THE Hundred and Fifth Annual General Meeting of the Governors of the Institution was held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, on Wednesday, 17th April, at 3 p.m.

Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee of Management, presided, supported by the Mayor of Westminster, Vice-Presidents (including Miss Alice Marshall) and members of the Committee of Management and the Lady Florence Pery, Hon. Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

The speakers were the Most Hon. the Marquess of Beading, P.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., the Right Hon. the Lord Southborough, P.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.S.I.

(Chairman of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund), Captain the Earl Howe, C.B.E., V.D., A.D.C., R.N.V.R. (a member of the Committee of Management), Major- General the Right Hon. J. E. B. Seely, P.C., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., the Hon.

George Colville (Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Management), Vice-Admiral W. W. Fisher (Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff), Mr. Harry Hargood, O.B.E. (a Vice-President of the Institution), and Mr. C. G. Ammon,, J.P., M.P.

(a member of the Committee of Management).

Among those who accepted the invitation of the Committee of Management to be present were His Excellency the Belgian Ambassador, the First Secretary of the German Embassy, the Consuls- General of Italy, the Netherlands, Latvia, Finland, Esthonia, Lithuania, Siam and Yugoslavia ; the Mayor and Mayoress of Westminster, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelsea, the Mayor of Holborn, the Viscountess Bertie of Thame (Chairman of the Central London Women's Committee of the Ladies' Lifeboat Guild), representatives of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Society, the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union, the British Sailors' Society, the Marine Engineers' Association, the Mercantile Marine Service Association and an Officer and party of twenty boys from the training ship Arethusa.

There were also present holders of the Institution's Gold Badge, representatives of Branches and the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, members of the Central London Women's Committee of the Guild.

The following is a report of the meeting:— Sir Godfrey Baring.

The CHAIRMAN : My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, my first duty is, on behalf of the Committee of Management, to present the Annual Report, a copy of which has been placed on each chair in the hall. It has no doubt been mastered by all the Governors, and we trust it will have your approbation.

Before inviting any remarks on the Annual Report, I should like just to make one announcement.

It will be within the recollection of the Governors that at the last Annual Meeting, at which the Prince of Wales, our President, presided, His Royal Highness made a strong appeal to the Shipping Companies of this country to assist the great work of the Institution by presenting it with boats. The Committee of Management are glad and grateful to report that that appeal has, as one might expect, met with the most generous response.

Already four of the great Shipping Companies have presented the Institution with boats.

(Applause.) The Peninsular and Oriental group are presenting a new Motor Life-boat for Padstow to be called Piincess Mary; the White Star Line are presenting a new Motor Life-boat for Fishguard to be called White Star ; the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company are jointly presenting a new Motor Life-boat for Weymouth to be called Lady Kylsant; and now we have just had an intimation from the great Cunard Line that they intend to present a Motor Life-boat to be named Cunard. They have expressed a wish that this boat should be stationed at Plymouth. As, however, a Motor Life-boat of the largest type was stationed there three years ago, another station will be chosen. I should like on behalf of the Committee of Management to express our grateful appreciation of the generosity of these Shipping Companies, and my respectful hope that other shipping companies may go and do likewise.

(Applause.) I now come back to the business of submitting the Annual Report to this meeting.

I shall be glad to reply to any question which may be addressed to us. Would any lady or gentleman like to ask a question, or make any remarks on the Report ? If not, we can go on to the election of Officers.

On behalf of the Committee of Management of the Royal National Life-boat Institution I hereby nominate the following noblemen and gentlemen to fill the positions of President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and other Members of the Committee of Management, and Auditors for the ensuing year.

President.

H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, K.G.

Vice-Presidents.

The Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Duke of Atholl.

The Duke of Montrose.

The Duke of Portland.

The Duke of Northumberland.

The Marquis of Ailsa.

The Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair.

The Earl of Derby.

The Earl of Albemarle.

The Earl of Rosebery.

The Earl Waldegrave.

The Earl of Lonsdalc.

Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Jellicoe of Scapa.

The Viscount Burnham.

Commodore Sir Richard Henry Williams- Bulkcley, Bt., R.N.R.

Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt.

Sir William Milligan.

Sir W. E. B. Priestley.

Mr. Harry Hargood.

Miss Alice Marshall.

Mr. Noel E. Peck.

Treasurer.

The Earl of Harrowby.

Other Members of the Committee of Management.

Mr. Charles G. Ammon, M.P.

Mr. H. Arthur Baker.

Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Beamish, M.P.

Lieut.-C'ol. J. Benskin.

Mr. Frederick Cavendish Bentinck.

Major Sir Maurice Cameron.

Captain Charles J. P. Cave.

Colonel Lord William Cecil.

Mr. Kenneth M. Clark.

The Hon. George Colville.

Sir John G. Gumming.

Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Robert B. Dixon.

Commander Herbert G. Evans, R.N.R.

Captain Guy Fanshawe, R.N., M.P.

Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson.

Mr. K. Lee Guinness.

Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey.

The Hon. Esmond C. Harmsworth, M.P.

Commodore Sir Bertram F. Hayes, R.N.R.

retired).

Captain G. C. Holloway, R.N.R.

Sir Frederick Thomas Hopkinson.

Captain the Earl Howe, R.N.V.R.

Admiral Sir Thomas H. M. Jerram.

Mr. J. F. Lamb.

Colonel Sir A. Henry McMahon.

Commander Sir Harry Mainwaring, Bt., R.N.V.R.

