Thurso.

At ten at night, on the 2nd February, a message was received that a vessel had gone ashore on Brims Ness, six miles from Thurso, the scene of many wrecks. She was found later to be the trawler Edward VII., of Grimsby. The weather was thick and very cold, a strong breeze was blowing from the south and a heavy ground swell was breaking on the foreshore. The Lifeboat reached the wreck half an hour after midnight, to find that the trawler had struck a submerged rock, known as the Whale's Back. She had then been thrown clear of this and came in on to the long wide reef called Buff of Brims.

There she lay in shallow water in a channel, with gear of all kinds floating about, and with high rocks and reefs all round her, grinding and rolling heavily in the surf.

The position of the trawler, the rocks and shallow water, the surf, and the darkness of the night, all made the task of rescue very difficult and dangerous.

The Coxswain did not anchor, as he was afraid the cable would get fouled on the half-submerged rocks. He brought the Life-boat opposite the wreck, and as close as possible, under sail, and then with oars worked in among the rocks. The Life-boat ran a double risk of running on the rocks close under on her lee and of being swept against the trawler's side. Both dangers were successfully avoided, and by the light of white flares and the ship's own lights, which were still burning, the ten men on board the trawler were rescued, not only without injury to the crew but without damage to the Life-boat.Seven hours after putting out, the Lifeboat reached Thurso again.

In recognition of the skill with which the Life-boat was handled in circumstances of great difficulty, the Institution has awarded its Thanks on Vellum to Coxswain McPhail, and an additional monetary award to him and to each member of the Crew. Special letters of thanks have also been sent to Mr. J.

Miller, the honorary secretary, and to Captain Shearer, who acts as honorary shore signalman..