Margate, Kent. —At 12.17 in the afternoon of the 10th of July, 1948, the coastguard telephoned that a motor fishing vessel had broken down and was drifting three and. a half miles north- north-east of the pier. A strong north- north-west breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. The vessel made no dis- tress signals, but at 12.56 she was seen to be drifting over the sands, and at 1.5 the motor life-boat Lord South- borough, Civil Service No. 1, was launched. She found the vessel to be No. 639, of Milford Haven, with a crew of five. Her engine had broken down.

The life-boat stood by until the vessel got her engine going. The skipper then asked to be escorted to Ramsgate, but ten minutes later the engine broke down again. The vessel was now broad- side on to the seas, and rolling heavily.

The life-boat passed a line to her and towed her into Ramsgate. She arrived back at her station at 6 o'clock that evening.—Property Salvage Case..