light. Her mast hadsprung. The life-boat towed her intoharbour, and returned to her station,arriving at midnight.—Rewards,£8 17*. 6d.

ESCORTING A SEAPLANE

Appledore, Devon.—At 11.58 in themorning of the 15th of July, 1948, anurgent message was received, throughthe coastguard, from H.M.S. Harrier,that the pilot of a Fleet Air Arm aero-plane had baled out five to fifteen milesnorth-west of Lundy Island. Themotor life-boat The Brothers, on tem-porary duty at the station, was launchedat 12:15, but was recalled shortlyafterwards when it was learned that aSea Otter aeroplane had landed on thesea and picked up the pilot. A strongnorth-westerly wind was blowing, thesea was rough and the Sea Otter- couldnot take off again. She started to taxitowards thfe* shore; escorted- by thedestroyer Roebuck, and at 1.10 the life-boat was asked to get a doctor and goout to meet the Sea Otter. She andthe destroyer were then five miles northof Lundy Light. The life-boat cameup with them fourteen miles north-west of Fairway Buoy, and at therequest of the destroyer's captainescorted the Sea Otter to BrauntonSands. She arrived back at her stationat 4.40 in the afternoon. A message ofthanks was received from St. MerrynAir Station.—Rewards, £13 8s.

A LONG TOW

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. — At 7o'clock in the morning of the 17th ofJuly, 1948, the Totland coastguardtelephoned that the British steamerRoyal Sovereign had reported that shehad in tow the motor yacht Firefly, ofSt. Helier, whose engines had brokendown while she was cruising to theChannel Islands. She had a crew ofthree. The steamer gave their positionas twenty-one miles south-west of St.Catherine's Point and asked that thelife-boat take over the tow. A freshsouth-westerly breeze was blowing,with"'a~ moderate sea. At 7.23 themotor life-boat S.G.E. was launched.A destroyer also went out. The Royal

Sovereign later wirelessed that she hadleft the Firefly with a French yachtand a Panamanian steamer standingby her. The destroyer and the life-boat found the Firefly about fourteenmiles south of The Needles, and at thedestroyer's request the life-boat tookthe Firefly in tow. She arrived backat her station at 5.30 that evening.The owner of the yacht made a donationto the funds of the Institution.—Re-wards, £19 0*. 6d.

ADRIFT FOR FIFTEEN HOURSEastbourne, Sussex.—At' seven in the

evening of Saturday the 17th of July,1948, the coastguard telephoned thatinformation had been received from theEastbourne Angling Association thatone of their boats, the motor boat Lesal,which the life-boat had towed in sixdays before, was fishing two and a halfmiles south of Langney Point. She hadtwo men on board and should havereturnted. The south-westerly windwas' increasing; the sea "rough", andanxiety was felt for their safety. Themotor life-boat Jane Holland waslaunched at 7.15, made a search, foundnothing and returned at 10.20. At7.50 next morning she put out againand after a long search found the Lesal,with her engine broken down, aboutsix miles south of Hastings. She hadbeen adrift in a rough sea for overfifteen hours. The life-boat arrivedback with the boat in tow at 12.10 inthe afternoon. Rewards: First service,£23 11s.; second service, £29 4s.

DUTCHMEN LANDED

Appledore, Devon.—During a thickfog in the early hours of the morning ofthe 18th of July, 1948, the motor shipAmstelstroom, of Amsterdam wentaground on the rocky coast of LundyIsland. Her crew of eleven got ashore.About four o'clock in the afternoon thecoastguard asked the life-boat to go outthe following day to bring the menfrom the island, and the motor life-boatThe Brothers, on temporary duty at thestation, left her moorings at 5.10 inthe morning of the 19th. A strongwesterly breeze was blowing, with amoderate sea. The Dutch capfaiii' de-cided that only four of his crew shouldbe taken off. The other seven would


remain on the island to watch the ship.With the four men, the life-boat re-turned to her station, arriving at half-past one that afternoon.—Rewards,£18 13*.

ALEAK IN A GALEPort St. Mary, Isle of Man.—At 4.30

in the morning of the 19th of July, 1948,the Castletown coastguard telephonedthat the keeper at Langness Point Lighthad reported red flares from a smallvessel, and the motor life-boat SirHeath Harrison was launched at 5.5.A west-south-west gale was blowingwith a moderate sea. A quarter of amile west of Langness Point the life-boat found the auxiliary ketch SarahLatham, of Chester. She had on boardthe captain and his wife, and a crew ofthree. She was on her way fromConnah's Quay to Belfast, laden withbricks and tiles. Her sails had beenseverely damaged, she was leakingbadly, both engine and pumps hadbroken down. The life-boat rescuedthe five people and returned to herstation at 6.25. Later the ketchfoundered.—Rewards, £18.

ANOTHER SAILING DINGHY CAPSIZEDYoughal, Co. Cork.—At 6 o'clock in

the evening of the 19th of July, 1948,information was received that a sailingdinghy from Cork had capsized in thebay between Red Buoy and CapelIsland, and at 6.15 the motor life-boatLaurana Sarah Blunt was launched.A strong, squally south-westerly breezewas blowing, with a very choppy sea.The life-boat searched widely andfound the dinghy in tow of a salmonyawl one mile off the Knockadoonshore. The dinghy's crew of three,two of whom were suffering from shockand exposure, had been taken aboardthe yawl. They were transferred tothe life-boat which arrived back at herstation at 8.15. The two sick men weresent to a nursing home. The dinghywas eventually beached. — Rewards,£10 19s.

DOCTOR AND NURSE TO ANICELANDIC TRAWLER

Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—At 2.25in the afternoon of the 20th of July,1948, the Portpatrick Radio Station

telephoned that the Icelandic steam-trawler Baldur, on passage from Fleet-wood to Iceland, was approachingCampbeltown and had asked for a doc-tor for a maternity case. The trawlerwas then thirty miles away to the south-west and expected to be off Campbel-town about four o'clock. The motorlife-boat City of Glasgow left her moor-ings at 2.42, in a light southerly breezeand a moderate sea, with a doctor andnurse aboard. She met the trawler fourmiles east-north-east of Sanda, put thedoctor and nurse on board her, andescorted the trawler to Davaar Light-house, the life-boat coxswain acting aspilot. There the patient, the doctorand the nurse were transferred to thelife-boat, which made for Campbeltownwhere an ambulance was waiting. Thelife-boat returned to her station at sixo'clock.—Rewards, £9 19s. 6d.

MORE YACHTS IN DISTRESS

Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire. — Inthe early morning of the 21st of July,1948, the yacht Goodewind, of Leith,was reported by the coastguard to bedragging her anchors in the bay, butshe picked up moorings and seemed tobe safe. The wind was increasing, andby 9.45 a full south-westerly gale wasblowing, with a rough sea running.The district inspector of life-boats, Com-mander E. W. Middleton, R.N.V.R.,who was visiting the station, saw thatthe anchor of the moorings was drag-ging and took the motor life-boatM.O.Y.E. out at 10.15 to the help ofthe yacht. She passed a line to theyacht, which had a crew of four onboard, and towed her to a safe anchor-age, but her ground tackle would nothold, so the life-boat fetched a mooring;anchor and saw her comfortablymoored. She returned to her stationagain at two in the afternoon. Theowner of the yacht made a gift to thecrew.—Rewards, £7 4s.

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—About three in,the afternoon of the 21st of July, 1948,the coastguard telephoned that anauxiliary sailing yacht, one and a halfmiles to the eastward, was flying adistress signal, and the motor life-boatMary Scott, on temporary duty at thestation, was launched at once. A


strong southerly breeze was blowing,with a rough sea, and the tide wasebbing. The life-boat found the Dim-cyl, with a crew of four on board, brokendown and drifting. She towed herinto harbour, arriving at half past four.—Rewards, £6 15s.

SICK MAN BROUGHT ASHORE IN AGALE

Amble, Northumberland.—In the lateafternoon of the 21st of July, 1948, thecoastguard reported that the s.s. Wind-sor Queen, of London, which was offCoquet Island, had an injured man onboard, and the motor life-boat ElizabethNewton, on temporary duty at thestation, was launched at 5.45 with adoctor. A south-westerly gale wasblowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat brought the injured man ashore,and arrived back at her station againat 7.15.—Rewards, £6 Is.

R.A.F. CADETS LANDEDHolyhead, Anglesey.—At 9.25 in the

evening of the 21st of July, 1948, thecoastguard telephoned that a smallrowing boat, with three Royal Air Forcecadets on board, was in difficulties abouthalf a mile to the eastward of SaltIsland Point, and the motor life-boatElsie, on temporary duty at the station,was launched at half-past nine in asouth-westerly breeze with a choppysea. She took off the cadets andbrought them and their boat ashore at10.30.—Rewards, £4 10s.

