DURING March, life-boats went out on service 45 times and rescued 10 lives.

A LISTING TANKER New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 7.18 on the night of the 1st of March, 1951, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board tele- phoned that the S.S. British Dragoon, of London, a tanker of 9,909 tons, was ashore on Taylors Spit in the Queens Channel. At 7.37 the life-boat K.T.J.S.

on temporary duty at the station, left her moorings, in a moderate sea with a light west-north-west breeze blowing.

She found the tanker near the No. 16 channel buoy, listing. A pilot vessel had taken off forty members of her crew, leaving the master and four others on board. The life-boat trans- ferred thirty-eight people to a Docks Board salva/e vessel; then at the request of the Marine Surveyor in charge of salvage operations, she stood by until the tanker refloated at 3.10 next morning. She arrived back at her station at 4.25. The owners expressed their thanks. — Rewards, £22 18*.

UNTIL HIGH WATER Newcastle, Co. Down.—At 8.55 on the morning of the 3rd of March, 1951, the Kilkeel coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Slieve More, of London, was ashore at Derryogue two miles south-west of Kilkeel. At 9.15 the life-boat William and Laura was launched. There was a swell, with a fresh south-easterly breeze blowing, and fog. At the request of the steamer's master, the life-boat stood by the Slieve More until high water. At 7.25 that night the steamer refloated and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 9.30.—Rewards, £87 10s.

A TRAWLER WITH A LIST Longhope, Orkneys.—At 11.0 on the night of the 3rd of March, 1951, a life- boatman heard a siren and saw flares from a ship ashore at Brims Ness; and at 11.20 the life-boat Thomas McCunn was launched. There was a heavy swell with a moderate south-south-west breeze blowing. The ship, the trawler Lotos, of Aberdeen, had refloated, but she had a list and was making water.

The life-boat therefore escorted her to Scrabster and then returned to her station, arriving at 5.15 next morning.

—Rewards, £20 5s. 6d.

FOUR ARE ESCORTED Whitby, Yorkshire.—On the morning of the 8th of March, 1951, four fishing vessels were at sea in a strong easterly gale with a heavy ground swell, and anxiety was felt for their safety.

Accordingly, at 8.15 the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched.

She stood by in the harbour until noon, when the fishing vessel Success was reported to be making for harbour.

The life-boat escorted her in and during the afternoon escorted in as well the Gem, Provider A. and Lead Us. She reached her station again at 3.40— Rewards, £16 12*.

SUCCESSFUL IN THE MORNING Barra Island, Outer Hebrides.—About 4.0 on the afternoon of the 8th of March, 1951, the skipper of the steam trawler St. Philip, of Fleetwood, asked for help to refloat his ship, which had run on the rocks west of Castlebay pier. At 4.15 the life-boat Lloyd''s left her moor- ings and, in a choppy sea with a strong north-easterly breeze blowing, ran out a kedge anchor and put a rope on board.

But she could not refloat the trawler, so at 9.0 that night she landed her crew of fifteen. Then at 6.0 next morning she took out some men, refloated the trawler and towed her to the pier, arriving back at her station at 9.0— Property Salvage Case.

STANDING BY A TUG Lowestoft, Suffolk.—At 7.54 on the morning of the 10th of March, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that the localsteam trawler King Athelstan, with a crew of ten, had broken adrift from a tug and gone on the Newcombe Sands.

At 8.20 the life-boat Michael Stephens left her moorings in a moderate easterly breeze with a heavy ground swell.

She stood by while the tug got a line on board, refloated the trawler, and towed her to Lowestoft. Then she returned to her station, reaching it again at 10.30.—Rewards, £10 8*. 6d.

STANDING BY A COBLE Amble, Northumberland. — On the morning of the 15th of March, 1951, the fishing coble Ocean Vanguard was at sea in bad weather. There was a heavy swell at the harbour entrance, too, and she was unable to get in. So about 11.15 the life-boat J. W. Archer was launched. She stood by the coble until she got in safely a little later, and returned to her moorings at noon.— Rewards, £7.

GUIDED CLEAR OF THE SANDS Caister, Norfolk. —At 11.14 in the afternoon, on the 17th of March, 1951, a resident reported that a ship was on the Barber Sands. At 1.30 the life- boat Jose Neville was launched in a smooth sea with a moderate south- westerly breeze blowing and fog. She.

found the S.S. Southport, of Glasgow, bound for Hull loaded with scrap, and with a crew of eleven. Two life-boat- men boarded her and gave the master advice; and the life-boat then laid out an anchor. The Southport refloated and the life-boat guided her clear of the sands. She then returned to her station, arriving at 4.40.—Property Salvage Case.

ASKED FOR THE LIFE-BOAT Walton and Frinton, Essex. — About 6.0 on the evening of the 17th of March, 1951, the Walton-on-the-Naze coast- guard telephoned that the S.S. Sodality, of London, four and a half miles north east of Barrow Deep, had a sick man on board. She had asked for the life-boat; so, at 6.20 the life-boat Mary Scott, on temporary duty at the station, left her moorings, in a moderate sea with a slight south-south-west breeze. She landed the man at Walton pier, where a doctor was waiting and reached her station again at 9.30 that night.— Rewards, £14 16*. 6d.

ANXIETY AND COURAGE Scarborough, Yorkshire.—During the morning of the 18th of March, 1951, the weather got worse, and there was anxiety for the safety of the local keel boat Courage, at sea with a crew of five.

