Walton and Frinton, Essex. — About 6.15 in the evening, on the 8th of April, 1950, the Walton coastguard telephoned a message from the Felixstowe coast- guard, that a yacht near the Black Stakes, north-west of the Naze, seemed to be in difficulties. At 6.45 the life- boat E.M.E.D. was launched in a rough sea with a strong south-westerly breeze blowing. She found the motor yacht Diana III, of Richmond, on the edge of the Pye Sands with ten people on board. Her sailing dinghy, which she had in tow, was full of water and had made the yacht almost unsteerable.

The life-boatmen emptied the dinghy, stowed it on the yacht, and, because the wind was increasing, towed the Diana III to the River Twissel and moored her there. The life-boat re- mained in the river for the night, and left at ten next morning. On her way back to her station she saw a pontoon- type landing craft, with a crew of two, being blown seawards, her outboard engine having broken down. The life- boat towed her to Kirby Creek and then made for her station, arriving at noon.

—Rewards: First service, £11 12s.; Second service, £9 15s..