ON the 2nd December the three-masted Dutch motor schooner Hermina, which had been sheltering in Fishguard Harbour, left for Rotterdam. During the night the wind freshened until it was blowing a moderate gale from N. W., and she was compelled to return, remaining at anchor outside the break- water during the day. The wind in- creased to a gale, and, as darkness set in, it was seen that the Hermina was riding heavily to her anchors. Then, at 6.40 P.M., she was seen burning flares as signals of distress, and the Motor Life-boat was launched. By the time the Life-boat reached her, the Hermina had dragged her anchors for a con-siderable distance, and was grinding heavily on the rocks with tremendous seas making a clean breach over her.

The Life-boat was anchored, and veered down to her, but it was only with the greatest difficulty and at great risk that she was able to get ropes on board. The sea was lifting the Life-boat right into her rigging, and once had it not been that the rigging prevented it, the Boat would have dashed down on the schooner's deck. In spite of these difficulties seven of the crew were safely taken off, but the captain and the two mates refused to leave their vessel. The Coxswain implored them to come, telling them for the that it would be impossible Life-boat to return, and that very soon, with the rising tide, the Hermina would be dashed to pieces on the cliffs. What happened later proved the Coxswain to be right; but the captain and the mates still refused to leave their ship, and the Life-boat prepared to return to Fishguard without them.

Splendid as had been the actual work of rescue, the real test of the skill and courage of the crew was still to come.

While the rescue was being carried out the motor mechanic discovered that the Life-boat was leaking, and although in these difficult circumstances he made repeated efforts, he could, not start the engine.

The Life-boat, with the seven rescued men aboard, was in a position of extreme peril. Only magnificent seamanship on the part of the Coxswain, the readiest obedience on the part of the crew, and courageous determination on the part of them all, could have successfully brought the Life-boat, waterlogged as she was, away from a lee shore, with sheer cliffs behind her, in the face of a whole gale, No sooner had the Life-boat cast off than her mizzen sail was blown to ribbons, became unhooked, and was lost overboard, leaving her with only the main sail set. If her position was perilous before, it was now almost hopeless; but, in response to the call of the Coxswain, the Second Coxswain and one of the crew, Thomas Holmes, at once crawled out on the forward end box, and, with great seas breaking over them, succeeded in reeving the jib tack so that the jib sail might be set.

Life-boat and all on board of her.

There is little doubt that the prompt action of these brave men saved the At midnight, three hours after she left the wreck, the Life-boat reached Fishguard. Shortly afterwards flares were again seen burning on the Hermina.

The captain had repented of his decision to remain on board but it was impossible for the Life-boat to return. Fortunately, the Life-saving Apparatus was in readiness at the top of the cliff. The second mate had been washed away and drowned, but £e captain and the first mate succeeded in climbing on the rocks, and here, when day came, they were seen to be clinging, and were rescued by the Life-saving Apparatus. One of the volunteer crew, Mr. William Morgan, was lowered down the cliff in order to reach the mate, who was lying on a ledge utterly exhausted, with the waves washing over him. By this time the Hermina had been broken in two by the Needle Rock.

The unanimous opinion at Fishguard was that the seamanship and splendid determination of Coxswain John Howells were chiefly responsible for rescuing the men of the Hermina from almost certain death, and the Life-boat and her crew from imminent danger of destruction. Coxswain Howells himself spoke in the highest terms of the courage and ready obedience with which the crew had supported him, and especially of Second Coxswain T. 0.Davies, Motor Mechanic R. E. Simpson, and Life-boat man. Thomas Holmes.

The Committee of Management de- cided that the circumstances of this rescue, and the skill and courage shown, were of so exceptional a character as to justify the award of the highest honour which it is in the power of the Institu-tion to bestow—the Gold Medal. The Gold Medal was awarded, therefore, to Coxswain Howells, and the Silver Medal to Second Coxswain Davies, Motor Mechanic Simpson, and Life-boat man Holmes for their special services.

Feeling, also, that all the crew had shown exceptional courage and resolution in carrying out the orders of their Coxswain, the Committee also decided to award to each remaining member the Bronze Medal. An additional monetary reward was also given to every member of the crew. The last Gold Medal was awarded in 1917 for the service of the Cromer Life-boat to the Swedish steamer Fernebo.

The Dutch Shipping Board which sat to examine the causes of the loss of the Hermina, expressed their "great admira- tion of the courage and seamanship of Coxswain Howells and his crew." The Committee also decided to award the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to Mr. William Morgan, of the Life-saving Apparatus, and to give him the same monetary reward as the crew.