Weymouth, Dorset.—At 11.15 P.M.

* * on the 7th October, 1939, the coastguard informed the life-boat station that signals of distress had been seen near Grove Point. A message was received a few minutes later that a ship was in distress, through enemy action, near the Shambles Light-vessel. A light E.

wind was blowing with a smooth sea.

The motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched at 11.52 P.M.

She reached the vessel at 12.30 A.M., and found her to be the s.s. Binnendijk, of Rotterdam, of 6,873 tons bound, laden from New York to Rotterdam.

Her crew of forty-one had already bei n taken off by an Admiralty examination steamer, but the life-boat stood by until the steamer sank, and then returned to her station at 3.15 A.M. A little while before the life-boat's return the coastguard reported that a very heavy explosion had occurred near the Shambles Light-vessel at 3 A.M. They thought that another vessel was in difficulties. At 3.50 A.M. the life-boat was again launched, on instructions from the senior naval officer at Portland.

She searched the position given, found only wreckage, and returned at8.15 A.M.—Rewards: first launch, £13 25. 6d.; second launch, £16 9s..