NIGHT SEARCH FOR FISHING BOAT

Margate, Kent.—During the eveningof the 23rd of July, 1948, the sister ofthe skipper of the local fishing vesselProvidence reported that the Providencehad gone out fishing early that morningand was long overdue. The coast-guard was informed, but he could notsee her, and at 10.50, as it grew dark,the motor life-boat Lord Southborough,Civil Service No. 1 was launched. Thesea was slight, with a moderate south-westerly breeze blowing. The life-boatfound the Providence with her enginebroken down a mile north-west of South"West Longsand Buoy. She had been•drifting for twelve .hours and her crewof two were without food. They weregiven soup, biscuits and water from the

life-boat's stores and were towed toMargate. The life-boat reached herstation again at half past four the fol-lowing morning.—Rewards, £15 18s.

YACHT AGROUND ON TONGUE SANDSMargate, Kent.—At 7.50 in the even-

ing of the 24th of July, 1948, the coast-guard telephoned a message, receivedfrom a steamer through North ForelandRadio, that a sailing yacht wa's agroundon Tongue Sands, four miles south-eastof North-East Tongue Buoy. Themotor life-boat Lord Southborough, CivilService No. 1, was launched at 8.2 in amoderate south-easterly breeze. Thesea was calm, with an occasional heavyswell. The life-boat found the sailingyacht Joass, of the Royal NavalSailing Club, Chatham, with a crew ofthree. Her deck was awash, she hada heavy list, and each swell carried herfurther on to the sands. The low tidemade it impossible for the life-boat totow her off, so she passed a line to herand held her for nearly two hours untilshe refloated on the flood tide. It wasthen nearly midnight and at the requestof the yacht's skipper the life-boattowed her into Ramsgate Harbour.She then returned to her station at aquarter to six the following morning.—Rewards, £23 12s.

EXPLOSION IN AN ENGINE-ROOM

Wells, Norfolk—At about 6.30 in themorning of the 25th of July, 1948,information was received from thecoastguard that a ship, twenty miles tothe north-east of Wells, had had anexplosion in the engine-room and adoctor was needed. The motor life-boat Cecil Paine was launched at seveno'clock with Dr. E. W. Hicks, the hono-rary secretary, on board. A lightsouth-easterly wind was blowing with amoderate sea. When the life-boatreached the position given the weatherwas hazy and nothing could be seen,but the life-boat got further informationthrough the East Dudgeon Lightvesseland eventually found the ship. She wasthe s.s. Wave Commander, a RoyalFleet Auxiliary oil tanker, and Dr.Hicks was put aboard to treat theinjured men. One was badly hurt andwas with difficulty lifted into the life-boat on a stretcher. She landed him


at Holkham, where he had to be pushedon a hand cart over a mile of sands to awaiting ambulance. The life-boatreached her station again at 4.15.—Rewards, £34 6s.

TOWING IN A YACHTWeymouth, Dorset.—At 11.10 on the

night of the 26th of July, 1948, theWyke Regis coastguard telephoned thata vessel was signalling for help with atorch one mile to the south-south-east,and the motor life-boat William andClara Ryland was launched at 11.25 infine weather with a calm sea. Shefound the motor yacht Dinah with acrew of four. Her engine had brokendown, but had been started again.The yacht made for the harbour es-corted by the life-boat, which, later,took her in tow and reached her stationagain at one o'clock the next morning.—Rewards, £5 13s.

YACHT HELPED A SECOND TIMEIlfracombe, Devon.—-At 3 O'clock in

the morning of the 27th of July, 1948,the coastguard reported flares, and at3.30 the motor life-boat Richard SilverOliver was launched. The weather wasfine with a calm sea. The life-boatfound the motor yacht Mafalda, ofArdrossan, with a crew of four, aboutthree miles north-west of the pierdrifting with her engine broken downand no sails. She took her in tow,beached her in the inner harbour, andreached her station again at 5.15. TheMafalda had been in distress on the 4thJuly, when her crew were rescued bythe Appledore life-boat.—Rewards,£18 135. 6d.

AGROUND IN A FOGRamsey, Isle of Man.—At 7.15 in the

morning of the 27th of July, 1948, thecoastguard telephoned that a vessel wasashore a mile west of Rue Point, and afew minutes later she was reported tobe blowing S.O.S. on her whistle. Themotor life-boat Lady Harrison waslaunched at eight o'clock. There wasa thick fog, but the sea was calm andthere was no wind. Going northround the Point of Ayre the life-boatreached the position given nearlytwo hours later. There she found thesteam trawler Northness, of Hull. She

had gone aground 'while making forFleetwood from the fishing grounds,but was in no immediate danger. Thelife-boat towed off the trawler's boat sothat a kedge anchor could be droppedand then stood by until the Northnessrefloated at half past two. As her ser-vices were no longer needed the life-boat made for her station, arriving at4.45 in the afternoon.—Rewards,£28 185.

MOTOR BOAT ASHORECloughey, Co. Down.—At 9.15 in the

evening of the 28th of July, 1948, theTara coastguard telephoned that a smallmotor boat was ashore on Long Pladdy,Ballyquinton Point. There was noimmediate danger, as the sea was calmand the north-westerly breeze light.Later the coastguard reported that theboat had heeled over, that no otherboats were near and that there was pros-pect of fog. The motor life-boatHerbert John was launched at halfpast ten and found a Portaferry motorfishing boat with a crew of two aboard.Three visitors who had been with themon a fishing expedition had already beenlanded by another boat. As the tidewas now rising the life-boat stood byuntil the motor boat refloated and wasable to get clear of the rocks. She thenreturned to her station, arriving at 1.55in the morning.—Re wards, £20 14s.

The following life-boats went out onservice, 'but, could find no ships in dis-tress, were not needed or could donothing:

Aldeburgh, Suffolk^Tuly 4th.—Re-wards, £27 12s. 6d.

Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire. — July4th.—Rewards, £47 13s.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—July 4th.—Rewards, £11 17s.

Walton and Frinton, Essex.— July4th.—Rewards, £12 2s.

Hoylake, Cheshire.—July. 6th—Re-wards, £14 16s.

Margate, Kent.—July 7th. — Re-wards, £7 17s. 6d.

LIFE-BOAT TO THE HELP OFLIFE-BOAT

Gourdon, Kincardineshire ; Arbroath andMontrose, Angus.—At 12.20 in the


morning of the 8th of July, 1948, theGourdon coastguard reported to Gour-don life-boat station that the rowingboat Ella, with a crew of three, wasexpected, but had not arrived. She hadlast been seen off Rockhall Point, aboutone and a half miles south-west ofJohnshaven. A north-north-west galewas blowing, with a rough sea. Themotor life-boat Margaret Dawson waslaunched at 12.37 and made a widesearch. She continued to search forover six hours, and at seven minutespast seven she received a wireless mes-sage that the Ella had been foundhanging on to a salmon net and thatfishermen had helped to bring herashore. Just before she received thismessage her engine had stopped, owingto faulty wiring and her crew called forthe help of the -Arbroath life-boat asthey hesitated to attempt to start theengine again in case of fire. The life-boat then set sail, southwards towardsArbroath. The fishing boat June Roseappeared and offered her a tow. Thetow was not needed, but as the life-boatnow had company the crew gave herengine another trial, and at nine o'clockgot it running again. The news of herbreakdown reached Arbroath throughthe Gregness coastguard at seveno'clock, and the life-boat John andWilliam Mudie was launched at 7.10,but she stuck in sand and mud at thefoot of the slipway. At 7.50 a messagethat the Gourdon boat was in troublewas received at Montrose, and at 8.20the No. 1 life-boat The Good Hope waslaunched. She found the Gourdon life-boat five miles south of Red Head. Bythis time, however, 9.30 in the morning,the Gourdon crew had started theirengine again. The Good Hope escortedher to the shelter of Montrose Bay andthen returned to her station. Montrosegot back to her station at 10.40, Gour-don at 11.45 and Arbroath at twoo'clock in the afternoon. Rewards,Gourdon, £38 4s.; Arbroath, £7 17s. 6d.;Montrose, £10 5s.

Dun Labghaire, Co. Dublin. — July8th.—Rewards, £1111s. 6d.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—July 9th.—Rewards, £5 5s.

Whitehills, Banffshire.—July 13th.—Rewards, £15 7s.

Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland.—July 14th.—Rewards, £7 2s. 6d.

Newhaven, Sussex. — July 17th.—Rewards, £9 7s. 6d.

Falmouth, Cornwall.—July 18th.—Rewards, £5 13s.

Selsey, Sussex. — July 19th. — Re-wards, £14 9s. 6d.

The Humber, Yorkshire.—July 19th.—Paid permanent crew.

Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—July 19th.—Rewards, £8 14f.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—July 21st.—Rewards, £1119s.

Beaumaris, Anglesey.—July 21st.—Rewards, £7 9s. 6d.