Mr. Algernon Maudslay.

Sir Frank C. Meyer, Bt., M.P.

General Sir Charles Monro, Bt.

Sir Gervais S. C. Rentoul, M.P.

The Right Hon. F. 0. Roberts, M.P.

The Right Hon. Walter Runciman, M.P.

Major-General the Right Hon. John E. B.

Seely.

Colonel the Master of Sempill.

The Lord Southborough. I Commander F. F. Tower, late R.N.V.R.

The Viscount Tredegar.

The Right Hon. Wm. Dudley Ward.

Mr. H. Tansley Witt.

And ex-officio.

The Lord Mayor of London.

The Admiral Commanding Reserves.

The Deputy Master of the Trinity House.

The Hydrographcr of the Nary.

The Chairman of Lloyd's.

As no other names have been proposed I declare these gentlemen duly elected.

The next business is the presentation of medals for gallantry in saving, or attempting to save, life from shipwreck. I will ask the Secretary to read the accounts of services for which medals have been given, and after these have been read, I will ask Lord Reading to present the medals.

New Brighton, Cheshire.

The SECRETARY : A very heavy N.N.W.

gale was blowing in the Mersey on 24th November last with a very heavy sea, continuous blinding rain squalls, and gusts at nearly 100 miles an hour. Owing to the gale and shortage of fuel, the French steamer Emile Delmas anchored and signalled for help. When the New Brighton Motor Life-boat reached her, she had the greatest difficulty in getting alongside, as the steamer was yawing tremendously.

In the end she succeeded—thanks to the splendid skill with which the Coxswain handled her, and the magnificent courage of her Crew—in rescuing the whole crew of twentyfour men, but the Life-boat herself had been badly damaged. Then, on her way home, she was struck by a huge sea. It flooded one of the engine rooms, and swept overboard the chief engineer of the steamer and two of the Life-boat's own Crew. The Life-boat, with great difficulty, succeeded in picking up the two Life-boatmen, but in spite of repeated efforts, she could not save the engineer, who was swept away and drowned. The Life-boat reached her Station again nearly six hours after she had put out to the rescue.

Particular gallantry was shown by Motor Mechanic Ralph B. Scott. He was ill, waiting for a bed in the hospital, and faced with the probability of a serious operation. In spite of this he answered the call, and during the service was in charge of the engines. When he landed he was taken straight to hospital.

This is not the first time that Mr. Seott has shown such gallantry and endurance. Before the New Brighton Life-boat went to her Station in 1923, she made a tour round Great Britain. Mr. Scott broke a small bone in his arm, but in spite of this remained in charge of the engines until the end of the trip a month later.

This was the finest service of the year, and the Institution awarded its Silver Medal to Coxswain George Robinson, and its Bronze Medal to J. R. Nicholson, Second-Coxswain, Ralph B. Scott, Motor Mechanic, and each member of the Crew. (Cheers.) (Lord Reading then presented the Medals to Coxswain Robinson, Second-Coxswain Nicholson and Motor Mechanic Ralph B. Scott.) Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

The Institution has also made special awards in connexion with a service which took place at Fraserburgh in January, 1912, when the Life-boat was launched to the help of a steam trawler, Clio. The service was reported at the time, but owing to the serious illness of the Honorary Secretary, it was not until 1928 that the Institution learnt of the special gallantry shown by the Second-Coxswain and three members of the Crew, and decided to make special awards.

On the night of 14th January, 1912, the Clio, in attempting to make Fraserburgh Harbour in a very heavy sea, struck the Beacon Rock off Cairnbulg Briggs. Flares were burned, the Coastguard Life-saving Apparatus was called out, and the Life-boat was launched. The rockets fired by the Coastguard were of no avail, as the trawler was too far off, and the Coastguard, at the time, proposed to wait until daylight before taking any further action.

The Life-boat made two attempts at rescue, but the sea was washing over the top of the Clio, and she could not get alongside. The Coxswain therefore anchored his boat. At about 11 p.m., the Second-Coxswain, James Sim, fearing that the crew of the Clio would die of exposure if they were not rescued before the morning, proposed that he should try to swim to the Briggs, and that three other members of the Crew should follow him. The Coxswain approved of the plan, and veered down as close to the rocks as possible. The Second-Coxswain then jumped overboard, with a line attached to him, and struggled and swam to the rocks, where he made the line fast.

Three members of the Crew then followed, Alexander Ritchie, Andrew Ritchie and James Mitchell, and with the aid of the line got on to the Briggs. They then made their way with great difficulty along and over the rocks, under the lead of James Sim, until they were opposite the Clio, to find that the crew had got into the Cage of the Beacon and lashed themselves there. Between the Briggs and the Beacon was a deep channel, 20 feet wide. The Second- Coxswain therefore assisted the Life-saving Apparatus Crew on to the Briggs, and with their help a line was got over the deep channel to the Beacon, and the shipwrecked crew were rescued. But for the initiative, sound judgment, fine leadership and courage of the Second- Coxswain, ably supported by the three men who followed him, there is little doubt that the eight men of the Clio would have parished of exposure.

The Institution has therefore awarded its Silver Medal to Second-Coxswain James Sim, and its Thanks inscribed on Vellum to Alexander Ritchie, Andrew Ritchie and the widow of James Mitchell, who has died since the service was psrformed. (Cheers.) (Lord Reading then presented the Medal to Second-Coxswain Sim.) Padstow, Cornwall.