At 1.15 in the afternoon the life-boat E.C.J.R. was launched. In a heavy breaking sea with a moderate north- easterly breeze, she came up with the Courage three miles to the east-north- east. She escorted her to the harbour and reached her station again at 2.45.

—Rewards, £13 6s.

STANDING BY A MINESWEEPER Tynemouth, Northumberland.—At 11.5 on the night of the 18th of March, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a ship was on the Black Middens Rocks.

At 11.29 the life-boat Tynesider was launched, accompanied by the honorary secretary, Mr. E. Selby Davidson. The sea was rough with a light easterly breeze blowing. She found H.M.S.

Brave, a minesweeper with a crew of fourteen, fast on the rocks fifty yards from shore, but because of breaking seas could not get alongside her. Mean- while The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade passed a line to her from the shore. Seas were now pounding the minesweeper, so the life-boat stood by while the crew were taken off by breeches buoy from the shore. She arrived back at her station at 3.15 next morning.—Rewards, £15 1*.

R.N.L.B. TO ex-R.N.L.B.

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At 6.45 on the morning of the 21st of March, 1951, the life-boat watchman reported a life-boat in a bad position in the bay. At 7.30 the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson left her moorings.

The sea was rough with a strong south- easterly breeze blowing. She found the ex-R.N.L.B. Elsie (which had recently been sold out of the service) with a crew of two, on passage from Troon to Highbridge. She was at anchor, but her sails had been damaged and the two men could not start the engine. The life-boat therefore towedher to Rosslare and got back to her station again at 8.80. The owner made a gift to the life-boatmen and another to the funds of the Institution.

—Partly paid permanent crew; Re- wards, £5.

SOME BOILER TROUBLE Ramsgate, and Dover, Kent. — At 11.55 on the morning of the 23rd of March, 1951, a ship was seen off Rams- gate flying a signal asking for a pilot.

The coastguard reported that she had been stationary for nearly two hours.

As the weather was too bad for a shore- boat to put out, the Ramsgate life-boat Prudential embarked a -pilot and left her moorings at 12.11. The sea was very rough, with a moderate westerly gale blowing, as she came up with the S.S. Helfrid, of Helsingborg, bound for Dover, near the North-west Good- win buoy. She put the pilot aboard; and he reported that the steamer had boiler trouble, needing immediate re- pairs. However, the master decided to make for Sheerness and the life-boat stayed with her until she reached a safe position. Meanwhile at 1.32 the Sandgate coastguard had telephoned the Dover life-boat authorities; and at 1.55 the life-boat Southern Africa was launched. But as the Helfrid had made for Sheerness she was recalled at once, reaching her moorings again at 2.0. The Ramsgate life-boat arrived back at her station again at 3.25.— Rewards, Ramsgate, £14 4s.; Dover, £7 5s.

REPEATED ENGINE TROUBLE St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—At 1.50 in the afternoon, on the 23rd of March, 1951, Sark sent a message that the motor boat Capwood, of Guernsey, had left Guernsey for Sark at 11.15 that morning with sixteen people, but had not arrived. At 2.15 the life-boat Queen Victoria left her moorings in a rough sea with a fresh south-westerly breeze blowing. At sea, she heard from Herm Island that the Capwood had engine trouble, and anchoring south-west of the island, had landed her passengers at Herm. However as the weather was getting worse two life- boatmen boarded her and took her into Henn harbour. There her passengers re-boarded her and she put to sea again.

But before long her engine broke down once more, and she hit some rocks.

A shore-boat therefore helped her back to Herm and transferred the passengers to the life-boat, which landed them at St. Peter Port harbour. The Queen Victoria reached her station again at 5.20 that evening.—Rewards, £11 3s.

ROUGH SEA AT BRIGHTLINGSEA Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. — At 2.59 in the afternoon, on the 23rd of March, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that H.M. Customs at Brightlingsea had reported a yacht apparently in diffi- culties and dragging her anchor off Colne Point. At 3.0 the life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched in a rough sea with a west-north-west breeze blowing. She found the yacht Buxey, with a crew of three, and towed her to Brightlingsea. At 8.0 that night she arrived back at her station.—Property Salvage Case.

AN ESCORT TO SHEERNESS Margate, Kent. — On the 22nd of March, 1951, the motor vessel Teal wirelessed that she was standing by the S.S. Wirral Bank, of London, in distress fifty-two miles north-east of North Foreland, with a crew of nine.

About 1.0 on the afternoon of the 23rd, the Wirral Bank escorted by the Teal arrived in Margate Roads, and anchored a mile off shore. Her master asked the life-boat to stand by as his steamer's cargo of wheat had shifted, her steering gear was damaged and she was making water. At 6.10 that evening the coast- guard reported that she had signalled for the life-boat; so at 6.18 the life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service No. 11, was launched on service for the first time.

The master told the coxswain that he was going to make for Sheerness as the sea "was very rough and a north-westerly gale was blowing. The life-boat therefore escorted the Wirral Bank to Sheerness.

They reached it at 10.30 that night.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 2.30 next morning.

Here the weather was too bad for her to be rehoused, so she made for Rams- gate and was taken back to her station on the afternoon of the 25th.—Rewards, £38 16s. lOrf.FOUR RESCUED FROM YACHT Newhaven, Sussex. — At 7.35 on the night of the 23rd of March, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a small ship appeared to be in difficulties off the harbour and was burning a red light.

