Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At about 5.53 P.M. on the 7th May, 1938, the coastguard reported that a barge lying about two miles south of Walton Pier was flying a distress signal. A moderate N.E. breeze was blowing, with a rather rough sea. The reserve motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at this station, put out at 6 P.M., and found the barge to be the Lady Mary, of London, bound for Yarmouth with a crew of two and a cargo of rice.

She was leaking badly and had become unmanageable. Some of the life-boat crew went on board to man the pump and hoist some sail, and the life-boat then towed the barge to Brightlingsea.

She anchored her in safe water and arrived back at her own station at 2 A.M. on the 8th.—-Property Salvage Case..