SHORTLY after three in the afternoon of 2nd November, 1938, the coastguard at Cromer reported flashes and gun fire at sea. The firing shook the windows, and people, who crowded to the cliffs, could see the flashes. With binoculars, a large steamer also could be seen about ten miles north of Cromer, with an armed vessel about a mile from her. There was no distress signal, and the life-boatmen stood by at the boathouse on the pier. The firing ceased about 4.15, but it was not until 4.40 that any message was received.

"Heave To or I Fire." Then a wireless message sent out by the British steamer, Monkwood, picked up by a resident at Lowestoft, and confirmed by the Humber Radio a few minutes later, reached the Cromer life-boat station through the coast- guard. It was to the effect that an auxiliary cruiser was firing at a Spanish steamer ten miles north of Cromer lighthouse. The cruiser was flying the signal, "Heave to or I fire." The steamer appeared to be severely damaged by the shell fire.

She was, as was discovered later, the Cantabria, of Santander, of over 5,000 tons, belonging to the Spanish Govern- ment. After unloading a cargo of timber from Russia in the Thames, she had left the Thames the night before for Immingham. The auxiliary cruiser was flying the flag of General Franco.

She was the Nadir.

The Life-boat Alongside.

At 5.5. P.M., half an hour after sunset, the No. 1 Cromer motor life-boat, H. F. Bailey, was launched, to see if her help was needed. A moderate west breeze was then blowing, with a moderate sea. About six o'clock the life-boat spoke the steamer Glenshiel and her captain pointed out the position of the attacking ship. The life-boat made for her. She reached her half an hour later and then found the Cantabria, which had no lights showing.

The two steamers were only two lengths apart. As the life-boat ap- proached, the Cantabria signalled with a small torch. The life-boat went along- side and found that of the forty or more people who had been on board, there were now only the master, his wife and two children, and one member of the crew. The rest of the passengers and crew had left in two boats. One had been picked up by the Nadir, and the other by the British steamer Pattersonian, on her way from the Tyne to London.

The Steamer Heeling Over.

Some twenty shells had fallen on or near the Cantabria, and although no one had been injured, several of the shells had hit the hull. The steamer had a heavy list to starboard, and all the time that the life-boat was along- side she was heeling over. Before the last of the five people had been taken off she was pressing so heavily on the life-boat that five of the latter's stan- chions and her guard chain on the port side had been broken. The life-boat, however, got safely away and reached Cromer again at 8.15.

The Pattersonian, according to her captain's report had come on the scene at 4.30. The Cantabria made a distress signal, and as the Pattersonian ap- proached her the Nadir manoeuvred in an attempt to prevent it. A collision was only just avoided. The Pattersonian took on board eleven of the Cantabria's crew, who had put off in one of her boats, and then continued her journey towards Great Yarmouth.

At 9.40 the coastguard reported to the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boat station that the steamer was in Yarmouth Roads and wanted to land eleven men of the Cantabria's crew. It was not known if any of them were wounded or hurt. At 9.50 the motor life-boat, John and Mary Meik- lam ofGladswood, was launched, taking with her Dr. G. H. Buncombe, a member of the life-boat committee, in case medical help was needed. A moderate westerly breeze was blowing with a moderate sea. The life-boattook off the eleven men and landed them. They were taken to the Sailors' Home and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 11 P.M.

A letter of appreciation was sent by the Institution to Coxswain Henry Blogg and the Cromer crew. A letter of appreciation was also sent by the Inspector of H.M. Coastguard, East Anglian Division.

Rewards: Cromer, £26 9*. Qd.; Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, £25 4,s..