St. Ives, Cornwall.—July 22nd.—Rewards, £28 9s.

Padstow, Cornwall.— July 23rd.—Rewards, £7 10s.

Margate, Kent. — July 23rd. —Re-wards, £19 13s.

LANCASTER BOMBER DOWN

Lerwick, Shetlands.—At 12.20 in theafternoon of the 23rd of July, 1948, thecoastguard telephoned that a Lancasterbomber, which had a crew of eight, wasin distress forty-six miles south-east ofKirkabister Lighthouse. At 3.19 thecoastguard reported that a rubberdinghy had "been seen forty-eight milessouth-east of the lighthouse and that No.18 Group Royal Air Force had asked forthe services of the life-boat. The motorlife-boat Lady Jane and Martha Rylandwas launched at 3.40 in a fresh west-south-west breeze with a choppy sea,and an aeroplane guided her. In themeantime a Sea Otter seaplane hadlanded on the sea and rescued the menfrom the dinghy, but could not takeoff again, and H.M.S. Welcome, whichwas already at sea, arrived just beforethe life-boat, took the Sea Otter in tow,and took the eight rescued men onboard. As she was not needed the life-boat returned to her station, arriving


at 2.25 the next morning. Head-quarters No. 18 Group, R.A.F., senttheir thanks to the life-boat station.—Rewards, £22. (See Page 199.)

Bridlington, Yorkshire. — July 23rd.—Rewards, £14 12s.

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. — July24th.—Rewards, £7 18s. 6d.

St. David's, Pembrokeshire. — July26th.—Rewards, £6 14s.

Newhaven, Sussex. — July 28th.—Rewards, £7 12s. 6d.

Stromness, Orkneys. — July 29th.—Rewards, £18 2s.

AUGUST

During August life-boats went outon service 89 times and rescued 59lives.

NEARLY ON THE ROCKSNewhaven, Sussex.—At 9 o'clock in

the evening of the 1st of August, 1948,the coastguard reported a motor vesselbroken down off Saltdean, and themotor life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpottwas launched at 9.5 in calm weather.She found the Sunbeam, of Newhaven,with seven persons on board, nearlyon the rocks. The life-boat towed herinto harbour and reached her stationagain at 10.25.—Rewards, £7 16s.

STOVE IN ON A BUOY

New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 12.53 inthe afternoon of the 2nd of August,1948, the Mersey Docks and HarbourBoard reported that a fishing boat hadcapsized and the crew were clinging toC.ll Black Buoy. A moderate north-westerly breeze was blowing, with amoderate sea. The No. 2 Motor life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson waslaunched at 1.10, and found four menon the buoy with their fishing boat, theRanger, of Liverpool, awash alongside.She had struck the buoy and had stovein three planks. The life-boat rescuedthe men, landed them at the stage andarrived back at her station at 1.55.The Ranger sank later.—Rewards,£5 15s.

POUNDING ON THE BEACHTeesmouth, Yorkshire.—At 4.30 in

the morning of the 7th of August, 1948,the South Gare coastguard telephonedthat a red flare could be seen to thenorth-west of North Gare breakwaterand at 5.15 the motor life-boat J. W.Archer was launched. She made asearch in a light south-easterly breeze,with a slight sea, and found the motorfishing vessel Belvoir Castle, of Grimsby,with a crew of four, stranded half amile north-west of the breakwater.She was pounding on the beach and washalf full or water. The life-boat ranout an anchor from her to prevent herbeing carried further ashore, took offthe crew, and landed them atHartlepool.She reached her station again at 7.30.—Rewards, £7 19s.

RESCUERS RESCUEDDover, Kent.—At 11.10 in the morn-

ing of the 7th of August, 1948, thedockyard police reported that a smallboat had capsized in the bay, and tenminutes later the motor life-boat J. B.Proudfoot was launched. The sea wasrough and a strong south-weste'rlybreeze was blowing. In the meantimea rowing boat had been launched fromthe beach, rescued the two men of thecapsized boat, 'and landed them on ajetty. The two rescuers in the rowingboat then got into difficulties and werein danger of being driven on to the sea-wall. The life-boat passed a line tothem, and two life-boatmen jumped intotheir boat and helped them into thelife-boat. With the men on boardand the boat in tow. the life-boat cameinto the inner harbour at half pasttwelve.—Rewards £5 17s.

BATHER RESCUEDCromer, Norfolk.—About 3 o'clock

in the afternoon of the 7th of August,1948, a bather could be seen in a rubbeJdinghy three-quarters of a mile north-east of the pier. He appeared to bedrifting seawards on the ebbing tide.As no other boat was available the NO.1 motor life-boat, Henry Blogg, waslaunched at 3.40. A fresh south-westerly breeze blowing, with a slightswell. The life-boat came up withthe bather one mile north east byeast of the pier, took him and his


dinghy on board, and returned toher station, arriving at 4.30.-—Re-wards, £8 9s.

WOMAN FALLEN OVER CLIFF

Fowey, Cornwall.—About 4.15 in theafternoon of the 7th of August, 1948,news was received that a woman hadfallen over the cliffs near GribbenHead, and the motor life-boat C.D.E.C.,with a small boat in tow, was launchedat 4.35. A strong south-south-eastwind was blowing, with a rough seaand rain. The life-boat found thata doctor and Sea Scouts from a nearbycamp had already gone to the woman'shelp. She was put in the small boat,but she was too badly hurt to be trans-ferred to the life-boat. With the boatin tow and the doctor and severalfriends of the injured woman on board,the life-boat made for Fowey whichshe reached at a quarter past six.There, an ambulance which the life-boat had asked for by wireless, waswaiting to take the woman to hospital.—Rewards, £5 5s.

CUT OFF BY THE TIDE

Fowey, Cornwall.—While the motorlife-boat C.D.E.C. was out to the helpof the woman who had fallen fromGribben Head on the 7th of August,a wireless message was received at herstation from the Polruan coastguard at5.50 that some boys had been cut offby the rising tide at Lantic Bay, twomiles to the east of Fowey. AJs soonas she had landed the woman the life-boat set out for Lantic Bay, picked upa scoutmaster and two boys, andbrought them to harbour. She reachedher station again at half past seven.The boys belonged to a troop fromKensington, London. The troop senta gift to the Institution and thankedthe crew.—Rewards, £5 5*.

SWEDISH TRAINING SHIPS IN PERIL

Torbay, Devon.—On the evening ofthe 7th of August, 1948, a sudden galegot up from the south-east, and anxietywas felt for the crews of the twoSwedish training ships Falken andGladan,. anchored off Paignjon for theyacht racing in Torbay in the games ofthe XIV Olympiad. They were on anexposed dead lee shore in shallow water.

The motor life-boat George Shee waslaunched at 9.45 in rough seas withheavy rain. Before she reached thetraining ships the life-boat saw signalsfrom the outer harbour and found themotor yacht Jinty on fire, following anexplosion in the pantry. It had doneconsiderable damage, but fortunatelythe crew of nine were all on deck at thetime. The life-boat stood by whilethey were all taken off by other boatsand then went to the Swedish shipsto see if there was need for her to standby or to guide them to a safer anchorage.She found that the officer commandingwas ashore, so she went to Torquayand there embarked him, another officerand nine cadets. With them shereturned to the Falken. 'The officersgot aboard despite the heavy seas, butit was too rough for the cadets toattempt it, so the life-boat broughtthem back to Brixham, where theywere accommodated on H.M.S. Bar-bastel for the night. Meanwhile thelife-boat kept watch on the Swedishships until the storm abated just aftermidnight.—Rewards, £7 16s.

YACHT LOST WITH FIVE LIVES

St. Peter Port, Guernsey. — In theevening of the 7th of August, 1948, aDutch yacht, the Duenna, an auxiliaryketch, with twin screws, of 140 tons,was anchored outside the harbour.She had six on board, including herowner-master, a Dutch woman. Shewas on her way to South Africa. Astrong gale was blowing from the south-east, with heavy breaking seas, and at8.50 the signal station reported to thelife-boat station that the yacht's anchorwas dragging, but shortly afterwards shewas seen to get under way and go north-wards. Only one of her engines, how-ever, was working, and her mizzen blewaway. She was unmanageable, struckthe Roustel Rock heavily, and washoled. She fired rockets, and at 9.45the motor life-boat Queen Victoria wascalled out. The life-boat lies afloat, andthe boarding boat in which her crewwent out to her was swamped. It was.not until 10.45 that she got away. Shepassed the Roustel Rock steering north.The yacht had now passed the PlatteFougere Light, and when she was alittle more than a mile north-east of it


she fired her last three rockets. Waterhad got into the engine-room and thesecond engine had stopped. The yachtthen drifted westwards with the tide.

