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

VOL. XXXII APRIL, 1949 No. 349

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET156 Motor Life-boats

1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat

LIVES RESCUEDfrom the foundation of the Life-boat Service in

1824 to March 31st, 1949 - 76,400

As the last of the sailing life-boats wasreplaced by a motor life-boat on the 12thof December, 1948, the term motor life-boat will no longer be used. " Life-boat"will mean "motor life-boat."

The one boat remaining which has not

a motor, the second boat at Whiiby, usedonly in the harbour entrance, will becalled "the harbour pulling life-boat."In this number of the journal "motorlife-boat" is used in the accounts ofservices up to the end of 1948.

The Last of the Sailing Life-boatsAT half-past eight in the morning ofSunday, the 12th of December, 1948, anew motor life-boat, the St. Albans,arrived at New Quay, Cardigan, fromthe building yard at Cowes, after oneof the stormiest passages which a life-boat has ever had from the buildingyard to her station. She replaced thelast of the pulling and sailing life-boatsin the Institution's fleet.

The St. Albans is a Liverpool boat,35 feet 6 inches long, with a beam of10 feet 8 inches, and is driven by two18-h.p. engines. She carries a crew ofeight, and with gear and crew on boardweighs 8J tons. She is a gift to theInstitution from the people of St.Albans.

The last sailing life-boat, which thatday came to the end of her service, wasthe William Cantrell Ashley. She wasa Liverpool boat, 35 feet long with10 feet beam. She was rigged with jib,fore lug and mizzen. and had twelveoars. She carried a crew of fifteen^ andwith crew and gear on board weighedjust over 5 J tons, She was a gift to the

A

Institution from Mr. Charles CarrAshley, who died in 1906, leaving£65,000 to provide and endow fivelife-boats.* She was built in 1907 andhad spent her forty-one years at NewQuay. There she was launched onservice 18 times and rescued 10 lives.

The first of all life-boats, the Original,built at South Shields in 1789, hadonly oars. The first sailing life-boatwas built by the London coachbuilderLionel Lukin for the Suffolk HumaneSociety in 1807, so that sailing life-boatshave served on our coasts for 141 years.

When the St. Albans arrived at NewQuay the William Cantrell Ashleysailed out to meet her and the two boatswere filmed by the B.B.C's televisionunit. They were the first life-boats tobe televised.

The William Cantrell Ashley has beenpresented by the Institution to theOutward Bound Sea School at Aber-dovey, and on the morning of the 25thof February she sailed from New Quay

* A full account of this legacy was pnblUhed in MMlast issue of The Life-tio^t.

266 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

for the last time manned by some ofher old crew and by members of thecommittee of the New Quay station.At sea she met the school's ketchGaribaldi, and a crew of the boys ofthe school took her over and sailed hertq Aberdovey. The school wrote tothe Institution:

" We are delighted with the life-boat.Sailing her to Aberdovey exhibited hersplendid qualities. She is going to beour most proud possession."

"Exploits of the Old Sailing Life-boats"

On the evening of the day afterthe St. Albans arrived at New Quay,the secretary of the Institution, ColonelA. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D.. M.A.,broadcast a farewell to the sailing life-boats in a news talk in the HomeService programme of the B.B.C.

" For over a- century the old pullingand sailing life-boats have braved theworst of the weather round our coasts.There is not a year, in those hundredyears, without an exploit of theirgallantry.

"There was a scene at the famousCromer station in 1917 which not oneof those who saw it will ever forget.The life-boat's crew were old men—forthe younger men had joined the Navy.They came back with a rescued crew,exhausted after their long struggle.Then they put out again to a secondsteamer. In the blaze of searchlightsthey could be seen at their oars, some-times with the life-boat standing onend, next moment buried in the seas.They fought on until five of their oarswere broken, and three washed away;and then the life-boat herself was flungback on the beach. More oars werefetched; once more the weary menrowed her through the surf; and this

time they returned with the steamer'swhole crew.

"In a November gale in 1919 offLand's End a naval launch was flungon the rocks, broke into pieces, andin a few minutes had disappeared,leaving four of her men clinging to therocks. There the Sennen Cove life-boat found them. Her coxswain tookher right through a gap in the reef,where a single mistake would havedestroyed her, and rescued all the men.

" In another November gale in recentyears the coxswain at Moelfre, Anglesey,found a wreck sinking. He sailed hislife-boat right on to her deck, and seizedher men. But the life-boat had hadthree holes broken in her. Full ofwater, she beat home against the galeall through the night, and arrived withtwo men on board dead, and her cox-swain temporarily, but completely,blind.

" In those old life-boats there was notonly danger and exposure, but oftenterrible toil. Once in the open seathey could set their sails, but to drivethem through the surf, and again atthe most dangerous moment of theirtask, when they came alongside thewreck, their crews had only the strengthof their own bodies at the oars.

"From that toil the engines of themotor life-boats have freed the crews.But do not think that the dangers areless. The motor life-boats can travelfurther. They can come sooner tothe rescue. They can manoeuvre muchmore swiftly when they approach thewreck. But they can take bigger risks.And they do take them. Less thantwo years ago all the men of anotherWelsh crew, from The Mumbles,lost their lives when their motor life-boat capsized in a hurricane. So thework goes on, with a greater hope ofrescuing life. But the dangers remain."

Miniature Life-boat MedalsTHE Institution is issuing to livingholders of its gold, silver and bronzemedals, miniature reproductions oftheir medals. These miniatures willbe half the size of the originals. Theywill have on them the reverse of jthe originals, three men in a life-boat i

rescuing an exhausted man from thesea. On the other side the holder'sname and the date of the award willbe inscribed. There will be two tvpesof fastening, a stud to fit into thebuttonhole in a coat lapel, or a safety-pin.

APIUL, I'J49| THE LIFE-BOAT 267

December PassageThe Journey of the St. Albans from Cowes to New Quay

By Commander E. W. Middleton, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., Western DistrictInspector of Life-boats

BY some unfortunate chance, new life-boats seem to make a habit of beingready for delivery during the wintermonths. But one can experience goodweather in winter and bad weather insummer. The main disadvantage ofwinter seafaring is the lack of daylight,which usually means leaving in thedark and arriving in the dark. Thepassage of the St. Albans was chieflyremarkable for the persistent gales.

Her crew for the passage consisted ofCoxswain Arden Evans, Motor Me-chanic Gwilym Davies and Life-boat-men Meurig Lewis and Eric Swan. Asdistrict inspector, I was in command,and Mr. Ireland, the district engineerwas in charge of the machinery.

From Cowes on a Friday

We left Cowes on the morning ofFriday, the 3rd of December; not apopular day of the week for sailing;and the crew were inclined to blamethis for the weather we afterwards ex-perienced. All my efforts to explainthat on my previous trip, only a fewweeks earlier, we sailed on a Friday andhad wonderful weather the whole way,were received with polite scepticism.

It had blown a gale the day and nightbefore we left, and as we made downtowards The Needles a big lumpy seawas running, but the wind appearedto be moderating. A frigate doinggunnery trials lay stopped off the South-West Shingles Buoy, and.we tried toenliven the proceedings by signalling" Can we help ? " But the joke fell flatas they replied soberly, "No, thankyou. We are quite all right!"

St. Albans Head was not particularlykind to its little namesake, for the Racewas lively and gave the boat a wet wel-come. It was just after dark whenwe slipped quietly between the piersat Weymouth, past the towering cross-channel steamers, to round to alongsidethe Weymouth life-boat. Here, as atall ports on our way, we received themost willing help from the life-boat

crew and coastguard. This friendlywelcome, and obvious desire to makethings as easy as possible, is one of themost pleasant features of these coastalpassages, and one that shows that thebrotherhood of the sea is still a veryreal thing.

The weather forecast being reason-ably good we decided to push on, sowe refuelled, had a hot meal, and sailedagain at ten o'clock that night.

Portland Race was kind, and therewas nothing like as much sea off theBill as we expected. We passed thelighthouse within a few boat's lengths,in order to keep inside the Race, andcommenced the long plug across WestBay. There was quite a big sea run-ning, but not a lot of wind, for the firstfew hours. Sleep is virtually impossiblein a boat of this size, and after an houror two the cold begins to get you.About one in the morning we openedsome tins of self-heating soup and weremore than grateful for the steaminghot fluid. This is good, rich, sustainingfood, and it is boiling in a few minutes.It can be used in any weather con-ditions.

Over Salcombe Bar

Soon after Start Point Light brokethe horizon, the wind veered to thenorth-west and freshened considerably.This put up a nasty cross sea anddamped our spirits somewhat. Thetide was against us now, and progressseemed painfully slow. Daylight sawthe Start abeam, however, and notlong afterwards Salcombe began toopen up.

Had the wind remained southerly,there would have been a very nasty seaon Salcombe bar, but as it was, it wasjust breaking and no more. Closeunder the wooded cliffs we ran smoothlyup harbour, with a sparkle of earlymorning sunshine to brighten the lovelyestuary. Coxswain Distin and MotorMechanic Lapthorne were afloat andmet us off the town. They had

268 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

THE ST. ALBANS

The new motor life-boat at New Quay, Cardigan, a gift from the Institution'sSt. Albans branch.

AFTER A STORMY PASSAGE

The St. Albant arriving at New Quay

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 269

By courtesy of] [E. J. Brown, Barmouth

LAST OF THE SAILING LIFE-BOATSThe William Cantrell Ashley sails away from New Quay, Cardigan.

By courtesy of] [E. J. Brown, Barmouth

A»NEW QUAY SAYS GOOD-BYE

270 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

everything arranged for us—refuelling,hot meal, and accommodation. EddieDistin told us we could not havecrossed the bar the day before, it wasbreaking so badly.

Severe Gales Promised

We were too tired and wet, after ourtwenty hours afloat, to proceed thatday. That was a pity, as conditionswere then fairly good, and when day-light came next day, it was blowing afull gale. After one look at the seasbreaking on the bar I hardly neededthe efforts made to dissuade me fromleaving. So we spent Sunday in Sal-combe, waiting for some sign ofimprovement in the weather.

Next day, Monday, we were away atdaylight, into a fresh to strong south-erly wind and the familiar big sea. Offthe Eddystone the wind and sea in-creased, and the greasy clouds had alook reminiscent of typhoon weatherabout them. A wireless warning ofsevere gales and a somewhat pessi-mistic outlook on the part of theCoastguard at Polruan, with whom wewere in touch by radio-telephone, mademe decide to put into Fowey insteadof continuing on round The Lizard toNewlyn. It was just as well, for bythe time it was dark the wind hadincreased to hurricane strength and itwould have been most unpleasant offThe1 Lizard.

