By Captain Howard F. I. Rowley, C.B.E., R.N., Chief Inspector of Life-boats.

IN an article with the above title which appeared in The Lifeboat for February, 1925, I pointed out the reasons why, in material and construction, Life-boats must of necessity be of superior quality to the vessels which they help. These vessels have, in one way or another, succumbed to the elements. The Life-boat, in going out to their help, has to face the same conditions, and unless she is of superior quality, then she is incurring the gravest risk to herself and her Crew.

The gales of last autumn provided some striking proofs both of the need for this super-quality and of the fact that our Life-boats have it. The principal services have already been described in detail, either elsewhere in this issue of The Lifeboat, or in the issue for last November. Here I am dealing simply with the damage which Lifeboats sustained in carrying out their duty. I give six cases. In each case the Life-boat, although severely damaged, completed her task, rescued the men, and got safely back to port.

Lowestoft.

The Lowestoft Motor Life-boat was launched on the 21st November, 1927, to the help of the sailing smack Lily of Devon, which had stranded close to the harbour entrance. In coming alongside the wreck (after several attempts) the Life-boat grounded and was thrown by a heavy sea under the stern of the wreck, being considerably damaged.

The Life-boat's port wash stroke, was fractured. Five ridge-rope stanchions were badly bent. The handrail round the engine-room casing was broken and the starting-handle of the engines was smashed.

The teakwood hatch casing was also smashed to pieces.

In spite of this damage the Life-boat succeeded in rescuing the crew of three and reaching harbour safely.

Cromer.

The Cromer Motor Life-boat was launched with other Life-boats to the help of the Dutch oil-tanker Georgia on the Haisborough Sands on the 21st and 22nd November last.

The Coxswain decided to run alongside without anchoring or using his linethrowing gun. In this attempt the seas and strong tide turned the Life-boat completely round and threw her, stern first, against the wreck, doing considerable damage to her stern-post and badly straining her rudder. This damage, however, did not put the Life-boat out of action, and the Coxswain was able to get lines on board and rescue the fifteen men. The Life-boat then attempted to get clear, but in doing so she was caught by another heavy sea and carried on to the bulwarks of the wreck, sustaining the following additional damage : A jagged hole was made on the starboard side forward underfender on the foreside of the bulkhead foredeck.

The fore-compartment was filled with water. The fore end of the bilge-keel was torn off.

Newbiggin.

While on service for the purpose of escorting cobles into harbour on the 5th December last in a moderate gale, the Newbiggin Life-boat was to the windward of one coble. Seeing two heavy seas following one another which threatened to poop the coble, the Coxswain brought the Life-boat broadside on to act as a breakwater.

While this action may possibly have averted a disaster, it caused the Lifeboat to be thrown on to the coble and the stem of the coble crashed through the Life-boat's port quarter, causing four outer planks to be smashed and the wing hatch broken away.

Whitby No. 2.

The Whitby No. 2 Life-boat was called out on service on the 7th December last to stand by the fishing fleet which was making for harbour in a rough and broken sea. Having escorted the majority of the fleet into safety the Life-boat went to the aid of two cobles which were disabled, one by a fouled propeller, and the other by engine trouble. As she was about to take one of the cobles in tow, another motor coble came along to take over the tow, and, in so doing, unfortunately rammed the Life-boat, tearing a hole in the fore end-box, both inner and outer skins (three planks) being broken, starting the ends of the planking where secured to the boundary cant-piece and fracturing the gunwale inside the end-box.

In spite of this damage the Lifeboat towed the remaining coble into safety. The Surveyor reported after inspecting the damage: " The Lifeboat received a severe blow. . . .

The iron knee inside the end-box appears to have saved the boat." Moelfre.

While on service to the ketch Excel on the 28th October last, the Moelfre Life-boat sustained considerable damage.

As the ketch was waterlogged and in a very serious position, it was decided— after an unsuccessful attempt to get alongside—to sail the Life-boat across the wreck. When this was being done the Life-boat was carried by a heavy sea right on top of the upper deck of the vessel. As a result the boat's bottom was stove in, two holes being torn in her on the port side, and one on the starboard side.

The desperate course taken made it possible for the three men on the wreck to be hauled on board the Life-boat, which then started her homeward journey in a waterlogged condition.

Later on her jib was blown away, and this seriously impaired her sailing qualities, but she was successful in reaching a suitable place in which to anchor in the Menai Straits at about 2 A.M., having been out since 5.30 P.M. on the previous day.

Ramsgate.

The Ramsgate Motor Life-boat was called out to a steam trawler which had struck the pier in an attempt to enter the harbour. In going alongside, the Life-boat's bow struck the wreck, with the result that the stem was badly damaged and set back | inch out of line.

The crew of five were rescued and the Life-boat returned safely to harbour.