Padstow has the distinction of having carried out two services last year, in which much skill and gallantry were shown in circumstances of great danger.

The first service was on llth February, when the A rob rescued the crew of eighteen of the Norwegian steamer Taormina. With a gale blowing from W.N.W. and a very heavy sea running, the steamer attempted to enter Padstow Harbour when the tide was low. She struck on the Doom Bar, and lay there with heavy seas breaking over her. The Institution's tug and the Life-boat Edmund Harvey were called out, but there was not enough water in the channel, so the smaller Life-boat Arab was launched and went down the channel under oars. She had to cross the dangerous Ketch Bank, and this put her beam on to a nasty breaking sea, but she passed safely through it, anchored to windward of the steamer, and veered down to her. There she lay alongside, while the steamer's crew jumped aboard her. The operation called for great skill, and the Life-boat was admirably handled by Coxswain W. J. Baker. The return journey, with the laden Life-boat, was very dangerous, and it was only by the skilful seamanship of the Coxswain and the good work of the Crew at the oars that the Ketch Bank was crossed a second time in safety. It added considerably to the merit of the rescue that of the thirteen men who manned the Life-boat, seven had not been out on service before.

The Institution awarded its Bronze Medal to Coxswain W. J. Baker and its Thanks inscribed on Vellum to each member of the Crew. (Cheers.) The second service was on 27th November, when the Life-boat Tug Helen Peele rescued the crew of the motor fishing boat Our Girlie, of Port Isaac. At 4.30 in the morning when a gale was blowing from the W.N.W., with a very heavy sea, it was found that one boat, Our Girlie, with five men on board, was at sea, so the Steam Tug Helen Peele was immediately sent out. With the help of her searchlight she found Our Oirlie anchored close to the shore near Port Quin, and in great danger, for if her anchor gave, the heavy seas would fling her at once on the rocks. The master of the tug ordered the oil tap to be turned on, and this smoothed the seas considerably. He then stood boldly in to within 200 yards of the rocks, in only two or three fathoms of water, and, by manffiuvring the tug skilfully, rescued the crew. In the darkness and shallow water, and with the heavy sea running, it was an operation of great difficulty and danger. Had the tug touched the rocks, it would have been fatal. The rescue was completed only just in time. Immediately afterwards the cable of the fishing-boat parted, she was carried on to the rocks, and became a complete wreck.

The Institution awarded its Bronze Medal to Mr. J. Atkinson, the Master of the Tug, its Thanks inscribed on Vellum to each member of the Crew, and its Thanks and an inscribed Barometer to Captain E. P. Hutchings, the Honorary Secretary. (Cheers.) (Lord Readying then presented the Medals to Coxswain Baker and Mr. J. Atkinson.) Stromness, Orkneys.

A Second Service Clasp to the Bronze Medal which he already holds has been awarded to Coxswain William Johnston, of the Stromness Life-boat, for a very fine service which resulted in the saving of the crew of the trawler Carmania II., of Grimsby, on 14th February this year, but unfortunately Coxswain Johnston is unable to be present to-day.

Medals Awarded for Shore-Boat Services.

HILTON, ROSS-SHIRE.

On the afternoon of the 20th March, 1928, a motor fishing-boat, Pearl, was attempting to enter Balintore Harbour, Ross-shire, on the Moray Firth. A whole gale was blowing, with a heavy sea, and the boat's engine failed. She was driven down on to the salmon stake-nets, and her crew succeeded in securing her to them, but she was in the greatest danger. Mr. Hugh MacKay, senr., of Hilton, called for volunteers, manned his own motor-yawl Thrive, and went out to the rescue. The flood tide was making, which always renders it most dangerous to attempt to leave this harbour. In spite of this the Thrive not only went out in the gathering darkness, but succeeded in getting the Pearl in tow and brought her safely as far as the harbour entrance. Then the tow-rope parted and the Pearl capsized, the Thrive with difficulty getting into the harbour. One of the two men on board the Pearl was injured in the capsizing and was drowned. The other succeeded in reaching the shore, fifteen yards away, in safety ; but he really owed his life to the gallantry of the five men who had taken out the Thrive. Mr. MacKay was awarded the Bronze Medal, and each of the four men who went out with him the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. (Cheers,) (Lord Beading then presented the Medal to Mr.

MacKay.) PORTHOAWL, GLAMORGANSHIRE.

In the early afternoon of 27th August last a small steamer, Kendy, of Cardiff, got into difficulties off Porthcawl, in Glamorganshire, and foundered. The crew took to the boat, but it capsized, and, with the men clinging to it, drifted towards the shore. There was a moderate wind blowing, and the sea was moderate, but a heavy surf was breaking on the rocks.

The Coastguard Life-saving Apparatus Company was called out, and two rockets were fired, but the men on the boat could not get hold of the line. The Company then lined the rocks ready to seize the men as they were washed up, and an urgent call was sent for boats, one of which rescued one of the five men.

Meanwhile, at great risk to himself, a visitor to Porthcawl, Mr. W. H. B. Cotton, of Sandiacre, near Nottingham, plunged off the rocks into the surf, swam out to the upturned boat with a line and passed it to the Keniy's captain, but the captain, unfortunately, could not keep hold of it. Mr. Cotton then swam back and volunteered to go out a second time, but as the boat was by this time close inshore, the Coastguard would not let him take the risk. As the boat was carried in, with the four men on her, the Life-saving Company seized them before they were flung on the rocks, and passed them back to other helpers, one Coastguard diving off the rocks in order to get one of the men ashore. All four men were rescued, but many of the Company were bruised and had their clothes torn.

