THE second year of the Essay Com- petition, full details of which were given in The Life-Boat for November, 1918, has produced a very interesting crop of essays, both the number and the quality varying greatly and, in some ways, surprisingly, in the six districts of the United Kingdom in each of which the Challenge Shield is offered.

The standard of merit as a whole was again extraordinarily high, when it is remembered that the Competition was open only to scholars of national primary schools, secondary schools being excluded under the terms of the scheme. It is not too much to say that any of the six essays which have won the Challenge Shield this year would have done credit to any boy or girl of fifteen or sixteen years of age enjoying all the advantages of the higher education which is obtainable at the more advanced schools. Yet only one success- ful competitor, FRED TANNER, was over fifteen, and we had some doubt as to whether he could be regarded as quali- fied to compete. The fact that he sent in the best essay in 1918 could not be regarded as disqualifying him ; but his age raised the question as to whether he was still a boy "actually attending the senior classes " in a national primary school when he competed this year.

The question was, however, satisfactorily answered by the Head Master, and thus St. Luke's School, Southsea, secures the Shield for the Southern District for the second year in succession.

Curiously enough, Broom Street Boys' School, Hanley, also earns the Chal- lenge Shield for the Midlands for the second time, but with an essay from another boy, ARTHUR WILDIN. We trust that the other schools in these two districts will look to their laurels and make a real effort to win the Shield next year, as otherwise it falls to the school which wins it three years in succession.

By far the best essay in the United Kingdom comes this time from Ireland (which won the Shield for the Ireland and Wales District last year) and we congratulate CHARLES BLAKE on a really excellent essay which reflects great credit on the writer, and on the Head Master of the Dunboyne National School, Co. Meath. It is disappointing to have to state, however, that both the number and the quality of the essays sent from this district is very poor, a fact which may be partly, though certainly not wholly, accounted for by the difficulty of making the scheme known in Ireland and Wales. The writer confesses to a similar disappointment with regard to the essays from Scotland, though the average standard o£ merit was higher.

The highest quality is, however, shown in the essays from the North of England and the Midlands ; and this is the more creditable as the largest number also came from these two districts. The writing was also far better throughout in the essays from England than in those from Ireland and Wales and even from Scot- land, « circumstance which we are at a loss to understand.

Once again we have to express our warm gratitude to some thousands of hardworking Head Teachers, who have evidently given themselves a great deal of trouble in describing the history, development and character of the work entrusted to the Institution, and it has been a great pleasure to read the numer- ous letters of appreciation from men and women who have been delighted to come into closer touch with the heroic service of the Life-boats, and to make their boys and girls acquainted with it.

We desire also to tender our cordial thanks to the many teachers who have made collections or sold postcards in aid of the Life-boat Service.

We regret that pressure of space makes it possible to publish only the best essay among all those sent in from the United Kingdom, but we subjoin the list of successful essayists. It will be seen that the number of meritorious essays received from Ireland and Wales was unfortunately not sufficient to justify the award of thirty-five certificates.

List of Successes in the Essay Competition.

LONDON DISTRICT.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Maud May Manger .

Vernon D. Vail . .

Solomon Lewis Jack Lipski . . .

James Neilson . . .

Herbert James Aslett Arthur Birdsey . .

Nellie Alice Wood .

Louie Tidmarsh . .

Dorothy Chapman Elsie Lawrence . .

Henry Gerald Parkes .

Constance Colombo .

Harold Springham Gwendoline Layton .

Ernest Albert Farr .

Harold E. Wilcockson Sidney Grey . . .

Albert James Cullen .

Esther Crabbe . . .

Elsie Wilson .

Charles Webster Lily Marson Edris Turner .

Nancy Harris .

Dorothy Buback Frank Leonard Westoombe VeraMookford . . .

Kate Eleanor Springett .

Kathleen Syndercombe .

Lilian Clara Mitchell Charles Barr ....

Edward Beesley .

Albert Victor Wells Beatrice Hames .

13 12 14 13 13 13 13 13 12 15 i? 13 13 13 12 13J 12 14 13 13 13 13 it* 13 13 13 13 Credon Road L.C.C. School, Rotherhithe New Road, London, S.E.

Gipsy Boad Boys' School, West Norwood, S.E.

Teesdale Street C.C. School, Bethnal Green, E.

St. James's and St. Peter's School, 23, Great Windmill Street, Piccadilly, W.

