April Meeting.

Burra Isle, Shetlands. — While out haddock fishing in a small open boat from Skeld three men were thrown into the sea when their boat was capsized by a squall. The accident happened at about 7.30 A.M. on the 16th March, 1939, when the boat was five miles from Scalloway. A strong northerly wind was blowing and the sea was rough. The capsize was seen from the 16-ton motor fishing boat Budding Rose, which at once made for the spot.

With slight risk to themselves her crew of four rescued the endangered men who were clinging to their upturned boat and landed them near to their homes. The rescuers then made for Scalloway, picking up the small boat on the way.—Rewards, £2 10s., and 8s. 6d. for fuel used.

May Meeting.

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.—At about 8 P.M. on the 19th April, 1939, a small yawl with a party of five boys on board got into difficulties and could not make Fraserburgh Harbour. The sea was choppy with a squally increasing S.S.W.

breeze. The honorary secretary of the life-boat station did not consider it necessary to launch the life-boat, and sent out the motor boat Lily manned by four men, including the permanent motor mechanic of the life-boat. She picked up the yawl about half a mile east of Cairnbulg Beacon and brought her in.—Rewards, £1 10s., also 2s. for fuel used.

Selsey, Sussex.—On the 22nd April, 1939, four men put out in a motor boat and landed the crew of three of a yacht.

—Rewards, £2 10s., and 3s. for fuel used.

(For a full account see Selsey, "Ser- vices of the Life-boats," page 145.) June Meeting.

Sidmouth, Devonshire. — At about 8.40 P.M. on the 22nd March, 1939, an aeroplane came down in the sea off Sidmouth, A westerly wind was blow- ing with gusts at thirty miles an hour and sleet showers. The sea was choppy.

The Exmouth life-boat, Catherine Harriet Eaton, was launched at 9.25 P.M., but in the meantime four men had put out from Sidmouth in a 14-feet rowing boat.

They found the crew of the aeroplane, four in number, on the fuselage, and rescued them. They could not row back to Sidmouth owing to the strong wind and made instead for Salcombe Regis. The life-boat learning at Beer Head that the men had been rescued returned to her station, arriving at 2.15 A.M.—Rewards: Shoreboat, a Framed Letter of Thanks to each of the four rescuers, Messrs. W. J. Smith, N. Rickwood, J. Dagworthy, T. Parrot; Lifeboat, £26 15s.

Firth of Forth.—At about 6.30 P.M.

on the 16th April, 1939, two men of the R.A.F. left Inverkeithing for Aberdour in a motor boat. The tide was ebbing and the sea was rough, with a fresh westerly gale blowing.

The boat's engine failed and she was dashed against the Firth of Forth Boom and sank, leaving the two men clinging to the boom. Information of the accident was passed from Aber- dour, through the police, to the pilot station at North Queensferry. Pilot C. Donald and a boatman put out in the motor boat Lion and rescued the two men from the Boom.—Rewards, Letters of Thanks to Pilot C. Donald and to Motorman A. Muir.

Bacton, near Cromer, Norfolk.—On the 17th April, 1939, a canoe capsized off Bacton. The weather was fine, with a strong N.W. by W. wind and a slight sea. The coastguard informed the Cromer life-boat, but before she could be launched news was received that the boy who had been alone in the canoe had swum ashore. The coast- guard had also signalled by whistle to a motor fishing boat, with two men on board, off Mundesley, to go to the rescue; their help, too, was not needed.

—Rewards to the two men, 15s.Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire.—At about 11.15 A.M. on the 9th May, 1939, a R.A.F. machine crashed into the sea five miles to the east of Theddlethorpe Bombing Range. The weather was fine and sea smooth. The Humber motor life-boat was sent for, and two motor boats also put out at the coast- guard's request. Oil and wreckage were found but a prolonged search failed to find the sunken plane. Her crew of two were drowned.—Rewards: To the crew of one boat £l to each of the two men and 15s. for petrol used; to the crew of the other a letter of thanks to each of the two men. Total rewards, £2 15s.

Littlehampton, Sussex. — At about seven in the evening of the llth May, 1939, a canoe, with a boy of 16 and a girl of 17 on board, capsized about half a mile off Rustington. A light N.E. breeze was blowing and the sea was calm. Three men put out in a motor boat from Littlehampton. They found the boy and girl holding on to the canoe and rescued them. The, boy was unconscious when landed, and died. The girl was revived.—Rewards, £1 10,?., also 10*. for boat used and 5s.

for fuel.

