Holy Island, Northumberland. — At 5.33 A.M. on the 12th October, 1939, the coastguard reported a ship ashore on the Goswick Sands. The weather was wet and cold, with a moderate easterly breeze and a heavy swell. At 5.57 A.M. the motor life-boat Milburn was launched. She found the Norwegian steamer Royal, of Arendal, ashore on Sand Ridge. The Royal was a ship of 1,000 tons, bound in ballast from Langesund to the Tyne, with a crew of fifteen. Her crew declined to leave her and the captain asked the coxswain to wait for the next tide.

The life-boat returned to her station at 8.45 A.M. and put out again at 1 P.M.

to stand by the Royal until high water. As the Royal did not get off the captain signalled the life-boat to leave and she reached her station again at 4.15 P.M. At low tide the steamer was high and dry on the sands.—Rewards, £11 13s..