At 7.50 the life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott was launched, in a rough sea with a strong south-westerly breeze blowing. She found the yacht Kayak, with three men and a woman on board, one mile off Seaford Head. She had engine trouble and becoming unmanage- able, was in danger of going on the Henston Rocks. The life-boat towed her to Newhaven harbour and reached her station again at 8.45. One of the rescued men and the owner made gifts to the life-boatmen.—Rewards, £9 11s.

TWO TO LEAD US Wbitby, and Scarborough, Yorkshire.— During the early morning of the 24th of March, 1951, the motor fishing boat, Lead Us, of Whitby, put out from Whitby with a crew of five. But the weather got worse and at 11.0 she was seen off Staithes making for home.

It was thought advisable for the Whitby life-boat to put out and escort her in; so at 11.35 the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched in a rough sea with a strong northerly breeze blowing. She stood by in the inner harbour; but the Lead Us wire- lessed that she was making for Scar- borough. The life-boat therefore re- turned to her station, arriving at 1.20 in the afternoon. The Whitby coast- guard then informed the Scarborough coastguard, who telephoned the Scar- borough life-boat authorities at 12.51.

At 1.35 the life-boat E.C.J.R. was launched. She came up with the Lead Us two and a half miles north- north-east of Castle Hill and escorted her to Scarborough harbour. At 2.30 she reached her station again.—Re- wards, Whitby, £9 12*.; Scarborough, £11 9s.

VELLUM SERVICE AT NEWHAVEN Newhaven, Sussex. — On the 26th of March, 1951, the Newhaven life- boat rescued the crew of six of the Belgian trawler Christiane II, of Ostend.

Rewards: to Coxswain William J.

Harvey, the 'thanks of the Institution on vellum; to the coxswain and each of the ten members of the crew, includ- ing the full-time mechanic, an addi- tional reward of £1. Rewards to crew and helpers: First service £21 11s.

Second service £9 11s. For full ac- count of this service, and one on the 28th of March to the same ship, see page 206.

FIVE COBLES AT SEA Newbiggin, Northumberland. — During the morning of the 31st of March, 1951, five local fishing cobles were at sea in bad weather and people were anxious for their safety. At 11.0 it was decided to launch the life-boat; and at 11.20 the life-boat Richard Ashley put out in a rough sea with a strong south-easterly breeze blowing. She escorted four of the cobles in; then searched for the fifth and finding her four miles to the east escorted her to the Bay. She reached her station again at 3.30 in the afternoon.—Rewards, £16 18s.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed or could do nothing: Fowey, Cornwall. — March 2nd. — Rewards, £7.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk. — March 4th. — Property Salvage Case.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire. — March 5th.

—Rewards, £26 5s.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire. — March 6th.

—Rewards, £26 5s.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire. — March 7th.

—Rewards, £16 5s.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—March 8th.

—Rewards, £24 5s.

Whitehills, Banffshire. — March llth.

—Rewards, £20 5s.

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. — March llth.—Rewards, £15 10s.

St. Mary's, Isles-of-Scilly—March 13th.

—Rewards, £11 2s.

Penlee, Cornwall.—March 16th.—Re- wards, £12 3s.

Ramsgate, Kent.— March 16th. — Re- wards, £14 4s.

Yarmouth, Isle-of-Wight.—March 17th.

—Rewards, £16 15s. 6d.

Salcombe, Devon.—March 19th.—Re- wards, £13 4s.Barra Island, Outer Hebrides.— March 20th.—Rewards, £23 4s.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk. — March 21st.— Rewards, £64 14*. Qd.

Rosslare Harbour, Co. WexfordL—March 21st.—Partly paid permanent crew; Rewards, £7 6s.

Scarborough, Yorkshire.—March 22nd.

—Rewards, £19 5s.

Valentia, Co. Kerry.—March 23rd.-— Rewards, £22.

Bridlington, Yorkshire. — March 24th.

—Rewards, £23 45.

Hoylake, Cheshire. — March 25th. — Rewards, £23 10s.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—March 31 St.

—Rewards, £12 18*.

Dungeness, Kent.—March 31st.—Re- wards, £31 6s.

APRIL DURING April life-boats went out on service 35 times and rescued 51 lives.

A SICK MAN LANDED Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.

—At 1.38 on the morning of the 1st of April, 1951, the Gorleston coastguard telephoned a message received through the North Foreland radio station from the S.S. Lord Citrine. She was due in Yarmouth Roads about 3.0 and asked for the life-boat to land a sick man.

At 3.12 the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched in a moderate sea with a moderate south-westerly breeze blow- ing. She came up with the steamer off the harbour, landed the man at Great Yarmouth, where an ambulance was waiting, and reached her station again at 4.45.—Rewards, £8.

MOTOR ENGINE BROKEN DOWN Weymouth, Dorset.—At 7.0 on the night of the 3rd of April, 1951, the Wyke Regis coastguard reported that a small vessel two miles east-south-east of Portland Bill was burning red flares.

At 7.15 the life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched. The sea was moderate with a south-westerly breeze blowing. She fouud the motor cruiser Paddy Moya, of Christchurch, with a crew of two, bound for Penzance. Her engine had broken down and she was in a dangerous position, with the weather getting worse. The life-boat therefore towed her to Weymouth, and reached her station again at 12.10 the next morning.—Property Salvage Case.

LANDING A SICK LIGHTVESSEL MAN The Mumbles, Glamorganshire. — At 10.50 on the morning of the 6th of April, 1951, the Trinity House Super- intendent asked if the life-boat could be launched to land a sick man from the Scarweather lightvessel. No other boat was available, so at 11.20 the life- boat William Gammon—Manchester and District XXX, was launched in a moderate sea with a south-westerly breeze blowing. She landed the man at The Mumbles, where an ambulance was waiting, and arrived back at her station at 1.30 that afternoon.—Re- wards, £10 12s. 6d. No expense to the Institution.

