Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 10.5 in the morning of the 7th of April, 1949, the Walton-on-the-Naze coastguard re- ported a vessel flying signals of distress one mile north-north-east of the coast- guard station. At 10.24 the life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched. A strong north-west gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat found that the vessel was the motor barge Success, of Blyth. She had a crew of four, was laden with coal, and bound for Shoreham. A tanker had taken her in tow, and the life-boat went with them as they made for the Sunk Light- vessel, but the gale increased and the tow-rope parted. The barge was then making water forward, and the seas were sweeping clean over her decks.

It was impossible for the tanker to pass another rope to her, so the life- boat coxswain drove the life-boat straight at her, slightly damaging the boat and injuring himself. He held her alongside and the barge's crew jumped on board. The life-boat re- turned to her station with the rescued men, arriving at 6.20 that evening.— Rewards, £25 5s..