Margate, Kent.—At 2.15 A.M. on the 15th October, 1939, the coastguard telephoned the coxswain that he believed a vessel was burning flares. The coxswain went to the coastguard lookout and was satisfied that they were distress signals. An answering rocket was fired by the coastguard, and the crew went by car to Ramsgate, where they had left the life-boat the night before after the service to the Celtic.

At 3.20 A.M. they set out. A N.E.

breeze was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. It was not until daylight that the life-boat found the sailing barge Yarana, of London, with two men on board. They had not been able to make more signals as they had burnt everything on board that would burn. The barge was rolling very heavily, and the men, who expected the mast and sprit to go overboard at any moment, were about to abandon her. Four life-boatmen were put aboard the barge and the life-boat towed her to Whitstable, arriving at 11.0 A.M.

She then returned to her station at two in the afternoon.

The Institution sent a letter to the branch expressing appreciation of the way in which the life-boat saved the Celtic, and the promptitude with which she got away to the help of the Yarana from Ramsgate Harbour.—Property Salvage Case..