Mr. Cotton's action in plunging into such a surf among the rocks was one of great gallantry, and the Institution has awarded him its Bronze Medal. (Cheers.) (Lord Reading then presented the Medal to Mr. Cotton.) QUILTY, CO. CLARE.

The Bronze Medal has also been awarded to Mr. Thomas Boyle, of Seafield, Quilty, Co.

Clare, who, with two other men, rescued three men who had been marooned on an island, on the 8th February of last year. The rescue was a very gallant piece of work, for it was carried out in a canvas canoe, with a gale blowing and a very heavy sea running ; and the rescuers were in great danger of losing their lives. The other two rescuers were awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. Unfortunately, Mr. Boyle is unable to be present to-day.

The Marquess of Reading.

The MARQUESS OP READING : Mr. Chairman, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I think really that all that would be necessary, after the records we have just heard read, would be to read the resolution to you if you have not read it already. It purports to record our deep appreciation of the courage of the gallant Coxswains and Crews of the Life-boats and of the services that they have rendered in lifesaving during the year, and also of the help given by the Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers and Committees who have contributed undoubtedly to the assistance so given.

I cannot, however, content myself with merely reading it, although I feel certain that it would be passed with acclamation in this assembly—as indeed it would anywhere throughout the country—because I have been invited by the Chairman and the Committee to address some observations to you, and I rejoice in the opportunity and the real privilege which has been offered to me of expressing in a very few minutes, to the best of my ability, what I think, and what I am sure you all think, of the splendid work done by these men and by all who take part in this great work of life-saving at sea. (Applause.) This is a great Institution, an indispensable one for this nation, an Institution which I understand serves 5,000 miles of coast of Great Britain and Ireland, places a Life-boat wherever it is required, and does everything that it can to foster devotion to life-saving at sea, and to cultivate that natural desire which is in our men who go down to the sea to risk their own lives in order to save the lives of others. It has a wonderful record. I have been very interested in reading this Report. I find that it has existed, as all of you know perhaps better than I do, since 1824. It has over a century's record of service ; and during that period it has saved over 61,000 lives. That works out at an average of eleven lives per week during the 105 years that it has existed.

I think the Institution may well point with pride to what has been achieved during this time. (Cheers.) When you hear records such as those read to you just now by the Secretary, it stands to reason that the imagination is stirred and the pulse is quickened. We have listened to the achievements of men who very often— probably most often—have spent a day of toil battling with the elements, have retired to their rest, and then have been called out—at whatever time it may be and however short the rest they have had—to take their place in the boats, and have gone out to their duty, have gone out in the rain and wind—and, as you know, in one instance it has been recorded that gusts were blowing at nearly 100 miles an hour. Realizing to the full, as those men must, the dangers that they are about to brave, yet without hesitation—desirous of taking part in the work, eager to place themselves in the boats—they start out very often at the gravest risk. (Cheers.) WTe have heard to-day from your Chairman of the gifts of Life-boats that have been made by the Shipping Companies, in answer to the appeal of the Prince of Wales. May I venture to express the hope to you, Mr. Chairman, that this example will be followed this year by other Companies, and that you will get gradually a considerable number of boats given in this way by the Steamship Services, who, after all, are those who must most appreciate what it means to have Life-boats and their Crews ready to go out whenever there is distress and trouble at sea. (Cheers.) But it is of small use merely thinking of boats, however well they may be built, however skilfully they may be constructed, whatever the reserve of power that may be in them, and whatever speed they may be able to attain—it is small use to think of them, because they are powerless without the human minds to direct them ; and it is of those men that I am asking you to record your appreciation.

(Cheers.) I listened just now with the greatest interest, as I am sure you all did, to the proud record of the greatest service of this year, that of the New Brighton Boat. You heard the story told you of what those men have done, how they managed to save all the crew except one engineer who unfortunately was washed overboard.

You heard the story too of one member of the Crew, who, in spite of his physical difficulties, still stood to his task and never stopped until it was finished. (Applause.) As I presented the Silver Medal to the Coxswain, having arrived at that time of life when we take the greatest interest in other people's ages, I was interested to ask him what his age was. This man, who had done this service of which you have all heard, told m , to my astonishment, that he was 64 years of ag3.

Those of us who are over 60 will find some consolation in that. (Laughter and Cheers.) Kqually, when one thinks of these men, whom I have mentioned, and of those others who have come before you, and the many others whose names stand in the Report, one cannot but recall also the tragic disaster which happened at Rye. Wre all know about it, and it is unnecessary for me to dwell upon it, except that a reference to the work which men have done last year in life-saving, and in attempts to save life, would be incomplete without mention of the wonderful gallantry and the awful tragedy which resulted in the loss of the whole of the crew of seventeen men of the Rye Life-boat.

I rejoice to find, on reading the Report, something of which I was not aware, although perhaps I ought to have been. It is that the Institution immediately came forward with the pensions which it awards in these cases, that there was no difficulty for the dependents, that they received their moaey immediately, and that, of course, they have continued to receive it since. (Cheers.) The country showed what it thought of those men ; but no amount of money subscribed, no amount of sympathy, can really express all that we owe to men who, in doing this work, know that thz fate of the Rye Lifeboatmen may overtake them whenever they set out in service. But they never hesitate, they are always ready at every summons ; and we all of us deeply appreciate the gallantry of the services that they perform and the really splendid example that they give, time after time, of the achievements of which human nature is capable, of the devotion with which men go to their duty, and of the attempts, and the successful attempts, which they make to save life. In this last year they have 446 lives to their credit, all saved by the brave Life- boatmen who risked their own lives to save the lives of others at sea. (Loud Applause.) Vice-Admiral Fisher.

