Islay, Inner Hebrides.—At 4.45 p.m.

on the 12th of April, 1950, the chair- man of the local life-boat station re- ported a mine drifting south through the Sound of Islay directly in the line of shipping using the sound. With night approaching the danger to the shipping was heightened, and there was also the danger of the mine being washed ashore at any of the villages of Bonahaven, Caol Ila, or Port Askaig.

The coxswain, Duncan McNeill, who had previously taken part in securing a mine, was willing to try and secure this one. At 5.10 p.m. the life-boat Man- chester and Salford, on temporary duty at the station, was launched in a moderate sea, with a moderate north- westerly wind blowing. She had the coxswain's own small boat in tow.

When the mine was found, the coxswain manned his own boat and approachedthe mine alone. The life-boat stood a quarter of a mile off. He secured to the mine's mooring cable, a rope of 600 fathoms, and the life-boat then towed it to a position south of Port Askaig.

Here a party landed, while the life-boat remained half a mile off shore. Putting a hill between themselves and the mine, the party pulled it ashore and secured it, out of danger to shipping and inhabitants.

The Institution was of opinion that the service reflected great credit on all concerned, especially Coxswain Duncan McNeill, to whom a letter of apprecia- tion was sent.—Rewards, £6 11s..