ADVICE TO A TRAWLER Ramsgate, Kent.—At 7.10 on the evening of the 7th of April, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a French fishing vessel appeared to be aground half a mile off Quern Buoy. At 7,15 the life-boat Prudential left her moorings.

The sea was slight, with a strong west- south-west breeze blowing. She found the motor trawler Notre Dame de Calais, of Calais, bumping on the Brake Sands.

Her skipper declined a tow, so the cox- swain advised him how to get her clear of the sands; and when she refloated the life-boat guided her to Ramsgate harbour. She reached her station again at 8.30. — Rewards, £5 18s.

SEAGULL WITH A BROKEN WING Portpatrick, Wigtownshire. — About 9.0 in the morning, on the 10th of April, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a motor fishing boat was in diffi- culties four miles to the south; and at 9.15 the life-boat Jeanie Speirs was launched. The sea was moderate, with a fresh northerly breeze blowing. She found the local fishing vessel Seagull with a crew of two. Her engine had broken down, but was now going again; so the life-boat escorted her to harbour and reached her station again at 10.30.

—Rewards, £3.FLARES BURNED IN THE HARBOUR Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 12.45 on the afternoon of the 10th of April, 1951, fishermen told the coxswain that there was a heavy swell on the harbour bar, and the fishing vessels Provider A and Lead Us could be seen making for Whitby. At 1.10 the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched in a rough sea with a northerly gale blow- ing; and flares were burned from the outer harbour to warn the fishing vessels. The life-boat then escorted them in and reached her station again at 3.10.—Rewards, £7 12*.

ANOTHER SICK MAN SAVED Lerwick, Shetland*.—At 10.10 on the morning of the 12th of April, 1951, the County Medical Officer of Health tele- phoned and asked that the life-boat take a doctor to Fair Isle to attend a man with appendicitis. At 10.50 the life-boat John Russell, on temporary duty at the station, left her moorings.

She embarked a doctor at Broonie's Taing and made for Fair Isle in a very heavy sea with a moderate south- south-west gale blowing. Here she took the patient on board, wirelessed for an ambulance to meet her at Lerwick and landed the man there at 12.50 next morning. She had spent fourteen hours at sea and saved the man's life.—Rewards, £25 1*. No expense to the Institution.

AN ARDUOUS SERVICE IN THE ORKNEYS Longhope, Orkneys.—At 12.38 on the morning of the 12th of April, 1951, the motor tanker Oljaren, of Gothenburg, bound for Stockholm from Curacoa with diesel oil, wirelessed that she had gone aground on Muckle Skerry in the Pentland Firth. At 12.45 she asked for urgent help but said that her crew were in no danger. These two mes- sages were relayed by the Wick Radio station to the Kirk wall coastguard.

At 1.25 he informed the life-boat authorities; and at 1.40 the life-boat Thomas McCunn was launched in a heavy sea, with a strong south-westerly gale blowing. She found the Oljaren on the west side of Muckle Skerry, and went alongside. Her crew of forty decided to remain in her, however, so the life-boat laid off until about 1.0 next afternoon. The master then sig- nalled that his crew were abandoning the tanker. The life-boat—with great difficulty this time—went alongside her again in worsening weather and rescued twenty-four of the crew. The master and fifteen others decided to stay on board. Heavy seas were now breaking over the tanker and falling into the life-boat. She turned round in the confined space between the Oljaren and the rocky shore and made for Longhope, arriving at 3.30. Everyone was an- xious about the sixteen men still left on the Oljaren, so a message was sent to them asking if they needed the life- boat again. At 5.45 that evening the master asked for her; the Thomas McCunn then put out again. But the master and his fifteen men still would not leave their ship, so the life-boat went back to her station, arriving at 11.30 that night. At 2.35 next after- noon, the 13th, the owners telephoned the coxswain to tell the master to abandon ship. They passed this mes- sage to him, and he then asked a third time for the life-boat. At 2.45 it was launched again, rescued him and the fifteen men and reached her station again at 5.45 that evening.—Rewards: 1st service, £47 Is.; 2nd service, £11 18*.

A SICK STEWARD AND A STOWAWAY Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 11.13 on the morning of the 17th of April, 1951, the S.S. Fort Enterprise, of London, bound for America from Liverpool, wirelessed that she had a sick steward. She asked for him to be landed, saying that she would be off Valentia about 7.0 in the evening. At 2.0, then, that afternoon the life-boat A.E.D. left her moorings accompanied by the honorary secretary, Mr. Kieran O'Driscoll, and a doctor.

The sea was rough, with a strong south- easterly breeze blowing. She came up with the steamer eleven miles west- north-west of Bray Head, and took on board the sick man and a woman stowaway. She landed them at Valentia at 7.0 and reached her station again at 7.30.—Rewards, £11 7s.

TWO CALLS TO LIFE-BOATS Filey, and Flamborough, Yorkshire.— At 7.16 on the morning of the 17th ofApril, 1951, a fisherman telephoned the Filey life-boat authorities that he had picked up a message on his wireless set: the fishing boat May Lily, of Scar- borough, had broken down about five miles north of Flamborough Head and needed help. At 7.40 the life-boat The Cuttle was launched in a moderate sea with a moderate westerly breeze blow- ing. Meanwhile the Flamborough Head Royal Naval Signal Station telephoned the Flamborough life-boat authorities, and at 7.45 the life-boat Howard D was launched too. She came up with the May Lily, with a crew of four, drifting helplessly one and a half miles north-east of the Flam- borough life-boat station and took her in tow to Bridlington, reaching her station again at 11.15. The Filey life- boat was not needed, so she returned to her station, arriving at 8.39.—Re- wards, Filey, £12 2s.; Flamborough, £18 14s. 6d.