The Timbercroft School, Flaxton Boad, Plumstead, Woolwich, S.E.

Moreland Street School, City Road, E.G.

Droop Street L O.C. School, Queen's Park, W.

The " Stockwell" Church of England School, Lingham Street, Stockwell, S.W.

Wood Street Girls' School, Walthamstow, E.

Allen's Green C.C. School, High Wych, Sawbridge- worth, Herts.

Goodrich Boad Higher Grade School, East Dulwich.

L.C.C. School, Bathfern Boad, Catford, S.E.

Ambler Boad Girls' School, Finsbury Park, N.

Allen's Green C.C. School, High Wych, Sawbridge- worth, Herts.

Ingram Boad Girls' School, Thornton Heath, Surrey.

The "Stockwell" Church of England School JSt.

Andrew's), Lingham Street, Clapham Boad, S.W.

Bridge Boys' School, Wealdstone, Middlesex.

Boundary Lane L.C.C. School, Camberwell, S.E.

St. Mary's School, Lower Boad, Botherhithe, S.E.

L.C.C. Central School, Sherbrooke Boad, Fulham, S.W. 6.

Shepperton Boad Girls' School, New North Boad, Islington, N.

Clarkson Street Central School, West Ham, E.

Ethelburga Street L.C.C. School, Ethelburga Street, S.W.

St. John's School, Larcom Street, Walworth, S.E.

Klngwood Boad Girls' School, Fulham, S.W.

St. James's and St. Peter's Girls' School, 23, Great Windmill Street, Piccadilly, W.

Colls Boad School, Peckham, S.E.

Priory Girls' School, Acton Lane, Acton, W.

L.C.C. School, Hargrave Park, Highgate, N.

Woolwich Church of England School, Kingsman Street, S.E.

Baltic Street Girls' School, Golden Lane, E.G.

Battersea Park Boad L.C.C. School, Forfar Boad, Battersea, S.W.

Surrey Lane Higher Grade School, Battersea Bridge Boad, Battersea, S.W.

L.C.C. School, Sussex Boad, Brixton, S.W.

The "Lawrence" L.C.C. Girls' School, Mansford Street, Bethnal Green, E.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

Name.

when given.

School.

Fred. Tanner i 15 Hilda Barrett 13 Marion Scott 13 Edward T. Tress . . . . I 13 Hugh Fuller I 13 Stanley Bushbrooke . . . 12J St. Luke's School, Southsea.

East Street Council School, Farnham.

Lingfield Council School, Surrey.

Holywell School, Upohurch, near Sittingbourne.

Lingfield Council School, Surrey.

Southchurch Hall Boys' School, Ambleside Drive, Southend-on-Sea.

296 THE LIFE-BOAT. [SEPTEMBEB, 1919. SOUTHERN DISTRICT-contfnaed. Name. Age when School, given. Beatrice Lea 13 : Kent Street Council School, Portsmouth.

14 ; Arundel Street Boys' School, Landport, Portsmouth.

14 i Clarence Square Council School, Gosport.

14 I Boys' Parochial School, Sidmouth. Arthur Threadingham . .

Leslie Mummery ....

Jack Colbourne .... Stanley E. D'Aubyn . . .

Ellis Greenaway ....

Arthur E. Nichols . . .

Victor Davis 14 13 13 12 U 13 14 14 13* 13 13 12 13 13 12 14 13 12 11 12J 13 12 14 14 NOf | Central Council Boys' School, Weston-super-Mare.

j East Street Council School, Farnham.

j Boys' National School, Southwold.

1 Church of England School, Ash.

' Upton School, Huntingdon.

Battle and Langton Boys' School, Sussex.

Childerley Gate Council School, Cambridge.

, St. Mary's School, Wisbech St. Mary, i St. John's Cathedral School, Portsmouth.

, Wesleyan Girls' School, Arden Street, Gillingham.

! Preston Road Council School, Brighton.

i The Connanght Road Boys' School, Littlehampton.

i Christ Church Girls' School, Frome.

| Philadelphia Girls' School, Aylsham Road, Norwich.

j Northchurch Mixed School, Berkhampstead.

1 Victoria Road School, St. Budeaux, Plymouth.

St. Aloysius' R.C. School, St. Clement's Street, Oxford.

St. Augustine's School, Tunbridge Wells.

I Priory Street Roman Catholic School, Colchester.

Church of England Boys' School, Birchington.

St. Augustine's School, Ramsgate.

