Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At half past one in the afternoon on the 17th of December, 1949, the Walton-on- Naze coastguard telephoned that a sailing barge appeared to be in diffi- culties near the Cork Sand and that the Cork Lightvessel was firing signals.

At 1.55 the life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched in a moderate sea with a west-north-west breeze blowing. She found the barge Thelma, of Rochester, with a crew of two, rapidly being blown seawards. Missing the Cork Sands, she was held up by her anchor in shallow water. The Trinity House vessel Patricia, on passage to Harwich, had come up with the barge and taken her crew aboard, but put them back when the life-boat arrived. Then, taking the Thelma in tow, Patricia made for Harwich, escorted by the life-boat.

At the harbour entrance the E.M.E.D.

left the other vessels and returned home, arriving at 5.10 in the afternoon.— Rewards, £17 15s..