Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 5.27 in the evening of the 20th of October, 1951, the Mid-Barrow Lightvessel reported that the cabin cruiser Wid- geon, of Ramsgate, which had broken her rudder, was tied up astern of the lightvessel and in need of help. At 5.50 the life-boat Edward Z. Dresden with the second coxswain in charge was launched. The sea was rough, with a south-westerly breeze blowing.

The life-boat found two men aboard the Widgeon. They were bound from West Mersea to Ramsgate and asked the life-boat to give them a tow. This she did, making for Bright lingsea, where she arrived at half past two in the morning. At daylight she left for her station arriving at 7.30—Rewards, £31 4s. 6d..