YET ANOTHER SICK MAN Tenby, Pembrokeshire. — At 6.34 on the evening of the 18th of April, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that the Swansea Superintendent of Trinity House had asked for the life-boat to land a sick man from St. Govens light- vessel. At 6.50 the life-boat John R.

Webb was launched with a doctor and made for the lightvessel in a calm sea and fine weather. Here she took the patient on board and landed him at her station—where an ambulance was wait- ing—at 11.15 that night.—Rewards, £15 1*. No expense to the Institution.

RAPID RESCUE OF AN ANSON'S CREW Torbay, Devon.—At 4.7 on the after- noon of the 19th of April, 1951, the Brixham coastguard telephoned that an Anson aeroplane had crashed into the sea and sunk about a mile off Orestone Rock. At 4.20 the life-boat George Shee left her moorings. The sea was slight with a light east-north-east breeze blowing. She found four men in a rubber dinghy, rescued them, gave them hot cocoa, and returned to her station by 5.5. The owners made gifts to the life-boatmen and a donation to the funds of the Institution.—Rewards, £4 175. 6d.

RESCUE OF FOUR SEAL-WATCHERS Port Erin, and Peel, Isle of Man.—At 9.40 on the morning of the 21st of April, 1951, the Director of the Marine Bio- logical Station sent a message to the Port Erin life-boat authorities. Two life-boatmen had reported that the Station's motor boat Runa had sunk north of Fleshwick Bay, although nothing could be seen of her crew: four people who had been on a seal watching expedition. At 10.0 the life-boat Matthew Simpson was launched, with a rowing boat in tow. The coastguard informed the Peel life-boat authorities at 10.10; and at 10.30 the life-boat Helen Sutton was launched. The sea was smooth, with a moderate south- easterly breeze blowing. The Port Erin life-boat found that the Runa had struck a submerged rock close inshore, but the four seal-watchers had got ashore. They had climbed two hundred feet up a steep cliff, but could climb no further; nor could they get down again.

A life-boatman therefore climbed up to them with a rope and helped them down; and they were then taken into the life-boat and landed at the harbour at 12.15 that afternoon. The Peel life-boat was not needed so she returned to her station, arriving at 1.0.— Rewards: Port Erin, £11 12s.; Peel, £16 3s. 6d.

A FAULTY COMPASS Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At noon on the 24th of April, 1951, the Sea Fisheries Agent at Cahirciveen telephoned that the motor trawler Naom Cait, of Dublin, was missing with a crew of seven. At 12.15, the life-boat A.E.D.

left her moorings in a moderate sea with a southerly breeze and thick fog patches. She came up with the trawler, which had a faulty compass, four miles north-west of Cromwell Point, escorted her to harbour and reached her station again at 1.30 that afternoon.—Rewards, £5 13s.

A TRAWLER WITH A LIST Islay, Inner Hebrides.—At 1.45 on the morning of the 28th of April, 1951, the Kilchoman coastguard telephoned that the steam trawler Queen Alexandra, of Fleetwood, with a crew of twelve, had wirelessed that she was aground inthe Sound of Islay two miles south of Carraig Mhor Light. At 2.10 the life- boat Manchester and Salford, on tem- porary duty at the station, left her moorings in a, moderate sea with a moderate northerly breeze blowing.

She stood by while attempts were made to get the trawler clear, which listed, however, instead of refloating. The crew decided to stay in her, and as they were in no immediate danger, the life- boat returned to her station, arriving at 1.0 the next afternoon.—Rewards, £19 19*. 9d.

POSTSCRIPT TO THE OLJAREN Stromiu;s, Orkneys.—At 1.10 on the afternoon of the 30th of April, 1051, a salvage company reported that the n.otor tanker Oljaren, of Gothenburg, which had been aground off Muckle Skerry since the 12th, had been re- floated and was being towed to Long- hope. The company asked for the life-boat in case the weather became dangerous for the sixteen men aboard her. So at 1.30 the life-boat J.J.K.S.W.

was launched. The sea was calm with a light north-easterly breeze. She came up with the tanker in tow of a tug two and a half miles south of Cantick Head, and escorted them both to Longhope Bay, returning to her station by 7.30 that evening. The Longhope life-boat had rescued the tanker's crew of forty on the 12th and 13th April.—Rewards, £11 17*.

A BROKEN PUMP Lerwick, Shetlands.—At 11.28 on the night of the 30th of April, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a local resident had reported a wireless message from the motor fishing vessel Maid of Honour, of Lerwick. She had broken down off Brethren and needed help.

At 11.52 the life-boat John Rttssell, on temporary duty at the station, left her moorings in a fresh east-north-east breeze with a rough sea. She found the ship with a crew of four, north-east of Brethren; her engine water circulat- ing pump had broken down. The life- boat towed her to Lerwick and reached her station again at 1.30 the next morning.—Property Salvage Case.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed or could do nothing: Dungeness, Kent. — April 4th. — Re- wards, £34 9s.

Exmouth, Davon. — April 5th. — Re- wards, £13 Is.

Pwllheli,- Caernarvonshire.—April 7th.