Shenley Girls' County Council School, Shenley, Bamet.

Lillian Road Council School, Ramsgate.

i Grace Hill Council School, Folkestone.

ITH OF ENGLAND. Margaret Fountain . . .

Charles Potter Holland . .

Bernard Purrott ....

Gwendoline Poster John Sheridan Ella Paul Marjorie Winter ....

Thomas Cyril Staples . .

Vera Wilcox Rose Cooper Dorothy Curl R. A. Bucknill Etheldreda Castle ....

William Price Edward O'Shea ....

Edward Walter Garretty Violet Stupples ....

Ivy Slaughter Violet Eugenie Le Leu . .

William Yeates .... Name. Age when given. School. Cyril FitzPatrick ....

Millie Clark . . . 14 13 13 14 13 14 12 13 13 13 St. Anne's School, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead.

Westoe Senior School, South Shields.

Castleton Council School, Castleton, Lancashire.

Baring Street Council School, South Shields.

Rose Street School, Gateshead.

St. Mary's School, Liscard, Wallasey, Cheshire.

Dewsbury Road School, Leeds.

Castleton Council School, Castleton, Lancashire.

St. Anne's Girls' School, Lancaster. S~ Poulton Council School, Poulton, Wallasey. Edith Alice Crumpton Thomas Lawrenson .

Isabel Tyrie Arthur Philip Try . . . .

Margaret fihodes ....

Harry Uttley Alice Jefferson Catherine Davidson . Esther Westgarth ....

Rebecca Mark . 13 12 14 13j 14 11 11 12 13 13J 13 13 13 13 Catchgate Council Girls' School, Co. Durham.

Marlboro' Road Girls' School, Hightown, Salford.

St. Chad's Girls' School, Cheetham, Manchester.

Vaughau Road Council School, New Brighton.

Westoe Senior School, South Shields.

Burlingthorpe School, Leeds.

St. Paul's School, Astley Bridge, Bolton.

Orrell Council School, Bootle.

Higher Grade School, Jarrow.

St. Bartholomew's (Bgerton) Boys' School, Tatton Street (Salford).

Mount Carmel Girls' School, Shepherd Street, Blackley , Manchester.

Our Lady and St. Edward's Roman Catholic School, Price Street, Birkenhead.

Armitage Street School, Manchester, St. Mary's School, South Shields.

Works School, Bromborough Pool, New Ferry, Cheshire. Ellen Hennessey ....

Hollis L. Bloomfield . . .

Thomas Welch ....

Albert Arthur Rudd . . .

Elias Peak Amos Hughes Doreen Leathart ....

John Buckley . ... Winnie Burke Herbert Short Charles Crowther ....

Fred Wilkes Samuel Houghton ...-continued. Age Name. ! when School.

; given, j Reginald Brough .... i 13| ' Tootal Eoad Council School, Salford.

13 I St. Joseph's Boman Catholic School, Brindle, near Preston.

13 j Marlborough Road Boy's School, Salford.

14 Higher Grade Council School, Jarrow.

13 Christ Church Upper Church of England School, Hulme Street, Salford.

13 St. Luke's Boys' School, Miles Platting, Manchester.

12 Christ Church Municipal School, Queen Street, Hulme, ! Manchester.

13 Upper Jackson Street Boys' School, Manchester.

. . : Gray Street School, Bootle.

11 , Withernsea Council School, Withernsea.

MIDLANDS. Sydney Thorniley ....

Thomas Thornton ....

Thomas Davies ....

Tack Barber James Stanley Wynne Alfred Gollin William Cowell ....

Nancy Wilkinson .... Name. Age when given. School. Arthur Wildin ....

Frederick Ballance . . . 12 12 14 13 13 13 12 12 13 12 Broom Street School, Hanley, Staffs.

Eastwood Boys' School, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

Florence Council Girls' School, Longton, Stoke-on- Trent.

Stratford - on - Avon Church of England School, Warwickshire.

Boothen Church of England Mixed School, Stoke-on- Trent.

Great Alne School, Alcester, Warwickshire, Brookfields' Girls' School, Ellen Street, Birmingham.

Sileby Church of England School, Loughborough.

Yardley Road Council School, Small Heath, Birming- ham.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic School, Colbridge, Stoke- on-Trent . Doris May Cleaver . . .

-••- 6 Constance W. Cooper . . Norah Watts Florence Ethel Loynea . . Stephen Wright ....

Ernest Hanatock ....

