Walmer, Ken*.—At 5.50 P.M. on the * 19th October, 1939, eight hours after the life-boat had brought back the doctor from the Dutch steamer Mirza, a message was received from the doctor that the senior naval officer, Ramsgate, wished him to go out to the Greek steamer Panachrandos. A strong N.N.E.

wind was blowing, with a heavy sea.

The weather was still too rough for ordinary boats, and the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was again launched. She left at 6.15 P.M.

Although the position of the steamer had been given as a mile from the Goodwin Fork Buoy, the life-boat could not find her. She cruised among neighbouring vessels, and spoke the guardship, but without result. She abandoned the search and returned to her station at 9 P.M. At 8.10 A.M. the following morning the doctor said that he must make another attempt, and as the weather was still rough, the lifeboat was again launched at 8.45 A.M.

This time she found the steamer. The sick man had acute appendicitis, and the doctor said that he must be taken at once to hospital. He was put on board the life-boat and signals were made to the guardship to arrange for an ambulance to be ready on shore to receive him. He was landed; operated on; and his life saved by a margin of a few hours. The life-boat returned to her station at 10.40 A.M.

She had been out for nearly five hours.

A donation of £45 was received in appreciation of this service.—Rewards: first launch, £29 Os. 6d.; second launch, £14 12s. 6d..