The life-boat also passed the PlatteFougere Light, and shortly after theyacht's second engine failed and shestarted to drift to the west, the life-boat must have passed close to her.But there were heavy rain squalls andthe spume was being whipped off theseas. She did not see the yacht, butcontinued northwards for a while.Then she turned southwards againuntil, a quarter of an hour after mid-night, she was once more off the PlatteFougere Light. There the coxswainremained, intending to wait for day-light. At that time the yacht wasrather less than two miles north-westof the light,, and about the same dis-tance north of Lancresse Bay, wherethe Trinity House vessel Patricia wasat anchor. The Patricia had had theyacht under observation by radar, andshe could now see her lights. At eleveno'clock and again at 12.15 she gaveradar bearings on the yacht to thelife-boat by radio telephone, butthe coxswain does not seem to haveaccepted the reliability of the informa-tion sent him. At 12.30 the owner ofthe yacht decided to abandon her, anda dinghy was launched with the sixpeople on board. It made for the lightsof the Patricia, but it capsized andbroke up at the Braye Rocks. Five onboard were drowned. One man cling-ing to a life-buoy, was carried throughthe rocks.

At two in the morning the honorarysecretary of the station sent a messageto the coxswain that he could rely onsuggestions made by the Patricia andat 2.15 the life-boat left Platte FougereLight. Under directions from the Pat-ricia, she steered north until she wasclear of the Braye Rocks and thenturned westwards. Once more shepassed the Duenna (whose crew werenow drowned though no one knewit) and then turned southwards andwent round Guernsey. At 6.40 nextmorning she was oft St. Martin's Point,two miles south of St. Peter Port, andthe honorary secretary instructed herto return to Platte Fougere Light andcontinue the search there. This shedid and picked up the one survivor

at 7.30. At nine o'clock she askedpermission to return to her station, asthe survivor appeared to be badlyinjured, and arrived at 9.40. She wasrefuelled, and at 1.45 in the afternoonshe went out again with a fresh crew.The weather had now cleared, butneither the life-boat nor an aeroplanecould see any wreckage. The yachthad been seen by the mail boat at 6.15and shortly .afterwards she had sunk.She was then once more about a milenorth-east of the Platte Fougere Light,for after the message from the Patriciato the life-boat to steer north and thenwest, the yacht had drifted eastwardsagain, and when she sank she was closeby where her second engine had failedseven hours before. The life-boat re-turned to her station for the secondtime at 5.15 that evening.—Rewards,First Service, £23 17s.; Second Service,£10 16s.

YACHT TOWED INSt. Peter Port, Guernsey.—At 10.35

in the morning of the 8th of August,1948, the Trinity House vessel Patricia,which had been sheltering in LancresseBay, asked for the help of the life-boatin towing the auxiliary yacht Dunlin, ofPoole, into harbour. A strongsoutherly breeze was blowing, with arough sea. The motor life-boat QueenVictoria was launched at 10.40 andfound the Dunlin and Patricia off theNorth Reefs. The yacht's crew offive were on the Patricia but one manre-boarded her and two life-boatmenalso went on board. The life-boatthen took the yacht in tow and arrivedback at her station at 12.50 that after-noon.—Rewards, £8 19s. 6d.

FIVE RESCUED FROM YACHTWeymouth, D o r s e t . — About 7.55

in the morning of the 8th of August,1948, the Wyke Regis coastguard tele-phoned a message received from theBritish steamer Megara that she wasstanding by the yacht Paviroma, ofSouthampton, fourteen miles south-south-east of Portland Bill. The motorlife-boat Hearts of Oak, on temporaryduty at the station, was launched at8.15. A strong south-westerly breezewas blowing, with a heavy sea. Thelife-boat found the yacht sixteen milessouth of Portland, with five persons


and a dog on board. She was boundfor Dartmouth from Guernsey, but herengine had broken down and her sailshad carried away. The life-boat tookher in tow and made for Swanage,arriving at 4.15 in the afternoon. Sherefuelled and left for her station,arriving at 10.30 that night.—PropertySalvage Case.

SILVER MEDAL FOR GALLANTRYShoreham Harbour, Sussex.—In the

morning of the 8th of August, 1948,the life-boat Rosa Woodd and PhyllisLunn rescued six lives from the yachtGull, off Newhaven.-—-Rewards, silversecond-service clasp to the coxswain,vellums to each of the crew, and£15 13*. 6d. For a full account ofthis service see page 193.

ENGINE FAILED; SAIL BLOWN AWAYSt. Helier, Jersey.—At 4.30 in the

afternoon of the 8th of August, 1948,a message was received from the har-bour office that a sailing boat appearedto be in difficulties six miles off Gorey,and at 5.15 the motor life-boat HowardD. put out. A fresh westerly breezewas blowing with a moderate sea.The life-boat found the auxiliary yachtCalva, of Littlehampton, one and a halfmiles south-west of Grande Anquettebeach, with a crew of three. Herengine had broken down, her fore-sailhad carried away, she had shipped alot of water, and her crew had used uptheir distress signals the previous night.The life-boat towed her to St. Helieragainst a strong tide, moored her inthe harbour and reached her stationagain at 10.15. ^A gift to the funds ofthe Institution was made by theowner's wife and the owner made giftsto each member of the crew.—Rewards,£10 ITs.

A LONG SEARCHClacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At one o'clock

in the morning of the 9th of August,1948, the coastguard telephoned that aboat appeared to be in difficultiesbetween West Mersea and Bradwell,and at half past one the motor life-boatEdward Z. Dresden was launched. Afresh south-westerly breeze was .blow-ing, with a rough sea. She searchedfor several hours and found a dinghybottom upwards, brought it in andarrived back at her station at eleven

o'clock.. It was then learned that itwas another boat that had been reportedin distress, the auxiliary yacht Sea Air.She had signalled that she neededsomeone to pilot her into West Merseaand the police had gone out to her in amotor boat.—Rewards, £23 2s.

YACHT IN THE BREAKERSThe Humber, Yorkshire.—Just after

seven o'clock in the evening of the 9thof August, 1948, the Withernsea coast-guard reported a small motor yacht indifficulties two miles south of Withern-sea, and the motor life-boat City ofBradford II was launched at 7.15 in alight north-westerly wind with a slightsea. She found the yacht ashore andwashing up in the breakers. She wasthe Phillip Rex, of Hull, and her crewof two had already managed to getashore. The life-boat fired a line tothem, and they fastened a rope to theyacht, by means of which the life-boat hauled her off and anchored her.She then returned to her station,arriving half an hour after midnight.—Permanent Paid Crew.

BUSY DAY AND NIGHT FOR MARGATEMargate, Kent.—At 8.6 in the morning

of the 12th of August, 1948, informationwas received from S.S. Holdernene,through North Foreland Radio and thecoastguard, that a motor launch wasin need of help near the Elbow Buoy.She was the motor yacht Olga, ofAntwerp. The Holdernene was stand-ing by her in a strong northerly windwith a very rough sea. At 8.14 themotor life-boat Lord Southborough, CivilService No. 1, was launched. She foundthat the steamer had taken the Olgain tow, but it was too dangerous forthe yacht and the life-boat took overthe tow, first putting a life-boatmanaboard to help man the pumps and keepher afloat. She then made for Rams-gate Harbour, arriving at 10.50. Shehelped free the yacht of water bypumping and baling and then left forher station. On her way she sawsignals at 2.30 from a boat one and ahalf miles off North Foreland. Shewas the Broadstairs motor boat HappyDays with a rope round her propeller.She had five people on board. At therequest of her skipper the life-boat


towed her to Broadstairs, which shereached at 3.10. She arrived inMargate Harbour at four o'clock.The weather was too rough to put herin the house, so she remained afloatthroughout the night, with her crewin readiness for further service. Theweather moderated next morning andshe was rehoused at 11.30.—PropertySalvage Case.—Rewards, £39 2s.

HELPING HOME THE FISHING FLEETNewbiggin, Northumberland.—At 7.30

in the morning of the 12th of August,1948, the life-boat coxswain returnedfrom sea and reported that wind andsea were rising. He kept watch. At8.20 the coastguard rang up to say thattwo cobles were still at sea andothers coming into the bay, and tenminutes later the motor life-boatAugustus and Laura was launched.A fresh northerly breeze was blowing,with a heavy swell and heavy rain,which made visibility very bad. Thelife-boat searched, and two miles northof Church Point she found the cobleAdventure and escorted her into thebay. There, with the other cobleswhich had returned earlier, they had towait, owing to the heavy sea on thebeach, until the tide had fallen. Thelife-boat stood by until all the cobleswere safely beached and returned toher station at half past eleven thatmorning.—Rewards, £24 4*.

