THE splendid services carried out by the crew of the Tynemouth Motor Life-boat Henry Vernon, on the occasion of the wreck of the hospital ship Rohilla off Whitby, in 1914, are probably still fresh in the memory of our readers, and the fine achievement during the gales of the 18th-21st November has added further lustre to the record of these brave men.

On the 18th November a fierce easterly gale sprang up, causing an exceedingly rough sea, while hail, sleet, and rain added to the wintry conditions.

Between 8 and 9 A.M., on the 19th, the Norwegian mail steamer BessJieim, of Ghristiania, left the Tyne with passengers and general cargo, bound for Norway. She carried seventy - eight passengers and a crew of thirty-three, including seven stewardesses. When passingv between the piers, tremendous seas struck her, and the vessel became unmanageable. Seeing that disaster was impending the signal for the Lifeboat was fired, and the Motor Life-boat Henry Vernon at once put off, the local Shields boats also going out to render assistance.

In the meantime the Bessheim had drifted on to the rocks and remained fast, but the Henry Vernon was on the spot by the time the vessel struck.

Threading her way between the rocks, she went alongside the ship and brought off forty-eight persons, all passengers and stewardesses. A second trip was then made, and a further thirty-four persons were saved. On returning from the first trip the boat touched the rocks two or three times, but fortunately shewas not seriously damaged. As soon as the second batch of rescued people had been landed, the boat returned a third time and took off a further thirtysix, including all the remaining ship's crew. The whole of this time -the gale was raging, and it is owing to the fine seamanship and skilful handling of the boat that the whole of the 118 were saved without mishap..