Walter Fairbairn, of Dunbar and Skateraw, and John Swanson, of Longhope.

THE Institution has lost, in one week, two very distinguished Scottish coxswains. Ex-Coxswain Walter Fair- bairn, of Dunbar and Skateraw, Haddingtonshire, died on 1st October, 1939, at the age of seventy-six, and ex-Coxswain John Swanson, of Long- hope, Orkneys, on 5th October, at the age of seventy-three.

Coxswain Walter Fairbairn.

Coxswain Walter Fairbairn had been a life-boatman for over fifty years. In 1897 he was appointed coxswain at Dunbar. Ten years later, when a station was established at Skateraw, he became coxswain there also. He served as coxswain at both stations until he retired in 1931. He had then been a coxswain for thirty-four years.

From 1931 until his death he was caretaker of the Skateraw station. On his retirement as coxswain the Institu- tion awarded him a certificate of service and a pension. His outstanding service was on 13th October, 1905, when he won the Institution's silver medal for gallantry for the rescue of the crew of six men of the Swansea steamer, King Ja-Ja. A northerly gale was blowing, with a tremendous sea running.

The pulling and sailing life-boat was in grave danger of being dashed on the wreck, and Coxswain Fairbairn handled her with great skill and courage.

Coxswain John Swanson.

Coxswain John Swanson served as coxswain at Longhope, Orkneys, for thirty-five years, from 1900 until he retired in 1935. He twice won the Institution's silver medal for gallantry.

The first occasion was on 5th January, 1930, when he rescued eight lives from the steam trawler Braconmoor, of Aberdeen, and the second on 9th January, 1932, when he rescued eight lives from the trawler Dorbie, of Hull.

Both services took place in the middle of the night, and both trawlers were lying very dangerously among rocks, with a heavy surf breaking over them.

In both cases it was only by the greatest coolness and most skilful seamanship that Coxswain Swanson was able to take the life-boat in to the rescue and bring her safely out again. On his retirement Coxswain Swanson was awarded a pension and a certificate of service..