VICE-ADMIRAL FISHER : Mr. Chairman, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now rather more than ten years ago that, at a public dinner of the Pilgrims, I first had the pleasure of hearing Lord Reading speak. He was then to be followed by a very distinguished gentleman from America, and I remember saying to my next door neighbour at dinner how very sorry I was for his successor. Then, when Lord Reading's speech finished, I remember very clearly thinking how I would not have been in the shoes of his successor for all the money in the world. It is therefore really odd that I should find myself here this afternoon.

(Laughter.) A sailor is not generally given to moralising, and I do not think the popular conception of an Admiral is of a person who over-indulges in introspection—that would not be healthy for him at all—but I think I can confess to you that in times like this of profound peace, there are among us those who feel that perhaps, in other walks of life, some great direct service to humanity at large may be performed by people other than ourselves. We think, of course, of the doctor first and foremost. His humanity, his readiness to go to everybody's assistance at any time is, of course, proverbial. But there is this profound distinction between the doctor at his worst moment and the Lifeboatman, that the doctor knows first of all where his patient is, he knows secondly that the journey there and back is absolutely safe, and that when he is actually in attendance he is protected from the elements. With regard to the Life-boatman, whom Lord Reading has described in such glowing phrases as I cannot even dream of pretending to imitate, what faces him when the call comes ? You will forgive me, I hope, if I take up the same line as Lord Reading did. I am, after all. seconding his resolution ; and it will be your wish, f am sure, that first and foremost we should clearly visualize what the Life-boatman has to do, and how he does it.

Let us take a night such as those men who have just been decorated have experienced.

They will tell me if I am much wrong in the picture I am going to draw. Would they not have said overnight before going to bed, perhaps the last thing, " By George, what a beastly night to-night. I hope to goodness no one gets into trouble near me." Of course, they would. That would be their prayer. At about 2 o'clock in the morning, when vitality is at its lowest ebb, off go the maroons ; out tumbles each man with set jaws ; throws on his clothes ; puts on his oilskins ; and, perhaps without a word, makes for the door. It opens with a violent rush of wind, and is closed with difficulty. He leaves behind him a family, overburdened with anxiety, who know as well as he does what is in front of him. The night is as dark as the grave ; the wind cuts like a whip ; it is bitterly cold. He stumbles along perhaps a mile to the beach. There he finds the men collected, the Coxswain briefly saying what the job is, and what his plans are ; and together they man the boat. The first comber falls like a flail across the boat, but only stirs them to still greater effort; and finally, after a most punishing experience, they get within sight of the vessel in distress. Only a sailor knows what is then in front of the Crew and the Coxswain—the dexterity, the delicacy, the seamanship required to place a boat in the right place to be able to render any sort of help. One knows perfectly well that it is a thing that one tries over and over again to do, and one is constantly baffled. Finally the boat is properly placed, with great danger probably to the Crew and the boat itself ; the rescue is effected; the men are taken off, and the perilous journey home begins.

Now I submit to you that when services such as those are volunteered for and rendered, it is a matter for marvel and pride. (" Hear, hear.") I do not think that you could possibly devise a higher test for endurance, for courage, for discipline, or for duty. You have seen Robinson, Scott, Nicholson, Baker, and Sim ; and there are we know hundreds of men round our coasts who, when the opportunity comes, will show a like devotion.

(Applause.) We take off our hats to the Lifeboatmen.

(Applause.) As a member of the Board of Admiralty, it is a very great privilege to me to be here to pay my totally inadequate tribute to our brothers of the sea. I am glad to be able to do it, for all mv colleagues as well as myself.

I beg to second the resolution which has been moved by Lord Reading. (Applause.) THE CHAIRMAN : The Resolution is : — " That this Meeting, fully recognizing the important services of the Royal National Life-boat Institution in its national work of life-saving, desires to record its hearty appreciation of the gallantry of the Coxswains and Crews of the Institution's Lifeboats, and gratefully acknowledges the valuable help rendered to the cause by the Local Committees, Honorary Secretaries and Honorary Treasurers." (The Resolution u~as put to the Meeting and curried Knanuiioiisly.} Tiie Twenty Leading Branches.

The Secretary then read a list of the twenty Branches which had collected the largest sums for the Institution during the year 1927-8.

This list is published on another page.

Award of Gold Brooches and Pendants.

The SECRETARY : The Gold Pendant or Gold Brooch is awarded only to those who, as honorary workers, have given the Life-boat Cause valuable and distinguished service by furthering the appeal for financial support.

Since the last Annual Meeting 12 Pendants and Brooches have been awarded. I will read out first the names of those who are not present to receive their awards. The towns with which they are associated are given in alphabetical order.

The awards were made for the following services : — BIRMINGHAM.

To Miss E. SMITH, who has rendered valuable service to the Branch and the Institution for over thirty years.

BRISTOL.

To Mrs. HARTLY HODDEB, in recognition of her valuable co-operation as Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild in this city.

CHELTENHAM.

To Mrs. R. DA VIES, Chairman of the Cheltenham Branch, in recognition of her valuable help for many years.

HORNSEA.

