DURING December, 1951, life-boats went out on service 35 times and rescued 15 lives.

ENGINE BROKEN DOWN Holyhead, Anglesey.—At 3.7 in the morning of the 5th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a woman had reported that her husband and two others had put out in the fishing boat Forward, of Beaumaris, at one o'clock the previous afternoon- and had not returned. The coast- guard had looked for them with the help of a searchlight, but had seen nothing, and at 4.45 the life-boat St. Cybi, Civil Service No. 9 was launched. A moderate west-south- west gale was blowing, with a rough sea running. The life-boat found the fishing boat with her engine broken down, one mile east of the Mail Pier Lighthouse. She had anchored, but the anchor was dragging. The life- boat towed her in and reached her station at 6.45.—Rewards, £11 2s.

SCARBOROUGH BOWMAN KILLED ON SERVICE Scarborough, Flamborough, and Brid- lington, Yorkshire.—On the 9th of December, 1951, the Scarborough life- boat rescued the crew of ten of the Dutch motor vessel Westkust, and the Scarborough bowman lost his life.— Rewards, to FRANK DALTON, the bow- man, posthumously, and to COXSWAIN JOHN N. SHEADER and THOMAS J.

MAINPRIZE, the assistant motor mech- anic, bronze medals for gallantry; to coxswain and crew, £88 Os. 6d.

The Flamborough and Bridlington life-boats also went out.—Rewards, Flamborough, £57 5s.; Bridlington, £30 5s. A full account of this service appeared in the last number of The Life-boat.

FISHING NET FOULED PROPELLER Aldeburgh, Suffolk At 12.22 in the afternoon of the 9th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a local fishing boat was flying a distress signal one and a half miles north-east of Aldeburgh, and at 12.35 the No. 2 life-boat Lucy Lavers was launched.

The sea was slight, but a strong westerly breeze was blowing. The life-boat found the Amy-Jim with a crew of three. Her net had fouled her propeller. The life-boat towed her to the shore, escorted in other fishing boats, and then returned to her station, arriving at 1.30.—Rewards £29 13s. 6d.

EMPTY SMACK TOWED IN Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 12.31 in the afternoon of the 9th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that the West Mersea police had reported a fishing boat drifting towards Colne, and at 12.48 the life-boat Edward Z.

Dresden was launched. The sea was rough, with a strong west-south-west breeze blowing. The life-boat found the smack Iris, of Colchester, between the Bar and Fairway Buoys, but no one was on board. The life-boat towed her to Brightlingsea, arriving at 4.30, but the weather was too bad for her to be rehoused so she remained at Brightlingsea for the night and was taken back to her station next morn- ing.—Property Salvage Case.

FIVE FISHING BOATS ESCORTED IN Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 9.15 in the morning of the 10th of December, 1951, the coastguard reported that the local fishing vessel Pilot Me II was approaching the harbour. The sea was rough and a strong northerly wind was blowing. At 9.25 the No.

1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched, but the Pilot Me II did not attempt to cross the harbour bar and put to sea again. She approached again at 12.20 that afternoon, and the life-boat escorted her in. She then put out again, met the Success and Progress, escorted them in, and then saw the Provider A off the Whitby Rock Buoy. She escorted her in and, putting out for the fifth time, escorted in the Lead, Us. She reached her station again at 3.40. — Rewards, £18 16s. 6d.

FISHING BOAT ON FIRE Wick, Caithness-shire.—At 11.32 in the morning of the 13th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a motor fishing boat had been reported on fire off Skirza Head, and at 11.45 the life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched. The sea was moderate, with a light south-westerly breeze blowing. The life-boat found that the boat was the Crest, of Wick, but that the fishing boat Echo had taken off her crew of two. The life-boat took them on board, and arrived back at her station at 3.30 that afternoon.— Rewards, £11 8s.

TWO BOYS ADRIFT Margate, Kent.—At 2.16 in the afternoon of the 13th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a motor boat, with two boys on board, appeared to have broken down and to be drifting seawards. She was one and a half miles north-north-east of the pier. Just after 2.30 the life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service No. XI was launched in a moderate sea with a moderate southerly breeze blowing.

She found the local motor boat Crusader a quarter of a mile west of East Margate Buoy, towed her to the harbour, and reached her station again at 3.55.—Rewards, £9 16s.

