Fleetwood, Lancashire. —During the afternoon of Whit Sunday, the 16th of May, 1948, a yacht could he seen on Black Scar Bank apparently in diffi- culties. She made no distress signals, but at 5.15 in the evening, the coast- guard reported that a yacht was missing from Lancaster. At 7.55 the Hoylake coastguard asked for a search to be made, and at 8.7 the motor life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched. A moderate easterly breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. Shortly after the life-boat put out the coastguard learnt that the yacht had reached safety and rockets were fired to recall the life- boat. On her way back the crew saw flames coming from the top of the Wyre Lighthouse, which was of wood, and the life-boat made for it at once. Three members of the crew climbed up with fire extinguishers and axes and joined the three lighthouse keepers in trying to put out the flames, but it was useless.

The lighthouse was ablaze. The life- boat took oft the three keepers, who would have lost their lives but for her help. She arrived ashore just before ten o'clock. The lighthouse was burnt out. The dock, harbour and dredging master at Fleetwood sent his thanks to the coxswain of the life-boat, and to the three men of the crew who at- tempted to put out the fire "for their fearless and magnificent efforts." They went on, the letter said, "until the position was absolutely hopeless.

In fact they had carried on almost too long, and only left the lighthouse just in time."—Rewards, £15..