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Buckingham

Filey, Scarborough, and Whitby, Yorkshire.

—During the evening of the 25th February, 1938, the Grimsby trawler Buckingham, with a crew of sixteen on board, ran aground at Newbiggin Wyke, just north of Filey Brig. A moderate south-westerly breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. The Buckingham sent out a wireless message that she was bumping heavily and that the crew must soon abandon her, but she reported her position incorrectly as between Whitby and Scarborough.

The coastguard passed this information to the life-boat stations, and the Whitby No. 1 motor life-boat Margaret Harker Smith put out at 9.25 P.M., followed by the Scarborough motor life-boat Herbert Joy II at 9.40 P.M.

About the same time a rocket was seen and it was realized the trawler was on Newbiggin Wyke. The Whitby lifeboat was recalled, and returned to her moorings at 9.45 P.M., but the Scarborough life-boat searched the coast towards Whitby, and did not arrive back at her station until 1.30 A.M.

next day. When it was known where the Buckingham really was the Filey pulling and sailing life-boat Thomas Masterman Hardy was launched. The time was then 9.37 P.M. She stood by while the Buckingham was got afloat by fishing cobles from Filey, and returned to her station at 2 A.M. on the 26th.—Rewards : Filey, £45 15s.; Scarborough, £47 105. 6d.; and Whitby, £10 6s..