THE month of February was marked by three fine services, two in the north of Scotland and the other in the south of England. One was performed by the Pulling and Sailing Life-boat at Thurso, the others by new Motor Life-boats of the Barnett type, the 60-feet boat which went to Plymouth in 1926, and the 51- feet boat which went to Stromness last year.

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.

Plymouth.

At 2.10 on the morning of the 12th February, the Coxswain at Plymouth received information from the Coastguard that a steamer, which was found afterwards to be the s.s. Deventia, of Workington, was in distress off Bolt Head, eighteen miles to the south-east.

A strong E.S.E. gale was blowing with a heavy sea and snow squalls, and the weather was bitterly cold. After communicating with the Honorary Secretaries of the neighbouring stations, Torbay and Hope Cove, the Honorary Secretary decided to send out the Plymouth boat, and she left at 3.10. She reached the wreck at 5.45, just about daybreak, and found the vessel ashore on the rocks under the lee of Bolt Head.

She was filling rapidly, and although out of the full force of the sea, was sufficiently exposed to feel the effect of the seas sweeping past. There was, however, just enough shelter for the Coxswain to be able to get alongside without anchoring, and he rescued ten of the crew of thirteen, the other three being rescued from the shore by the Life-saving Apparatus.

The net amidships, which the Barnett type of Life-boat carries, was of great value in getting the ten men quickly into the Life-boat.

Coxswain Eagles has been awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum, and he and each member of the Crew have been granted an extra monetary award. A letter was received from the Chief Engineer of the Deventia expressing his gratitude and his admira- tion for the splendid way in which the Life-boat was handled.

Stromness.

About 4 on the morning of the 14th February three messengers from different houses in Invertown brought the Honorary Secretary the news that a steamer, which was found afterwards to be the trawler Carmania II., of Grimsby, had gone ashore on the Kirk Rocks, Hoy Bound, and was showing signals of distress. The Coxswain and Crew were called out immediately, and the Lifeboat, which had not been housed after a service carried out three days before, owing to the stormy weather, left the ! harbour at 4.35. A strong breeze was I blowing from the S.W., with a very heavy sea running, and the weather was bitterly cold. When the call came soft, blinding snow was falling. This ceased about the time when the Life-boat put out.

She reached the neighbourhood of the rocks about five o'clock, and the Lifesaving Apparatus arrived at the same time, but neither could give the trawler any immediate help. She was too far from the shore for it to be possible for the Apparatus to get a line to her, and too far in for it to be possible for the Life-boat to get near in the darkness and the breaking seas. There was no hope of approaching her from seaward, as the seas were breaking 100 to 150 yards before they reached her, while between the wreck and the shore were reefs and shallow water, where the Lifeboat could not go until the tide rose.

The Coxswain waited.

By this time the trawler was lying with a very heavy list, and was rolling heavily. About an hour after the Lifeboat arrived a huge wave lifted her as if she had been a cork, swung her completely round, and threw her right on top of the reef. Her lights were then burning, but gradually grew dimmer and eventually went out. About this time the tide turned, and the seas grew heavier and heavier.

The Coxswain stood by for another | two hours and then decided to attempt a rescue. He manoeuvred the Lifeboat through the breakers, and dropped anchor. The first attempt to establish communication by means of the Line- Throwing Gun failed, but the second and third shots succeeded, and two lines were secured on board the trawler. A lifebuoy was then sent to the wreck, and the Life-boat herself was veered in through the surf, nearer and nearer as the tide rose. She was thrown high in the air by every sea and then disappeared in the trough, but, watching for their opportunity when a lull came in the breaking seas, the Life-boatmen got the trawler's crew oft, man by man, until five were safely on board the Lifeboat.

All had gone well up to this point, but then a tremendous wave caught the Life-boat nearly broadside on, the wire cable snapped and the boat reeled to leeward. She was in imminent danger herself, but the Coxswain showed perfect judgment and seamanship and rushed the boat ahead among the reefs and breakers until he was under the lee of the wreck, with which he was still in communication by the ropes.

Just before this happened the trawler's small boat had been swept overboard, and was floating under her lee. The Coxswain shouted to the men wrho were still on board to get into the small boat and he would haul them to the Life-boat. This was done, and five more men of the trawler's crew were rescued. Then the painter parted, and the small boat was swept away with two men in her, but the Life-boat, passing again between the wreck and the shore, rescued the two men. Thus the whole of the trawler's crew were saved.

It was then nearly 9.30, five hours since the Life-boat had left harbour, and an hour and a half since the work of rescue had started.

The Honorary Secretary had watched the rescue from the shore, and reported that the Coxswain and Crew deserved the highest praise for their judgment and skill in circumstances of great peri!, where success was only possible to men who knew every part of the reefs and the run of the tide.

Coxswain William Johnston has been awarded a Second Service Clasp to the Bronze Medal which he already holds, and he and each member of the Cretan extra monetary award.

Many people do not know that the Institution has at Poplar, London, a Storeyard where there is a Reserve Fleet of Life-boats, and where all stores and spare parts required for the equipment of Life-boats and their engines are kept, ready for immediate despatch to the coast. As showing the efficiency of the Storeyard, it deserves to be recorded that the Honorary Secretary at Stromness reported the loss of the anchor and wire cable by telegraph on the 14th February, that the new anchor and cable were at once sent by passenger train, and that when the Honorary Secretary wrote two days later, giving details of the service, he acknowledged their receipt, and was able to report that the Life-boat was again in full commission..