A Western Ocean Sea

On the Tuesday morning, conditionswere better and we made our way outof harbour in good style. By this timewe had decided that the boat wouldstand anything—the only limitingfactor was what we could stand.

All the way down to The Lizard thewind and sea increased. It was as biga sea as I have ever seen in the Channel,more like a Western Ocean sea. Severalships were sheltering off Helford River,and nobody seemed to like the look ofthings very much, but the St. Albanstook it all in her stride'and skimmedover the big breaking seas like a gull.Roxmd The Lizard we brought the seaon the beam as we made up towardsNewlyn, but we shipped little or nowater, and I am sure we were morecomfortable than some of the big ships

we passed. Soon after dark we sightedMousehole and signalled the coast-guard, and by six o'clock we were allfast alongside a sturdy fishing boat inNewlyn. Once again all arrangementshad been made for our reception and wespent a very comfortable night ashore.

Running Into a Naval Battle

Next morning, Wednesday, therewere one or two jobs to do in the boatand it was after nine o'clock before wegot away. The wind was in the south-west, fresh to strong, and the sea wassteeper and more unpleasant than onthe previous day. Off the Runnel-stone a destroyer and a submarinewere plunging about warily in theRedland and Blueland "battle," whichwas in progress. We hoped they wereenjoying their fun and games.

Cutting the corner we headed upinside the Longships, where the seasbegan to pile up astern. Sennen Covelife-boat station answered on the radiotelephone and expressed surprise atour temerity in making light of theirwaters.

The sun shone, and once round Pen-deen we had the best few hours of thetrip, till the wind went round to thesouthward again and the dry spell wasover. It was after seven before wemade our way into Padstow, havingarranged to go alongside Padstow No. 1boat in the Cove, as there was notenough water to go up to the harbour.

A Wrong Weather Forecast

The B.B.C. having promised a south-erly gale, we sought to take advantageof a fair wind for the passage fromPadstow to Tenby. With this in mindwe left Padstow, after refuelling boatand crew, at eleven o'clock that night.Alas, the prophet was false, and off thesouth end of Lundy the wind cameaway from the west-north-west witha bang. Within a few minutes thewind, sea and driving rain were allacting as if inspired by vicious personalanimosity. The seas came tearing upout of the murk, their grey-white topsswirling in and around the boathungrily. Now and again we wouldget the full force of the break and agood deal of solid water would make itsappearance, on board.

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 271

After four or five hours of this wewere all extremely cold and damp, andresigned, if not definitely miserable.But these New Quay men took theirturns at the wheel and nursed the boatcarefully, like the splendid seamen theywere. The boat herself again took itall in her stride and behaved beautifully,only shipping water under the utmostprovocation. Truly, a real life-boat.

Soon after dawn, with Caldy IslandLight showing up clearly ahead, wespliced the mainbrace. The effect wasmagical, and had we had the fuel,nobody would have complained if wehad carried straight on to New Quay.

A Quick Laundry

By nine o'clock of the Thursdaymorning, we were under the lee ofCaldy Island, and shortly afterwardsCaptain Diment, the honorary secretaryof the Tenby station, was welcoming usalongside the jetty. The Tenby crewtook over and refuelled while we werehurried off to hot baths and a hot meal.All our clothes, including those stowedunder cover in kitbags, were soaked,and these were all collected by the locallaundry, dried, and returned to usneatly folded!

Next day, Friday, it blew harder thanever, and it was not until Saturdayevening that there was any sign of alet-up. Even then, the weather re-ports were bad and the coastguard toldus conditions were far from good.

Tenby Harbour dries out, and the boatwas nearly on the bottom, so there wasno time to speculate. While we gotour gear together the Tenby coxswaintook the boat out into the bay, and wemade a quick change-over at thelife-boat slipway.

A Third Run by Night

Our third night run of the passageproved the lucky one. In spite ofthreatening conditions there was littlemore than a big swell off St. Goven'sHead and right round to the SouthBishop Light. There was a lot ofshipping off Skokholm Island and ourradio telephone was busy with Tenbyand Strumble Head coastguard stations.

Dawn on the Sunday showed NewQuay right ahead, and a rocket fromthe shore told us we had been sighted.At half-past eight we passed the break-water, which was lined with cheeringpeople. I think the whole village wasthere. It was a wonderful welcomeand more than repaid any discomfortsof the trip. Mr. D. J. Rees, the honor-ary secretary of the station, Mr. H. E,Carrington, of the St. Albans branch,and Lieut.-Colonel V. M. Lewis, M.C.,organising secretary for Wales, metus as we beached, and the boat wassoon surrounded by an admiring crowd.That afternoon, the old life-boat hoistedher sails and ran smoothly out of thebay. St. Albans was on station andreadv for service.

Cut Off by the TideTwo Bronze Medals for Clovelly Life-boatmen

ON the evening of the 30th of August,1948, two young Americans wereswimming and wading round BaggyPoint in North Devon. One of themwas the son of Mr. Negley Farson, theauthor, the other was a photographeron the staff of the American Services'newspaper, Stars and Stripes. Theyintended to go right round the pointto Croyde Bay, but they were caughtby the rising tide and took refuge on arock under the cliffs of Baggy Point.

The wind was oft shore, and the seawas calm, but a heavy swell was run-

ning up the Bristol Channel. It wasbreaking on the cliffs, with a strongback-wash, and was swirling round therocks, making a very ugly piece ofwater at the cliff-foot. It would havebeen impossible for the men to swimthrough it. They were seen, and theCroyde coastguard went to their helpwith the life-saving rocket apparatus.But the cliff overhangs the rocks andmade it impossible to reach them fromabove. A line could be fired to themfrom further along the cliff, but it woulddrag them through the surf and across

272 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

the rocks before it could haul them upthe cliff. It could not be done withoutserious injury to them. So, at 9.40,the coastguard sent a message to theClovelly life-boat station, ten milesaway: "Two men on ledge at BaggyPoint. Request life-boat and dinghy.Will guide you to spot by searchlight."Five minutes later the motor life-boatCity of Nottingham was launched, withan 11-feet dinghy lashed across hergunwale.

Waiting While the Tide Rose

The life-boat had a journey of anhour and a half, and the tide was rising.The coastguard turned their searchlighton the men, and when the tide wasnearing the top of their rock they firedtwo lines. These fell within reach andthe men were able to seize them.Then, if the life-boat did not arrivebefore the tide threatened to washthem off the rock, an attempt couldbe made to haul them up the cliff.There was now nothing to be done butto wait for the life-boat.

Guided by the coastguard's search-light she arrived at twenty minutespast eleven, and the coxswain examinedthe scene. It was very dark under thecliff, but the searchlight's beam, run-ning diagonally down the face of thecliff, showed him the two waiting menin their bathing suits, and the tidealready nearly up to the top of theirrock.

The coxswain anchored in two fathomsof water and called for volunteers toman the dinghy. Two men came for-ward and put off, but in eight minutesthey had returned, saying that it wasimpossible. The coxswain was con-sidering if he should take the life-boatherself among the rocks, when two moremen volunteered to make a secondattempt in the dinghy, Percy Shackson,the bowman, and William Braund, theassistant motor mechanic. The cox-swain first moved the life-boat nearer,with his anchor still down, intending,if the dinghy failed, to take her rightup to the rocks and to use his cable tohaul her clear again in case of emer-gency. He could only have done it,among the submerged rocks and break-ing swirling waters, at grave risk tothe life-boat.

At Grave Risk

It was at grave risk that the bow-man and assistant motor mechanicpulled the dinghy near enough to therock to fling a line. One of themen caught it and jumped into thesea. He was hauled aboard, and thenthe dinghy was seized by a fiercerush of water and carried away. Thosewho watched from the cliff-top thoughtthat first the swimmer and then thedinghy were lost. But the two men gother under control again, and pulled backtowards the rock. The second manjumped and he too was hauled in.Then Percy Shackson and WilliamBraund pulled the dinghy clear ofrocks and whirlpools to where the life-boat waited. It was now close onmidnight.

The two men were very cold andexhausted after those hours in thedarkness on the rock with only theirbathing shorts, but the life-boatmentook off their own clothes to cover andwarm them and then fed them with hottea, rum and biscuits. Meanwhile thelife-boat was on her way to Clovelly,and arrived at quarter to two in themorning.

The Rewards

The two men had handled the dinghywith great skill and courage in thedarkness and dangerous waters and theInstitution has made the followingawards:

To PERCY SHACKSON, bowman, thebronze medal for gallantry, accom-panied by a copy of the vote inscribedon vellum;

To WILLIAM BRAUND, assistant motormechanic, the bronze medal for gal-lantry, accompanied by a copy of thevote inscribed on vellum;

To COXSWAIN GEORGE LAMEY, inrecognition of the good judgment heshowed, the thanks of the Institutioninscribed on vellum;

To the coxswain and each of the sixmembers of the crew a reward of onepound in addition to the award of£l 7s. to each man on the ordinaryscale. Scale rewards, to crew andlaunchers, £23 6s. 6d.; additionalrewards to crew, £7; total rewards,£27 6s. 6d.

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 273

The Life-boat Service in 1948A Comparison with Ten and Twenty Years Ago

IN 1948 the life-boats of the Institutionwere called out 603 times to vessels indistress.

Ten years ago the number was 485.That was then a record year for timeof peace. In each of the three yearssince the war ended that record figurehas been exceeded.

The average for these three years is607 launches. For the same threeyears, ten years ago, the average was454; for the same three years twentyyears ago, the average was 284.

There is an increase, though not sogreat, in the number of lives rescued.In 1948 life-boats rescued 548. Theaverage for the past three years is 540.For the three years ten years ago it was456; for the three years twenty yearsago it was 341.

Those figures show the great increasein the work of the Service. It is morethan twice as busy to-day as it wastwenty years ago.

Besides the 548 lives rescued in 1948by life-boats 90 were rescued by shore-boats, and the rescuers were rewardedby the Institution. That is a grandtotal of 638 lives.

Life-boats also saved, or helped tosave, from destruction 83 boats andvessels, and helped 203 others in variousways.

Those 548 lives were rescued by life-boats without loss of life.

Services to Foreign Vessels

Life-boats went out to the help of47 foreign vessels and rescued fromthem 112 lives. The vessels belonged tothirteen different countries. Fourteenof them hailed from France, ten fromNorway, seven from The Netherlands,four from The United States, threefrom Sweden, two from Iceland, andone each from Belgium, Denmark,Egypt, Italy, Panama, Russia andSpain.