FRENCH STEAMER AGROUND Ramsgate, Kent. — At 4.28 in the afternoon of the 14th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that the North Goodwin Lightvessel had wirelessed that a vessel appeared to be aground three miles south by west of the lightvessel, and at 4.38 the life-boat Prudential left her moorings, in a moderate sea with a light west-south- west breeze blowing. She found the S.S. President Emile Marcesche, of Lorient, with a crew of twenty-seven, on the north side of Kellet Gut. She had laid out a kedge anchor. Two life-boatmen boarded her. The life- boat then took soundings, and advised the master at what time to have his engines ready to start. When the time came he started them and the steamer refloated. The life-boat guided her to navigable water, re- embarked the life-boatmen, and re- turned to her station, arriving at 12.33 the next morning.—Property Salvage Case; Rewards, 16s.

A TWELVE-MILE TOW Galway Bay.—At 6.0 on the night of the 14th of December, 1951, the Coast Live-saving Service telegraphed that the trawler St. Kieran, of Kil- ronan, with a crew of four, had broken down and was drifting, two and a half miles east of Sand Head, and at 6.20 the life-boat K.E.C.F. left her moor- ings, in a slight swell with a moderate south-westerly breeze blowing. She found the trawler twelve miles east of Kilronan, towed her to Kilronan, and reached her station again at 10.15.—Rewards, £10 19s.

SWEDISH STEAMER ON THE GOODWINS Walmer, Kent. — At 6.23 on the night of the 21st of December, 1951, a vessel was reported to be on the Goodwin Sands in Trinity Bay, and at 6.30 the life-boat Charles Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2, was launched.

The weather was calm. She found the S.S. Noreg, of Gothenburg, with a crew of twenty-two, bound in ballast for Bilbao, hard aground. When still a hundred yards from her she grounded herself, but when the tide rose she went alongside and at the master's request laid out a kedge anchor. A tug helped to refloat her, and towed her to Goodwin Fork, but in casting off the towing wire the Noreg's chief officer was seriously injured. The life-boat immediately fetched a doctor put him aboard the steamer, and then brought him and the injured man ashore where an ambulance was wait- ing. It was then 7.30 the next morning.—Property Salvage Case.

TRAWLER REFLOATED Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.—At 3.0 hi the morning of the 23rd of December 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a report had been received from a motor vessel that a trawler was ashore on Goat Island in Stornoway Harbour.

The trawler later blew her siren, and at four o'clock the life-boat William and Harriot left her moorings, in a slight sea, with a moderate south- westerly breeze blowing, and found the trawler Lochpark, of Grimsby, with a crew of thirteen. The skipper asked the life-boat to stand by. This she did, the coxswain lashing her to the trawler, and just before high water, with the life-boat's help, the trawler was refloated. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.45 that afternoon.— Property Salvage Case.

ANOTHER FISHING BOAT AGROUND Buckle, Banffshlre.—At 3.10 in the afternoon of the 27th of December, 1951, the coastguard telephoned that a fishing boat was ashore half a mile north-west of the Covesea Lighthouse, and at 3.40 the life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow was launched with the har- bour master in charge. The sea was choppy, with a light south-easterly breeze blowing. The life-boat found the fishing boat Cloud, of Hopeman, with a crew of two. She was not in immediate danger, but the life-boat stood by her until she refloated and was taken in tow by another fishing vessel. She then returned to her station arriving at 9.30 that night.— Rewards, £16 15s.

TRAWLER LEAKING Eyemouth, Berwickshire. — At 4.15 in the afternoon of the 27th of Decem- ber, 1951, the fishing vessel Dougals, which was in the harbour, reported by wireless that she had picked up a message from the steam trawler Olden Times, of North Shields, that she had sprung a leak twelve miles east by north of Eyemouth. The life-boat Clara and Emily Baruiell was launched on service for the first time at 4.28.

A southerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The life-boat found the trawler with her pumps just about keeping pace with the leak, and escorted her to Redburgh Bay, reach- ing her station again at 9.25 that night.—Rewards, £17 10s. 6d.

LIFE-BOAT CARRIES THE CHRIST- MAS MAIL Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—At 11.0 in the morning of the 28th of December, 1951, the Post Office asked if the life- boat would take the Christmas mail to the islands of Eigg, Rhum and Canna as the regular steamer had not made its weekly call owing to the bad weather.

At 11.30 the life-boat Sir Arthur Rose left her moorings, in a rough sea with a strong north-westerly wind blowing.