SHARK FISHERS RESCUEDIslay, Inner Hebrides, and Campbeltown,

Argyllshire.—At 5.30 in the morning ofthe 13th of August, 1948, the Kil-choman coastguard telephoned that avessel about three miles north-north-west of Coul Point had made flares, andat 6.15 the Islay motor life-boat Char-lotte Elizabeth was launched in a slightnorth-westerly breeze, with a moderatesea. She found three men in a dinghyfrom the steam drifter Boy Pat, ofGreenock, which had sunk while boundfor Barra from Greenock, shark fishing.The men said that the ketch Nellie,of Tarbert, with a crew of two, whichhad been in company with the BoyPat, was missing. The life-boat re-turned to her station, landed the rescuedmen and at 11.46 sent the news of themissing Nellie to the life-boat stationat Campbeltown. At noon the Camp-

beltown motor life-boat City of Glasgowwas launched, and at two o'clock theIslay life-boat, after refuelling, put outagain, but the Nellie reached PortCharlotte without help, and the life-boats were recalled by wireless. TheCharlotte Elizabeth reached her stationat 8.15 that evening and the City ofGlasgow at 10.10.—Rewards: Islay,£27 5s. lid.; Campbeltown £16 18s. 6d.

SOLITARY YACHTSMAN RESCUEDClovelly, Devon. — At 9.14 in the

morning of the 13th of August, 1948,the Lundy and Hartland coastguardsreported a yacht to the south-east ofLundy Island which appeared to be indifficulties, and the motor life-boatCity of Nottingham was launched athalf past nine. A strong north-north-east breeze was blowing and the seawas rough. Two miles south-east ofLundy the life-boat found the motoryacht Easting, of Plymouth, with onlyher owner on board. She was withoutsails, her engine and steering gear hadbroken down, and she was makingwater. The life-boat towed her toAppledore, returning to her station at10.10 that night.—Property SalvageCase.

NINE RESCUED FROM A TRAWLERRosslare Harbour, Co. Wezford.—At

11.10 on the night of the 14th .ofAugust, 1948, the Lowestoft steamtrawler Lord Anson reported that thesteam trawler Mint, also of Lowestoft,was calling for help on her radio, andthe motor life-boat Duke ofConnaught,on temporary duty at the station,was launched at 11.20. A moderatesoutherly gale was blowing, with aheavy ground swell. The life-boatcould see flares on Dogger Bank,Wexford Bar, and there she found thetrawler with a heavy list to starboardand seas breaking over her. At theskipper's request the life-boat stood byclear of the breakers. At 3.55 nextmorning the trawler whistled for thelife-boat. The skipper had decidedto abandon ship. At the third attemptto go alongside, the life-boat rescuedthe crew of nine and took them toRosslare Harbour, arriving at 5.30.

On the afternoon of the followingday, the 16th, at two o'clock, the life-boat went again to the Mint, with two

THE LIFE-BOAT [OCTOBER, 1948

trawlers, to help them to refloat her.The trawlers could not get near her,so the life-boat approached and tooksoundings, but it was found impossibleto fix a towing wire and all threereturned to harbour at 3.40.

The life-boat went out again at 4.45in the afternoon of the 17th of August,with a small boat in tow and a salvageparty aboard. Sand prevented thelife-boat from going alongside the Mint,but the salvage people took soundingsand were able to board the wreck fromthe small boat. With the trawler'sboat in tow the life-boat returned toher station again at 9.30 that night.—Rewards: First Service, £7 145; partlypaid permanent crew. Second andThird Services, Property Salvage Cases.

NORWEGIAN STEAMER ON THE SANDS

Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 1.25in the morning of the 15th of August,1948, the coastguard telephoned thatthe pilot cutter Penlee had reportedthat she had picked up the crew of four-teen of the S.S. Rojo, of Oslo, which hadcollided with another ship near theSunk Lightvessel. The sea was roughand a fresh wind was blowing from thesouth-west. The motor life-boatE.M.E.D. was launched at five minutespast two and went to the Penlee. Shetook aboard half the crew of the Rojoand then made for the Rojo herself. TheRojo was on Shipwash Sands, slightlywaterlogged, and she had a heavy listto starboard, but she was not so badlydamaged as her master had thoughtwhen he abandoned her. The life-boatput half the crew on board her andstood by while the men raised steam.She then brought the remainder of thecrew from the pilot cutter and at themaster's request escorted the Rojo intoHarwich, where she was beached. TheE.M.E.D. returned to her station athalf past one that afternoon.—Rewards,£29 5s.

FRENCH YACHT IN DANGER ON THEGOODWINS

Ramsgate, Kent.—About 10.33 inthe morning of the 15th of August,1948, the coastguard reported that ayacht, which had been heading for theGoodwin Sands, had ignored a warningfired by the East Goodwin Lightship

and was now lost to sight. The motorlife-boat Mary Scott, on temporaryduty at the station, was launched at10.38 in a moderate south-westerlybreeze with a slight sea. She found theauxiliary yacht Maybe, of Calais, witha crew of three, off North GoodwinBanks. She was in a dangerous posi-tion so the life-boat towed her to theharbour and arrived back at her stationat 12.5 that afternoon.—Rewards,£6 13s.

YACHT SAVED JUST IN TIMECourtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork.—

At 12.20 in the afternoon of the 15thof August, 1948, information wasreceived that a yacht was in distressand dragging her anchor towards therocks at the harbour entrance, and themotor life-boat Sarah Ward and WilliamDavid Croswelkr was launched, in alight north-westerly breeze with amoderate sea. She found the sailingyacht Quireda, of Queenstown, with acrew of two. The yacht was then onlyfifty yards from the shore. The life-boat passed a rope to her, towed herto a safe anchorage, and got back toher station again at two o'clock.—Rewards, £5 13s.

EMPTY YACHT TOWED INHowth, Co. Dublin—At 12.45 in the

afternoon of the 15th of August, 1948,a yacht reported that a small boat wasdrifting off Ireland's Eye, and at 1.4the motor life-boat R.P.L. was launchedin a fresh westerly breeze with a moder-ate sea. She found the sailing boatFiddlesticks, of Skerries, three milesnorth-east of Ireland's Eye. She hadno one on board and the life-boattowed her to the harbour, arriving backat her station at 2.15.—Rewards, £6 Is.

BOY ADRIFT IN A DINGHYSeaham,"? Durham.—At 4.27 in the

afternoon of the 15th of August, 1948,the coastguard reported a boy driftingseawards in a rubber dinghy offHoiden, and the motor life-boatElizabeth Witts Allen was launched at4.55 in a light south-westerly breezewith a slight sea. She came up withthe motor yacht Gularis one mile tothe south-south-east and found thatshe had picked up the boy and his


dinghy, and another boy who hadswum out to his help. The life-boattook the boys and their dinghy onboard and returned to her station,arriving at 5.23 that evening.—Re-wards, £5 7s.

THREE FISHING BOATS TOWED INWalton and Frinton, Essex. — About

a quarter to five in the afternoon of the17th of August, 1948, the coastguardtelephoned that an aeroplane hadreported five people marooned on asandbank between Naze Point andStone Banks Buoy. The motor life-boat E.M.E.D. waited until the posi-tion was confirmed and launched atnaif past five. A freshening south-south-westerly breeze was blowing, witha moderate sea. The life-boat searchedthe sandbanks, but found no one.It was then about 6.20. Her cox-swain, who had been at sea fishingwhen she was launched, now came upin his own boat and took charge. Hehad seen three fishing boats at WestRocks in trouble in the increasing windand rising sea. The life-boat wentto their help, towed them in, and re-turned to her station at half past eightthat evening.—Rewards, £14 3s.

TWO MEN RESCUED FROM STOLENBOAT

Dover, Kent.—-At 9.35 in the morningof the 21st of August, 1948, the Sand-gate coastguard reported informationfrom the s.s. Baron Elibank that twomen had been seen in a rowing boateight miles east by south of Dover, andthe motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot waslaunched at 10.30. A strong southerlybreeze was blowing, with a very roughsea and rain squalls. The life-boatrescued the men, who were exhausted,ten miles south by east of Dover, andmade for home, towing their boat.When she was one mile north-east ofthe harbour she met the yacht SalamatJalan, with three men and a womanaboard. They were unable to makeharbour in the heavy seas. The life-boat took the yacht in tow and arrivedat Dover at 2.10 that afternoon.There she found that the two men inthe rowing boat had -stolen her, andhanded them over to the police.—Rewards, £9 14s.

DINGHIES CAPSIZE IN REGATTATorbay, Devon. — On the 21st of

August, 1948, the Brixham TorbayRoyal Regatta races were being held.A strong south-south-west wind wasblowing, with a moderate sea, andabout half past eleven in the morningtwo redwing-class dinghies capsized.The motor life-boat George Shee waslaunched at 11.45. She found thedinghies Kingfisher and Aeblus, butno men, towed them to Brixham,arriving at 1.30, and there learnedthat the crews had been rescued byother dinghies.—Rewards, £4 lls.