To Mrs. J. B. HEDLEY, President of the Hornsea Ladies' Life- boat Guild, in recognition of her valuable co-operation for many years.

LONDON.

The Gold Brooch has also been awarded, but has already been presented, to THE VISCOUNTESS BERTIE OF THAME, in recognition of her valuable services to the Institution as Chairman of the Central London Women's Committee, and particularly in connexion with the organization of the Royal Matinees in 1927 and 1928.

The Gold Pendant has been awarded to the following Branch Honorary Secretaries in recognition of their valuable work for the Institution over a number of years : — Mr. J. H. AMOS, of Middlesbrough.

Mr. J. RAMSAY SMITH, of Peebles.

The following are present this afternoon to receive their awards : — Mr. GEORGE WARD, OF BIRMINGHAM, in recognition of his valuable co-operation in this city for many years. He has been a member of the Branch Committee and Honorary Secretary, and is now Vice- Chairman.

Mr. H. H. COOKE, also of BIRMINGHAM, who has been a member of the Branch Committee for over twenty-five years, and has rendered particularly valuable service in connexion with Life-boat Day in this city.

The following Branch Honorary Secretaries receive the award in recognition of their valuable work for the Institution extending over a number of years : — Mr. H. SUTCLIFFE SMITH, OF BRADFORD (NOW SIR HENKY SUTCLIFJE SMITH).

Mrs. A. FINCH, OF CHELMSFORD.

Miss E. EDGAR, OF RICHMOND, SURREY.

f' Lady Florence Pery, Hon. Secretary of the Ladies' Life-baa! Guild, then presented the Gold Brooches and Pendants.) Lord Southborough.

LORD SOUTHBORODOH : Mr. Chairman, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure we have all listened with great pleasure to the speeches this afternoon. It is a great thing to have my noble friend Lord Beading again among us ; he has been storm-tossed on other seas for too long. As for the gallant Admiral, I am sure you will agree that he need not fear, to use a legal phrase, to be with the noble Marquis or anybody else in any case which deserves good presentation to an audience.

(" Hear, hear.") These Annual Meetings of the Royal National Life-boat Institution are always quite wonderful ; they are, in fact, a national institution in themselves. My memory of them goes back some forty-five years, to the days when I found myself in administrative charge of the Rocket Apparatus houses all round the United Kingdom, a duty pleasing in itself and not particularly onerous, which brought me into connexion with this great Institution and also with that splendid body of men, the old Coastguard of the country.

It will be my privilege presently to move the second resolution which you have on the paper before you, but I am going to wander away, at any rate in appearance, for a few moments, as there are some important matters to which I must refer, and some very sincere acknowledgments to friends and supporters which I have to make, on my way to thanking the Ladies' Life-boat Guild.

First let me remind you of the changed circumstances of these times in which we live, both on land and at sea, of the vastly increased expenditure under every head on the Life-boat Service, and the demand for that horrid thing called money for the elaborate and costly motor boats of the present day. The Institution has increasingly onerous responsibilities, but they are being fully and frankly faced.

For instance, the great Civil Service of this country has for many years linked itself with the Life-boat Service in a close association honourable to both. Since the foundation of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund in 1866, the Civil Service has contributed in small subscriptions over £78,000 to the Institution and I,2b6 lives have been rescued by Civil Service Life-boats. (Applause.) Those boats were, of course, pulling and sailing boats of comparatively small cost, but the Civil Service has risen to the occasion and met the demands of modern science. In addition to the other boats, the Fund has financed two first-class motor boats, one at Margate and one at Kingstown, and since then it has this year had the honour of presenting to the Institution a new first-class motor boat, which is stationed at Southend-on-Sea, and is to be named The Greater London. For that boat the Civil Service have paid £8,500.

(Applause.) 1 think it is not unbecoming that I should refer to Prince George's tribute to the Civil Service in this connexion. He said: " I cannot help thinking that, great as are the qualities which have made the Civil Service of Great Britain known the world over for its high standard of integrity and loyal service to the State, there can be few instances of their joint voluntary contributions to a national cause which would equal that which they have given to the Service entrusted to the Royal National Life-boat Institution." But, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, those are the gifts of the gods, and we cannot live by them alone. We like a big cheque, but we depend with gratitude on the silver money of the multitude of our friends and supporters, those half-crowns which shine so brightly in our hands, or which, by the favour of the Coalition Government of blessed memory, turn so yellow in our trousers pockets. (Laughter.) In this connexion—not in connexion with the Government but in connexion with the halfcrowns —you will like to hear of a splendid contribution made by a body of working men.

Nearly £1,000 has been given by the employees of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.

(Applause.) There you have a case of generosity by men who must have claims on their slender resources for their own charities and who'have no close and direct interest in the sea-service.

I hope that this striking precedent set by them will be noted publicly, and that it will be followed by other great corporate bodies, by the transport services, and also by the great fishing fleets. The noble Marquis will agree that the fishing fleets are, if possible, even closer to us than the Shipping Companies. All I can say is that I should like to know the fishing fleet people better than we do, and to hear from them more often. (" Hear, hear.") So much, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, for the contributors ; but what of the workers for the cause ? We must think of and thank those Committees who in over 1,000 Branches throughout Great Britain and Ireland are administering the affairs of the Institution, presenting its appeals and urging its claims upon their fellow citizens. We owe a special debt of gratitude to the Honorary Secretaries and Committees of the Station Branches, which are responsible, under the Committee of Management and the technical officers, for the efficient maintenance of the Life-boats, their gear and equipment, so that they may at all times be ready for instant action day and night. I am not sure that the work of the Honorary Secretaries of Committees of financial branches is not equally difficult. At any rate, they are equally entitled to our gratitude.

