Peterhead, and Fraserburgh, Aberdeen- shire.—Shortly after 8 o'clock in the morning of the llth of December, 1948, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary C. 617, bound with stores from Invergordon to Rosyth, wirelessed to Wick Radio that she was drifting with her engine broken down. Her position was given as nine miles north-east of Peterhead.

At 8.30 the motor life-boat Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow, was launched. A strong south-easterly wind was blowing, with a rough sea, and the weather was getting worse. A later message gave the position as eight miles north-east of Rattray, but while the life-boat was going to this position, the message was amended to five miles north-east of Kinnaird Head. The Fraserbugh life- boat station was informed at 8.50, and in view of the third position given the Fraserburgh motor life-boat John and Charles ftennedy was launched at 9.58.

At 10.24 she found the vessel, which had a crew of seven. She was now steaming slowly south, and her master said that he did not need help. At 11.30 the Peterhead life-boat arrived, and as she was not needed she returned to her station, arriving at 1.45 that afternoon.

The Fraserburgh life-boat remained by the vessel, and at 11.50 her master sig- nalled that his engine had broken down.

The life-boat took her in tow, brought her to Fraserburgh and secured her in Faithlie Basin at 2 o'clock. At 8 o'clock in the morning of the 12th the master telephoned that his vessel was pounding heavily on the quay and breaking her moorings. A local fishing boat attempted to tow her to another berth, but had to give up on account of the wind and swell. The life-boat again put out at 10.10, towed the vessel to a safe berth and reached her station again at 11.45.—Rewards: Peterhead, £16 7s. 6d.; Fraserburgh, first service, property salvage case; second service, £8 4,9..