SHORTLY after midnight on the 2nd of September, 1951, the coastguard at Margate called up the life-boat station to say that he could see distress signals being flashed by a torch from a small yacht just outside the harbour.

Quarter of an hour later the life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service No. XI was launched. The night was very dark; a strong north-west wind was blowing against the flood tide; there was a backwash from the harbour wall; and wind, tide and backwash made a very rough, confused sea.

About a hundred yards north of the harbour-wall the life-boat found the Girlanda, of Chichester. She had two anchors down, and was rolling and pitching violently. Two men were on board, but they seemed unable to move out of the cockpit, either to jump into the life-boat or to seize a line from her. The coxswain brought the life-boat alongside and told one of his crew, Alfred Wilson, to go aboard the yacht. It was not easy, but he did it. The life-boat then anchored to windward and dropped down again on her cable to the yacht.

A Very Perilous Task Wilson was lying on the small fore- castle in the darkness, with the seas continually breaking over him. He had one hand to hold on with, as the yacht rolled and pitched, and the other for his work. After several attempts the life-boat threw a line to him. He hauled it on board and then a 4|-inch cable attached to it. This he made fast round the mast and forestay.

Then he attacked the much more difficult task of freeing the yacht from her two anchors. The chain and rope of their cables were in a tangle round the yacht's bollards. Still lying on the forecastle, Wilson worked at the tangle with one hand, while he held on with the other. Twice he was almost rolled overboard, but hauled himself back again. At last the tangle was unravelled; he cast off the cables; and the life-boat towed the yacht into the harbour. It was then quarter past two.

Out Again at Once Meanwhile the coastguard had seen signals flashing near the Nayland Rocks about quarter of a mile west of the harbour, and at 2.25 the life-boat put out again. She found the sailing yacht Sir Gobbo, of Rochester, at anchor. There were two men on board, and as the life-boat came within hailing distance, they asked to be taken off. The life-boat went between the yacht and the rocks and the men jumped on board. They were given rum, and wrapped in blankets, and when the life-boat arrived in harbour again at 3.30 were taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Next morning, when the weather had cleared and the sea was calm, the life-boat took them back to their yacht, and they made for Ramsgate.

To ALFRED R. WILSON, in recogni- tion of his great skill and bravery, the Institution awarded its bronze medal, a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, and £3 in addition to the award of 15s.

on the ordinary scale.

He was also awarded the "Miss Smith's reward for courage, in memory of John, Seventh Earl of Hardwicke" for the bravest act of life-saving by a life-boatman in 1950.

To the coxswain and other members of the crew 15,?. each; scale rewards to crew and launchers, £8 1*.; additional reward, £3; total rewards, £11 Is.

These were the rewards for the service to the Girlanda. For the service to the Sir Gobbo the rewards were £12 7s..