IN another column of the Life-boat Journal we give an account of the exceptionally fine service performed by the Gorleston Life-boatmen on the 29th March, which led to the Fifth Service Clasp being bestowed on Cox- swain Sidney Harris and the Silver Medal on Edward Bensley. It will therefore, we feel sure, be of interest to our readers to have a short account of the other instances in which the Silver Medal of the Institution has been awarded to Life-boatmen during the past year. In two cases, viz., Berwick- on-Tweed and Spurn, the Coxswains attended the annual meeting of the Governors and received their medals from the Chairman, the Earl of Plymouth, while in the other cases the medals were presented locally, suitable ceremonies having been arranged.

CLACTON - ON - SEA. — To Coxswain George J. Grigson (Second Service Clasp), and to Second Coxswain Jesse L. Salmon, in recognition of their services on the 28th-29th September, 1915. This was an extremely fine service, which resulted in the saving of the crew of nine hands of the barquen- tine Leading Chief. To rescue the nine men it was necessary for the Life-boat to make nine separate attempts to approach the vessel, and the risk in- curred was very great, as it became necessary to take the Life-boat over the submerged deck of the wreck, a most hazardous operation in the inky darkness with the heavy seas running.

BERWICK - ON - TWEED. — To Second Coxswain J. Jamieson. The boat was launched in response to signals of distress shortly after 4 A.M. on the 10th November, 1915, to assist a motor boat which was dragging her anchors in a strong northerly gale. The whole of the regular crew not being available, the Honorary Secretary, Lieut.-Col.

C. L. Fraser, V.D., E.A.M.C. (T.), a private belonging to the K.O.S.B., and others volunteered to go afloat under James Jamieson, the Second Coxswain.

Tremendous seas were running, and in the darkness it was impossible to rescue those on board. The Life-boat, therefore, stood by until daylight, when she succeeded in saving the crew of six hands, who were found with their life- belts already adjusted. To regain the harbour proved to be one of the bitterest experiences any man in the boat had ever endured. The cold was intense, the wind cut like a knife, and the spendrift was like showers of needles on the face.

By the time the boat reached the bar the men were well-nigh exhausted, and for over an hour they struggled valiantly, under both sails and oars, to attain the shelter of the harbour. Their position was critical, for the boat frequently went broadside to the breakers and was almost upset. Seeing the diffi- culty six men very bravely put off in a boat from Spittal, and by skilful seaman- ship reached the Life-boat, and the line which they had brought out with them was attached to the boat. The other end was in tire hands of the people on the pier, and no time was lost in hauling the boat into safety.

When they landed the condition of every man was pitiable. In the hurry to get away only one man had put on oilskins, there were only two sou'westers in the boat, and every one was soaked to the skin.

SPURN.—To Coxswain Robert Cross, for his intrepid conduct on the 9th December, 1915. In this case the s.s. Florence, of Stockton, whilst bound from London to Newcastle with a cargo of oil, stranded on the " Middle Binks," near Spurn. It was a very dark night and blowing a strong gale, with a terrible sea running over the sands.

The Life-boat, whennearing the vessel, took the ground and was unable to get alongside. The seas were sweeping over the steamer and the crew were shouting for help. The Coxswain, Robert Cross, seeing that it was impossible to do any- thing with the Life-boat so far from the wreck, called for a volunteer to jump overboard and make his way through JAMES JAMIESON 2*!? COXSWAIN BERWICK-ON-TWEED ROBERT CROSS COXSWAIN SPURN.

JESSE SALMON 2. ° COXSWAIN CLACTON-ON-SEA JOHN BUSHELL COXSWAIN BLYT H .

- GEORGE J.GRIGSON COXSWAIN CLACTO N -ON -S E.A.

(2'o face p US.

the water near enough to get a line to the imperilled men.

No man offered, so the Coxswain i himself jumped into the sea with a rope, but he could not get to the wreck.

The crew of the Life-boat then pulled I him back, and he then again asked for ' a volunteer to accompany him on to the ' sandbank, and pay out a line to him while he made another attempt. This time, one of the crew named G. Martin, inspired by his example, joined him, and with his assistance Coxswain Cross managed to effect communication. He' then stood on the sands, although at times completely smothered with the sea, until the whole of the crew of the vessel, eight in number, had come down the line and been placed in safety in the Life-boat. The splendid behaviour ' of Robert Cross met with commendation • on every side, and the captain of the | vessel stated that he and his crew ' could not speak too highly of the bravery and self-sacrifice of the Life- boat's crew and the manner in which the rescue was effected (see page 128).

BLYTH.—To Coxswain John Bushell for his gallant conduct on the 10th December, 1915. The steam trawler Naval Prince ran ashore, and the Cam- bois Life-boat was launched to her assistance, but she was beaten back to the beach some distance from the wreck, and was unable to get back to it.

Coxswain Bushell, realising that it was impossible to launch the Blyth Life- boat, obtained a shore boat, and with three other men put off in it, and saved the crew of the vessel. A whole gale was blowing at the time, and the work was attended by great risk.

ST. IVES. — To Coxswain Thomas Stevens for service on the 27th Decem- ber, 1915—a very gallant piece of work, resulting in the crew of nine hands of the s.s. Taunton being saved. The vessel was in a very dangerous position, and after the men had been saved it took the boat several hours to beat back to her station against the gale and tempestuous sea (see page 131).

BEMBRIDGE.—To Coxswain John Hoi- brook for service on the 3rd February, 1916. The Life-boat made four trips to the vessel and saved 110 men—a remarkably fine rescue, carried out in a whole gale. Whilst performing this service the Life-boat was badly damaged, and on the occasion of the last trip was in a more or less waterlogged condition.

In addition, Coxswain Holbrook had his hand injured when they first reached the vessel.

NORTH DEAL.—To Coxswain William Adams for service on the 4th February, 1916. This was a gallant service, resulting in the sa 7ing of the cvew of eleven hands of a trawler, which had stranded on the Goodwin Sands. When the Life-boat reached the trawler, the sea was making a clean breach over her and her bows were just out of the water. Some of the men were in the rigging and three were in the foc'sle, while the captaiu was still on the bridge up to his waist in water. The crew were successfully rescued, but in the raging sea it was not possible for the boat to get near to the captain.

He was, therefore, obliged to jump overboard, and it was only with great difficulty that he was saved. When lifted into the Life-boat he was apparently dead, but happily the Life-boatmen were able to resuscitate him.

BROOKE.—To Coxswain Benjamin Jacobs for gallantry on the 4th February, 1916. This fine piece of work and the skilful manner in which the Life-boat was handled resulted in the saving of eight of the crew of the Norwegian Barque Souvenir, which was wrecked in a whole gale and a very heavy sea.

The position of the wreck was a most dangerous one, surrounded by rocks.

[The portraits of six of these Medal- lists are given in this Journal and we shall hope to publish the portraits of others at some subsequent date.—ED.].