Porthcawl, Glamorganshire.—-On the morning of the 18th May, 1939, the motor boat Albatross, which had been engaged on night work connected with a new drainage scheme, was seen to hoist a distress signal—a pair of trousers waved on an oar. The wind was light, and the sea slight. At the coastguard's request two men put out at 9.10 A.M. in the motor boat Joyce.

They found the Albatross about a mile to the W.S.W., with her engine broken down and her anchor dragging.

She had three men on board. They towed her in.—Rewards, 155. and 5*.

for fuel used.

Padstow, Cornwall.—At 10 A.M. on the 23rd May, 1939, two men put out in a 26-feet motor fishing boat to go fishing in Port Isaac Bay. The weather was fine, with a smooth sea and a light westerly wind. When off Kelland Head they saw the fishing boat Sweet Briar of Padstow, on fire two miles away and at once went to her. After taking off her crew of two, they got the burning boat in tow, but she sank after they had towed her for about four miles.—Rewards, £1 5s.

Penlee, Cornwall.—At 1.45 A.M. on the 25th May, 1939, the police reported distress flares between Penlee and Newlyn. A fresh N.N.E. wind was blowing and the sea was choppy. Two men put out in a motor boat and found the motor pleasure boat Jubilee, of Penzance, with a party of two men and three women on board, only twenty yards from the rocks with her engine broken down. After a little manoeuvring they took the Jubilee in tow and brought her safely into Penzance Harbour.—Rewards, £1 10s., in addition to a local gift of 9s.

Margate, Kent.—At 1.15 P.M. on the 27th May, 1939, the coastguard reported that a boat had turned over about one mile to the N.N.E. of the watchhouse, and that there appeared to be someone clinging to it. The weather was fine and the sea calm, with a slight S.W.

breeze. On the life-boat coxswain's instructions the motor boat Fearless put out, manned by six men. They found that the boat was, in fact, a piece of wreckage with something flapping about on the top.—Rewards, £1 10s. and 3s. Qd. for fuel used.

Teignmouth, Devon.—At 11 A.M. on the 29th May, 1939, signals for help were made from a small rowing boat about 500 yards E.N.E. of Teignmouth Pier. A fresh wind had sprung up from the S.E. quickly making a short, steep sea. A fisherman put off in his 30-feet motor boat and found on board the boat an old man who was a cripple, very exhausted by hard rowing, and two small boys. They had been lobster fishing. Their boat was in danger of being carried into broken water and swamped. The fisherman took her in tow and brought her safely into Teign- mouth Harbour.—Rewards, 10s., with 3s. for fuel used.

Worthing, Sussex.—On the 30th May a sailing boat capsized off Goring.

Several boats went to her aid and the crew of two were rescued.—Rewards:A letter of thanks; £1 5*., with 5s. for fuel used.

(For a full account see "Services of the Life-boats," Shoreham Harbour, and Worthing, page 148.) July Meeting.

Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.—At about 11.30 P.M. on the 27th May, 1939, it was reported that the motor boat Peggy Lynn, of Peterhead, was lying one mile east of Cairnbulg, apparently in need of help. The life-boat's motor mechanic and a fisherman went out to her help in the motor boat Jem. They found that the Peggy Lynn had anchored, owing to the strong flood tide and lack of fuel, and towed her to Fraserburgh.—Rewards, 15s., also 3s.

for fuel used.

Hastings, Sussex.—At about 4 P.M.

on the 2nd June, 1939, the police told the coastguard that an oar was being waved from the small boat Anne which was about two miles out. A moderate N.E. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea, and the tide was ebbing. Two men put out in the motor pleasure boat Brittanica. They found that the small boat had a pleasure party of three on board and that the engine had broken down. They towed her to safety.—Rewards, 15*., also Is. 6d. for fuel used.

Worthing, Sussex.—On the 3rd June, 1939, a small sailing dinghy capsized about one and a half miles out. A northerly off-shore wind was blowing with a moderately rough sea. Mr.

George Bashford, a boatman, put off in a rowing boat and rescued the man from the dinghy.—Reward, letter of thanks from the institution in addition to £5 from the rescued man.