Besides the 112 lives rescued fromthese vessels, tvfo Americans were res-cued when cut off by the tide.

Medals for Gallantry

Six medals were won for gallantryduring the year, by Coxswain FrederickUpton, of Walmer, Kent, who won thesilver medal,,Coxswain James Uppertonof Shoreham Harbour, Sussex, who wona bar to his silver medal, CoxswainFrederick J. Palmer, of Weymouth, Mr.Percy Cavell, the motor mechanic atWalmer, and Mr. Percy Shackson andMr. William Braund, members of theClovelly crew, who all won bronzemedals.

The year saw the first life-boat with adeck cabin completed and sent to thecoast, and the last of the sailing life-boats replaced by a motor life-boat.

The Bravest Deed of 1948THE "Miss Maud Smith's reward forcourage, in memory of John, 7th Earlof Hardwicke," for the bravest deedof the year has. been awarded to Cox-swain Frederick Upton, of Walmer, for

the rescue of thirty lives from theItalian steamer Silvia Onorato, wreckedon the Goodwin Sands on the 2nd ofJanuary, 1948.*

* A full account of this rescue appeared In The Life-boat for March, 1913.

Sennen Cove—A CorrectionIN the account of the naming ceremonyof the Sennen Cove life-boat in the lastissue of the journal, it was said thatthe ceremony had been arranged by

Mr. Barrie Bennetts, the honorarysecretary of the station, and the localcommittee. It should have been Mr.J. K. Bennetts.

274 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

By courtesy of] I/. X. Jones, Llandudno

A LAUNCH AT LLANDUDNO

By courtesy of] [Yorkshire Post

A SUDDEN GALE

The Scarborough life-boat goes out to the help of fishing boats on the 9th of February, 1949.

(See page 288.)

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 275

THE EASTBOURNE MUSEUM

Opened in the old "William Terriss Memorial Lif e-boathouse " in 1937 and temporarily closed shortly»{ter war broke out in September, 1939.

70,000 IN TWO YEARS

The museum was re-opened in April, 1947, and in the first 23 months about 70,000 people visited it.

Photographs by Mr. Amos Burg, of Portland, Oregon,

276 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

Services of the Life-boats in December, 1948 and January andFebruary, 1949

164 Lives Rescued

DURING December, 1948, life-boatswent out on service 55 times andrescued 137 lives.

STRANDED IN A FOG

Droughty Ferry, Angus.—At 7.6 inthe evening of the 1st of December,1948, during a thick fog, the super-intendent of the Tay Ferry Servicetelephoned that the ferry steamer SirWilliam High, of Dundee, was overdueon a trip from Newport, Fife, and couldbe heard sounding S.O.S. signals on herwhistle. She was thought to beaground. At 7.15 the motor life-boatMona was launched. The weatherwas calm. The life-boat found thesteamer, with seventy passengers onboard, stranded on Fowler Rock. Atthe captain's request, the life-boatlanded the passengers. Then she stoodby the steamer, helped to refloat heron the rising tide, and accompaniedher to Dundee. She reached her sta-tion again at 1.30 the next morning.The Dundee Harbour Trust sent theirthanks.—Rewards, £16 17s. 6d.

A FORTNIGHTS GALE

Ferryside, Carmarthenshire. — About8.30 in the evening of the 1st of De-cember, 1948, The Mumbles coastguardtelephoned that the s.s. Tungenes, ofStavanger, had reported that she wasaground off Llanelly, with her rudderbroken, and the motor life-boat CarolineOates Aver and William Maine waslaunched at 9.26 in a fresh south-easterly gale, with a very rough sea.The life-boat first came up with thes.s. Peterjon, of London, which askedfor a pilot. She then found theTungenes, half a mile south-west ofPembrey Old Harbour. The steamerwas high and dry and did not needimmediate help, but wculd be indanger of capsizing at liigh water, sothe life-boat made for Burry Port. Shearrived at 4 o'clock the next morning,and went out again with a pilot at8 o'clock. She put him aboard the

Peterjon and then stood by the Tun-genes while tugs tried to get her clear.They failed and the life-boat returnedto Burry Port at 8 o'clock. There itwas decided she should remain, whilethe gale continued, ready to go outagain to the help of the Tungenes, or toany other ships which were in danger.The wind blew at nearly gale force fora fortnight, and it was not until the15th that she returned to her station.—Rewards, £54 175. 6d.

RUDDER NOT WORKING

Newhaven, Sussex.—At 10.5 on thenight of the 1st of December, 1948, thecoastguard telephoned that a fishingvessel appeared to be in difficulties, anddrifting, half a mile south-east of thebreakwater, and at 10.40 reported thatshe was making distress signals. Themotor life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpottwas launched at 10.50. A fresh south-erly breeze was blowing, with a heavyswell. The life-boat found the localfishing vessel Ocean Reaper with a crewof two a quarter of a mile south-eastof the east pier. Her rudder was notworking. The life-boat towed her intoharbour and returned to her station at11.35.—Rewards, £9 Us.

SIXTEEN RESCUED FROM TRAWLER

Islay, Inner Hebrides.—At 11 o'clock inthe morning of the 2nd of December,1948, the Southend coastguard tele-phoned that a trawler was ashore inthe Sound of Islay, and that anothertrawler was standing by, but could nothelp. The motor life-boat CharlotteElizabeth was launched at 11.15, in asouth-easterly gale with a rough sea.She found the trawler Roden, of Fleet-wood, at Glas Eilean, bound for thefishing grounds with sixteen men. Shewas hard on the rocks. The life-boatwent alongside, rescued the crew, puteight of the men on board the othertrawler, the Red Charger, which wasbound for Fleetwood, and landed theremainder at Islay at 6 o'clock that

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 277

evening. The Roden was refloatedthree days later.—Rewards, £13 6s.

FIVE MEN ON AN ISLAND

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides. — About4.30 in the afternoon of the 2nd ofDecember, 1948, the coastguard tele-phoned a message received from Cross-bost Post Office that a motor fishingvessel, the Triumph, of Stornoway,appeared to be in a dangerous positionat the entrance to Loch Erisort. Shehad made no distress signals, but at5.30 it was reported that she wasmaking flares, and at 6.50 the motorlife-boat William and Harriot left hermoorings. A fresh south-south-westgale was blowing, with a heavy sea.The life-boat, using her searchlight,searched widely, but found nothing andreturned to her station at 10 o'clockthat night. As there was still no newsof the Triumph at midnight, it wasdecided to renew the search at day-break. At 7.45 the next morning thelife-boat again put out, and found theTriumph's crew of five on the Islandof Tabhaidh. The Triumph haddrifted ashore the previous eveningand had sunk. The life-boat took themen on board and returned to herstation at 9.30.—Rewards, £19.

FISHING BOAT TOWED IN

Scaiborough, Yorkshire.—At 6.44 inthe evening of the 5th of December,1948, the coastguard telephoned thatflares could be seen one mile north byeast of Burniston, and the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was lauriched at6.55. The southerly breeze was mod-erate, but a rough sea was running.The Hfe-boat found the local fishingcoble Good Cheer one mile north-east ofBurniston with her engine brokendown. She had been at sea for sixteenhours and her crew of three were ex-hausted. The life-boat took her intow and arrived back at her station at9 o'clock.—Rewards, £14 14,9. 6d.

SAILING BARGE SINKING

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.— At 1.5 inthe morning of the 6th of December,1948, the coastguard telephoned thatred flares could be seen four miles tothe south-south-east, and the motor

life-boat Edward Z. Dresden waslaunched at 1.30. A moderate south-south-east gale was blowing, with aheavy sea. The life-boat found thesailing barge Esterel, of London, carry-ing grain to Ipswich, with a crew ofthree, two and a half miles to the south-south-east. She was sinking. Withdifficulty the life-boat went alongside,slightly damaging herself, and rescuedthe men. It was then just after twoin the morning. The barge sank about6.50. The life-boat anchored off thepier until daybreak and reached herstation again at 8.15.—Rewards,£19 105.

STANDING BY FOR SEVEN HOURS

Ramsey, Isle of Man.—At 8.30 on thenight of the 6th of December, 1948, thecoastguard reported that the S.S.Saxton, of Middlesbrough, was agroundoutside the harbour entrance with herengines broken down, and the motorlife-boat Thomas Corbett was launchedat half past nine. A southerly galewas blowing, with a rough sea. Shestood by the Saxton for seven hours.At 4.30 the Saxton was driven outsidethe north pier, but when the tide ebbedshe was secure for the night, and thelife-boat returned to her station at 5.20in the morning of the 7th. Her crewassembled during the day, while theSaxton was refloated, but the life-boatwas not needed.—Rewards, service,£30 17s.; assembly, £3 12s.

ANOTHER STEAMER STRANDED

Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire. — At8.20 in the morning of the 9th ofDecember, 1948, the Hoylake coast-guard reported a message from theSouthport police that a vessel appearedto be aground off Ainsdale beach, andat 9.10 that the vessel was now flying adistress signal. The motor life-boatJohn and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood,on temporary duty at the station, waslaunched at 9.45. A moderate westerlybreeze was blowing with a moderate sea.The life-boat found the s.s. Lake, ofOslo, stranded one mile south of South-port pier, and stood by until she re-floated and made for Liverpool. Shereturned to her station arriving at 5.30that evening.—Rewards, £23 4s.

278 THE LIFE-BOAT [APBJL, 1949

THREE LAUNCHES IN ONE DAY

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—In the morn-ing of the 9th of December, 1948,a strong southerly gale was blowing.At 8.35 a barge was seen to be in diffi-culty three-quarters of a mile west ofthe pier, and the motor life-boatGreater London, Civil Service No. 3, waslaunched at nine o'clock. She wentthrough very heavy seas to the barge,which was the G.~C.B., of Rochester,laden with maize and bound forIpswich. She found the crew of twotrying to get a small boat away, res-cued them, and returned to her stationat 9.40. About two hours later, theCanvey Island lookout reported a bargeflying distress signals near the No. 4Sea Reach Buoy, and the life-boat wasagain launched. It was then 11.45.She found the London barge Senta amile west of No. 4 Sea Reach Buoy, buta tug was standing by, and, as she wasnot needed, the life-boat returned toher station, arriving at 1.10. The galehad now dropped to a fresh breeze, andit was decided that an attempt shouldbe made to salve the G.C.B. At 1.50the life-boat put out for the third time,and found the G.C.B. only slightlydamaged, but leaking. She towed herin, anchored her, and then returned toher station, arriving at 4.20.—Rewards:first launch, £7 10s.; second launch,£10 15s.; third launch, property salvagecase.

