ON the evening of 21st June, 1938, two women bathers at Bettystown, Co.

Meath, Eire, were swept seaward on a rubber mattress by a strong offshore wind. The sea was choppy. Several men went at once to their rescue. Mr.

Michael Gibson swam after the raft for some distance. He was unable to overtake it; became exhausted; and was compelled to return. Mr. James Gibney swam out for about a mile.

Mr. Henry O'Neill followed him in a small boat. One of the women jumped or fell off the raft. Mr. Gibney seized her and began to swim with her towards the shore. With the help of Mr.

O'Neill and his small boat he brought her in, but she was unconscious and could not be revived.

Meanwhile Mr. Patrick Hogan and another man had put out in a small home-made canoe. It was leaking badly. They were only able to keep it afloat by constant baling. Mr.

Hogan's companion was certain that the canoe would sink and they put back to shore. By this time Mr.

Gibson had swum back. He and Mr.

Hogan put out again in the same leaking canoe and followed the woman on the mattress, who was still being carried seaward. She was already two miles off shore when they reached her, and they kept her afloat until the Mornington pilot boat, manned by six men, arrived and took them to shore.

The Royal Humane Society has awarded its bronze medal to Mr.

Gibney and its parchment to Mr.

Gibson, the one for his gallantry in bringing one of the two women ashore, and the other for his gallant attempt to swim out to them. The Institution has made the following rewards for the rescues carried out by boats: To Mr. PATRICK HOGAN, its thanks inscribed on vellum; To Mr. MICHAEL GIBSON, its thanks inscribed on vellum; To Mr. HENRY O'NEILL, a letter of thanks; To the six men who manned the pilot boat, £2 5s.