Walmer, Kent. — At 10.55 in the morning of the 26th of January, 1949, the Deal coastguard reported a message from the South Goodwin Lightvessel that a ship was aground about one and a quarter miles north-east of her, and the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2, was launched at 11 o'clock. A light south-south-west breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat found that the vessel was the S.S. Giacomo Matteotti, of Genoa, an oil tanker of 6,190 tons, bound for Hull. The second coxswain and four life-boatmen boarded her and the life-boat laid out a kedge anchor.

It was then four in the afternoon.

Two tugs arrived and pulled the tanker off the sands. Accompanied by the life-boat, she made for Dover and anchored there shortly before eleven.

The life-boat then returned to her station arriving at 11.45 that night.— Property salvage case..