She took not only the mail but stores to the islands and reached her station again at 9.0 that night.—Rewards, £19 5s.

BELGIAN VESSEL DRIFTING IN A GALE Weymouth, Dorset.—At 5.25 in the evening of the 28th of December, 1951, the master of the motor vessel Fran- cine, of Antwerp, who had come ashore to get stores, reported that the Francine was drifting ashore a hundred yards off Weymouth promenade, and at 5.40 the life-boat William and Clara Ryland, with Mr. Kenneth H. Mooring Aldridge, the honorary secretary, on board, left her moorings, taking the master of the Francine with her. A whole southerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat found the Francine off Preston Beach. She got under way without help, and the life-boat put her master on board.

She then escorted her to Portland Harbour, arriving back at her station at 7.15 that night.—Rewards, £7 8s.

MOTOR BARGE BROKEN DOWN IN A ROUGH SEA Caister, Norfolk.—At 10.0 on the night of the 28th of December, 1951, the life-boat motor mechanic heard a vessel blowing V-signals on her siren, meaning "I require assistance", and five minutes later the Great Yarmouth coastguard reported a red flare off Caister Point. At 10.40 the life-boat Jose Neville was launched with the second coxswain in charge, in a rough sea with a strong south-easterly breeze blowing, and found the motor barge Olive May, of London, about two miles to the south-east. She was anchored, with her engine broken down, but the anchor was dragging and the skipper asked for a tug. The life-boat wire- lessed for one, and put two life-boat- men on board the barge. She then stood by while they helped the barge's crew to start their winch engine, and the tug took her in tow. The life- boat escorted her to Great Yarmouth Harbour, and then returned to her station arriving at 8.5 the next morn- ing.—Property Salvage Case.

OVER THE SANDS OF THE WYRE Fleetwood, Lancashire.—At 9.0 in the morning of the 30th of December, 1951, the Formby coastguard tele- phoned that he was keeping under observation a coaster on the east side of the River Wyre one and a half miles from the coastguard station. When he saw that she was driving over the Pilling Sands the life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched. It was then 10.15. A fresh westerly gale was blowing with a very rough sea.

The life-boat found the s.s. Ford Fisher, of Barrow, with a crew of eight near No. 6 Buoy. The life-boat stood by her while she was driven right over the sands, the coxswain advising her how to clear them. When she reached deeper water the life-boat put a pilot on board, and he took her to dock, accompanied by the life-boat, which then returned to her station at 3.0 that afternoon. The owners made a gift to the funds of the Institution.— Rewards, £21 6s.

WIRELESS STATION DAMAGED Valentla, Co. Kerry. — During bad weather in December, 1951, the Valentia Radio Station was damaged and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs decided to establish an emergency station at Cork. On the 30th it asked the life-boat station if it would bring off three wireless operators from the Valentia Station as the weather was too bad for ferry boats to put out, and at 4.45 in the afternoon the life-boat A.E.D. left her moorings.

She brought the operators and their equipment to the mainland and reached her station again at 6.0 that night.— Rewards, £6 8s.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed or could do nothing: Portrush, Co. Antrim. — December 4th.—Rewards, £8 4s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—December 7th.

Rewards, £10 195.

Walmer, Kent. — December 7th. — Rewards, £16 65. 6d.

Galway Bay, Co. Galway.—December 8th.—Rewards, £8 7s. 6d.

Helvick Head, Co. Waterford.—De- cember 9th.—Rewards, £7 11s.

Eastbourne, Sussex.—December 10th.

—Rewards, £23 19s.

Newhaven, Sussex.—December llth.

—Rewards, £11 9s. 6d.

Hutnber, Yorkshire.—December 12th.

—Paid Permanent Crew.

Walmer, Kent.—December 15th.— Rewards, £25 4s.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—December 18th.

—Rewards, £29 12s. 6d.

Whltby, Yorkshire.—December 21st.

—Rewards, £14 13s. 6d.

TWO LIVES LOST Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.—At 10.45 on the night of the 26th of December, 1951, the Tenby coastguard telephoned the Tenby life-boat station that the Helwick Lightvessel had reported that an ex-R.A.F. boat, which was towing a motor fishing vessel, appeared to be drifting westwards half a mile south- west of the lightvessel, but that she had made no distress signals. The life-boatmen assembled. At 2.30 in the morning of the 27th the coast- guard reported that a red flare had been seen about three miles north by east of the Rhossili coastguard station, and at 2.45 the Tenby life-boat John R. Webb, was launched, with the hon- orary secretary, Mr. D. B. Bancroft, on board. A strong south - south - west gale was blowing, with a very rough sea and heavy squalls ot rain and hail.