—Rewards, £9 6s.

Donagbadee, Co. Down.—April 7th.— Rewards, £6 13*.

Bembridge, Isle-of-Wigbt.—April 9th.

—Rewards, £6 Is.

Fowey, Cornwall.—April llth. — Re- wards, £5 5*.

Valenlia, Co. Kerry. —April 19th.— Rewards, £5 14s.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk. — April 19th. — Rewards, £35 95. 6d.

Eastbourne, Sussex. — April 21 St. — Rewards, £24 9*.

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—April 22nd.

—Rewards, £13 1*.

Valentia, Co. Kerry.—April 25th.— Rewards, £5 13*.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. — April 26th.

—Rewards, £8 7s.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—April 26th.

—Rewards, £6 17*.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — April 29th.—Rewards, £7.

Newhaven, Sussex.—April 29th.—Re- wards, £8 7*. Qd.

MAY DURING May, life-boats went out on service 38 times, and rescued 18 lives.

A PILOT WAS WANTED Amble, Northumberland.—About 9.55 on the night of the 1st of May, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a vessel had fired a rocket east of the Coquet lightvessel. At 10.15 the life- boat J. W. Archer was launched. There was a slight swell with a light south- westerly breeze blowing. She found the motor vessel Lvdwig, of Germany, wanting a pilot, so escorted her to an anchorage near the harbour. She then returned to her station, arriving at midnight.—Rewards, £5 5*.

MAKING HEAVY WEATHER St. Abbs, Berwickshire.—During the morning of the 2nd of May, 1951,anxiety was felt for the safety of the local motor fishing boat Laurel, overdue with a crew of four in bad weather; so at 11.15 the life-boat J. B. Couper of Glasgow was launched. The sea was rough with a fresh easterly breeze blowing. She came up with the Laurel one mile north of St. Abbs Head.

The Laurel's engine had broken down twice and she was making heavy weather, so the life-boat escorted her to St. Abbs and reached her station again at 12.15 that afternoon.—Re- wards, £5 17s.

MORE ANXIETY Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 9.10 on the morning of the 5th of May, 1951, a telephone message was received from the post office that the motor fishing boat Pride of Cahirciveen, with a crew of four, was about eight hours overdue from the fishing grounds. Anxiety was felt for her safety. At 9.30, therefore, the life-boat A.E.D. left her moorings, in a moderate sea with a moderate easterly gale blowing. She found the fishing boat broken down five miles north-west of Bray Head, her crew exhausted. The life-boatmen took them on board, and gave them hot soup, then took the Pride of Cahirciveen in tow. She reached her station again at 1.15 that afternoon.—Rewards, £8 10s.

REFLOATING A KETCH Weymouth, Dorset. — At 5.15 on the afternoon of the 6th of May, 1951, the life-boat mechanic saw the auxiliary ketch Fortis, of Portsmouth, in a dan- gerous position off Weymouth. The honorary secretary, Mr. Kenneth H.

Mooring Aldridge, S.B.St.J., then went out to her; but her crew of two declined help. Later on the Fortis was seen in difficulties on Weymouth beach; so the honorary secretary went out again.

He found her bumping heavily. This time her crew asked for the life-boat, so he returned and accompanied the life-boat William and Clara Ryland when she was launched at 7.0. The sea was very rough with a strong north- easterly breeze blowing. The life-boat refloated the ketch, towed her to Wey- mouth Quay, and arrived back at the station at 8.25.—Property Salvage Case.

A BARGE ASHORE Caister, Norfolk.—At 10.10 on the night of the 6th of May, 1951, a resident of Newport Hemsby telephoned that a ship was ashore off Newport Hemsby.

So at 10.30 the life-boat Jose Neville was launched in a choppy sea, with a fresh north-easterly breeze blowing and fog.

She found tho motor barge Glenway, of Rochester, laden with shingle. The Winterton coastguard life-saving crew had fired a line to her from shore, but her crew of two preferred to remain aboard. The life-boat stood by for five hours and, as the barge was in no immediate danger, returned to her station, arriving at 5.30 the next morn- ing.—Rewards, £22 Si.

A MATTER OF ROUGH SEAS Sheringham, Norfolk. — During the morning of the 7th of May, 1951, five local fishing boats put out; and as one of them was going back the weather got worse. The sea was also getting stronger and the wind increased. So, as one of the four boats still at sea was small, the life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched at 1.13 in the afternoon.

The sea was now rough with a strong north-easterly wind blowing. She es- corted each boat to shore and arrived back at her station at 3.25.—Rewards, £22 3s.

DANGEROUS FOR FISHING BOATS Whitby, Yorkshire.—During the morn- ing of the 8th of May, 1951, there was a strong northerly gale and a heavy swell off Whitby; and it was making the harbour bar very dangerous for the returning local motor fishing boats, Pilot Me II and Lead Us. At 9.25 the Kettleness coastguard reported that the Pilot Me II had passed Kettleness; and at 9.56 the No. 1 life-boat Alary Ann Hep-worth was launched. She came up with the Pilot Me II near Whitby Rock buoy, and escorted her in. She then waited for the other boat. At last, at 2.15 in the afternoon, the Lead Us was seen making for harbour; so the life-boat put out again, es- corted her in and then returned to her station, arriving at 3.15.—Rewards, £10 8*.ONCE MORE UNDER WAY Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.—-At 5.10 in the evening on the 8th of May, 1951, flashes were reported from the motor fishing boat Westmark, of Milford Haven, which had been at anchor off Aberystwyth harbour but seemed to have dragged. At 5.28 the life-boat Lady Harrison was launched in a rough sea with a strong northerly breeze blowing. She found the Westmark now under way two miles south of the harbour bar. The life-boat therefore escorted her through breaking seas to the harbour reaching her station again at 6.50.—Rewards, £14 14s.