North Sunderland, Northumberland.—• At 9.45 A.M. on the 8th June, 1939, three men, who were at sea in a 35-feet motor fishing boat, went to the help of the motor fishing boat Blessing, of Seahouses, which had been disabled by a rope fouling her propeller, between the Knavestone and the Longstone, and to-wed her in. The sea 'as rou£ ;ll, •with & southerly wind blowing. Rewards, £2 5s., also 4s. for fuel used.

Skinningrove, Yorkshire.—Between six and seven in the evening of the 9th June, 1939, a youth who was bathing off the west side of the jetty was caught by currents and carried out to sea.

Herbert Hart, a local boatman, put off in a rowing boat, breaking an oar and losing a rowlock in his hurry, rescued the now unconscious youth and brought him ashore. Artificial respiration was applied by the police, but he did not revive.—Rewards, 5s. and 12*. 6d. for the broken oar and lost rowlock.

New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 2.30 P.M.

on Sunday the llth June, 1939, the coastguard informed the life-boat station that a small boat had been reported to him in difficulties oft No.

R.6 buoy. The weather was fine with a choppy sea, fresh W.N.W. breeze, and rising tide. Nothing could be seen of the small boat although there were yachts off the Burbo Bank, but the life-boat's motor boarding boat put out, manned by Mr. W. W. Harris, the honorary secretary, the coxswain and the motor mechanic. Nothing was found, or learned from the yachts, and the boarding boat returned after over an hour's search.—Rewards, Letter of Thanks to Mr. W. W. Harris, and 7*. 6d. to the coxswain.

Margate, Kent.—At about 12.15 P.M.

on the 15th June, 1939, with a fresh breeze blowing and a choppy sea, the crew of the motor pilot boat Na.yla.nds, while at sea, saw the motor fishing boat O.K. of Margate, with a crew of two, showing distress signals. She was about half a mile S.W. of the S.E.

Margate Buoy; her trawl had fouled her propeller; she was being blown away to sea. The Naylands towed her in.—Rewards £2 5*., also 5*. for fuel used.

Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire.—During the afternoon of the 15th June, 1939, a woman lying on an inflated bed floated out to sea. A strong S.W. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. Two men put out in a motor boat and rescued her when she was a mile out. Rewards, £1 ; also 4eS- for fuel used and £2 towards the cost of engine roj airs and loss oi" business.Llandudno, Caernarvonshire. — Just before midnight on the 17th June, 1939, the police reported that cries for help had been heard in Llandudno Bay.

The sea was smooth, with a westerly wind, and the weather was fine. The coxswain went at once to the beach and found that two life-boatmen had put out in a rowing boat. They found that the cries came from two men in a small boat. They had no knowledge of boats and had put off, without permission, in a boat that was unsea- worthy. She was being swamped and they were in danger of drowning. The life-boatmen brought them ashore.—• Rewards, £1, also 10*. for damage to clothing and 2s. 6d. to the cox- swain.

Donaghadee, Co. Down.—At about 5.30 P.M. on the 18th June, 1939, a small yacht with one man on board was seen to be in danger of being blown out to sea. The man was trying with oars to keep inshore. A strong N.W. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. A fisherman put out in his motor boat and towed the yacht to harbour.— Rewards, 10s.

Arranmore, Co. Donegal.—On the 27th June, 1939, five of the crew of the steamer Ben Vooar came ashore for provisions. A southerly gale sprang up with a rough sea, and when they attempted to return they were blown towards the rocks and were in danger.

Four men—three of them life-boatmen —put out at 9 P.M. in a 28-feet motor boat, rescued the men and put them aboard their own ship.—Rewards, £3, also 5s. for fuel used.

Shoreham, Sussex.—At 11.13 A.M. on the 27th June, 1939, the aeroplane, G-ABBW, came down in the sea about one and a half miles S.W. of Shoreham beach. A light westerly breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. Two of the regular life-boat crew, who were about to go fishing, saw the accident, and immediately launched their small rowing boat. They found the pilot badly injured and unconscious. They landed him and an ambulance took him to hospital, where he died.

The Shoreham Harbour life-boat was launched and arrived just as the pilot was being picked up. The life- boat towed the aeroplane to the shore.— Rewards, £1 5*.

Anstruther, Fifeshire.—At about 4 P.M. on the afternoon of Sunday, the 9th July, 1939, a canoe with two youths on board capsized when about three hundred yards off Cellardyke Harbour.

A light northerly wind was blowing, with a smooth sea. The motor yawl Day Dawn, manned by six men, put off and rescued them.—Rewards, £110s., with Is. for fuel used and 5s. for damaged clothes..