Margate, Kent.—On the morning of the 14th October, 1939, a sailing barge was seen dragging her anchor off Margate Jetty. A northerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea, and it was decided to send out the motor lifeboat Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1). She was launched at 11.25 A.M. Mr. P. E. W. Gellatey, the honorary secretary of the station, went with her. She reached the barge five minutes later. The barge was the Celtic, of London, with a crew of two, bound, laden, from London to Newport, Isle of Wight. She was dragging into a very perilous position, and her master asked for help. With great difficulty four life-boatmen boarded the Celtic, got a tow rope aboard, and hove up the anchor. The life-boat then took the barge in tow to Ramsgate. Off Broadstairs the tow rope parted. Another rope was made fast. As the two boats were nearirg Ramsgate this also parted.

Yet another rope was put aboard the barge; and the life-boat got her into Ramsgate Harbour without further mishap, arriving at about 4.30 P.M.

As the weather and tide would make itimpossible to house the life-boat at Margate it was decided to leave her moored in Ramsgate Harbour. The crew returned to Margate by road.— Property Salvage Case..