Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.

—At 10.30 P.M. on the 29th May, 1938, the coastguard reported that the weather was getting bad and that several small fishing boats were at sea.

By 11 P.M. a southerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea on the bar.

Visibility was poor, owing to heavy rain. The motor life-boat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood was launched at 11.25 P.M., and by the light of her searchlight found a boat near Winterton Ness trying to make her way against the gale. She advised her to anchor close inshore for shelter, and gave the same advice to several other boats which she found near-by.

• Then she saw the boat 'Brothers, with a crew of three, at anchor with her engine broken down. As the Brothers was not in immediate danger, the lifeboat told her to stay at anchor while she made certain that there were no other boats wanting help. Day was now breaking, and no other boats could be seen, so the life-boat returned to the Brothers. One of her crew who was very exhausted was transferred to the life-boat, which then took her in tow. The life-boat went round to the other boats, fifteen altogether, and advised them to get their anchors up.

She shepherded them all back to harbour, towed the Brothers to Yarmouth,Yarmouth, and returned to her station at 7.80 A.M. She had been on service for eight hours.—Rewards, £23 17*..