Swanage, Dorset.—At 8.18 A.M. Oil the 20th October, 1939, the Swanage coastguard reported that the Greek steamer s.s. Turkia had grounded one mile and a half N.W. by W. of St.

Albans Head, but was not flying distress signals. About 9.25 A.M. a tug was sent from Portland, and a trawler also went out to stand by. The naval authorities had given orders to the tug to take off the crew, but they refused to leave. A moderate breeze was blowing with a heavy swell. At 7.11 P.M. the motor life-boat Thomas Markby was launched, permission having been obtained from the naval authorities. It had been the intention of the coxswain to return when help reached the steamer, but the Naval Salvage Officer asked him to,remain during the salvage operations.

On reaching the TurJcia the life-boat found her bumping heavily, and stood by until 4 P.M. the following day when she returned to refuel and enable her crew to get food. At 6 P.M. she put out again and stood by until 11 A.M.on the morning of the 22nd, when a tug arrived from Portland with a working party. As the tug -was unable to get alongside, the lifeboat put the party on board. A signal was then made for the life-boat to pick up Lloyd's agent at Kimmeridge and take him to the steamer. This was done, and later the life-boat put the working party back on the tug. She again returned to her station between 6 and 7 P.M., and put back to the steamer at 11 P.M. On the 23rd October the tug arrived at 9.30 A.M., and the life-boat again put the working party on board the steamer, and comtinued to stand by. At 6 P.M. she took the working party back to the tug and then went alongside the steamer and took oft her crew of twenty-six with their personal belongings. She finally returned to her station at 8.30 P.M., after being on service seventy-four hours, a fine example of the determination of the crew.—Rewards, £87 6s..