Storm on the Waters - is the story of the Life-boat Service in the war of 1939-45. The full story cannot be told in the compass of a small book, but if Mr. Vince has had to omit much that we should like to see included, he has given us a vivid, accurate, and enthralling picture of the working of the service in its greatest hours. I recommend all readers of this journal to buy a copy, and if this is impossible, since printing restrictions have severely limited the number of copies produced, to ask for it at their libraries.

To me, the book recalls the most active and interesting years I spent in the Institution's service. It is good to look back on those years, and to see again, in the admirably reproduced pictures, some of the life-boatmen, and one woman, who, as they would be the first to declare, are typical specimens of those ordinary men and women who just did the job that needed doing, and took what came to them, in those grim years.

At least as much as those in the disciplined forces,they made victory possible.

1 Storm on the Waters: The Story of the Lifeboat Service in the War of 1939-45, by Charles Vince, Hodder & rttoughton, es. Copies can be obtained from the Institution.

No one could read this book without being more than ever convinced that even in the stress of war a Life-boat Service is. best when controlled and manned by volunteers, united in spirit, but not shackled by the ties of rigid discipline. Mr. Vince gives detailed instances of official control and interference ; sometimes no doubt necessary, but never helpful, and often delaying or .hindering the work of life-saving.

In these years of uneasy peace, we shall, I think, be very unwise, in any aspect of national life, to place our reliance on a regimented population, and to set aside the genius for voluntary cooperation that Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen and Irishmen have proved that they can show the world. Nothing typifies this genius more finely than the Life-boat Service, and this little book should be read by all who would understand the ordinary people of these islands; their quiet courage, their endurance, their humour and cheerfulness ; and the ideals which, though they may not trouble to formulate them in manifestoes or proclamations, lie deep in their souls.

C. R. S..