Mr. Sydney J. Harris, an ex-Coxswain of the Gorleston Life-boat, died on 20th June last at the age of seventy-one. In 1921, when he ceased to be Coxswain, he had served in that capacity for twenty-nine years, and had previously been second Coxswain for five years.

He had the high distinction of having won the Institution's Silver Medal more times than any other man in the history of the Service. He won it five times. Only two other men have won it as many as four times.

The first occasion was in January, 1905, when, in the Steam Life-boat James Stevens, No. 3, he rescued the crew of six of the brig Celerity in a S.E.

gale, with a terrific sea. The weather was bitterly cold, and after the rescue the Life-boat had to wait outside the harbour for half the night before it was safe to cross the bar. In November of the same year Coxswain Harris again won the Silver Medal, this time for swimming out in a heavy sea to establish communication with the wrecked lugger Fruitful. Through his gallantry eight lives were rescued. The third occasion was in October, 1909, when the Gorleston Life-boat went to the help of the steamer Clunie in a whole N.E. gale, rescued four men from her as she was driven before the gale along the sands, and then, following her, succeeded, with a tug, in saving the vessel and the remaining nine men of her crew. In November, 1912, he won the medal for the fourth time for repeated and gallant efforts—in an E.N.E. gale, blowing at times with hurricane force—by which thirty-three lives were rescued from the steamer Egyptian, of Glasgow. The Life-boat was launched at six in the morning, but it was not until night that the last of the crew were saved.

The fifth award came in March, 1916, when a gale of unusual severity swept over the country, causing widespread damage. On the East Coast it blew with hurricane force, accompanied by blinding snowstorms. The Gorleston Life-boat was launched just before three in the morning and found the schooner Dart sunk, with her crew of four lashed in the rigging. It was a task of the greatest difficulty and danger to get close enough to the wreck to reach the men, who were helpless from the cold, and two of the Life-boat's Crew had to climb into the rigging of the schooner and unlash them before they could be got into the Life-boat. It was a magnificent service and the Silver Medal was awarded not only to Coxswain Harris, but to Edward Bensley, the member of the Crew who took the chief part in getting the rescued men on board the Life-boat.

Two years before this service, Coxswain Harris, on the recommendation of the Institution, was awarded the American Cross of Honour..