Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire. — At 8.20 in the morning of the 9th of December, 1948, the Hoylake coast- guard reported a message from the Southport police that a vessel appeared to be aground off Ainsdale beach, and at 9.10 that the vessel was now flying a distress signal. The motor life-boat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 9.45. A moderate westerly breeze was blowing with a moderate sea.

The life-boat found the s.s. Lake, of Oslo, stranded one mile south of South- port pier, and stood by until she re- floated and made for Liverpool. She returned to her station arriving at 5.30 that evening.—Rewards, £23 4s..