On the morning of the 9th December the coast- guard telephoned that a motor vessel was driving ashore just south of the pier. A S.S.W. gale was blowing and a very rough sea was running. The motor life-boat E.M.E.D. put out at 9.50 A.M. and found the motor vessel Titia, of Dordrecht, aground about half a mile south of the pier. She was bound, laden, for Colchester, and carried a crew of five. She had two anchors out, but they had dragged.

Her master asked for a tug, but on being told that there was not one nearer than Yarmouth, he asked the life-boat to help. With difficulty the life-boat ran alongside and a life-boat- man was put on board. A wire hawser was made fast, and the coxswain very skilfully manoeuvred the life-boat ahead and pulled the Titia off the beach.

When they were almost clear of the pierhead the tow parted. Another line was passed, but parted, and so did a third. There were no more hawsers to use, and by this time the Titia was very close to the pier. She struck against it, and after a long struggle she was made fast to it. The life-boat put back to her station at 4.30 P.M. At 10.35 P.M., when the tide flowed, she put out again, once more got a line on board the Titia, and towed her to a safe anchorage in Harwich harbour. She arrived back at her station again at 3.15 A.M. on the 10th. But for the help given by the life-boat the Titia would have become a total wreck.—• Property Salvage Case..