ON the 4th May, 1908, the Prince of Wales, who is the President of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and takes the greatest interest in its work and welfare, graciously commanded Mr. William Owen, the Coxswain- Superintendent of the Institution's steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland, stationed at Holyhead, to attend at Marlborough House in order that he might confer on him the Institution's Gold Medal, the highest award for lifesaving bestowed by the Committee of Management, for a service of exceptional merit attended by grave risk to all on board the Life-boat, and which would almost certainly have ended disastrously had it not been for the gallant and extremely skilful management of the Lifeboat by Owen. His Royal Highness, who was attended on the occasion by Colonel FitzRoy Clayton (Deputy-Chairman of the Institution), Mr. Charles Dibdin (the Secretary), and Commander St.

Vincent Nepean, M.V.O., R.N. (Chief Inspector of Life-boats), after pinning the Gold Medal on Owen's breast and presenting him with a framed vellum of the Committee's resolution, which H.R.H. had signed, conferring the medal, heartily congratulated him upon his gallant and intrepid conduct, and shook him cordially by the hand.

Mr. William Owen when he was presented was wearing the Silver Medal of the Institution voted him for a j gallant rescue in 1890, and also the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society. The following are the details of the service in respect of which the Gold Medal was conferred on Coxswain Owen.

On the 22nd February, 1908, a gale of unusual severity blew over the whole of the United Kingdom, and at about 2 P.M. the Holyhead Steam Life-boat had returned but a very short time from rendering valuable assistance to a disabled steamer when information was received that another steamer, the Harold, of Liverpool, was in difficulties.

She was attempting to reach Holyhead but was drifting with the ebb tide towards that precipitous and rockbound part of the coast of Anglesey between the two projecting headlands known as the North and South " Stacks." The Lifeboat was ordered out again immediately and notwithstanding the terrible seas which were running she made for the disabled craft. By this time the wind, which was westerly and had been increasing, was blowing with hurricane force at a velocity of upwards of eighty miles an hour, but the Steam Life-boat made headway against it as probably no other boat could have done.

On reaching the neighbourhood of the distressed steamer it was found that she was anchored not very far from the shore but with such tremendous seas around her that it was quite impossible for the Life-boat to even get near her.

Huge waves tossed the Life-boat about like a cork, but eventually, after two hours' very skilful manoeuvring by Coxswain Owen and owing to the slackening tide for which he had waited, the Life-boat was able to approach sufficiently near for communication to be effected by means of a rope. Seven of the crew of the ill-fated steamer were by the use of lines drawn through the water to the Life-boat, when a heavy sea suddenly carried her almost alongside the steamer and the two remaining men jumped on board. The rope was slipped and the Life-boat steamed clear, happily successfully, and it was a great relief to all when Holyhead was reached in safety.

During the whole time the Life-boat was out the sea was described as " mountainous," and the successful rescue of the steamer's crew is worthy of unqualified praise. The service was attended by the greatest danger, as the Life-boat was at times in imminent peril of being driven against the disabled ship. Had this occurred it would probably have meant death to all on board the Life-boat. The coolness and intrepidity displayed by Coxswain Owen and the crew of the Life-boat were the subject of universal admiration at Holyhead, and this, together with the Coxswain's gallant and skilful management were folly appreciated by the Committee of Management of the Institution. The slightest error of judgment on the part of Coxswain Owen or any hesitancy in carrying out his orders must have occasioned disaster.

In recognition of the gallantry displayed, the Committee of Management of the Institution, in addition to pecuniary grants, and conferring the Gold Medal upon Coxswain Owen, bestowed the Silver Medal on each of the engine-room staff and the deck hands (eleven in all), the position of the former having been particularly trying, as they were battened down below and in ignorance of what was taking place around them.

The behaviour of the Life-boat throughout was much extolled, both by those "who were in her and by all who witnessed the service. The steamer Harold was a small craft of seventy-five tons and at the time of the disaster was bound from Teignmouth to Buncorn with a cargo of china clay. She became a total wreck the next day.

The Silver Medals of the Institution were publicly presented to the recipients on the 14th May at a function specially arranged for the purpose at the Town Hall, Holyhead, the President of the branch, Lord Stanley .of Alder ley, kindly handing them to them. The meeting was also attended by the Admiral Burr, C.M.G., M. V. O. (Vice - President), Captain McKinstry (Chairman), the Rev. Chancellor Owen Lloyd Williams, Mr. J. Lewis (Hon. Secretary), the Committee, and by a large and representative number of friends, the ceremony passing off with great'_eclat..