FISHING BOAT DISABLED IN VERYROUGH SEA

Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. — Onthe 21st of August, 1948, the motorfishing boat June Rose, of Castlebay,put to sea at 5.30 in the morning.She had not returned by half past twoin the afternoon and was overdue.A strong easterly gale was blowing,with a rough sea, and at 3.10 the motorlife-boat Manchester and Salford, ontemporary duty at the station, waslaunched. She found the missing boatlying off Friday Island with her enginebroken down and her sails torn, rescuedher crew of three, took the boat intow, and arrived back at her stationat nine o'clock that night.—Rewards,£11 12s.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN TAKEN OFFFRENCH YACHT

Ramsgate, Kent.— At 7.55 in themorning of the 22nd of August, 1948,a message was received from NorthDeal that a schooner yacht, the Nice-phore, of France, with eight men,women and children on board, wasaground on the Brake Sands. Shehad listed heavily with the ebbing tide.At 8.20 the motor life-boat Mary Scott,on temporary duty at the station, waslaunched, in a light south-westerlybreeze, with a moderate sea. Shepassed a tow rope to the yacht andgradually pulled her into deep water.When they were near the Deal BankBuoy the rope was cast off and theNicephore made for Dover under sail.TherJife-boat returned to her station,arriving at 10.42 that morning.—Pro-perty Salvage Case. Rewards, 13s. 6d.


STEAMER WITH LIST IN A HEAVY SEA

Islay, Inner Hebrides. — During theearly afternoon of the 22nd of August,1948, the Kilchoman coastguard re-ported a vessel in difficulties three mileswest-north-west of Smaull Point, andat 1.15 the motor life-boat CharlotteElizabeth, was launched. A south-westgale was blowing, with a very roughsea. The life-boat found the S.S.Erica, of Bergen, about a mile west-north-west of Rhu Head Lighthouse.She had a list to port and was going•dead slow. The life-boat escorted heras far as MacArthur's Head Light-house. There her master said thateverything was satisfactory so the life-boat returned to her station, arrivingat a quarter past seven that evening.—Rewards, £10 6s.

TWO BOATS' CREWS LANDEDLowestoft, Suffolk.—At 3.41 in the

afternoon of the 22nd of August, 1948,the coastguard telephoned that abroken down motor boat and a rowingboat were drifting northwards, on theebbing tide, in a moderate south-westerlybreeze and a moderate sea. The motor-boat tried to anchor, but the cable fouledher mast, and the coastguard saw themast go overboard and drag a manwith it. The other men hauled himaboard again and made distress signals.The motor life-boat Michael Stephenswas launched at 3.55, took off sixof the motor boat's crew of seven andtook the motor boat in tow. She thenmade for the rowing boat, took off hercrew of two, took the boat in tow, andreturned to Lowestoft, arriving backat her station at 4.45.—Rewards, £7 9s.

YACHT ASHORE IN A ROUGH SEA

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—Shortlybefore five o'clock in the afternoon ofthe 22nd of August, 1948, the coast-guard telephoned that a yacht was offHove, with a strong on-shore breezeblowing from the south-west, and arough sea. The second coxswain of thelife-boat put out in his own boat toinvestigate, found nothing, and re-turned. Then, at 5.30, the coastguardreported that the yacht was in danger,and the motor life-boat Rosa Wooddand, Phyllis Limn was launched at

once. She found the Lady Olive, ofNewhaven, on the beach. The life-boat anchored and dropped in towardsher, grounding several times in theshallow water. She got as near as shecould and fired her line-throwing gun.Several lines were fired, but the menwere unable to get hold of them, andone of them fell into the sea in theattempt. He climbed aboard again, andeventually the men succeeded in gettinghold of a line and drawing on board arope from the life-boat. The life-boatthen weighed anchor and towed the.Lady Olive to Shoreham Harbour,arriving back at her station at 7.30that evening.—Rewards, £12 Ss.

LITTLE GIRL CUT OFF BY TIDE

Coverack, Cornwall.—At 5.25 in theevening of the 22nd of August, 1948,the coastguard telephoned that thepolice had reported a little girl cut offby the tide in Coverack Bay. A smallboat went out but failed to find her.A further message was received fromthe police at 6.5 that the girl was stillin danger, and at 6.18 the motor life-boat The Three Sisters was launched.A fresh westerly breeze was blowingwith a ground swell. The life-boat foundthe girl, aged ten, at White Sands.By skilful manoeuvring she was ableto rescue her, and got back to herstation again at a quarter past seven.The father made a gift to the funds ofthe Institution.—Rewards, £7 4s. 6d.

LONDON VESSEL ON THE GOODWINS

Ramsgate, Kent.—At 10.10 on thenight of the 22nd of August, 1948, theshore attendant at East Pier reportedflares from a vessel near No. 3 BrakeBuoy, and the coastguard reported avessel aground north of South GoodwinLightvessel, which it was thought mustbe the same vessel. The motor life-boat Mary Scott, on temporary duty atthe station, was launched at 10.20 in alight west-south-westerly breeze witha slight sea. She found the motorvessel Westover, of London, with a crewof five. Her propeller was damagedand she was aground about half a milenorth-east of No. 2 Brake Buoy. Ather master's request the life-boat towedher off and took her into Ramsgate.She arrived back at her station at


midnight. — Property Salvage Case.Rewards, 13s.

MOTOR LAUNCH LOSES HER WAYWalton and Frinton, Essex.—At 9.20

in the evening of the 23rd of August,1948, the coastguard telephoned that amotor launch, heading south, had firedred Very lights and was flying the pilotflag. At 9.48 it was reported that shewas firing red rockets off Felixstowe andhad altered her course northwards.She was going round in a circle. Attimes she was close to Felixstowe beach,and she only just missed runningaground. A moderate breeze was blow-ing from the south-west and the seawas moderate. The motor life-boatE.M.E.D. was launched at 10.20. Shecame up with the launch one and a halfmiles east of Felixstowe. She was stilltravelling in circles. The coxswaingave chase and it was not until hecalled to her through the loud hailerthat she stopped. She was the Asangyo,of Newcastle, with a crew of four onboard, and they had completely losttheir way. He put two of his own menon board and escorted the launch toHarwich where he saw her safelyanchored. The rescued men were verygrateful. The life-boat then returnedto her station, arriving at 3.30 nextmorning. ^The owner of the launchsent a donation to the funds of theInstitution.—Rewards, £16 13*.

LIFE-BOAT OUT FOR SEVEN DAYS ANDSIX NIGHTS

Cramer, Norfolk.—At 8.32 in themorning of the 25th of August, 1948,the coastguard telephoned that thes.s. Monte Nuria, of Bilbao, boundfrom Immingham to Buenos Aireswith a cargo of coal, was aground atSheringham. She had struck a sub-merged wreck twenty miles away.Her captain made for Sheringham andthere had run her on the beach. Asqually west-south-west wind was blow-ing, with a moderate sea running.The crews of both the life-boats wereat sea fishing, and at 8.40 the No. 1life-boat, Henry Blogg, was launchedwith a scratch crew and ex-CoxswainJ. J. Davis in command. She reachedthe steamer at 9.20 and found her withher bows holed and her fore-hold full

of water, but her captain refusedhelp.

The coxswain of the No. 2 life-boat,out in his fishing boat, had seen thelife-boat leave, followed her, wentaboard at ten o'clock and took com-mand. He realised that if the unsettledweather got worse the steamer would bein great danger and the captain of thesteamer 'agreed that he should standby. At 11 o'clock the coxswain of theNo. 1 life-boat returned to Cromer fromfishing and immediately asked thelife-boat by radio-telephone if sheneeded more men. The coxswain ofthe No. 2 life-boat asked for four orfive. He asked also that the coxswainof the No. 1 life-boat should come.The latter ordered two taxis, and withfive men, gear, food and drink, went byroad to Sheringham, and was taken outto the life-boat by a fishing boat.He went on board her at two in theafternoon. An hour later the scratchcrew went ashore in the fishing boat.

The life-boat stood by all that day andnight. The wind freshened, and nextday the life-boat put back to Cromer, asa message had come by radio-telephonethat a telegram for the steamer'scaptain had arrived. The weather wastoo rough for a small fishing boat tocome out with it, and as it was verylong and in Spanish it could not besent by the radio-telephone. Whenthe coxswain passed the telegramaboard the steamer he asked if thecaptain would like him to continue tostand by and the captain said that hewould, as the weather looked anythingbut good. That was on the 26th. Onthe 27th the life-boat returned againto Cromer and brought out Lloyd'sagent, Lloyd's surveyor and the marinesuperintendent. There was a gooddeal of swell now, and the life-boat'sstem was damaged against the steamer.On the 28th she took soundings for thecaptain, brought Lloyd's agent ashore,refuelled and recharged her radio-telephone batteries and took the agentback to the steamer. It was then9.30 in the evening, and she was askedif she would go ashore again for thecustoms officer. The crew were de-manding tobacco and wine, and as thesteamer was in British territorial watersthe stocks could not be opened withoutthe customs officer's sanction.


