At about 8.50 A.M. on the 28th July, the Coast- guard reported that they had received a message from the Grunfleet Lighthouse stating that a ketch was high and dry on the Gunfleet Sands. As a strong S.W. breeze prevailed at the time with a rough sea the Life-boat James Steven» No. 11 was dispatched to the assistance of the men on board the ketch. When the Life-boat reached the scene she found that the vessel was the Alexander, of Lowestoft, bound from Middles- borough to Silvertown, loaded with salt.

The Life-boatmen were engaged to try and save the ketch and with their assistance she was taken into Harwich Harbour. The Life-boat then returned to her station..