(Applause.) So, at the end of what I fear has been a somewhat long exordium, we come to the ladies and their Guild, and the resolution which I am about to move. It was a wonderful idea of the Institution to launch this ladies' organization some seven years ago. It represents the corporate work of the women of Great Britain and Ireland without distinction of class, politics or religion, united in a strong bond of service to a great, heroic and humane cause. Throughout the 100 years of the Institution's existence, it has received the co-operation of the women on the coast.

Many and many a time they have helped to launch a boat in the fury of a winter gale.

Although on these occasions we always remember Grace Darling ; and although the ladies of to-day man eight-oared outriggers, I doubt whether a pulling boat on a wild night is a desirable place for a woman. That is a matter which I will leave to my good friend the gallant General who is going to second this resolution, and who is an adept at all that kind of thing. (Laughter.) On the other hand, with the changes which have come to us, anything is possible, and I can well imagine that before long we may find a brave woman steering a motor boat across the Goodwin Sands or even piloting a flying life-boat on an errand of mercy. But the ladies of our Guild, much as they would like, no doubt, to help in emergency, are not yet out for that kind of adventure. They are content to be one of the mainstays of the Life-boat administration.

They do wonderful and most successful work.

Ladies of the Guild, we may assume, must, by constitution, bo gilded ladies. They are certainly worth more than their solid weight in gold to the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

(Laughter and Applause.) I beg to move the resolution standing in my name. (Applause.) Major-General Seely.

MAJOR-GENERAL SEELY : Mr. Chairman, Mr.

Mayor—I am the first man who has spotted the Mayor of Westminster here (Laughter).

On behalf of you all we welcome the Chief Magistrate of this most ancient and honourable city of high renown. Incidentally, why not a Life-boat from the City of Westminster to celebrate his brilliant tenure of office ? I suggest that with the deepest respect, Mr.

Mayor, feeling that it would be a very suitable thing to do on this occasion. (Applause.) We have listened, Mr. Mayor, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, to a speech from Lord Southborough of such persuasive, humorous eloquence, as always, that few words are necessary from me. The reason why I have been chosen to second this resolution was indicated, I think, by Lord Southborough when he said I was an adept at these matters, but, believe me, these matters have nothing to do with the ladies. (Laughter.) There are round our coasts a number of places where there are Life-boats, but where the population is so small that every ablebodied man who knows anything about the sea, and very often those who do not, help to man the boat. By the accident of my life I live in such a place, and, through no merit of my own, for the past thirty-five years I have been an ordinary member of the Life-boat Crew. As a consequence, I do know at firsthand —having been out not only in our own Life-boat, but in many others very much more than a hundred times—what sort of boats we have and what sort of equipment we have, and I suppose the ladies who work so hard for us will want to know whether the money they have collected or given themselves has been well spent, and has given satisfaction to the men whose praises have been sung so eloquently and so generously by Lord Reading and Admiral Fisher.

I am here to say, as a privata soldier in the !: ranks, that, thoueh it has been the sacred right ! | of any private wMicr in our Array to have his ' grumble—as I.orJ Haig always told nie—yet I in the Life-boats there is no uruaihliag. We ar? satisfied with the Life-boats you give us.

I see round rue, I believe, many men who have been in the Life-boat Service with me, and I know they will agree with me when I say that, when we go out in a rough sea, and, as sometimes I have seen happen, come down crash against the side of a ship, so that every single oar is splintered and the noise of the impact against the side of the ship is like a big shell going off, our thought is : " Well, these are marvellous boats." (Applause.) I can think of only one of our Life-boats in my lifetime, certainly, and I believe in the lifetime of the Institution, that has been smashed up. All sorts of disasters have happened to us in those desperate times, but the boat has always survived and come ashore, and that has always been our thought, and I have often heard it expressed. When you are lifted up on a high wave coming in, and crash down on a rock, so that you would think all your teeth would fall out with the force of the impact, and still the boat survives, what you say is : " Ain't she a beauty 1 Ain't she a one ? " I have never heard a criticism. (Applause.) I do not suppose you knew, Mr. Chairman, that I was going to give you this unsolicited testimonial, but all the years I have been in this Service, and they are many, I have never heard a criticism of the Life-boats and their equipment. I think it is a grand thing for you, ladies and gentlemen, but especially for you ladies who work so hard in this cause, to know that we have an equipment which is the envy of all the nations in the world and to know that the Life-boatmen themselves are fully satisfied.

(Applause.) My last word will be this, that, though our private soldiers in the ranks are more than pleased with the boats we have got, wo know very well that further research, further experiment, further expenditure may facilitate this movement from the pulling and sailing boats, which are still the majority of our Fleet, to boats which will all have some power to help us get to windward before we sail. If we could, by your help, have still more money, we could produce a great improvement which would make the task of the Life-boatmen on a rough night very much easier. Research and experiment we pursue with vigour, but with more money we could go faster. Therefore, while on behalf of the Crews I can, I know, safely and without a single demurring voice thank all who have helped, and especially the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, I hope they will go forward with their good work and help us even further; and, if possible, we shall be even more grateful to them than we are now. (Applause.) The CHAIRMAN : The resolution is :— " That this Meeting desires to record its sense of the deep obligation of the Institution to the Ladies' Life-boat Guild and its many hundreds of voluntary workers for the Life-boat Cause, and its conviction of the increasing importance of the part which the Guild is destined to play in educating public opinion with regard to the value of the Lifeboat Service and in raising funds therefor." (The, resolution was put to the. Meeting and carried unanimously.) Mr. HARRY HARGOOD then proposed, and LOKD HOWE seconded, the following resolution :— " That this Meeting do approve and ratify the sale of the Life-boat House at St. Anne'son- Sca and land at the Lizard, which are no longer required for the purposes of the Institution." (The re-solution was put to the Meeting and carried unanimously.) The Hon. George Colville.