The life-boat searched Rhossili Bay and Burry Holms, but found nothing and her compass was damaged by the seas.

The life-boat then decided to re- turn to her station, and informed the Tenby coastguard by radio telephone.

At 7.10 he informed the coastguard at The Mumbles who passed on the message to the life-boat station at The Mumbles, and at 7.38 the life- boat William Gammon—Manchester and District XXX was launched to the help of the Tenby life-boat, but the help was not needed. The Tenby boat reached her station at 8.30 that morning, after a very rough trip, and The Mumbles life-boat reached hers an hour later, but the seas were too heavy for her to be rehoused, so she made for Swansea and returned to her station next morning.

The Tenby life-boat replaced her compass, refuelled and put out again at 9.45, but owing to the very heavy seas she gave up the search and returned to Tenby again at eleven o'clock. Later that day the wreckage of the ex-R.A.F. boat and the motor fishing vessel were found inside the bar of Llanelly Harbour. There had been two men on board. They were both drowned.—Rewards, Tenby £48 12*.; The Mumbles, £33 15*. Qd.

Plymouth, Devon.—December 28th.

—Rewards, £13 10*.

Droughty Ferry, Angus.—December 30th.—Rewards, £12 12s. 6d.

JANUARY DURING January, 1952, life-boats went out on service 46 times and rescued 61 lives.

FOOD TO AN ISLAND Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 11.30 in the morning of the 4th of January, 1952, the Kerry County Council asked if the life-boat would take food and medical supplies to the Great Blasket Island as no other boat had been able to call there for a month, and at 12.15 that afternoon the life-boat A.E.D. left her moorings. She had on board the honorary secretary, Mr. K. O'Driscoll, and his wife, Dr. O'Driscoll, besides the stores. A north-westerly gale was blowing with a very rough sea running.

The life-boat landed the stores and reached her station again at 7.30 that night. No expense to the Institution.

—Rewards, £21 6*.

TAKING DOCTORS TO AN OPERATION Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—At 9.22 in the morning of the 6th of January, 1952, the Scilly Islands medical officer telephoned that a patient at St. Mary's needed an immediate operation and, owing to fog, the surgeon and his staff could not fly from the mainland. He asked for the life-boat, and at 11.20 the Susan Ashley was launched with three doctors and a sister from the West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, on board. She took them to St. Mary's, in a slight swell and a light westerly breeze, with patches of fog, and arrived back at her station at 8.30 that night. The patient's life was saved and the medical officer thanked the life-boatmen.—Rewards, £28 16*.

LIFE-BO AT, FRIGATE AND NAVAL TUG TO THE RESCUE Portrush, Co. Antrim.—At 5.42 in the morning of the 8th of January, 1952, the coastguard telephoned that the fishing boat Maeve, of Killybegs, had wirelessed that she was drifting ashore at Inistrahull Island and needed help, and at 5.50 the life-boat Lady Scott, Civil Service No. 4, was launched.

The sea was very choppy, with a very strong westerly breeze blowing. The life-boat found the Maeve, with a crew of four, six miles east of the island.

Her engine had broken down. The life-boat took her in tow, but a frigate arrived and took over the tow. The frigate's tow line parted several times and a naval tug which had put out from Derry, then towed the Maeve to Derry.

The life-boat reached her station again at 4.20 that afternoon.—Rewards, £26 2*. 6d.

YACHT AND LAUNCH IN DISTRESS Angle, Pembrokeshire.—At 7.10 in the morning of the 9th of .January, 1952, the Tenby coastguard telephoned that a vessel was in distress fifteen miles south-south-west of Smalls, but that a steamer was standing by her.

Then the steamer wirelessed that she could not lower her boats, as the sea was very rough, with a moderate west-north-west gale blowing, and the life-boat Elizabeth Elson was launched at 7.45. She found the motor launch Solent Swan twenty-five miles south- west of St. Ann's Head. She had been towing the yacht Oriana, from Fal- mouth to Cork, but in the gale had been compelled to cut her adrift after taking off her crew of two. The life- boat escorted the launch to Milford Haven and then returned to her station, arriving at 5.30 that evening.

The yacht sank.—Rewards, £32 16*.

