DURING the last days of 1917 the Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-Naze Life-boats performed two splendid ser- vices, well worthy of the traditions of the Royal National Life-Boat Institu- tion, and resulting in the rescue of no less than 115 lives, and this at con- siderable risk, as both the Life-boats were damaged.

Shortly before midnight on the 27th— 28th December the Coastguard at Clacton-on-Sea reported that he had received a message stating that a Swedish steamer was ashore on the Longsand, and asking that the Clacton Life-boat, Albert Edward, should be at once dispatched to her assistance. The crew were promptly summoned, and the boat, with her full complement of crew, cleared the pier punctually on the stroke of midnight. It was subsequently found that the Swedish steamer Iris, bound from Gothenburg to Rouen, had stranded on the Sands, and, when the Life-boat reached her, she had 11 ft. of water in her engine-room, and Coxswain Grigson realised that it would be hope- less to try to refloat her.

The weather was bitterly cold, with snow squalls and a very rough sea, and the wind was blowing a strong gale from the E. The Coxswain boarded the vessel and told the Master that he thought there would be no chance of saving her, and there- fore suggested that the crew should be taken off without delay. The Master, however, declined to leave, stating that he had sent for a salvage-boat to pump the vessel out. The Life-boat therefore lay off near at hand. But during the day the weather gradually became worse and worse, and it was not until the seas were washing the vessel fore and aft that the Captain reluctantly deoided to leave the wreck. Signals were shown, and the Life-boat at once proceeded alongside. The work of rescue was effected with great difficulty and danger, the crew of the vessel being obliged to jump into the boat as opportunity offered; and the Hon. Secretary, in reporting the case, stated that he con- sidered the service a grand piece of work. The Life-boat arrived back at Clacton at about 11.30 P.M. on the 28th, both the rescuers and the rescued being numbed and well-nigh frozen from their long exposure of 24 hoars' in the icy- cold weather.

To mark their appreciation of the gallantry of the crew of the Clacton boat on this occasion, the Committee of Management granted the Third Silver Service Clasp to the Coxswain, George J. Grigson, and the Bronze Medal of the Institution to the Second Coxswain, Jesse Salmon. In addition they granted to these men, and to each of the men of the crew, an extra monetary reward.

In the case of the Walton rescue, the Life-boat James Stevens No. 14 was called out at 10.30 P.M. on the 29th December, a telephone message having reported that the s.s. Peregrine was ashore on the Longsand with about 60 passengers on board, and that she re- quired immediate assistance. The weather was thick with sleet and rain, and an E. by N. gale was blowing when the crew of the Life-boat as- sembled. A tempestuous sea was running, which broke incessantly over the boat, and by the time 'the James Stevens had reached the Inner Sands every member of the crew, in spite of his oilskins, was soaked to the skin.

From the original message the Coxswain, William Hammond, had learnt that the vessel was on the N.E. part of the Longsand, but it required very long and careful search to locate the vessel.

At one time a flare was seen and the boat proceeded in its direction, but nothing could be found. She then worked carefully down along the Sand, and at last discovered the wreck. Heavy seas were breaking over the vessel, and six attempts were made before the Life- boat succeeded in getting alongside. It was found that she was the Peregrine, of London ; a steamer of about 780 tons register belonging to the General Steam Navigation Company, and on her way from Rotterdam. to London with a general cargo, and having on board 59 passengers, as well as a crew of 33 hands.

The vessel lay on the Sands at the mercy of wind and seas. All the boats had been washed away with the excep- tion of one, and this one they were unable to launch.

When the Life-boat arrived it was seen that the vessel was in a hopeless condition, and as soon as the Captain informed the Coxswain that there were passengers on board the latter suggested that they should at once be removed by the Life-boat and transferred to a Patrol vessel which had come to their assistance, but which was, of course, unable to approach the wreck. The whole of the passengers, 59 in number, mostly women and children, together with the Chief Steward, were taken into the Life-boat— a most difficult operation in the heavy seas and the intense darkness. The work was, however, successfully accom- plished without mishap, and as soon as possible the shipwrecked passengers were transferred to the Patrol-boat.

Thereupon the James Stevens imme- diately returned to the steamer, which had, meanwhile, become a total wreck, having broken her back and parted amidships. The boat could not get near until the tide flowed, but as soon as there was sufficient water the boat, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in taking off all those who still remained on board. While carrying out this difficult task the Life-boat was stove in and otherwise damaged. The work of rescue occupied the Life - boatmen throughout the night, and the boat started for home at about 9 o'clock-on Sunday morning, the 30th December.

According to a newspaper account, information that the boat was returning " had caused a large crowd of people to assemble in order to cheer the incoming men. Immediately on their landing three of the heartiest cheers were vociferously given by the rescued crew for their gallant rescuers." Dry cloth- ing was promptly supplied, and accom- modation found for all the shipwrecked I men. Among the passengers on the Pere- ! grine were Belgians, French and Italians.

In recognition of the gallantry and great skill displayed in extremely bad weather, the Committee granted the | Silver Medal of the Institution to j William Hammond, and the Bronze Medal of the Institution to the Second | Coxswain, John C. Byford. They also I granted these men and each of the other i members of the crew an additional ' monetary reward.

It is very gratifying to be able to report that at the time of the rescue Captain W. N. Braithwaite, the Master of the steamer, expressed his and his cr'ew's gratitude for the splendid services rendered to them and for the gallantry shown ; and very shortly afterwards the following letter was received from him:— 220, Merton Road, Wimbledon, S.W. 19.

January 8th, 1918.

| To Mr. W. HAMMOND, Coxswain, | Walton-on-Naze Life-boat.

DEAR FRIEND, I presume I may take the liberty of addressing you thus, after all you did for myself and crew on December 30th. We were all very grateful, I can assure you, and, as seamen, could not but admire the easy and skilful way in which you handled your craft, under conditions which, to most of us, appeared highly dangerous.

My wife and children are all longing to see you and your gallant crew, who so bravely came to our assistance; and I have already promised that, if it is in any way possible that we shall come to Walton next summer, when they will be able to thank you in person.

I have mentioned your actions to our owners in my report of the wreck, and I expect they will write to the Society about it. I have also written to Mr.

Greenwood, the Secretary, enclosing a small cheque which the officers and crew, also my wife and children, wish to be shared amongst yourself and crew, as a small token of gratitude for all you i did for us on December 30th. '; I am pleased to say I am little the i worse for my experience—I mean in I health ; but it has caused me an awful i lot of worry and work, which I am only now beginning to get over, but had it j not been for your timely aid, I am afraid I would not have had anything j to worry about. Please now accept the heartfelt thanks of myself, wife and children, which we all hope to be able [ to deliver in person next summer. ! Believe me to be, ! Yours very gratefully, ! W. N. BEAITHWAITE, Master of s.s. Peregrine.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty also wrote, stating that they considered that great credit was due to the Coxswain and crew for their gallant and successful action, and asking that an expression of their Lordships' appre- ciation might be conveyed to the men.

accordingly. It is particularly pleasant to be able to add that the owners of the steamer, the General Steam Navigation Co., also recognized the work of the Life-boatmen by a grant of money to be divided among the crew ; and the Consul General for Belgium wrote expressing the thanks of the Belgian passengers who were saved..