THE Southend - on - Sea motor life- boat, Greater London (Civil Service No. 3), which had already been out in the great gale of 23rd Novem- ber, 1938, on almost continuous service for twelve hours, was again called out three days later, on 26th November, in even worse weather. It was just after three in the morning when the call came. A very heavy gale was blowing, and the coxswain described it as "the worst gale for broken water I have ever seen." There were severe rain squalls, and in the spray and the rain it was almost impossible to see the length of the boat.

From the pier-head barges had been seen in great difficulties. The life-boat went two miles to the eastward, and there, by the help of her searchlight, she found the T.F.C., of Rochester, the Glenmore, of Rochester, and the Lord Roberts, of London, each with two men on board.

Three Barges Sunk.

The life-boat went first to the Lord Robsrts, but the crew would not leave, so she went to the T.F.C. The barge's decks were under water, and the crew were in the rigging. Playing his searchlight on the masthead, the cox- swain ran alongside the lee rigging and took off the skipper. The barge then sheered off heavily. The life-boat went in again, and the mate was rescued.

The life-boat then went back to the Lord Roberts. Her crew were standing on the cabin top which was underwater, but still they would not leave her. So the life-boat went on to the Glenmore. She too had sunk, and her crew were in the rigging. As in the case of the T.F.C.

the life-boat twice went alongside the lee rigging, taking off the mate, and then the skipper, who had a wooden leg.

By this time the Lord Roberts had sunk and her crew were at the top of the mizzen mast. The coxswain took the life-boat right over the barge, and in the hollow of a sea she struck the barge and was damaged; but the two men were rescued.

The life-boat got back to her station about 4.30 in the morning. At 7.45 she again went out to search for a vessel reported in distress but could find nothing and returned at nine o'clock.

It was a series of services very skilfully carried out in the worst of weather, in the dark, and in excep- tionally difficult and severe conditions.

In recognition of the skill of coxswain and crew the Institution has made the following awards: The Rewards.

To Coxswain SIDNEY H. B. PAGE the second-service clasp to the bronze medal which he already holds and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum.

Coxswain Page won the bronze medal on 2nd June, 1938, when the life-boat went out to five vessels in one day.

He is only the second life-boatman in the past thirty years to win two medals in one year; To the second coxswain, W. A. DEER, the bowman, H. G. MURRELL, and the assistant motor mechanic, R. H.

SANDERS, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a reward of 10s. in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £2 7*.

Standard rewards to the crew, £18 16s.; additional rewards to the crew, £4 10s.; total rewards, £28 7s. 3d..