A BROKEN TOPMAST Walton and Frinton, Essex.—About 2.25 on the morning of the 10th of May, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a pilot cutter had wirelessed him. A yacht was in difficulties and needed help, a quarter of a mile north-west by west of the Sunk lightvessel. At 2.55 the life-boat E.M.E.D. left her moor- ings, in a rough sea with a fresh north- north-east breeze blowing. She found the yacht Fortoyn II, of Rotterdam, with a crew of six. Her topmast had broken while she had been racing from the Hook of Holland to the Sunk lightvessel. Her crew asked to be taken into harbour. The life-boat thereupon towed her to Harwich and reached her station again at 11.0.— Property Salvage Case.

A PATIENT FROM THE CORTON LIGHTVESSEL Lowestoft, Suffolk.—About noon on the 12th of May, 1951, the coastguard reported that the S.S. Kentwood, of London, lying off Gorton lightvessel, had asked if the life-boat could take a doctor to her to attend a sick man. At 12.45 in the afternoon the life-boat Michael Stephens was launched, with a doctor, in a moderate sea and a moderate north-easterly breeze. The patient was taken on board and the life-boat wirelessed for an ambulance to meet her at Lowestoft. Then she landed the man, and reached her station again at 3.15.—Rewards, £6 13s.- LADY GAY GRAVE flfracombe, Devon.—At 12.45 in the afternoon, on the 13th of May, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that Bull Point lighthouse reported a motor yacht burning a red flare off Brandy Cove. At 1.0 the life-boat Richard Silver Oliver was launched. The sea was moderate with a fresh northerly breeze blowing. She found the motor yacht Lady Gay, with a crew of five.

Her engines had broken down, so the life-boat towed her to Ilfracombe.

She reached her station again at 3.0.

The owner expressed his thanks.— Rewards, £15 17*.

RUN OUT OF PETROL Torbay, Devon.—At 8.0 on the evening of the 13th of May, 1951, the Brixham coastguard telephoned that a motor cruiser seemed to have broken down about one mile south-west of Berry Head. Later she was seen to get under way, but at 8.42 the coastguard reported that a coat had been hoisted on her mast. So at 8.35 the life-boat George Shee left her moorings. The sea was choppy, with a light north-westerly breeze blowing. She found the plea- sure motor boat Gladina at anc hor with seventeen people on board, sixteen of whom were Dutch visitors returning to Torquay from the River Dart. The Gladina had run out of petrol, so the life-boat towed her to Brixham. She reached her station again at 9.45.— Rewards, £2 13*.

LEAD US IS LED AGAIN Wbitby, Yorkshire.—During the after- noon of the 13th of May, 1951, the local motor fishing boat Lead Us put out in a strong northerly wind and a heavy swell which made the harbour bar dangerous for her return. The life-boat crew assembled for two hours and at 9.10 that night the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. She found the Lead Us off Sandsend Ness, escorted her to harbour and reached her station again at 11.45.—Rewards, £11 8s. 6d.

THE CUTTER CUTS LOOSE Cromarty.—At 11.34 on the night of the 14th of May, 1951, the coastguard reported that the sailing cutter Mar- garet, with thirteen boys and one officer from the Moray Firth Sea School on board, was overdue. She had last beenseen between five and six miles west- north-west of Burghead. A later mes- sage said she was all right and making for Burghead; but at 4.54 next morning the coastguard telephoned that she was still missing, and that aeroplanes had been asked to search. At 5.25 the life-boat James Macfee was launched in a rough sea, with a light westerly breeze blowing. She found the cutter off Balintore and towed her to Cromarty harbour, reaching her station again at 11.15.—Rewards, £9 6s.

MEDAL SERVICE AT FLAMBOROUGH ON the 15th of May, 1951, the Flam- borough life-boat went out to save a.

boy, fallen over a cliff.

For a full account of this service, and list of rewards, see page 205.

MORE LACK OF PETROL Walmer, Kent.—At 6.51 on the even- ing of the 15th of May, 1951, the Deal coastguard telephoned that a yacht had broken down one mile north-east of the South Goodwin lightvessel and was drifting towards the Goodwin Sands. A small boat could be seen pulling away from her. At 7.0 the life-boat Jane Holland (on temporary duty at the station in place of the Charles Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2) was launched. The sea was slight, with a moderate southerly breeze blowing.

She came up with a man in a dinghy who had left the ship—the motor launch Sudaria, of Troon—for help, and took him and the dinghy on board. On the Sudoria, which had run out of petrol, she found another man. The life-boat towed in the Sudoria, landed the two men, and reached her station again at 8.30.—Rewards, £16 12s.

OCEAN PRIDE AT ANCHOR Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire. — At 7.33 on the evening of the 15th of May, 1951, the coastguard reported a fishing boat burning flares off Caernarvon Bar.

At 8.0 the life-boat Charles Henry Ashley was launched. There was a ground swell, with a light north-easterly breeze blowing. She found the fishing boat Ocean Pride, of Liverpool, at anchor with a crew of two, fifty yards east-south-east of the bar fairway buoy.

Two life-boatmen boarded her and weighed the anchor; and the life-boat then towed her to Trevor, reaching her station again at 12.45 the next morning.

