ON 17th December, 1938, a S.E. by E. gale was blowing at Gourdon, Kincardineshire, with, flurries of sleet.

An extremely heavy sea was running, and was breaking heavily far outside the harbour. Half an hour after midday a message came from the coastguard that a vessel was in distress. The motor life-boat, Margaret Dawson, was launched quarter of an hour later. In the sea that was running it was most difficult and dangerous for the life-boat to get out.

She was flung about like a cork in the heavy surf. At one time she was nearly on end; at another she was broadside on to the breaking seas; and a local surf boat was launched to be ready in case any of her crew were swept overboard before she had left the harbour. After the harbour was cleared the life-boat had still to pass through a very narrow passage between rocks. But Coxswain Milne handled her throughout with splendid seaman- ship; he never lost control; and he brought her safely to the open sea.

Very soon afterwards news reached the life-boat station that there was no vessel in distress. What had been reported as a rocket at sea was in fact a rocket fired at Montrose aerodrome.

The life-boat was at once recalled, but it was impossible for her to make Gourdon Harbour again. She ran for Stonehaven, ten miles away, and arrived there at 3.15. There again Coxswain Milne showed his fine sea- manship by bringing the life-boat safely in.

The Institution has shown its appre- ciation of a launch so skilfully carried out in such dangerous conditions by making the following awards: To Coxswain GEORGE MILNE, its thanks inscribed on vellum; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a reward of £1 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of 19s.

Standard rewards to crew, £6 13*.; additional rewards to crew, £7; total rewards, £40 11*. 7d.