Christine Tansey .... 13 iil 13 iaj 12 9 13j 14 10 12 11 14 12 13 13 13 12 11 13 14 12 14 12 Great Alne School, Alcester, Warwickshire.

Cannon Street Boys' School, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

Mancetter Church of England School, Atherstone, Warwickshire.

Queen's Road Girls' School, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

St. Thomas's Church of England School, Birmingham.

Central Girls' School, Tunstall.

Alvingtou Church of England School, near Lydney, Gloucestershire.

Radford Boulevard Council School, Nottingham.

West Council School, Rugby.

Northgate Council School, Gloucester.

Monks' Kirby Roman Catholic School, Lutterworth, Warwickshire.

43, West Parade, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Girls' Council School, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire.

Scofton Church of England School, Worksop.

Tunstall Central Boys' School, Stoke-on-Trent.

Dixon Road Girls' School, Small Heath, Birmingham.

St. John's Girls' School, Burslem.

Tettenhall Church of England School, near Wolver- hampton.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic School, Evesham.

Arnold Front Street Council School, Nottingham.

Clapham Terrace Council School, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Harboro' Magna School, near Rugby.

St. Mary's Church of England School, Tunstall, Stoke- on-Trent.

Powick School, Worcester.

Queen's Road Council School, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Alice M, Taylor .... Frances Edwards .... Kathleen M. Bowers . . .

Kathleen Carroll ....

Maisie Simpson ....

Nelly Birks . ... Annie Baldwin .... Winnie Jeffery .... Edith Ashley Patricia Wilkinson . . .

Charles Wheeler ....

Melissa E. Wormington . . Arthur Holmes ....

Marriott H. Day .... SCOTLAND.

Name. Age when given. School. Violet Hutchison . . .

Frank J. Williamson .

JftTTlftP JTllTTIP .... 13 14 13* Viewforth School, Kirkcaldy.

Anderson Educational Institute, Lerwick.

Viewforth School Kirkcaldy James Crawford ....

Joan McPhail 13 13 East Plean School, Stirling.

Jamestown South Public School, Bonhill, Dumbarton- Jean M. Luckie .... 16 14 shire.

Middlefield Special Cripple School, Partick, Glasgow. Alpine Duncan ....

John Flood 13 12 Balcurvie Public School, Windygates, Fife.

Greenfield Public School, Burnbank, Hamilton Elizabeth Faulds .... 13 East Plean School, Stirling. Margaret Jamie ....

Mary Gardiner ....

Dorothy Watt . . 14 13 The Grammar School, Ayr.

Wellwood Public School, Muirkirk.

Cromarty Higher Grade Public School Cromarty James Speirs 13 Higher Grade School, Barrhead. Elspet F. Clark ....

Sam Campbell . 12 13 George Street Public School, Aberdeen.

Calder Public School, Motherwell. John Geddes 13J George Street Public School, Aberdeen. Margaret Campbell . .

Sarah D. S. McDonald . .

Bessie Craig 14 14 14 Littlemill Public School, by Patna, Ayrshire.

James Clark Technical Higher Grade School, Edinburgh.

Kilmelford Public School, Lochgilphead, Argyllshire. Nellie Longmuir ....

Jean Sprunt 13 13 Yieldshields School, Carluke.

Battlefield Public School, Langside, Glasgow. Morris Freedman ....

Ella Jamieson 13 11* Public School, Aberlady. IRELAND AND WALES.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

•Charles Netterville Blake Eveline Lyttle ....

Evan Johnston ....

Ethel Marion Travers . .

Sadie Davies Nell Duggan M. Josephine McCall. .

David Barrett . . .

Ethel Alexander . .

William John Mateer.

14 15 13 14 11 14 14 13 14 Dunboyne National School, Co. Neath.

Main Street Girls' National School, Bangor, Co. Down.

Thomas Street National School, Portadown, Co.

Armagh..

Courtmacsherry National School, Courtmacsherry.

Girls' Council School, Beaufort Hill, Beaufort.

Convent School, Bosslare, Wexford.

Coote Street National School, Mountrath, Queen's County.

St. Patrick's School, Cardiff.

Ballylough National School, Bushmills, Co. Antrim.

Ballinacourty National School, Duogarvan, Co. Water- ford.

Special prize awarded for the best essay in the United Kingdom, Olive Edwards ....

John Benjamin Scourfield 13 13 St. Thomas Girls' School, Swansea.

