Campbeltown, Argyllshire. — At 1.10 in the morning on the 17th of Septem- ber, 1950, the coastguard reported a radio message from the tug Turmoil that the steamer Bisco 9, which she was tow- ing, had parted her tow and was drift- ing. She was seven miles north-west of Ailsa Craig—roughly twelve miles from Campbeltown.

It was high water, and blowing a full southerly gale. A very heavy sea was running. Weather and sea conditions, indeed, were described as appalling, the worst within memory, when at 1.-10 the life-boat, Manchester and Salford, on temporary duty at the station, put to sea. In spite of the exceptionally dark night, the height of the sea, passing rain squalls and a maximum visibility of three miles—dropping to less than a mile at times—the coxswain intercepted the Bisco 9, without fuss or searching, at 2.45.

She was drifting towards the Kintyre shore. At three o'clock the life-boat closed with her in an attempt to take off her crew; but the coxswain eventu- ally decided that the risk was too great.

The ship was labouring heavily and sheering dangerously in the very heavy sea running; and the eight men aboard her 9,000 tons were in no great danger.

Shortly afterwards the Bisco 9 grounded on the north side of Black Bay, five miles north of Campbeltown.

The life-boat closed, anchored close to her port quarter and threw across the breeches buoy. However, the steamer'screw refused to use it, preferring to remain on board until daylight. Mean- while, unknown to the life-boat, the Campbeltown Rocket Life-saving Ap- paratus arrived on the starboard side of the steamer (which was close to the shore) and took off her crew. The life- boat then returned to Campbeltown and secured to her moorings at 10.15 in the morning." Although the life-boat did not take off the crew it was an outstanding service in very severe weather and the Institution sent a letter of apprecia- tion to the branch, and granted a special reward of £2 to each member of the crew, in addition to the reward of £2 3s. on the ordinary scale; ordinary rewards, £18 12,9. 6d., additional re- wards, £18; total rewards, £.36 12,9. 6d..