PROPELLER FOULED BY NETSArklow, Co. Wicklow. — At nine

o'clock on the night of the 9th of De-cember, 1948, it was reported that afishing boat was burning flares to thenorth-east, and the motor life-boatInbhear Mor was launched at 9.10 in asoutherly "breeze. The sea was rough.The life-boat found the local motor boatSanta Cruz five miles to the north-east,with the life-boat's bowman, his fatherand three others on board. Her netshad fouled her propeller and she wasdrifting. The life-boat towed her in,arriving back at her station at a quarterpast eleven.—Rewards, £11 4s. 6d.

DOCTOR TO AN IN1URED MAN

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—At 6.45 in the evening of the 10th ofDecember, 1948, the police telephoned

that North Foreland radio station hadreported the s.s. Fulham II, of London,one mile north-east of Britannia Pier,with a badly injured man on board.The motor life-boat Louise Stephensembarked a doctor at 7.30, and waslaunched in a strong south-south-eastbreeze with a rough sea. She put thedoctor on board and later took himand the injured man to Great Yar-mouth, reaching her station again at9 o'clock. The injured man thankedthe crew.—Rewards, £11 15s.

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY IN DANGER

Peterhead, and Fraserburgh, Aberdeen-shire.—Shortly after 8 o'clock in themorning of the llth of December, 1948,the Royal Fleet Auxiliary C. 617,bound with stores from Invergordonto Rosyth, wirelessed to Wick Radiothat she was drifting with her enginebroken down. Her position was givenas nine miles north-east of Peterhead.At 8.30 the motor life-boat Julia ParkBarry, of Glasgow, was launched. Astrong south-easterly wind was blowing,with a rough sea, and the weather wasgetting worse. A later message gavethe position as eight miles north-eastof Rattray, but while the life-boat wasgoing to this position, the message wasamended to five miles north-east ofKinnaird Head. The Fraserbugh life-boat station was informed at 8.50, andin view of the third position given theFraserburgh motor life-boat John andCharles ftennedy was launched at 9.58.At 10.24 she found the vessel, whichhad a crew of seven. She was nowsteaming slowly south, and her mastersaid that he did not need help. At 11.30the Peterhead life-boat arrived, and asshe was not needed she returned to herstation, arriving at 1.45 that afternoon.The Fraserburgh life-boat remained bythe vessel, and at 11.50 her master sig-nalled that his engine had broken down.The life-boat took her in tow, broughther to Fraserburgh and secured her inFaithlie Basin at 2 o'clock. At 8o'clock in the morning of the 12th themaster telephoned that his vessel waspounding heavily on the quay andbreaking her moorings. A local fishingboat attempted to tow her to anotherberth, but had to give up on account ofthe wind and swell. The life-boat

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 279

again put out at 10.10, towed thevessel to a safe berth and reached herstation again at 11.45.—Rewards:Peterhead, £16 7s. 6d.; Fraserburgh,first service, property salvage case;second service, £8 4,9.

TOW ROPE PARTS FOUR TIMES

Margate, Kent. — At 12.46 in theafternoon of the 19th of December,1948, the coastguard telephoned that amotor launch was drifting four milesto the north-east of the lookout, and at1.23 came another message that shewas now flying a distress signal. Themotor life-boat Lord Southborough, CivilService No. 1, was launched at 1.40 ina strong easterly wind, with a rough sea.She found the motor launch MerryGolden Hind, of Harwich, with a crewof three, near South Tongue Buoy.Both her engines had broken down, heranchor was dragging, and she wasdrifting rapidly on to the sands. Thelife-boat put two men aboard to helpher crew, and passed a. tow line to her.She then began towing the launchtowards Ramsgate, but when they wereoff the North Foreland the line parted.After much difficulty, for the launchwas rolling heavily, a fresh line wassecured. This also parted three times,but in the end the life-boat brought theMerry Golden Hind safely into Rams-gate harbour at 8.20 that night. Sheremained there herself until the nextday, and arrived back at Margate at12.15, in the afternoon.—Propertysalvage case.

ANOTHER FISHING BOAT TOWED IN

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—At 2.16in the afternoon of the 19th of De-cember, 1948, a motor vessel informedNiton Radio Station of a fishingboat in. need of help nearly threemiles out from Shoreham in a south-easterly direction, and the motor life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn waslaunched at 2.45. A fresh easterlywind Was blowing, with a moderate sea.The life-'boat found the local motorfishing boat Kingfisher IF, with a crewof four, and her engine broken down,and towed her into harbour. Shereturned to her station at 4.45.—Rewards, £11 Is.

NINE DAYS TO REFLOAT A VESSEL

Cromer, Norfolk.—About 6.30 in theevening of the 20th of December, 1948,the coastguard telephoned that themotor vessel Bosphorus, of Oslo, of2,111 tons, bound for Hull fromPalestine, with a cargo of oranges andthirty-seven on board, had wirelessedthat she was on the Haisborough Sands,and the No. 1 motor life-boat HenryBlogg was launched at 6.40. A fresheast-north-east breeze was blowing,with a rough sea. The life-boat foundthe vessel two miles north by west ofSouth Middle Buoy. Her captainasked the life-boat to stand by, and sheanchored off the west side of the bank.There she stayed until 7.45 the nextmorning. Two Dutch tugs then ar-rived. The life-boat passed a rope tothem from the Bosphorus and until 2.30in the afternoon they tried to refloather, but failed. The life-boat and tugsanchored for the night, and at teno'clock on the morning of the 22nd, thelife-boat again passed a rope to one ofthe tugs. She tried for three hours topull the Bosphorus clear but the ropeparted and fouled her propeller. Thelife-boat then passed a rope to theother tug. She too tried without suc-cess until the falling tide compelledher to give up the attempt. The cap-tain of the Bosphorus then asked thelife-boat to land his only passenger, andin going alongside the life-boat groundedand was damaged, but she refloated,took off the passenger and landed himat Great Yarmouth at 7.30 that even-ing.

The coxswain sent to Cromer fordry clothes and food, and decided toremain at Yarmouth for the night.At 5.30 next morning, the 23rd, thelife-boat returned to the HaisboroughSands, and at 11 o'clock passed ropesacross from one of the Dutch tugs anda tug from Hull. Again the Bosphoruswould not refloat. The attempts wererenewed on that night's tide and thistime the vessel was slightly moved,but she still remained fast. Nextmorning, the 24th, more tugs arrived.There were now seven and they movedthe Bosphorus about seventy-five yards.At two o'clock that afternoon the cap-tain asked the life-boat to get storesfor him, and she went to Yarmouth for

280 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

them, returning to the Sands at mid-night in time for a fresh attempt attowing. This moved the Bosphorus afew more yards. Next day, ChristmasDay, the weather was better, and thelife-boat was able to lie alongside theBosphorus and put the stores on board.The captain thanked the life-boat andsaid that, as the weather was now fine,he thought that she might return toher station, and he would send forher if she were needed. The cox-swain replied that he would not waitfor the message, but would come outagain at once if the weather got worse.The life-boat then left for Cromer,arriving at 5.45 that evening. Threedays later, in the morning of the 28th,the barometer began to fall, and at 12.45in the afternoon the life-boat set outagain, and reached the Bosphorus about4 o'clock. During the evening thewind increased, and by 9 o'clock almosta whole gale was blowing from thesouth-west. At 3 o'clock next morn-ing, the 29th, the tugs began to towagain, and at 5.15 the Bosphorus re-floated. The life-boat continued tostand by until daybreak. The captainthen signalled that all was well, andat 7 o'clock the life-boat left forCromer, arriving at 9.30. She hadspent 142 hours at sea in the nine days.—Property salvage case.

PILOTING AN R.A.F. VESSEL

Buckle, Banffshire.—At 12.55 in theafternoon of the 23rd of December,1948, the coastguard telephoned thata vessel was ashore off Great WesternRoad, Buckpool, and the motor life-boat K.B.M. was launched at 1.20.The weather was calm but foggy. Thelife-boat found the mooring vesselAirmoor II, attached to the R.A.F.She had already re-floated with therising tide, and was at anchor. Themaster asked the life-boat to guide himinto harbour, which she did, arrivingat 2.15.—Rewards, £8 7s. 6d.

ANOTHER FISHING BOAT TOWED IN

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.—At 10.10on the night of the 23rd of De-cember, 1948, the harbour watchmantelephoned that a fishing vessel wasburning flares about four miles east of

Kinnaird Head, and at 10.20, in thecharge of Captain R. T. Duthie, jointhonorary secretary, the motor life-boatJohn and Charles Kennedy was launched.The weather was calm. The life-boatfound the local motor fishing boatBloom with her engine broken down anda crew of eight, and towed her toharbour, arriving at 11.30.—Propertysalvage case.

REFLOATING A FISHING BOAT

Troon, Ayrshire.—At 9 o'clock in themorning of the 24th of December, 1948,information was received that a vesselwas on the Black Rocks two milessouth of the harbour, and the motorlife-boat Sir David Richmond of Glasgowwas launched at 9.42, in a light north-easterly breeze with a slight sea andfog. She found the seine net fishingboat Marie Leach, of Belfast, loadedwith herrings for Ayr, high and dry.The life-boat could not get close to herso one of the fishing boat's crew of sixput off to her in a small punt. Hesaid that two of the crew had goneashore to arrange for a tug to refloather at high water, and asked that thelife-boat stand by at 4 o'clock in theafternoon. She returned to her stationarriving at 10.50, and at 3.40 thatafternoon put out again on the risingtide with the two members of the crewof the Marie Leach and stores. Shealso took her boarding boat with her,and by means of it put the two men andstores on board the Marie Leach. Atug had arrived, and the life-boathelped to pass a tow line across. Thetug then pulled the Marie Leach clear,but the line fouled the Marie Leach'spropeller. Again using the boardingboat the life-boatmen cleared the pro-peller sufficiently for the Marie Leachto make headway and, at the skipper'srequest, the life-boat escorted her toAyr. She then left for her station,arriving at 7.45 that evening.—Re-wards, £17 Is.