The HON. GEORGE COLVILLE : Mr. Chairman, Your Worship, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I rise to propose a resolution which I know will meet with a very warm response.

It is :— " That the hearty thanks of this meeting be given to the speakers at this the One Hundred and Fifth Annual General Meeting of the RoyalXational Life-boat Institution." It is of very great assistance to this Institution that outstanding personalities in public life should address us on these occasions and give us a non-technical and an external comment on the work which we carry out. We have had most interesting speeches from Lord Reading and Admiral Fisher, to which I know we have all listened with enormous interest, and we should like to express our thanks to them for what they have said. (Applause.) The Life-boat Cause is one on which all parties and all creeds agree. It has always been thought that its work can best be carried on by voluntary effort, and it is in that sense that we have heard those speeches to-day.

We thank the speakers most warmly for all they have said. I beg to move the resolution.

(Applause.) Mr. C. G. Ammon, M.P.

Mr. C. G. AMMON : Mr. Chairman, Your Worship, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, in associating myself with this resolution, may I for a moment refer to something which emanated from the report given us by the Secretary '! The list of the twenty towns which contributed the largest sums last year has deprived many of us public speakers of a jest which we have often used in referring to the generosity of Scotland in money matters ? I am afraid it has gone for good, because both Glasgow and Aberdeen appear to be very high in the list of donations. We shall therefore have to devise some other thrust in days to come. (Laughter.) I am delighted to second this resolution. It is a tribute to the temperament of the British people and to the great Institution under whose auspices we are gathered together to-day that we can see on this platform, especially at such a time, people of such varying political faith and belief. It shows that there are some questions which transcend all political differences, and in which we can all work together in order that we may give the maximum possible service. (Applause.) I am interested, Sir, to observe what a heavy drain you have made upon the House of Lords for this afternoon's meeting. You have given us Lord Reading, who, after onerous duties at the India Office and in the Viceroyalty of India, has been dug out from the calm backwaters of the House of Lords for service on behalf of the Institution ; and we hope you will got him into that Service.

Then there is Lord Southborough, fresh from his activities in the Civil Service, where, no doubt, he looks with a more critical eye on his fellow members in the House of Lords than probably he does here. He, too, has coma to render service. My greatest grief is that Lord Howe—who is far too young to have got into a backwater—has been taken from the active office of the Whips' Department at such a time and placed in the House of Lords. But we are glad to find that these members of that House are still alive to the activities of, and show great interest in, the Life-boat Institution.

Last, but by no means least, we are all gratified to see that the Royal Navy, in the person of Admiral Fisher, adds its blessing to this great service of the sea. Admiral Fisher has probably forgotten, but I have not, the other occasion when we met. It was on the Dunfermline golf links, when I came away with the impression that Admirals had far too much time to practise golf. (Laughter.) Probably he does not get very much time now he is on the Board of Admiralty. Anyway, this is the happiest possible reunion we could have, and we all of us, I am sure, join in hearty thanks to those who have helped to make this meeting a success. Quite frankly, our reason for getting them on the platform is their publicity value. We are hoping that, by having their names as supporters of the movement and by the eloquent speeches they have made, we shall reach a wider public and get that measure of support and all the money for which General Seely asked. I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution. (Applause.) The CHAIRMAN : The resolution is :— " That the hearty thanks of this Meeting be given to the speakers at this the One Hundred and Fifth Annual General Meeting of the Royal National Life-boat Institution." (The resolution was put to the Meeting and carried unanimously.) The MAKQUIS OF READING : On behalf of the speakers, including myself, I thank you very much for your resolution. I must just tell you one thing which was in my mind when the Admiral was speaking. I had no idea that he was in such trepidation at having to speak after me, and certainly there was no need for it, as he showed you. But when he was speaking of his trepidation, I wondered whether he realized that I had never got over my intense respect and veneration for anything so high as an Admiral. (Laughter andApplause.) As I listened I thought to myself : "I wonder if he realizes what I have been." Of course, I was not in the same Service, I was only in the Mercantile Marine. But still, I was at sea at one time, and I hope I did my duty. I never, however, rose higher than being a ship's boy.

Imagine my intense satisfaction when I found that for one moment at any rate—perhaps it was merely a fafon de parler—he, the Admiral, was in great awe at having to speak after me.

I was never allowed to speak after the captain on my ship! (Laughter.) I must conclude by thanking the meeting and expressing also to you, Mr. Chairman, and the Committee, our thanks for the way in which you have looked after us and presided over this meeting. (Applause.) The Meeting then terminated.

Entertainment of Medallists.

AFTER the Meeting the Medallists were taken to tea at the House of Commons by Commander Guy Fanshawe, R.N., M.P., a member of the Committee of Management, and in the evening they were the guests of Sir Oswald Stoll at the Coliseum..