IN 1939 the number of launches on service and the number of lives rescued were both the largest in the history of the Institution.

There were 685 launches, that is 200 more than the 485 launches in 1938, which was up to that time the largest in any one year.

The Institution gave rewards during the year for the rescue of 1,407 lives.

Of those lives 1,198 were rescued by life-boats and 209 by shoreboats. Up to 1939, the largest number of lives rescued in one year was 1,348 in 1917 (1,156 by life-boats, 192 by shoreboats).

That was the year in the last war in which the German submarine attack on our shipping was at its height.

Of the 685 launches 105 were to the aid of 87 foreign vessels, belonging to 16 countries, and from which 295 lives were rescued.

Nine-two lives were rescued from yachts and motor boats; 147 from fishing boats.

There was again a great increase in the number of calls made upon the service by flying.

Life-boats saved or helped to save from destruction 74 vessels and boats, and helped in various other ways 250 more.

From its foundation on 4th March, 1824, to the end of 1939, the Institution had given rewards for the rescue of 67,500 lives.

Those 1,198 lives rescued by lifeboats were not rescued without loss.

Two life-boats capsized, the St. Ives life-boat on service in January, with the loss of seven of the eight members of her crew, the Cullercoats life-boat in exercise in April with the loss of six of the ten men on board.

It was a year notable for the large number of services of special gallantry.

Fifty medals were awarded, forty of them after the outbreak of war on 3rd September. The many rewards and other payments to those engaged in the actual work of rescue amounted to £59,409.

Sixteen new motor life-boats were completed and went to their stations during the year, nine before the outbreak of war, seven after it.

That is the brief record of the lifeboat service in its 116th year..