Tynemouth, Northumberland. — Late in the afternoon of the 4th' of July, 1948, a sudden freak squall broke from the north and at 4.59 the coastguard telephoned that three small sailing yachts had capsized in the haven.

Within fifteen minutes the motor life- boat Tynesider had put out. Mr. E.

Selby Davidson, the honorary sec- retary of the station, was on board her.

The sea was rough, and a strong north erly breeze was blowing, with torrential rain. When she reached the harbour entrance the life-boat saw that the tug Wearmouth had gone to the help of the yachts. She then saw a motor fishing boat, the Girl Carole, of South Shields, in difficulties near the rocks of the south pier. Her engines had broken down. The life-boat went to her help, rescued the crew of two and took the boat herself in tow, but she quickly filled with water and had to be aban- doned. The life-boat then left the har- bour and there she saw two other boats in distress two miles to the south of the south pier. She found that they were the motor yawl Vigilant, of Sunderland, and the motor fishing boat May, of Newcastle. The Vigilant had gone to the help of the May and had taken her in tow, but seas broke over her, flood- ing her engine room, and she too was helpless. With some difficulty, in the heavy seas, the life-boat got a rope to the Vigilant, rescued her two men and rescued the two men from the May.

All four were exhausted and the life- boatmen gave them rum. The life-boat took the two boats to North Shields and arrived back at her station at 7.45 that evening.—Rewards, £11 19s..