Ix 1949 the Life-boat Service set up a new record. Its life-boats went out to the rescue 639 times. That is the largest number there has ever been in time of peace. In time of war it has been exceeded only thrice, in 1939, 1940 and 1941.

Though the calls were more, the lives rescued were fewer. Life-boats rescued 318, as compared with an average of 543 during the previous four years. On the other hand the year was notable for several very dangerous and gallant rescues. Fifteen medals were won for gallantry, among them the first gold medal—given only for conspicuous gallantry •— to be awarded for five years.

Life-boats went to the help of fifty- two vessels and three aeroplanes belong- ing to sixteen different foreign countries, and rescued twenty-seven lives from them.

The total of lives—including seventy- eight rescued by shore boats, for which the rescuers were rewarded by the Institution—was 396. Life-boats also saved, or helped to save from destruc- tion, seventy boats and vessels and helped in various ways 225 more. The grand totals of lives rescued by life- boats and shore boats, since the Institu- tion was founded in 1824, was 76,724 at the end of the year.

No lives of life-boatmen were lost as a result of accidents at sea, but one man died in a life-boat when she was out on exercise, and two others col- lapsed and died when answering calls for service..