In the dense fog which prevailed in the Channel on the night of the 19th June, H.M.S. Sappho collided with another vessel off Dunge- ness. By a strange coincidence the colliding ship was also named the Sappho. The position of the cruiser was so critical that distress signals were made and steps were at once taken to transfer the majority of the crew to the ship's boats. In response to the dis- tress signals the No. 1 Life-boat B.A.O.B. was very smartly launched and found the vessel in a sinking con- dition The Coxswain at once boarded the ship, and the captain asked him to land as many of the crew as possible and to telegraph to the Admiralty and Dover for assistance. At the same time further signals were made to sum- mon further assistance, and the larger No. 2 Life-boat Thomas Simcox promptly responded.

Twenty-one of the crew of the sinking vessel were taken into the R.A.O.B. and she made for the shore, at the same time convoying the ship's boats all laden into safety. Valuable assistance was also given by a motor boat which put off in reply to the urgent distress signal.

When the men were landed and the necessary messages despatched, the Life- boat returned and took more men off.

In the meantime tugs had been sent from Dover, and it was decided to attempt to tow the vessel to that harbour, with the Life-boats in attendance, with only the requisite number of men on board, every preparation being made for their prompt rescue in the event of the vessel founder- ing. With twenty-three men in the No. 1 Life-boat and twenty-five in the No. 2 boat, two towing and another alongside using her powerful steam pumps to keep the water under control, the flotilla started for Dover. The progress was necessarily slow, as everything depended on the watertight bulkheads; but Dover was at length reached in safety and the damaged vessel beached at about 7 o'clock next morning.

The Life-boatmen were then provided •with food, and later in the day both boats were towed back to Dungeness by a Government tug. On arrival the cruiser's men, who had been landed at Dungeness the previous night, were transferred to the tug which then con- veyed them to Dover..