At eleven that night he was readyon the pier. The life-boat put himon the steamer at 11.40, brought himashore again and returned to thesteamer. The weather was now fine,but the captain asked the life-boat tocontinue to stand by. The next day,Sunday, the fifth day of the service, wasagain fine. The life-boat took Lloyd'sagent ashore in the evening, rechargedthe radio-telephone batteries and oncemore returned to the steamer. On theMonday a salvage vessel arrived, and adiver went down, and found and pluggedthe holes. The water was then pumpedout of the hold, and in the afternoontugs tried to tow the steamer off. Theyfailed and had to wait until high tidenext afternoon, the 31st of August.At 4.20 they started to tow and fiveminutes later the steamer was afloat.The life-boat stood by until she gotunder way, shortly after eight o'clockin the evening, and reached her stationagain at 9.10. She had then been atsea for seven days and six nights.—Property Salvage Case.

TWO YACHTS IN A ROUGH SEA

Dungeness, Kent.—At 12.27 in theafternoon of the 25th of August, 1948,the Jury Gap coastguard telephonedthat a yacht was making very heavyweather about one and a half milessouth-south-east of the Gap, and themotor life-boat Charles Cooper Hen-derson was launched at 12.35. A freshsouth-westerly gale was blowing witha rough sea. The life-boat found thatthe yacht was the Kestrel, of Rye, witha crew of three. She was then only aquarter of a mile off the shore. Thelife-boat towed her to Ness Roadsteadand anchored her. A message thencame that another yacht, the AnemoneIII, of Bosham, was in need of help onemile south-west of the life-boat. Thelife-boat escorted her to the roadstead,returned to the Kestrel and took off thecrew, and arrived back at her stationat 3.20. While she was being re-housed the Lade coastguard telephonedthat the Anemone III, which hadanchored half a mile south-east of thatcoastguard station, was firing distresssignals. The life-boat was launchedagain at 3.45, found the yacht makingwater, rescued her crew of four, and

arrived back at her station at 4.20—Rewards: First Service, £26 2*.; SecondService, £20 Is.

YACHT WITHOUT ENGINE OR SAIL

PwIIheli, Caernarvonshire.—On theafternoon of the 25th of August, 1948,a south-west gale was blowing, with arough sea, and at 4.10 the Abersochcoastguard asked the life-boat to searchfor a sailing boat which had been seenoff Mochras Point at half past one, andnot seen again. At 4.35 the motorlife-boat Manchester andSalford XXIXwas launched. Before she got awaynews came that the boat had been seenin a dangerous position off PortmadocBar. There the life-boat found her.She was anchored close to the bar, butthe anchor was dragging. She wasthe yacht Phaedra, of Barmouth, andhad two men on board. Her mainsailhad carried away; her engine hadbroken down. The life-boat sprayedoil on the seas and then went alongsideand rescued the two men. She gotback to her station at 7.45 that evening.The yacht later drove ashore. Herowner made a gift to the funds of theInstitution.—Rewards, £9 4s.

FISHING BOAT BROKEN DOWN

WhitehiUs, Banffshire.—At 10.23 onthe night of the 25th of August, 1948,the Banff coastguard telephoned thatthe local motor fishing boat Violet,with a crew of two, was overdue, andfishermen reported flashes a quarterof a mile to the westward. At 10.58the motor life-boat William Maynardwas launched in a west-north-westbreeze with a slight sea. She foundthe Violet under oars. Her engine hadbroken down. The life-boat escortedher to the harbour and reachedher station again at 11.20.—Rewards,£6 9s.

THREE FISHING BOATS ESCORTEDHOME

Runs wick, Yorkshire.—At 6.30 inthe morning of the 27th of August,1948, the Staithes fishing boats Minnie,Silver Line and Star of Hope went tothe fishing grounds. The wind waslight, from the north-west, but thesea was rough and increasing, and by8.45 it was too rough for the boats to


land at Staithes, so the Runswickmotor life-boat Robert Patton—TheAlways Ready was launched at 9.5.She found the boats north of Staithesat 9.30 and escorted them to RunswickBay where a safe landing was made.—Rewards, £13 145. 6d.

CUT OFF BY THE TIDEClovelly, Devon.—At 9.40 on the

night of the 30th of August, 1948, theCroyde coastguard rang up to say thattwo men had been cut off by the tideand were on a ledge near Seal Rock,Baggy Point. He said he would guidethe life-boat to the spot by searchlight.Five minutes later the motor life-boatCity of Nottingham was launched, witha dinghy in tow. A light southerlywind was blowing. The sea was mod-erate, but close inshore among the rocksit was very confused. The tide wasrising. The coastguard had alreadygone to the men's help with the life-saving rocket apparatus, and had firedropes to them. These they had tiedround themselves, but there was noway of hauling them to safety, and theywaited for the life-boat. When shearrived the second coxswain and thethird mechanic volunteered to go in thedinghy to investigate. They cameback in eight minutes to say that itwould be very difficult to reach the men.The coxswain had then to considerwhether he should fire a line to them or,as a last resort, take the life-boatamong the rocks. In the darkness andthat confused sea she would certainlyhave been damaged. Then the bow-man and the second mechanic askedto be allowed to make a second attemptin the dinghy. At considerable risk—for at times the seas among the rockswere like a whirlpool—they got rightup to the ledge where the two menwere trapped and brought one of themout to the life-boat. They went inagain and rescued the second man.Shortly afterwards the rapidly risingtide covered the ledge where they hadbeen waiting for over two hours. Itwas now close on midnight. The tworescued men had nothing on but bathingshorts and the life-boatmen took offtheir own clothes to give them, and thenfed them with hot tea, rum and biscuits.The life-boat reached Clovelly again at1.45 next morning. The two rescued

men were Americans. One was theson of Mr. Negley Farson, the author,who sent a gift to the Institution, andthe other was a photographer on thestaff of the American Services' news-paper Stars and Stripes.—Rewards,£23 6s. 6d.

The following life-boats went out onservice but could find no ships in dis-tress, were not needed or could donothing:

Walmer, Kent. — August 3rd. — Re-wards, £23 2*.

Penlee, Cornwall. — August 4th. —Rewards, £12 10s. 6d.

Cadgwith, Cornwall.—August 4th.—Rewards, £17.

Stromness, Orkneys.—August 6th.—Rewards, £4 6*.

Cromarty.— August 7th. — Rewards,£5 14*.

Filey, Yorkshire.—August 7th.—Re-wards, £14 6s. 6d.

Dover, Kent.—August 7th.—Rewards,£5 10*.

Poole and Bournemouth, Dorset.—August 7th.—Rewards. £5 12*. 6d.

Newhaven, Sussex..—August 8th.—Rewards, £15 13*. 6d.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—August8th.—Rewards, £10 17*.

Margate, Kent.—August 9th.—Reward,£15 18*.

Newhaven, Sussex—August 9th.—Re-wards, £12 10*. 6d.

Torbay, Devon.—August llth.—Re-wards, £8 15*.

Beaumaris, Anglesey.—August llth.—Rewards, £13 17*.

Runswick, Yorkshire.—August 12th.—Rewards, £18 14*. 6d.

Margate, Kent.—August 13th.—Re-wards, £19 19*.

Filey, Yorkshire.—August 15th.—Re-wards, £16 2*.

Dungeness, Kent.—August 15th.—Re-wards, £19 ] 3*.

Hfracombe, Devon.—August 18th.—Rewards, £14 12*. 6d.


Falmouth, Cornwall.—August 18th.—Rewards, £5 13s.

Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.—August21st.—Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.—August21st.—Rewards, £11 17*.

Selsey, Sussex.—August 21st.—Re-wards, £14 9s. 6d.

Howth, Co. Dublin.—August 22nd.—Rewards, £6 16s.

Blackpool, Lancashire—August 22nd.—Rewards, £10 Is. 6d.

Torbay, Devon.—August 22nd.—Re-wards, £7 16s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—August 23rd.—Rewards, £7 Is. Qd.

Valentia, Co. Kerry.—August 23rd.—Rewards, £6.

Salcombe, Devon.—August 23rd.—Re-wards, £7 10s.

Beaumaris, Anglesey.—August 25th.—Rewards, £12 4s.

Hastings, Sussex.—August 25th.—Re-wards, £35 18s. 6d.

Rhyl, Flintshire.—-August 25th.—Re-wards, £18 12s.

Dover, Kent.—August 26th.—Rewards,£11 2s.

Dover, Kent.—August 26th.—Re-wards, £5 10s.

Wells, Norfolk.—August 26th.—Re-wards, £15 10s.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—August26th.—Rewards, £8 13s. 6d.