—Rewards, £12 6s.

KHAKI IN THE BLUE Ramsgate, Kent. — At 1.0 on the afternoon of the 16th of May, 1951, the life-boat shore attendant told the coast- guard that a boat in Pegwell Bay was making a signal. She had apparently anchored near the breakers. The coast- guard passed the message to the life- boat authorities, and at 1.31 the life- boat Mary Scott, on temporary duty at the station, left her moorings. There was a moderate sea, with a moderate north-easterly breeze blowing. She found the local motor fishing boat Khaki with a crew of two. Her pro- peller was fouled by a rope and she was in danger of grounding, so the life-boat towed her to Ramsgate harbour. She reached her station again at 2.39.— Rewards, £5 3s.

FIRE ON THE DRIFTER Ramsey, Isle of Man;—At 5.17 on the evening of the 22nd of May, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a ship seemed to be on fire six miles east- north-east of Queens Pier. Later on, he reported that she was a drifter and had been taken in tow by another drifter; but at 6.5 he said she needed help. So at 6.15 the life-boat Thomas Corbett was launched. The sea was calm with a light easterly breeze.

Three miles east of the harbour she found the motor fishing vessel Brighter Hope, of Belfast, in tow of the drifter Boy Tomry which had taken off the crew of five. The coxswain boarded the Boy Tomry to pilot the Brighter Hope to the beach, and the life-boat went inshore to summon the fire brigade. She then returned to the Brighter Hope, now beached, and fired a line ashore to connect a fire hose.

The hose was hauled out and the fire was got under control. The life-boat then made the drifter secure, and re- turned to her station, arriving at midnight.—Rewards, £21 16,s.

A LOST DINGHY Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 9.12 on the morning of the 27th of May, 1951,the yacht St. Heller, of Burnham, was seen a quarter of a mile off the pier, where she had been lying all night.

The coxswain went out to her and found her in a dangerous position. She had lost her dinghy and her crew of four asked for a tow. The coxswain re- turned to the shore and at 9.40 the life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched. The sea was rough, with a south-westerly breeze blowing. The life-boat towed the St. Helier to Bright- lingsea, and reached her station again at 2.40 that afternoon. The four men expressed their thanks.—Rewards, Rewards, £13 2*. 3d.

A BADLY-HOLED YACHT Helvick Head, Co. Waterford.—About 9.30 on the morning of the 30th of May, 1951, the Coast Life Saving Ser- vice telephoned that a yacht had run on the rocks one and a half miles west of Mine Head. At 9.45 the life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched with a small boat in tow, and accompanied by the Honorary Secretary, Mr. P. J. Morrissey.

There was a swell, with an easterly breeze blowing. The life-boat anchored off the Longships Rock, where she could see the yacht Smew 1, of Southampton, high and dry and wedged on the rocks.

Some life-boatmen manned the small boat, and rowed in to her. They found her damaged. The owner and his wife had abandoned her; but they saw the owner half way up a cliff and extracted information from him about the yacht's fittings. Then they ran out anchors and tried to pump and bale her out; but she was badly holed and could not be dried out. They therefore took off the crew's personal belongings and other valuable gear, and carried them back to the life-boat, which reached her station again at 4.45 that afternoon.

—Rewards, £15 16s.

HIT A ROCK St. Helier, Jersey.—At 1.25 On the afternoon of the 31st of May, 1951, the harbour master reported that the motor vessel Le Cap, of Carteret, which had left St. Helier for Gorey with a crew of three, had wirelessed a distress message for immediate help. At 1.45 the life- boat Elizabeth Rippon left her moorings in a smooth sea with a fresh north- easterly breeze blowing, came up with the Le Cap near Frouqule A ubert Rocks.

She had hit a rock and was sinking.

The life-boat rescued two of the men, leaving the skipper in her, and then tried to take her in tow; but she was now low in the water. She therefore took off the skipper, abandoned the Le Cap and made for her station.

Here the life-boatmen gave the rescued men rum and landed them at St.

Helier, where an ambulance was wait- ing, at 4.0. The motor vessel Channel Coast, which had also answered the Le Cap's distress call, afterwards took the Le Cap in tow, but she capsized and sank. The three men thanked the life-boatmen.—Rewards, £8 0*. 6d.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in dis- tress, were not needed or could do nothing: Wey mouth, Dorset. — May 1 st. — Re- wards, £5 5*.

Tenby, Pembrokeshire. — May 2nd.— Rewards, £15 9s.

Lowestoft, Suffolk. — May 5th. — Re- wards, £7 2s. 6d.

The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.—-May 5th.—Rewards, £15 6*.

Selsey, Sussex.—May 8th.—Rewards, £21 7s.

Plymouth, Devon.—May 10th.—Re- wards, £4 10s.

Humber, Yorkshire. — May 13th. — Paid permanent crew.

Walmer, Kent—May 15th.—Rewards, £18 10s. 6d.

Penlee, Cornwall.—May 15th.—Re- wards, £6 19s.

Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—May 21st.

—Rewards, £7 16s.

Whitby, Yorkshire.—May 23rd.—Re- wards, £22 10*.

Wick, Caithness-shire,—May 25th.— Rewards, £9 2s. 6d.

Hoylake, Cheshire.—May 27th.—Re- wards, £12 Is.

Ramsgate, Kent. — May 27th. — Re- wards, £10 3s. 6d.

Anstruther, Fifeshire.—May 28th—.

Rewards, £12 15s. 6d.

Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—May 30th.—• Rewards, £24 3s..