Cromer, Norfolk.—At 8.33 P.M. on the 9th November, 1937, the coastguard reported distress signals about eight and a half miles in a north-easterly direction from Cromer. A moderate N.N.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 8.45 P.M., and about an hour later found the barge Hibernia, of London, awash amidships and in a sinking condition. She was bound from Goole to Sittingbourne with a cargo of coal, and had a crew of three.

She had sprung a leak, and as there was no hope of saving her, the life-boat went alongside and rescued the three men. She then made for Gorleston, which she reached at 2.30 A.M. on the 10th. The Hibernia eventually drove ashore and became a total wreck.— Rewards, £36 19s..