At 2.30 A.M. on the 22nd November the Coastguard reported that a steamer had grounded on the beach and was making signals of distress. The Coxswain, John Swan, therefore assembled his crew and launched the Life-boat Kentwell. On nearing the vessel, which was H.M.S.

Spider, engaged in mine - sweeping operations, the boat was veered down to her and the crew of thirteen hands were rescued. Heavy seas were breaking over the vessel, and it was necessary for the Life-boat to go into broken water to take the men off.

At the time of the rescue a strong easterly breeze was blowing.

Later in the day the Life-boat was again called out, as a steamer was seen to strike on the Newcome Sands. Wben she reached the sands she found the steam trawler Condor, of Grimsby, aground. This vessel also had been engaged in mine-sweeping operations.

The crew of nine hands had taken refuge in the rigging and, owing to the tre- mendous seas which were breaking over the vessel, the work of rescue was rendered hazardous. The boat was veered down, but was obliged to haul away again after each man from the vessel's rigging dropped into the Life- boat, the operation being repeated until the whole of the nine men had been saved. Owing to the position of the trawler the Life-boat was constantly swept by heavy seas, and swung to windward of the vessel, with the result that she struck the wreck five times and was damaged but, fortunately, not seriously. This service was a very arduous and meritorious one, and the splendid, seamanship displayed by Cox- swain Swan in the management of his boat elicited the greatest praise. He was heartily congratulated by the Captain in charge of the mine sweepers, and the rescue took place in the presence of thousands of spectators. Shortly after the service, the Captain in charge of the Naval base at Lowestoft wrote a letter to the Institution, from which the following is an extract:— " I have very much pleasure in telling you that I consider the work done by the Lowestoft Life-boat on the 22nd instant, whilst saving the crew of the Condor, was a very fine piece of work.

There was a very nasty sea running and the Coxswain got his boat as close to the wreck as possible with the greatest skill, and had he been ten minutes later I have no doubt that practically all the crew would have been drowned, as the vessel turned practically over im- mediately after the crew had been taken off. I watched the whole oper- ation through a powerful glass only about half a mile away (as we all did).

I sent for the Coxswain of the Life-boat afterwards and congratulated him on his fine work, and I certainly think the case well deserving of a medal.

" In addition to this service, the Life- boat also saved the crew of the Spider in the early morning of the same day, but this was not attended with any- thing like the same risk as in the case of the Condor.

" I have always been an admirer of the Life-boat service, and am now doubly so." In recognition of the gallantry dis- played on this occasiofi, the Committee of Management bestowed the Silver Medal on Coxswain John Swan, and granted to each member of the crew an additional pecuniary award..