IN 1948 the life-boats of the Institution were called out 603 times to vessels in distress.

Ten years ago the number was 485.

That was then a record year for time of peace. In each of the three years since the war ended that record figure has been exceeded.

The average for these three years is 607 launches. For the same three years, ten years ago, the average was 454; for the same three years twenty years ago, the average was 284.

There is an increase, though not so great, in the number of lives rescued.

In 1948 life-boats rescued 548. The average for the past three years is 540.

For the three years ten years ago it was 456; for the three years twenty years ago it was 341.

Those figures show the great increase in the work of the Service. It is more than twice as busy to-day as it was twenty years ago.

Besides the 548 lives rescued in 1948 by life-boats 90 were rescued by shoreboats, and the rescuers were rewarded by the Institution. That is a grand total of 638 lives.

Life-boats also saved, or helped to save, from destruction 83 boats and vessels, and helped 203 others in various ways.

Those 548 lives were rescued by lifeboats without loss of life.

Services to Foreign Vessels Life-boats went out to the help of 47 foreign vessels and rescued from them 112 lives. The vessels belonged to thirteen different countries. Fourteen of them hailed from France, ten from Norway, seven from The Netherlands, four from The United States, three from Sweden, two from Iceland, and one each from Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Italy, Panama, Russia and Spain.

Besides the 112 lives rescued from these vessels, tvfo Americans were rescued when cut off by the tide.

Medals for Gallantry Six medals were won for gallantry during the year, by Coxswain Frederick Upton, of Walmer, Kent, who won the silver medal,,Coxswain James Upperton of Shoreham Harbour, Sussex, who won a bar to his silver medal, Coxswain Frederick J. Palmer, of Weymouth, Mr.

Percy Cavell, the motor mechanic at Walmer, and Mr. Percy Shackson and Mr. William Braund, members of the Clovelly crew, who all won bronze medals.

The year saw the first life-boat with a deck cabin completed and sent to the coast, and the last of the sailing lifeboats replaced by a motor life-boat..