A FORTY HOURS' SERVICECampbeltown, Argyllshire.—At 8,17 in

the evening of Christmas Day, 1948, theSouthend coastguard telephoned thatthe S.S. Princess Margaret had reportedto Portpatrick Radio that a vessel wasaground on Sanda Island, and the motor

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 281

life-boat City of Glasgow left her moor-ings at 8.41, in a strong south-easterlywind and a rough sea. She found afreighter, the S.S. Alcyone Fortune, ofLondon, with a crew of forty-three,aground in a dangerous position on theeast side of Sheep Island, off the Mullof Kintyre. Her captain asked thelife-boat to stand by, and a passing tug,the Metinda III, also stood by. At7.30 the following morning a second tug,the Metinda II, arrived, and the AlcyoneFortune made two attempts to get offunder her own power. She failed, andthe life-boat put a salvage officeraboard. She then passed a line acrossand the tug Metinda III began towing,but she was carried away by the tideand the line parted. No further at-tempt was possible that day, so thetugs went to Campbeltown for thenight. The weather was getting worseand the life-boat remained with thesteamer for the rest of that day andthrough the night. Early the nextmorning, the tugs returned and madeanother attempt at high water, butagain failed. The captain then decidedto abandon ship, and the life-boat wentalongside and rescued her crew of 43,and two Arab stowaways. She tookthem to Campbeltown, arriving at12.45 in the afternoon of the 27th ofDecember, after having been at seacontinuously for forty hours. Thecaptain expressed his appreciation of"the skill and endurance of the cox-swain and crew." The owners, theAlcyone Shipping Finance Company,Ltd., gave £75 to the Institution,Metal Industries, Ltd., gave £25, andthe Salvage Association gave £75 tothe coxswain and crew.—Rewards,£95 17*. 6d.

ISLAND'S SUPPLY BOAT RESCUED

Clovelly, and Appledore, Devon.-—-At1.35 in the afternoon of the 27th ofDecember, 1948, the Hartland coast-guard reported to Clovelly that themotor vessel Lerina, of Bideford,which takes supplies to Lundy Island,had dragged her anchors off the island,and gone on the rocks. The motor life-boat City of Nottingham was launchedat 1.45. The south-south-east breezewas moderate, but the sea rough.The life-boat found the Lerina, with a

crew of five, at the landing stage.She had refloated herself, using a kedgeanchor, but her engine had brokendown and she was making water. Themaster asked to be towed to Bidefordbut the life-boat took him to Clovelly.There she anchored the Lerina off thepier just before midnight and made fastalongside her. Four hours later shebrought the Lerina into harbour andarrived back at her station at 4 o'clockthat morning. At 12.15 that after-noon, the 28th, the master asked theAppledore life-boat station to take hisvessel to Bideford and, as no other boatwas available, the motor life-boatViolet Armstrong was launched at 12.35.She towed the Lerina to Bideford har-bour, in a south-westerly breeze with arough sea running, and reached herstation again at 6 o'clock that evening.—Property salvage cases.

DANGEROUS HARBOUR BARArbroath, Angus.—On the afternoon

of the 28th of December, 1948, a south-westerly gale was blowing, and at 2.45the coastguard telephoned that owingto the heavy seas the harbour entrancewas dangerous. A number of fishingboats were out, and the motor life-boatJohn and William Mudie was launchedat 2.53 and stood by at the harbourbar. She escorted in eight fishingboats, finally returning to harbour at4.40.—Rewards, £9 19*.

TRAWLER FROM ICELAND ASHOREIslay, Inner Hebrides.—At 2.16 in the

morning of the 30th of December, 1948,the Kilchoman coastguard telephonedthat a distress call had been sent out bythe Fleetwood steam trawler Brides-maid, which was ashore at the northend of Islay Sound. The motor life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth was launched at2.45. A strong south-westerly windwas blowing, with a rough sea and snowshowers. The life-boat found theBridesmaid on a reef three miles northof Port Askaig and a hundred yardsfrom the Jura shore. She had a crewof sixteen. The life-boat took off eightof them and landed them about halfpast six. The skipper and the sevenothers remained on the trawler. Thelife-boat returned to stand by theBridesmaid, but she now had so bad a

282 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

list that the remainder of the crewhurriedly abandoned her, the skipperinjuring his foot. After taking themaboard, the life-boat put out a kedgeanchor to prevent the Bridesmaid driv-ing completely ashore and returnedto her station at 10.45 that morning.Later in the day she again went to thetrawler and fetched the crew's per-sonal belongings. The trawler, whichhad a cargo of fish from the Icelandicfishing grounds, was later floated bya tug.—Rewards, £19 135.

NORWEGIAN SHIP ON THE GOODWINS

Ramsgate, Kent. — At 7.36 in theevening of the 31st of December, 1948,the coastguard reported that a vessel,for which the North Goodwin Light-vessel had previously fired warningguns, appeared to be aground on theGoodwins, and the motor life-boatPrudential was launched at 7.45. Asouth-west gale was blowing, with arough sea. The life-boat found theNorwegian motor ship Mercur, ofBergen, aground between the Northand North-East Goodwin Banks. Thelife-boat put some of her crew aboardher and the coxswain advised thecaptain what to do. With his helpthe Mercur got off the Sands and thelife-boat guided her into navigablewater. After putting the life-boatmenback on the life-boat the Mercur wenton her way to Fecamp, and the life-boatmade for Ramsgate, which she reachedat 11.20.—Property salvage case; re-wards, 14s.

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

Falmouth, Cornwall.—December 2nd.—Rewards, £8 15s.

Anstruther, Fifeshire.—December 2nd.—Rewards, £15 9s.

Hoylake, Cheshire.—December 2nd.—Rewards, £34 7s. 6d.

Arklow, Co. Wicklow.—-December 2nd.—Rewards, £9 17s.

LIFE-BOAT SEARCHES FOR LIFE-BOAT

Rhyl, Flintshire, and Hoylake, Cheshire.——At 3.2 in the morning of the 7thDecember, 1948, the Rhyl coastguard

telephoned that a flare had been seensix miles north-east by north of thepier, and the motor life-boat The GordonWarren was launched at 4 o'clock. Astrong south-westerly breeze was blow-ing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat searched widely and burned flares.She saw answering flares, but they soonceased, and she could find no vesselin need of help. It was learned laterthat the fishing boat Mac had burnedflares and that she had been picked upby a pilot boat at Burbo Tower, southof the river Mersey. Unfortunately afisherman rang up the Llandudno policeand asked that the Llandudno life-boatshould go out to help the Rhyl life-boatin her search, and the police thoughtthat the life-boat herself was in dis-tress. They rang up the station andthe Llandudno crew assembled at 9.30,but the boat was not launched. Thenat 10.39 the honorary secretary atRhyl asked Hoylake to go out andsearch, and at 11.15 the motor life-boatOldham was launched, but a few minuteslater a message was received at Hoylakethat The Gordon Warren was at Mostyn.Attempts to recall the Oldham failed.She made for Rhyl and met The GordonWarren, which was then returning toher station. The Gordon Warren ar-rived there at 2.20 that afternoon, andthe Oldham returned to Hoylake,where she arrived at 4.15.—Rewards,Rhyl, £25 10s.; Hoylake, £33; Llan-dudno, £8 12s. 6d.

Dover, Kent.-—December 8th.—Re-wards, £7 5s.

Exmouth, Devon.-—December 10th.—Rewards, £24 17s.

Holyhead, Anglesey.—December 17th.—Rewards, £7 10s.

Douglas, Isle of Man;—December 17th.—Rewards, £13 15s.

Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—De-cember 18th.—Rewards, £15 8s.

Torbay, Devon.—December 19th.—Rewards, £5 8s.

Hastings, Sussex.—December 20th.—Rewards. £40 Os. 6d.

Dunbar, Haddingtonshire. — December21st.—Rewards, £10 10s.

Wells, Norfolk.—December 21st.—Re*wards, £29 15s.

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 283

Fowey, Cornwall.-—December 22nd.—Rewards, £8 15*.

Padstow, Cornwall.—December 23rd—Rewards, £17 18s.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex. — December26th.—Rewards, £12 8s.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.——December 28th.—Rewards, £18 11*.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire. — December28th.—Rewards, £18 16s.

Dover, Kent.—December 28th.—Re-wards, £10 15s.

Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland.—December 29th.—Rewards, £10 17s.

Troon, Ayrshire.—December 29th.—Rewards, £11.

Flamborough, Yorkshire. — December31st.—Rewards, £16 12s.

JANUARY

During January, 1948, life-boats wentout on service 46 times, and rescued23 lives.

DAMAGED ON THE SANDS IN A GALE

Lowestoft, Suffolk.-—At nine o'clockon the night of the 1st of January, 1949,the coastguard telephoned that atrawler appeared to be aground onNewcombe Sands, and the life-boatMichael Stephens was launched at 9.15.A south-south-west gale was blowing,with .a very rough sea. The life-boatfound the local trawler J.A.P. three-quarters of a mile east of Lowestoft.She had damaged her rudder on thesands and was lying in broken water.The master asked for a tug. The'life-boat summoned one and then stood byuntil the tug came and towed thetrawler into harbour, arriving at twoin the morning.—Rewards, £13 4s.

FOOD TO STEAMER IN THE DOWNS

Walmer, Kent.—In the morning ofthe 2nd of January, 1949, a strongsouth-westerly gale was blowing, andat 9.30 the agents for the S.S. Baron,which was in the Downs, reported thatshe was in urgent need of food andasked the life-boat to take it out asthe sea was too rough for other boats.The life-boat, Charles Dibdin, CivilService No. 2, was launched at 10.30,

put food aboard the Baron and returnedto her station again at 11.30.—Rewards>£19 18s., which the agents of theowners of the steamer paid.

ANOTHER FISHING BOAT BROKENDOWN

Whitby, Yorkshire.—At four in the,afternoon of the 2nd of January, 1949,the coastguard reported that red flareshad been burned by the local motorfishing boat Providence, about threemiles to the southward, and the life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launchedat 4.12 in a strong north-westerly windwith a rough sea. She found theProvidence, with a crew of five, and herengine broken down, towed her intoWhitby through the broken water atthe harbour entrance, and returned toher station at seven o'clock.—Rewards,£10 Os. 6d.

WITH A SCRATCH CREW

Filey, Yorkshire.—On the morningof the 4th of January, 1949, a south-easterly wind was blowing. It in-creased, and the sea became very rough.The local fishing fleet was at sea. Thefirst boat to arrive back reported verybad weather, and at 12.25 in the after-noon the life-boat The Cuttle waslaunched. Her crew were at sea inthe fishing boats and a scratch crewmanned her, with the retired bowmanin command. She escorted sevencobles past Filey Brigg, and into safety,and reached her station again at four1o'clock.—Rewards, £18 12s.

