Walmer, Kent—On the night of the 31st of March, 1949, the S.S. Selskar, of Newcastle, and the S.S. Nordic, of Stockholm, were in collision near the South Falls Buoy, and the Ramsgate life-boat was launched, but her services were not needed as both the steamers had got under way. At 2.45 on the morning of the 1st of April, the coast- guard reported that the Selskar was making water and developing a list.

Her captain intended to beach her.

The Walmer life-boat Charles Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2 was launched at three o'clock in a dense fog. An east- north-easterly breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. While she was looking for the Selskar the life-boat received news by wireless that she was ashore off Walmer Castle. The life-boat reached her at half past seven and stood by throughout that day and the following night, while tugs and salvage vessels got pumps aboard. At noon on the 2nd of April she was refloated, but she was still making so much water that she had to be beached again. About five o'clock in the afternoon the life- boat put back to Walmer to re-fuel, and at nine o'clock she returned to the Selskar to stand by for the second night. At two o'clock next morning the Selskar floated off, but she had a bad list, and the life-boat took off the captain's wife for a time. At 9.20 the Selskar reported that she was aground again. Her crew continued to work at the pumps and got the water under control; and when she again floated oft, tugs were able to take her in tow.

With the life-boat in attendance, they reached Dover at 3.15 that afternoon, the 3rd of April. The life-boat got back to her station again at 4 o'clock. She had then been out,on service for sixty-one hours. — Property salvage case and rewards, £61 17s..