Walmer, Kent. — August 29th. — Re-wards, £13 17s.

St. Helier, Jersey.—August 29th.—Rewards, £8 10s.

Portpatrick, 'Wigtownshire.;— August30th.—Rewards, £15 16s.

Dungeness, Kent.—August 30th.—Re-wards, £21 10s.

Arklow, Co. Wicklow.—August 31st.—Rewards, £6 17s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—August 31st.—Rewards, £10 16s.

Obituary

Isle of Wight CoxswainCOXSWAIN WALTER O. COTTON, whodied on the 23rd of May, 1948, at theage of 71, served at four life-boatstations in the Isle of Wight. He beganhis life-boat service in 1898 as a mem-ber of the crew at Brighstone Grange,of which his father was then coxswain,and at the end of 1913 was appointedsecond-coxswain. In 1915 the stationwas closed and the following yearCotton became pilot of the steam life-boat at Totland Bay, and served in itfor two years. After that, until 1924,he was a member of the Brooke crew.In 1924 the Institution opened a newstation at Yarmouth and Cotton wasappointed its coxswain. He served ascoxswain for over twenty years, retiringin 1944. During those years the life-boat rescued 122 lives.

At the beginning of the war of 1939to 1945 he won the Institution's silvermedal for splendid endurance and navi-gation. This was on November 14th,

1939, when the life-boat rescued twelvelives from one of H.M. trawlers, ashoreoff Brighstone Lookout on a dark nightwith heavy rain and a gale blowing.

Mr. William Liggins, of CoventryMR. WILLIAM LIGGINS, of Coventry,who died on the 29th of June, at theage of 97, was for over a third of hisvery long life associated with theLife-boat Service. He was honorarysecretary of the Coventry branch from1915 until 1933, and also its chairmanfrom 1928 to 1934. In 1935 he becamea vice-president and held that officeuntil his death. Mr. Liggins receivedall the awards which the Institutioncan make to an honorary worker. Thelife-boat picture was presented to himin 1925 and the gold badge, with therecord of thanks, in 1929. In 1936 hewas appointed an honorary life-governorof the Institution, the highest honourwhich the Institution can bestow onan honorary worker.


Mrs. Appennea Green, of CLaphamMRS. APPENNEA GREEN, of Clapham,who died at the beginning of August,at the age of 82, was one of the mostenthusiastic and successful honorarysecretaries whom the Institution hasever had. She started the ClaphamBranch in 1931, with a collection of £5.

In 1942 the branch raised over £600.In that year she retired on account ofill-health. Mrs. Green, like Mr. Liggins,received all the awards which theInstitution can make: the life-boat-man's statuette in 1935, the gold badgeand record of thanks in 1936 and an

I honorary life-governorship in 1938.

From the Shiplovers' Society of New South WalesIN March Mr. N. V. Wade, the hono-rary treasurer of the Shiplovers'Society of New South Wales, wrote tothe Institution to say that there wereShiplovers' Societies not only in Londonand Bristol, but in Sydney, Melbourne,Adelaide and Hobart, Tasmania. TheSociety in Sydney had been founded in1931 by his father, Captain W. J.Wade, M.B.E., a master of the LochLine of sailing ships of Glasgow.During the war it had raised among itsmembers £220, which it had sent toKing George's Fund for Sick andWounded Merchant Seamen. Sincethe war it had sent food parcels topeople in Great Britain whose nameshad been given to it by the BristolShiplovers' Society, and to the mastersand crews of ships which carried coalfrom the Tyne to London, during thecoal shortage in the bitter cold ofFebruary and March 1947.

The Society had heard that theInstitution had lost one of its life-boats,with all her crew in 1947, and Mr.Wade asked for the story of the disaster,and the names of the relatives of themen who had lost their lives. Thenames of the twenty relatives of themen of The Mumbles were sent to theSociety, and it has sent food parcelsto the relatives. With each parcel wasa letter which must have given evenmore pleasure than the parcel. To thewidow of Coxswain Gammon Mr. Wadewrote:

"This letter is sent to you by theShiplovers' Society of New SouthWales who'se members—many of whomare old sailors—deeply appreciate thesplendid work of the British life-boat-men.

"Although we in Australia are faraway from the people of Britain we

would like you to know that distancedoes not dim our admiration of yourlate husband's spirit of unselfishness andgallantry in the work he and his fellowsailors so nobly set out to do. It isthis grand spirit in facing difficultiesconfident and unafraid that has madeyour country great and its sailorsloved and respected by men of goodwillthe world over.

"We'feel there is all too little wecan do, but as a small token of ouresteem and friendship may we ask ifyou will please accept a little parcel ofAustralian foods that has been des-patched to you this week and whichshould be delivered in three or fourweeks from this date. Our newspapersfrequently report the difficulties theBritish housewife has to meet in thisperiod of food shortage and we there-fore hope the little extras sent to youwill provide a welcome addition to thehome larder."

In another letter Mr. Wade said thathe was himself a Manchester man,representing in Australia the Man-chester Ship Canal, and that it wasgood to know that the people of Man-chester had provided the new life-boatat The Mumbles. He said too that oneof the members of the Society had, asan Australian soldier in the war of1914 to 1918, been stationed at TheMumbles, had met the crew of thelife-boat and had gone out with themon practice launches.

To the secretary of the InstitutionMr. Wade wrote: " Thank you for yourgood wishes which have been conveyedto the members of our Society. I havebeen asked to send you greetings andevery good wish, both to you personallyand to every member of your greatInstitution."


Portrait on the CoverTHE portrait on the cover is of Mrs.Louisa Taylor, one of the launchersat Newbiggin, Northumberland. TheNewbiggin women were awarded theInstitution's thanks on vellum forhelping to haul the life-boat up a cliff,over a moor and through sand-dunes,

against a gale on the 4th of May, 1940,and then launching her to the help ofthe Belgian trawler Eminent, fromwhich she rescued eleven lives.

The photograph is by Illustratedand is reproduced by its kind per-mission.

A Happy CollectorA LADY living in a Suffolk villagestarted to have a collecting boat forthe Life-boat Service in May 1945. InMav of this year she sent back the boatfor "the sixth time, with £22 Ss. 7d. init. Altogether in the three years shehas collected £70 6*. Id. This is howshe does it:

" I get a lot of fun out of my life-boatduring the year. The boat is kept forsmall sums, and I keep a tin cash boxfor anything over 2s. 6d. I sold sucha lot of apples up till about three weeksago, 6d. a pound to anyone.

" At Christmas—bunches of mistletoeI had planted on the apple trees yearsago.

"I collect the salvage of the villageon my forty-three-year-old bike witha cart at the back, grade it andsend it away, and this brings in alittle, not forgetting bones whichcome in, in spite of our miserablysmall joints—all men when diggingin their gardens keep me any theyfind.

"I'll sell anything, in fact! Lily ofthe Valley at the moment."

Awards to Coxswains and Life-boatmenTo JOHN McNp.iL, on his retirement, after

serving for 1 year as coxswain, 8J years assecond coxswain and 6J years as bowman ofthe Barra Island life-boat, a coxswain'scertificate of service and an annuity.

To THOMAS WISHART, on his retirement,after serving for 7J years as second coxswain,2 years as bowman and 34 years as a memberof the crew of the Stromness life-boat, alife-boatman's certificate of service and anannuity.

To WILLIAM T. DAVIES, on his retirement,after serving for 3J years as second coxswain,10^ years as bowman and 32 years as amember of the crew of the Cromer life-boat,a life-boatman's certificate of service and anannuity.

To JAMES WEST, on his retirement, afterserving for 1 year as bowman and 25J yearsas a member of the crew of the Montrose life-boat, a life-boatman's certificate of service.

To ALBERT PENNYCORD, on his retirement,

after serving for 25^ years as assistantmotor mechanic and 5 years as a member ofthe crew of the Selsey life-boat, a .life-boat-man's certificate of service and an annuity.

To JOHN LEADBETTER, on his retirement,after serving for 39 years as a member ofthe crew and 15 years as winchman to theFleetwood life-boat, a life-boatman's certifi-cate of service.

To HARRY THOMAS, on his retirement, afterserving for 33 years as a member of the crewof the Tenby life-boat, a life-boatman'scertificate of service.

To THOMAS HENRY ADAMS, who retiredin 1932 after serving as a member of thecie-w of the North Deal life-boat for 32 years,a life-boatman's certificate of service.

To RICHARD DAVIES, on his retirement,after serving for 23 years as a member ofthe crew and 25 years as winchman to theTenby life-boat, a life-boatman's certificateof service.

NoticeAll contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary

of the local branch or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A.,the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London,S.W.I.

All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should beaddressed to the Secretary.

The next number O/THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in December, 1948.

the life-boat - microsoft · the life-boat station and a 9.1t, th5e motor life-boat rosa woodd and...

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