DUTCH VESSEL BROKEN DOWN

Sunderland, Durham.—At nine o'clockon the night of the 4th of January, 1949,when a light north-easterly wind wasblowing, with a slight swell, the Dutchmotor vessel Beta was reported by thecoastguard to be signalling "not undercontrol." At 12.22 on the morning ofthe 5th she was still displaying the sig-nals and was now drifting very close tothe shore two miles to the north ofSunderland. The life-boat Edward andIsabella Irwin was launched at 12.50,and found that the vessel's engine hadbroken down. She stood by, for anhour and a half. The captain thenreported that he could repair theengines, «nd the life-boat returned to

284 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

her station, arriving at 3.45. Laterthe Beta was able to go on to SouthShields.—Rewards, £10 17,9. Gd.

FISHING BOAT AGROUND

Troon, Ayrshire. —At 11.50 on thenight of the 6th of January, 1949, thePortpatrick coastguard telephoned thatthe Ayr coastguard had reported twofishing boats aground to the south ofAyr, and the life-boat Sir David Rich-mond of Glasgow was launched at 12.40in the morning of the 7th in a lightsouth-easterly wind, with a calm sea,but heavy rain. She found the boatsa mile south of Ayr at two o'clock.One, the Mavoureen, was afloat and atanchor, but the other, the RandomHarvest, of Peterhead, was on the Black-burn Rocks. She declined the help ofthe life-boat and refloated on the risingtide about half an hour later. Es-corted by the life-boat she reached AyrHarbour at 4.10.—Rewards, £9 ISs.

FISHING BOAT ESCORTED IN

Whitby, Yorkshire.—On the morningof the 8th of January, 1949, the localfishing boat Pilot Me II was at sea.The wind increased rapidly until it wasblowing strongly from the north-west,with a heavy sea breaking on theharbour bar, and at 9.15 the life-boatMary Ann Hepworth was launched.She found the fishing boat three milesto the north-north-east, escorted herinto harbour, and arrived back at herstation at 10 o'clock.-—-Rewards,£8 2s. 6d.

ANOTHER FISHING BOAT TOWED IN

The Mumbles, Glamorganshire. — At5.17 in the evening of the 8th of January,1949, the coastguard telephoned thatthe motor fishing vessel Johnny Eager,of Swansea, was making distress signals,and at 5.40 the life-boat WilliamGammon — Manchester and DistrictXXX was launched. A strong north-erly breeze was blowing with a choppysea. The life-boat found the JohnnyEager ten miles west-south-west ofMumbles Head with her propellerfouled. She had a crew of four. Thelife-boat towed her to Swansea, andarrived back at her station at 11.10that night.—Rewards, £18 10s.

DRIFTING ALL NIGHT

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.—At 3.15in the afternoon of the 8th of January,1949, the Gravir Post Office telephonedthat a vessel between the Shiant Isleswas sounding her whistle, and the life-boat William and Harriot was launchedat 3.55, in a fresh, north-westerly breezewith a choppy sea. She found thesteam drifter Hero, of Inverness, with acrew of nine. She had drifted all nightwith her engines broken down and wasnow at anchor off the rocks at thenorthern end of the Isles. The life-boattowed her to Stornoway Harbour,arriving at 12.30 the next morning.—Property salvage case.

SWEDISH STEAMER IN PERIL

Whitehills, and Buckie, Banffshire.—While bound from Narvik to Working-ton, with a cargo of iron ore, and acrew of 28, the Swedish steamer Frej,of Stockholm, met heavy weather andsheltered in Banff Bay. At 3.20 on themorning of the 8th of January, 1949,she was reported to the Whitehillslife-boat station by the Banff coast-guard. The coastguard continued tokeep her under observation and at 6.20he reported that she had not onlyparted from one anchor, but was shortof fuel and was. in danger. A wholenorth-north-easterly gale was thenblowing, with a very heavy sea, and itwas low water. The weather was sobad that it was impossible to launchthe Whitehills life-boat and the WTiite-hills station asked for the Buckielife-boat K.B.M. She was launched at8.25, and, three hours later reachedthe Frej, which was now one and aquarter miles north-north-east of Banffon a lee shore. She stood by for sometime and the Frej's captain thendecided that the majority of his crewshould leave. The life-boat went along-side seven times in the rough seas, andtook off nineteen men, being damagedin doing it. With the men on boardshe set out for Buckie at 12.35 in theafternoon and arrived at half past threeafter an extremely arduous passage.

In the meantime the life-boat crew atWhitehills had remained standing byfor an opportunity to launch and thiscame when the weather moderatedsomewhere about midday. The life-

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 285

boat William Maynard was launched athalf past twelve. She fired a line to thesteamer, but the remainder of the crewelected to stay as they were expectinga tug, and at the request of the captainthe life-boat stood by. At 7.30 she putinto Macduff for fuel and food. Byarrangement with the captain of theFrej she stayed at Macduff throughoutthe night, and at 8.15 on the morningof the 9th she returned to the Frej andremained by her until she was taken intow by a tug. She then returned toher station, arriving at three in theafternoon, over twenty-six hours aftershe had first put out.—Rewards:Whitehills, £51 13s. 6d.; Buckie, £21 6s.

In gratitude for these services, anda service to another Swedish vessel bythe Stornoway life-boat on the 28th ofJanuary, the Swedish Life-boat Societypresented the Institution with a plaqueand a diploma.

PILOTING TRAWLERS

Stromness, Orkneys.—At 9.3 on thenight of the 8th of January, 1949, theKirkwall coastguard telephoned thatthe engine of the outward bound Hulltrawler Cramond Isle had broken down,that the trawler was leaking badly, andthat, although she was in tow of theIcelandic trawler Rodull, she had askedfor the life-boat. A fresh north-north-west breeze was blowing and the seawas rough. The life-boat J.J.K.S.W.was launched at 9.19, but at 10.30 wasrecalled as it had been learned that theleak was then under control. Radiomessages between the two trawlers werethen intercepted, and as they indicatedthat the Rodull was not familiar withStromness a further message was sentto the life-boat not to return, but tomeet the vessels, escort them, andprovide them with a pilot. The life^boat met the trawlers twelve milessouth-south-west of Sule Skerry andguided them to Hoy Sound where alife-boat man was put aboard the Rodull.Both vessels were then piloted intoStromness Harbour and the Rodullpiloted out again. The life-boat thenwent alongside the Rodull, and re-emba|-ked the pilot and returned to herstation, which she reached at a quarterpast six in tbe morning.—Rewards,£21 2s.

CAUGHT BY A SUDDEN GALEWicklow.—At 3.30 in the afternoon

of the 10th of January, 1949, the localherring boats went to sea, but wereovertaken by bad weather, and an hourlater put back. One was missing, andat 5.5 the life-boat Lady Kylsant waslaunched. A north-easterly gale wasthen blowing, with a heavy sea. Withthe help of her searchlight she foundthe fishing boat two miles to the north-ward, escorted her to the harbour andreached her station again at 6.45.—Rewards, £15 5s. 6d.

ANOTHER TRAWLER AGROUNDAberdeen.—At 6.37 in the morning

of the 13th of January, 1949, informa-tion was received from the Pilot Stationthat a vessel was aground to the northof the north pier, Aberdeen Bay, butwas not making signals of distress.The crews of both the Nos. 1 and 2life-boets were assembled and fromsignals made it was learned that thevessel was the Grimsby steam trawlerWelbeck, outward bound to the fishinggrounds, with a crew cf eighteen. Alight southerly wind was blowing witha slight sea, but a gale warning hadbeen received. At 7.32 the No. 1life-boat Emma Constance put out fol-lowed by the steam tug Danny. Theyreached the trawler in a few minutesand the life-boat took a line from herto the tug. The trawler was soon re-floated, and under her own power madefor Aberdeen, escorted by the life-boat,arriving at ten o'clock.—Propertysalvage case.

SEA SCOUTS TOWED INDover, Kent.—At 12.48 in the morn-

ing of the 16th of January, 1949, theSandgate coastguard telephoned thatthe S.S. Llanstephan Castle had reportedthat a Sea Scout launch had brokendown five miles south of Folkestone,and the life-boat Mary Scott, on tem-porary duty at the station, was launchedat 1.15 in a light south-westerly breeze.She found the motor launch SilverWake, bound for London with a crewof three men and three scouts, sixmiles south-south-west of Dover. Thescouts' belonged to a WestminsterGroup. The life-boat towed the launchto Dover, and reached her station again

286 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

at 4 o'clock. The Sea Scout Groupexpressed its thanks. •— Rewards,£10 15*.

FOUR FISHING BOATS IN A VERYROUGH SEA

Holy Island, Northumberland. — At11.23 in the morning of the 17th ofJanuary, 1949, it was decided that thelife-boat should put out to stand bythree local fishing cobles, the SarahAnn, Sarah Brigham, and Eventide,which had been overtaken by badweather, and the Gertrude was launchedat 11.35. A fresh west-south-west galewas then blowing, with a very roughsea. The life-boat found the coblesfour miles to the east, and escortedthem into the harbour, arriving at12.50 that afternoon.—Rewards, £11 2s.

HELPED TWICE IN THREE DAYS

Scarborough, and Filey, Yorkshire.—At6.10 in the evening of the 17th ofJanuary, 1949, the Scarborough coast-guard reported to the life-boat stationthat anxiety was felt for the safetyof the local motor fishing coble Hildawhich had left with a crew of threeearly that morning. The weathershowed signs of getting bad, and at 6.45the life-boat Herbert Joy II waslaunched. The west-north-west breezewas light, but the sea rough. The life-boat found the coble, with her enginebroken down, making flares, nine milesto the east-south-east and took herin tow.

At 8.55 the Filey life-boat stationwas informed that flares could beseen five miles'east by north of FileyBrigg, and at 9.10 the life-boat TheCuMe was launched. She found theHilda in tow of the Scarborough life-boat, and then made a wide search,but found no other vessel in need ofhelp. As it seemed almost certainthat the flares had been the Hilda's shereturned to her station. The Scar-borough life-boat reached Scarboroughwith the Hilda at 11.15, and the Fileylife-boat reached Filey five minuteslater.—Rewards: Scarborough, £2212s.;Filey, £16 17*.

