On the 18th October the German steamer Birkenau, of Bremerhaven, while bound in ballast from Antwerp to Methil, was caught in a strong northerly gale, with very heavy seas, and driven on to the rocks at Chapel Point, some miles east of Dunbar. The Motor Life-boat George and Sarah Strachan was launched at 6.15 A.M. The Captain of the Birkenau did not wish to abandon his vessel, and after standing by for some time the Life-boat returned to Dunbar, arriving back at 9.50 A.M. Shortly afterwards one of the steamer's anchor-chains parted and the Life-boat put out again, to find that ten of the crew of fifteen had been landed by the Rocket Apparatus, the remainder staying on board. The Life-boat stood by all day and at half-past five the steamer re-floated. She was taken in tow by a tug and at the request of her captain the Life-boat accompanied both vessels into Leith. The Life-boat arrived back at her Station at 4.15 A.M. on the 19th, having been on service for about twenty-two hours. The master of the Birkenau sent a letter of thanks, and a letter of appreciation was sent by the President of the German Republic.

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