Templeton Council School, Pembrokeshire.

IRELAND AND WALES DISTRICT.

Dunboyne National School, Co. Meatb, February, 1919.

'By CHARLES NITTEBVILLE BLAKE (aged 14).

The Heroic Work of the Life-boats.

THE history of the National Life-Boat Institution from its inception, nearly a hundred years ago, until it reached the zenith of its glory during the recent War, is a record of progress, deeds of sublime daring, and altruism which proves that our Island Race has lost none of its pristine vigour. Founded in March, 1824, by Colonel Sir William Hilary, a native of the Isle of Man, who earned the first Gold Medal of the Institution for his heroism in saving many lives in the Douglas Lif e-Boat,it has since developed until the coasts of the British Isles are now girdled with stations equipped -with 260 Lite-Boats, manned by an intrepid body of 6000 or 7000 hardy fishermen and boatmen who have proved, time out of mind, that they are ever ready to lay down their lives at duty's call.

The first life-boat of which we have any authentic record was, "The Original," built in 1789, by Henry Greathead of South Shields.

She must have been an excellent boat, as she served for over 40 years, and saved hundreds of lives. Since then human ingenuity and experience, personified in men like Wouldhave and Seeching, have devised self-righting boats, steam life-boats and the costly motor life- boats which defy wind and tide. However, it does not always fall to the lot of the station equipped with the newest design of boat and its highly trained crew to effect the most thrilling rescue.

Some years ago, on a wild night in drear Nbvember, a French barque was driven ashore on the rock-bound coast of Clare, near the village of Quilty. Her signals of distress aroused the fishermen from their sleep, and, rushing into the darkness, they discover the ship pinioned by the cruel rocks, the heavy seas breaking over her and the hapless mariners clinging to her masts and shrouds.

Realizing that she must soon become a total wreck, the brave fishermen, with an inflexible resolve to do or die, launch their frail canvas canoe on the convulsed bosom of the dread Atlantic. Imagine the agony of their loved ones on shore as the tiny craft now poised on the crest of a mountainous wave, now cower- ing in its trough, strives valiantly for every weary inch with the relentless elements greedy to devour her. At last a faint cheer announces that she has reached her goal, and that the work of rescue has begun. Then, after an eternity of waiting, she again reappears struggling gamely for the shore.

'' Fortune favours the brave," for a tremendous wave caught her up, and rescuers and rescued, alike utterly exhausted, are literally flung into the outstretched arms of their friends. The French Government, with a generosity cha- racteristic of that chivalrous race, rewarded these Irish heroes, and probably, no more daring exploit than theirs illumines the annals of the Life-Boat Institution. Such noble deeds of rescue, regardless of race or creed, illus- trate how true it is that " the whole human family is bathed with an element of love like fine ether." It is this love in man's nature for others which brought the scattered sons of our Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Baces from the uttermost ends of the Earth to the help of gallant little Belgium, groaning under the iron heel of Germany.

During the last 50 years 190,000 wrecks occurred on the coasts of the British Isles, resulting in the loss of about 30,000 lives, while in the same time the Institution claims to have been instrumental in saving over 50,000 lives. As Great Britain possesses nearly half of the World's shipping or con- siderably more than Germany France and the United States put together, she benefits more than any other nation by the exertions of the Life boatmen.

What account have they rendered of their stewardship during the war? Here is the answer. Never since the inauguration of the Institution have the life-boatmen been more active and shown more untiring zeal in their duty for they have saved 4,400 lives, and 150 vessels which had been mined, wrecked, or torpedoed. The merciless Hun knew only too- well of the invaluable services thus rendered, and invariably wreaked dire revenge on our sturdy fishermen when ever opportunity offered. Unfortunately, these splendid ser- vices to the Nation and the World exact a heavy toll of men and boats. Besides main- taining the Service in a state of the highest efficiency, compensation is awarded to men injured while on duty and pensions are paid to the wives and children of those men who lose their lives on active service. These demands cause a serious drain on the re- sources of the Institution, which receives no help from the Government. Therefore, the whole cost of this vast National Organization must be defrayed by the voluntary contri- butions of charitable and grateful people who desire to pay tribute to the spirit and fortitude always shown by the men who man the life- boats. But while our incomparable Navy " rules the waves " and " our manly hearts do glow" Britons will ungrudgingly give with no stinted measure to this great National Service so helpful to our Maritime supremacy, and in which the finest traditions of our race are preserved..