Scarborough, Yorkshire. — Two dayslater the Hilda was again in need ofhelp. At 5 o'clock in the evening of

the 19th of January, 1949, the coast-guard telephoned that she was overdue,and later reported that a trawler wasstanding by a fishing boat six miles tothe north-east. The life-boat HerbertJoy II was launched at 5.50, in a west-south-west breeze, with a moderatesea. She found the Hilda, which hadrun out of petrol, in tow of the steamtrawler Kudos, took over the tow andarrived back at 7.20.—Rewards, £17.

ITALIAN TANKER ON THE GOODWINSWalmer, Kent. — At 10.55 in the

morning of the 26th of January, 1949,the Deal coastguard reported a messagefrom the South Goodwin Lightvesselthat a ship was aground about one anda quarter miles north-east of her, andthe motor life-boat Charles Dibdin,Civil Service No. 2, was launched at11 o'clock. A light south-south-westbreeze was blowing, with a moderatesea. The life-boat found that the vesselwas the S.S. Giacomo Matteotti, ofGenoa, an oil tanker of 6,190 tons,bound for Hull. The second coxswainand four life-boatmen boarded her andthe life-boat laid out a kedge anchor.It was then four in the afternoon.Two tugs arrived and pulled the tankeroff the sands. Accompanied by thelife-boat, she made for Dover andanchored there shortly before eleven.The life-boat then returned to herstation arriving at 11.45 that night.—Property salvage case.

ASHORE IN A DENSE FOG

Cromer, Norfolk.—-At 6.5 in the even-ing of the 26th of January, 1949, thecoastguard reported a vessel ashore 200yards south of Bacton, and the No. 2life-boat Harriot Dixon was launchedat 6.25. There was dense fog, but thesoutherly breeze was light and the seasmooth. The life-boat found the ves-sel. She was the motor vessel Farndale,of Middlesbrough. Her skipper askedthe life-boat to stand by during thenight, which she did, and the followingmorning she ran out a kedge anchorfor the Farndale to prevent her beingcarried further ashore on the risingtide. At eleven o'clock the skippertold the coxswain that he need nolonger stand by, and the life-boatreached her station again at, 12.15

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 287

that afternoon, the 27th. The Farm-dale refloated and went on her way athalf past six that evening.-—Rewards,£62 11s. 3d.

BROKEN ARM AND LEGLerwick, Shetland*.—While the life-

boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland wasout on exercise in the afternoon of the27th of January, 1949, information wasreceived at the station that a man atBaltasound, Unst, had been badlyinjured, and the County Medical Officerasked for the services of the life-boat.She was at once recalled by wireless,and at four o'clock put out again witha nurse and a medical orderly. Amoderate south-westerly gale was blow-ing, with a rough sea. The life-boatreached Baltasound at half-past eightand took on board the man, who hada broken arm and a broken leg. Sheleft at 10.15 that night and reachedLerwick again at half past three nextmorning. There the patient and hisattendants were transferred to a waitingambulance.—Rewards, £28 5s.

SWEDISH STEAMER ASHOREStornoway, Outer Hebrides.-—At 3.15

in the morning of the 28th of January,1949, the coastguard telephoned thatthe motor ship Hervor Eratt, of Gothen-burg, of 1500 tons, bound for Swedenwith coke, had reported that she wasashore at lasgair Rock, off TroddayIsland. The life-boat William andHarriott was launched at 4.20 in afresh south-south-west breeze with achoppy sea and found the vessel offFladda-chuain Island. She carried acrew of twenty-three, but most of themhad got ashore. After speaking to thecaptain the life-boat took on boardtwenty men, leaving the captain andtwo of his officers in the Hervor Brattto await a salvage vessel. She reachedher station again at 2.45 that after-noon.-—Rewards, £17 15*.

In gratitude for this service andservices to another Swedish vessel bythe Whitehills and Buckie life-boats onthe 8th and 9th of January, the SwedishLife-boat Society presented the Insti-tution with a plaque and a diploma.

FISHING BOAT IN PERILAith, Shetland*.—At' 10 o'clock on the

night of the 27th of January, 1949, a

member of the crew of the motorfishing vessel Ivy Lea, of Lerwick,which had put out the previous morn-ing, telephoned that the Ivy Lea hadbroken down, but had reached HamnaVoe under sail and had anchored. Itwas later reported that she had no gearwith which to anchor properly, but hadsecured with a kedge anchor and afishing net rope. A moderate breezewas blowing from the west-north-west,and as no other boats were availablethe life-boat The Rankin was launchedat 7 o'clock in the morning of the 28th.She towed the Ivy Lea to Aith, arrivingat noon.—Rewards, £14 15s.

TWO VESSELS ASHORE IN DENSEFOG

Humber, Yorkshire.—On the morn-ing of the 28th of January, 1949, therewas dense fog, but the weather wascalm, and at 5.10 the Spurn Pointcoastguard telephoned that the motorvessel Northgate, of Hull, was ashoreclose to the life-boat station. The life-boat crew assembled and hailed thevessel from the beach. She said thatshe needed no help, but watch was kepton her. Later her owners and captainasked the life-boat to help to refloat her,and at 3.20 in the afternoon the Cityof Bradford II was launched and towedthe Northgote clear. She made forHull and the life-boat reached herstation again at 5 o'clock that evening.—Property salvage case.

Wells, Norfolk.—There was a thickfog in the afternoon of the 28th ofJanuary, 1948, and the owner of thelocal motor fishing boat Sally reportedthat she was overdue. He asked forthe life-boat to search for her, and at4.55 the Cecil Paine was launched. Alight southerly breeze was blowing, andthe sea was smooth. An hour later thelife-boat found the Sally aground half amile east-south-east of the harbour bar,refloated her and towed her in, arrivingback at her station at 6.35.—Rewards,£18.

TWO AIRMEN KILLED

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—At 1.55in the af ternoon of the 29th of January,1949, the police reported an aet-opttiedown in the sea about a mile off

288 THE LIFE-BOAT [APEIL, 1949

shore between Lancing and Shoreham,and the life-boat Rosa Woodd andPhyllis Lunn was launched nine min-utes later. There was a light variablebreeze and the sea was smooth. Thelife-boat found the remains of a Milestraining aircraft one mile south ofLancing, and among the wreckagethe bodies of two men. She towed thewreckage to Shoreham and returnedto her station at 4.5. There shelanded the bodies.—Rewards, £11 Is.

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

Lerwick, Shetlands.—January 1st.—Rewards, £28 5s.

Dover, Kent. — January 1st.—-Re-wards, £9.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—January 2nd.—Rewards, £13.

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire.-—January3rd.—Rewards, £35 7s.

Rhyl, Flintshire.—January 3rd.—Re-wards, £24 8s.

Montrose, Angus. •—• January 3rd. —Rewards, £24 4s.

Humber, Yorkshire.—January 4th.—Paid permanent crew.

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.—January7th.—Rewards, £10 10s.

Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—Jan-uary 12th.—Rewards, £9 19s.

Ilfracombe, Devon. — January, 14th.—Rewards, £22 10s.

Seaham, Durham.—January 16th.—Rewards, £8 12s.

Seaham, Durham.—January 17th.—Rewards, £8 4s.

Filey, Yorkshire. — January 18th.—Rewards, £16 13s. 6d.

Weymouth, Dorset.—January 19th.—Rewards, £7.

Humber, Yorkshire.—January 20th.—Paid permanent crew; Rewards,£26 15s. 6d.

Filey, Yorkshire. — January 25th.—Rewards, £21 5s.

North Sunderland, Northumberland.—January 26th.—Rewards, £28. 18s. 6d.

Margate, Kent.—January 30th.—Re-wards, £34 13s. 6d.

FEBRUARYDuring February, 1949, life-boats

went out on service 41 times and res-cued four lives.

BROKEN DOWN IN A GALEClogher Head, Co. Louth.—At 5 o'clock

in the evening of the 4th of February,1949, information Was received thatthe motor trawler Radiant Morn, ofPort Oriel, which had a crew of four,was making distress signals and burn-ing flares, off the Dunany Reef, fivemiles north-east cf Port Oriel. A south-easterly gale was blowing, with a heavyswell. The life-boat Mary Ann Bluntwas launched at 5.15 and found thetrawler with her engines broken down.She had anchored but was draggingtowards the reef. The life-boat towedher to Port Oriel and remained thereovernight reaching her station again at10 o'clock the next morning. Thecrew of the trawler expressed theirthanks.—Rewards, £18 11s.

FISHING BOATS CAUGHT IN A GALEScarborough, Yorkshire.—At 8.25 in

the morning of the 9th of February,1949, the coastguard telephoned that, asthe weather was freshening, anxiety wasfelt for the safety of the fishing coblesRosemary and Hilda II which had leftthe harbour at daybreak, and at 8.40the life-boat Herbert Joy It waslaunched. A south-south-east gale wasthen blowing, with a rough sea. Thelife-boat found the cobles off the CastleHill, escorted them to the harbour andput out again to search for any otherfishing boats. None was found and thelife-boat reached her station again at11.40.—Rewards, £18 10s.

Bridlington, Yorkshire.—About 8o'clock in the morning of the 9th ofFebruary, 1949, the coastguard re-ported that ten local fishing boats wereat sea and that the weather was gettingworse, and the life-boat Tittie Morrison,Sheffield, was launched at 9.15. Asouth-south-east gale was then blowing,with a rough sea and rain. The life-boat escorted the fishing boats to theharbour at 11.45, and owing to thestate of the tide remained there untilthe afternoon. She arrived back ather station at 3 o'clock.—Rewards,£13 19s. 6d.

APRIL, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 289

DUTCH STEAMER IN PERILFiley, Yorkshire.—At 8 o'clock in the

morning of the 9th of February, 1949,the coastguard telephoned that a vesselhad anchored off Humanby Gap. Asthe weather got worse her positionbecame dangerous, and at 9.54 the life-boat The Cuttle was launched. A freshsouth-easterly gale was then blowing,with a heavy sea and rain. The life-boat found the motor vessel Frem, ofHolland, bound 'for Rotterdam. Shehad broken down. Her master askedthe life-boat to stand by, and this shedid, remaining until the weather im-

Eroved and the Frem got under way.he returned to her station at 11.55.-̂ -Rewards, £17 7s. 6d.

