IT is with very great regret that we announce the death of Commander Stopford Cyril Douglas, R.N., who had been Deputy Chief Inspector of Lifeboats for the past eight years. He had been ill for several months, had undergone two operations, and died on 2nd September in the Royal Isle of Wight County Hospital, Ryde.

Commander Douglas was born in 1883, and received his naval training in the Britannia. He served as a Midshipman during the South African War on board the flagship of Admiral Sir Robert Harris, and then with the Channel and Mediterranean Fleets, and after attaining the rank of Lieutenant he served on the China station during the Russo-Japanese War. Later he was again with the Channel Fleet and then in the Mediterranean, and, after a year at the Naval Barracks at Chatham, he was appointed second in command of H.M. Sloop Alert, then in the Persian Gulf engaged in the suppression of the traffic in arms. While in the Gulf he carried out a three weeks' cruise in an open cutter. His health suffered from the bad climate, and the seeds of the illness of which he died were sown in the exposure and hardships of this term of service. He was invalided home, and, as he was found unfit for further service in tropical climates, he was placed on the retired list in August, 1912.

He returned to the active list on the outbreak of war in August, 1914, and served afloat for nearly three years.

For part of that time he was in command of H.M.S. Onyx and the First Submarine Flotilla, and then, for nearly a year, he was in command of a " Q " ship. In April, 1917, he was appointed to the staff of Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, who was at Queenstown in command of the combined British and American Fleet which was engaged in patrol and convoy duties. There he served in the operations division with the rank of Acting- Commander, and at the end of the war was promoted to Commander for his services. Of his work at Qneenstcwn, Sir Lewis Bayly wrote, after his death: " He came in close touch with the officers in both Services, and, owing to his unfailing good temper, ability, and anxiety to help all who came in contact with him, he created an affection and a respect for himself (a none too common combination), that have continued since the war on both sides of the Atlantic and which will cause our loss to be deeply deplored." In July, 1919, Commander Douglas entered the Life-boat Service as District Inspector for Ireland, and in the following year he was promoted to Deputy Chief Inspector, a post which he held until the end.

His death is a very great loss to the Life-boat Service, for he had brought to it not only the versatile ability which had already distinguished him in the Navy, but a wide experience, gained in many seas, which was invaluable in the work of the Institution. A man of very varied gifts, he was entertaining and humorous both as a speaker and as a writer.

Readers of The Lifeboat will remember his Life-boat Duologue, " S.O.S.," which was broadcast in September of last year, and his graphic story " Man Overboard "—a reminiscence of his service in the Persian Gulf—which appeared in the Centenary Number of the Journal.

He was, besides, a very good amateur singer and actor. For his gifts as an actor he found expression in the grim theatre of the " Q " ships, where the artistic thoroughness of his make-up be more deeply missed, f&r no one had more, not only of the esteem, but of the affection of his colleagues. This personal loss which those feel who worked with him day by day at the Headquarters of the Institution, will be shared earned a tribute in The Times review of Mr. Keble Chatterton's " ' Q ' Ships and Their Story." Later he was a member of that famous amateur company, the Windsor Strollers. He was, in all he did, a man full of humour, kindliness and good fellowship.

No one in the Life-boat Service will by all who knew him in his old district of Ireland and elsewhere on the coast.

For wherever he went he made friends.

In accordance with Douglas's own wish, he was buried at sea from a Lifeboat on Tuesday, the 4th September.

The coffin, covered by the Union Jack, and carrying his sword and cap, was taken to Ryde Parish. Church. Eight Life-boatmen in jerseys and life-belts were the pall-bearers, and the Coxswain of the Bembridge Life-boat carried his medals on a cushion. After the first part of the funeral service had been read by the Vicar of Ryde, the coffin was taken on board the Yarmouth Motor Life-boat, which, with the Bembridge Motor Life-boat in attendance, proceeded, in perfectly cloudless weather, through Spithead. The battleships Benbow and Renown, and the Aircraft carrier Argus, dipped their colours in honour of the dead as the Life-boats passed, and the crews stood to attention.

The Committal Service was read by one of Douglas's brothers, the Rev.

L. C. Douglas, and the body was committed to the deep about four miles S.E. by S. of Bembridge Point. Flowers were strewn on the sea, and a green flare, the Life-boat signal signifying " All safe, coming home," was burnt.

The Institution's colours were then mastheaded, dipped in final salute, and re-hoisted, and the Life-boats returned to their stations.

The Committee of Management were represented at the funeral by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman, the Hon.

George Colville, Deputy Chairman, and Commander F. F. Tower, O.B.E., late R.N.V.R. Other representatives of the Institution were Captain H. F. J.

Rowley, C.B.E., R.N., Chief Inspector, Lieut.-Colonel C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., R.E., Deputy Secretary (in the absence abroad of Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., the Secretary), Captain H. G.

Innes, R.N., and Commander R. L.

Hamer, R.N., District Inspectors.

We also regret to announce that during the past three months the Institution has lost by death several other valued friends and workers. It is hoped to publish short accounts of their services for the Life-boat cause in the next issue of the Journal..