Margate, Kent.—At 4.5 in the morn- ing of the 3rd of February, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a vessel was showing two red lights about four miles north-north-east of Margate Pier.

At 4.30 he reported that she was aground on Margate Sands. Twenty minutes later the life-boat The Lord Southborough, Civil Service No. 1 was launched in a moderate south-south- westerly breeze with a choppy sea.

She found the motor vessel Ward, of Amsterdam, with a crew of nine, bound for London. The master intended to try to refloat her, so the life-boat stood by, and at six o'clock she refloated on the rising tide and went on her way.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 7.10.—Rewards, £15 19*. 6d..