THE Danish Government have awarded to Coxswain Richard Payne, of New- haven, Sussex, an inscribed Gold Watch, and to each member of the Newhaven Crew an inscribed Silver Cup, in recognition of their gallantry in rescuing the crew of the Danish motor-schooner, Mogens Koch, which went ashore at Cuckmere on 7th December last. This rescue, which was fully described in the March issue of The Lifeboat, was one of the outstanding services of the terrible gales last winter. It took place on the worst day of the gales, with a very heavy sea running, heavy rain, and the wind blowing at over eighty miles an hour. The Life-boat her- self was damaged. The second motor mechanic was washed out of the boat, but his feet caught on a rope and he was hauled aboard again. One of the rescued men had his thigh dislocated, and Coxswain Payne himself was seriously hurt.

The Gold Watch was accompanied by a Diploma, signed by the Danish Foreign Minister, in the following terms: " I have much pleasure in informing you that I have been commanded by His Majesty the King to express to you the Danish Government's apprecia- tion of the courage and gallantry which you showed when rescuing the crew of the Danish four-masted motor schooner Mogens Koch of Ronne on 7th December, 1929. At the same time I have the pleasure of presenting you with a gold watch with inscription in com- memoration of this event." A Diploma in similar terms accom- panied each of the Silver Cups.

Coxswain Payne had already been awarded the Institution's Silver Medal, and each member of the Crew the Institution's Thanks inscribed on Vel- lum.

The Silver Medal and the Gold Watch were presented to the Coxswain at the Annual Meeting of the Governors of the Institution on 7th April last.

The Vellums and the Silver Cups were presented to the Newhaven Crew by Captain G. C. Holloway, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R. (a member of the Committee of Management), on 7th June last, at a demonstration at Newhaven, given by the Sussex Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve..