THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET Motor Life-boats, 124 :: Pulling & Sailing Life-boats, 46 LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Institution in 1824 to May 31st, 1935 64,048 Bronze Medal Service at Appledore.

ON the morning of the llth January last the motor fishing boat Lee Bay, of Ilfracombe, put out from Clovelly for long-line fishing. She carried a crew of three, one of whom was a cripple. In the afternoon the coast- guard reported that she was in serious difficulties about a mile inside Baggy Point. A moderate gale was blowing from the W.N.W. with squalls. The sea was very heavy and it was raining.

The Appledore motor life-boat V.C.S.

was launched at 4.37 P.M. As the cox- swain was away from the station on account of the illness of a child, Second- Coxswain George H. E. Pow took command.

It was low water. The gale was blowing right into the bay, and a very heavy sea was breaking on the bar.

The crew knew as they set out that, in such conditions, it was dangerous, and might be impossible, to cross the bar at all; but there was no hesitation.

The life-boat did, in fact, touch once as she crossed, but got safely over.

Second-Coxswain Pow then steered across to the Bell Buoy, as it would have been dangerous to make direct for Baggy Point beam on to the heavy seas. From the buoy he signalled for information. The coastguard's reply could not be read entirely, but enough was read to show that the Lee Bay was still in the same position. The life-boat ran in towards the coast, through the darkness and the rain, guided by white flares which the coast- guards were showing on the top of the cliffs, 150 feet above the fishing boat, to give her position.

She found the Lee Bay just round Baggy Point, anchored not more than thirty feet from the high cliffs. Her crew were exhausted and helpless in face of the heavy seas. To add to the difficulties of the life-boat, the Lee Bay lay with a rock just to seaward of her. The life-boat anchored and dropped down towards her stern first, but had to go ahead again to meet a heavy sea. Once more she dropped down, very skilfully manoeuvred by the second-coxswain, with the able help of the motor mechanic. This time her crew succeeded in getting a line on board the Lee Bay, which was hauled away from the cliffs and alongside the life-boat; the crippled man was b'fted on board; the other two men jumped; and the life-boat, let- ting the fishing boat go, got clear of the rocks.

As it would be impossible for the life-boat to cross the Appledore bar again for some time, she ran for Ilfra- combe, where she landed the rescued men at 7.45 P.M. During the night the fishing boat was smashed to pieces on the cliffs. The life-boat left for home at 8.30 the next morning. The weather was still the same, with a N.W.

gale blowing. She was again in danger crossing the bar; but she got safely in.

It was then 1.45 P.M.

For this gallant and skilful rescue the Institution awarded the bronze medal and its thanks inscribed on vellum to Acting-Coxswain Pow; its thanks inscribed on vellum to the motor mechanic, C. T. Hornabrook ; a framed letter of thanks to each member of the crew, and money awards amounting to £41 12s. Qd..