FISHING BOAT TOWED OFF THE ROCKSMallaig, Inverness-shire.—At 1.55 in

the morning of the 18th of February,1949, the Kyle coastguard reported thatthe new motor fishing boat Alliance, ofInverness, was ashore five miles to thesouth-east of Calve Island in the Soundof Mull near Tobermory, and the life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was launched at2.45. A southerly gale was blowing,with a rough sea. The life-boat reachedthe place five and a half hours later,and found that three of the Alliance'screw of eight had got on to the rocks.One of the men aboard threw a h'ne andthe life-boat towed the Alliance off,but she was unable to take off the menfrom the rocks, so she directed themwhere they could catch a steamer.After an assurance from the men onthe fishing boat that she was all right,the life-boat started home. It wasthen ten in the morning. She reachedher station again at 2.15 in the after-noon.—Property salvage case.

NAVAL LANDING SHIP AGROUNDTroon, Ayrshire.—Early on the 21st

of February, 1949, H.M.S. Puncher, anaval landing ship with a crew ofeighteen, left Troon for Port Glasgow,in tow of two tugs. A south-westerlygale got up, with a very heavy sea, andthe Puncher snapped her towing cablesand went ashore one and a half milesnorth of Irvine Harbour. At 1.10 theTroon pilots reported the accident, andat 1.35 the life-boat Sir David Richmondof Glasgow was launched, only to learnfrom the Clyde pilot who was in charge

that there was no immediate dangerand that the crew were remaining onboard. After offering to take the menoff at high water, if necessary, the life-boat returned to her station, which shereached at four o'clock in the after-noon. Arrangements were then madewith the tug captain that the life-boatshould go out again in the morning.She left at 4.25 with the tug Chieftainand at 5.15 they met the tug Forager.They all stood by until daybreak, whenit was decided that in the high seasrunning it would be impossible to makecommunication between the tugs andthe Puncher. The Puncher's crew re-fused to abandon her, and the tugs andthe life-boat returned to Troon, thelife-boat arriving at 8.45.

An attempt to get the Puncher off wasto be made the following morning, the23rd, and the life-boat put out forthe third time at 6.45. This time itwas possible, with the line-throwing gun,to throw a line aboard the Puncher andwith some difficulty a wire rope wasmade fast, but the efforts of the tugsto move her on the high tide failed,and they returned to Troon. ThePuncher's crew again declined to leaveand the life-boat got back to her station,at 11.10. Another attempt was madeon the 24th, by the tugs alone, but thetow parted and the effort failed. Onthe 25th the life-boat was asked to tryand get another rope aboard beforehigh water at 11.22 at night, but therisk was too great on account of thegale, heavy seas, and anti-invasionobstructions. Next morning, the 26th,the life-boat left at half past sevenon her fourth and final trip, in a•west-north-west gale, •with very roughseas. She again got a line to thePuncher with her line-throwing gun,the tugs made fast, and at high water,shortly before midday, the Puncherbegan to move. The tugs then startedto tow her, stern first, to Port Glas-gow, the life-boat going as escort asfar as the Cumbraes. In an excep-tionally heavy squall the tow parted,but by skilful seamanship the tugChieftain got the Puncher in tow again,and, when the tugs reported they couldmanage her, the life-boat put intoMillport at 5.40 in the afternoon as hercrew had had nothing to eat since earlymorning. She left Millport at 6.20,

290 THE LIFE-BOAT [APRIL, 1949

reached her station at 8.50 and wasready for service again by half past ninethat night.—Rewards: first service,£9 7s.; second service, £12 19*.; thirdservice, £12 19s.; fourth service, £31 8s.

DOCTORS WANTED

Donaghadee, Co. Down.—At 9.10 inthe morning of the 23rd of February,1949, the Bangor coastguard telephonedthat the Swedish steamer Kajtum, ofStockholm, at anchor in Carrick Roads,Belfast Lough, was in need of a doctor,and the life-boat Civil Service.No. 5left her moorings at 9.25 with a doctoron board. A strong squally north-westerly wind was blowing, with aslight sea. The doctor found that twomen had tonsilitis but could remain onboard. He treated them and returnedin the life-boat, which arrived back ather station at 12.45 in the afternoon.—Rewards, £11 3s.

Wick, Caithness-shire.—At ten o'clockon the night of the 24th of February,1949, the medical officer reported thata wireless message had been receivedfrom the S.S. Beltoy, of Larne, lyingoff Keiss Harbour, Sinclair Bay, thather captain was suffering from hemor-rhage and needed immediate help. Afresh west-north-west breeze was blow-ing with a moderate sea, and, as nosuitable small boat was available, thelife-boat, City of Edinburgh, waslaunched at 10.20 with the medicalofficer on board. He treated thecaptain, but did not consider that heneed be brought ashore, and the life-boat reached Wick again at 1.15 in themorning.—Rewards, £9 10s. 6d.

Gal way Bay.—At 11.30 in the morn-ing of the 25th of February, 1949, adoctor asked for the help of the life-boat to take an urgent maternity caseto the mainland. No other suitableboat was available, and the life-boatK.E.C.F. was launched at twelve noon.A moderate westerly wind was blowing,but the sea was fairly calm. The life-boat landed the woman at Casla and awaiting ambulance took her to hospital,but the baby died. The life-boatreached her station again at four in theafternoon. The woman sent a letterof thanks to the Institution.—Rewards,£7 19s.

TRAWLER BADLY HOLED.

Portrusb, Co. Antrim.—At 6.47 in themorning of the 26th of February, 1949,the coastguard telephoned that avessel was in distress on Rathlin Island,and the life-boat T.B.B.H. was launchedat 7.5. A fresh west-south-west galewas blowing, with a heavy sea. Thelife-boat reached the island at 8.40 andfound the Fleetwood trawler Pintailashore on the north side of Bull Point.She had been lifted over a reef and layunder the face of the cliff with heavyseas breaking over her. She was badlyholed. It was impossible for the life-boat to get near her. The coxswaincould have fired a line to the wreckarid hauled the men across the rocks tothe life-boat, but as he saw that thelife-saving rocket apparatus companywere already preparing to rescue themen from the shore he waited. Whenhe saw that the whole crew of twelvemen had been rescued in this way hetook the life-boat to the small pier inChurch Bay in order to embark therescued men and carry them to themainland. The pier was fully exposedto the wind and sea. It was impossiblefor the life-boat to come alongside inthe ordinary way, so the coxswainanchored. The sea bed was rocky andit was not until the fourth attempt thatthe anchor would hold. The coxswainthen veered the boat down to the pierand the twelve men jumped for her asthe opportunity came. The islandersthought it impossible to take them off,but the coxswain succeeded in doingit without even scratching the life-boat's paint. The skipper of the Pin-tail expressed his thanks for the rescueand the hospitality shown him and hiscrew.—Rewards, £23 9s.

A YACHT IN DIFFICULTIESMargate, Kent.—At 9.45 in the morn-

ing of the 27th of February, 1949,the coastguard reported that a yacht,three miles to the north-eastwards, wasdrifting rapidly towards the shore. Astrong west-north-west wind was blow-ing and the sea was rough. The life-boat The Lord Southborough, CivilService No. 1, was launched at 9.53 andat 10.30 found the sailing yacht Thetaoff the North. Foreland. She was onpassage from Shoreham to Chatham.

APRIL, 1949] THE UFF-BOAT 291

Her sails had been damaged, and hersmall auxiliary engine had been givingtrouble, but it was working again, andher skipper was trying to make Rams-gate. The life-boat put her secondcoxswain on board the Theta as pilotand then escorted her to Ramsgate,where she was safely moored at 12.15.The life-boat arrived back at Margateat 2.15 in the afternoon, but had toanchor outside the harbour until shecould be rehoused at five o'clock.—Rewards, £24 12s.

SEVENTY MILES IN A GALELerwick, Shetlands.—At 12.22 in the

afternoon of the 27th of February,1949, the medical officer of health,telephoned that there had been an acci-dent in Unst, and a man must betaken to hospital at once. A strongnortherly gale was blowing, with arough sea and snow showers, and as noother suitable boat was available thelife-boat Lady Jane and Martha Rylandwas launched at 12.57. She reachedUyeasound, thirty-five miles away, at5.15, left again half an hour later,with the injured man, and at 9.35 thatnight arrived at Lerwick where anambulance was waiting.—Rewards,£22 55.

LOST IN A CREEK

Walton and Frinton, Essex. — About5 o'clock in the evening of the 27th ofFebruary, 1949, information was re-ceived that a man a woman and threechildren had put out in the motor boatAlnora from Landermere Creek for theWalton Yacht Club at 11.30 thatmorning, and that nothing had beenheard of them since. Many • enquirieswere made, but no news could be got,and at 7.50 the life-boat E.M.E.D. waslaunched. A moderate north-westerlybreeze was blowing and the sea wasmoderate. The life-boat searchedHamford Waters, for four hours, usingher searchlight and loud hailer, and at10.50 found the Alnora at OakleySaltings aground in a deep and narrowcreek. She could not get near her, soshe fired lines to her, passed a rope andpulled her clear. She took the fivepeople on board, and gave them coffee,chocolate and biscuits. They had hadnothing to eat for twelve hours. The

life-boat made for her station with theAlnora in tow, and arrived at 1.15 thenext morning.—Rewards, £23 10s.

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

Sennen Cove, Cornwall. — February2nd—Rewards, £11 7s.

Torbay, Devon.—February 3rd.—Re-wards, £9 18s.

Cromer, Norfolk.—February 4th.-—Rewards, £16 Is.

Walton and Frinton, .Essex.—February7th.-—Rewards, £18 10s.

Girvan, Ayrshire. — February 8th.—Rewards, £6 8s.

Portrush, Co. Antrim.—February 9th.—Rewards, £9 12s.

May, Inner Hebrides.—February 10th.—Rewards, £13 Os. lid.

Dover, Kent—February 13th.—Re-wards, £22 10s.

Barmouth, Merionethshire.—February16th.—Rewards, £14,12s.

Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire. — February16th.—Rewards, £11 3*.

Helvick Head, Co. Waterford.—February16th.—Rewards, £9 13*.

Broughty Ferry, Angus. — February16th.—Rewards, £11.

Port Erin, Isle of Man. — February18th.—Rewards, £29 10s. 6d.

Tynemoiith, Northumberland. — Feb-ruary 19th.—Rewards, £12 7s.

Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland. —February 21st.—Rewards, £10 11s. 6d.

Hastings, Sussex.—February 22nd.—•Rewards, £30 17s. 6d.

Wick, Caithness-shire.—February 22nd.—Rewards, £14 17s. 6d,

Falmouth, Cornwall.—February 22nd.—Rewards, £7 8s.

Coverack, Cornwall.—February 22nd.—Rewards. £9 10s.

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