At 8.15 r.M. on the 5th December Coxswain Haylett was informed that a vessel was ashore on the Scroby Sands and showing signals of distress. The crew of the No. 1 Life- boat, Covent Garden, were at once assembled and the boat proceeded to the vessel. Before she could reach her, however, the tide began to ebb and the Coxswain found it was impossible to get V> her. He therefore anchored his boat and waited until the tide eased. At 2.30 A.M. the boat was able to proceed, but, owing to the heavy seas on the Sands, the Life-boat could not get near enough to the stranded vessel for the Life-boatmen to board her. At day- break the weather had moderated some- what and the captain then engaged the Life-boatmen to try and save the vessel.

Later on tugs arrived and made fast, but as the vessel was full of water and settling by the head it was realised that it would be impossible to save her. The weather gradually became worse and the crew of nine hands were taken off.

During this service the crew had a very trying time as they were drenched to the skin from the moment the boat got afloat, and a southerly gale was blowing.

The vessel was the s.s. Inger Johann, of Bergen, bound from Newcastle to France; she became a total wreck..