Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. — At 10.40 in the morning of the llth of March, 1949, the Duntulm coastguard reported that the Fleetwood steam trawler Ben Bheula was leaking and in need of help two miles east of Castlebay, and the life-boat Lloyd's was launched at 11.20. A south-westerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The life- boat found that the Ben Bheula had been taken in tow by another Fleet- wood steam trawler, the Cyelse. At the entrance to Castlebay Harbour the Ben Bheula grounded on a sandbank, and the life-boat put into Castlebay for a motor pump. She brought this out, put it on board the Ben Bheula, laid out an anchor for her, and returned to her station at nine o'clock that night, leaving the Ben Bheula at anchor.

Two days later, on the morning of the 13th, the gale was blowing from the north-west, and the Cyelse— which had been standing by the Ben Bheula—was driven on to a sunken rock at the entrance to the harbour.

She gave a call for help on her steam whistle, and at nine o'clock the life-boat put out. She found the Cyelse in a perilous position, rescued her crew of fourteen, and brought them ashore at 10.15. She put out again at one o'clock and stood by until five in the afternoon, but the Cyelse then capsized and sank.

The Ben Bheula was able to leave Castlebay two days later, on the 15th.

The Fleetwood Steam Trawlers' Mutual Insurance Association Ltd., gave £25 to the life-boat crew.—Rewards: first service, £23 4s.; second service, £15.