DRIFTING IN THE ATLANTIC The Lizard, Cadgwith, and Falmouth, Cornwall.—The S.S. Flying Enterprise, of New York, had been drifting help- lessly in the Atlantic Ocean for over a week, with only her captain on board.

She was listing very heavily. On the 5th of January, 1952, the tug Turmoil put her mate on board the steamer, to help the captain and then took the steamer in tow, making for Falmouth in very bad weather. The tow rope parted on the 9th, about forty miles south-south-east of The Lizard, and at 1.15 in the morning of the 10th the owners of the tug asked for a lifeboat.

At 2.40 the Lizard life-boat Duke of York, was launched, with Mr. F. G.

Chapman, the honorary secretary, on board. A strong west-north-west gale was then blowing, with a rough sea.

The life-boat reached the Flying Enterprise at eight in the morning and found her lying on her side, but the captain and the mate of the tug would not leave her. An American destroyer, the tug Turmoil and other tugs were standing by her and the life-boat circled her closely for four hours. At noon, as her fuel was getting low, and as the Flying Enterprise did not appear to be in imminent danger of sinking, she made for her station.

The Lizard station informed the Cadgwith station, and at 12.20 the Cadgwith life-boat Guide of Dunkirk was launched to take over the duty of the Lizard life-boat, but before she arrived on the scene, she learnt that the Flying Enterprise had sunk at four in the afternoon and that her captain, and the mate of the Turmoil, had been rescued by the Turmoil.

Meanwhile the Falmouth life-boat Crawford and Constance Conybeare had been launched at three in the afternoon with the intention of relieving the" Lizard life-boat, but shortly after four o'clock she was recalled when the news reached her station that the Flying Enterprise had sunk.

The Lizard life-boat, which had started to return to her station at noon, altered course for Falmouth, on account of the bad weather, and arrived there at 7.50 that night, the 10th.

She returned to her station the next morning. The Cadgwith life-boat arrived back at her station at 9.15 on the night of the 10th, and the Falmouth life-boat arrived at her station at 4.30 in the afternoon.— Rewards, The Lizard, £76 5*. 6d.; Cadgwith, £34 1*.; Falmouth, £7.

ALL NIGHT FIXING A TOW Dover, Kent.—At 10.10 on the night of the 13th of January, 1952, the Eastern Harbour Arm Signal Station reported that the tanker Sovac Radiant, of Panama, had gone aground in Fan Bay, and at 10.30 the life-boat Southern Africa left her moorings. A strong south-south-west gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat found the tanker near South Foreland, stood by her, and early next morning passed a line to her from a tug.

Heavy seas were breaking over the tanker and the line parted. Then the life-boat passed a line across from another tug, but this also carried away.

She passed a third line, and this held.

Other tugs arrived. The life-boat took soundings, guided the tugs close to the tanker, passed more tow lines, which were made fast, and stood by while the tugs started to pull, but a motor pilot boat June Rose fouled her propeller and when day broke it was seen that she was lying on top of some of the towing lines. The life-boat towed her clear, berthed her in the Camber at Dover at 9.5, and returned to the tanker. She stood by until she refloated at noon and then returned to her station, arriving at 1.30 in the afternoon. — Service to the Sovac Radiant, Property Salvage Case; re- wards for the service to the June Rose, £6.

MEDAL SERVICE AT WALMER On the 14th of January, 1952, the Walmer life-boat rescued the crew of 38 of the French steamer Agen, of La Rochelle. For a full account of this service, and the rewards, see page 317.

GREEK STEAMER AGROUND Redcar, Yorkshire.—At 3.22 in the afternoon of the 14th of January, 1952, the life-boat coxswain reported that a vessel was aground on the West Scar, and at 3.45 the life-boat City of Leeds was launched in a moderate westerly breeze, with a moderate sea running.

She found the S.S. Taxiarchis, of Syra, Greece, with a crew of thirty-five.

The coxswain boarded her and the life-boat then stood by while tugs tried unsuccessfully to refloat her in the ebbing tide. As there was no immediate danger to life the life-boat then returned to her station arriving at 6.55 that night. The Teesmouth life-boat crew assembled, but were not needed.—-Rewards, £15 8s.

SAND BOATS IN DISTRESS IN A GALE Broughty Ferry, Angus.—At 3.5 in the morning of the 15th of January, 1952, a resident of Newport telephoned that a sand boat had been driven ashore off Newport, and at 3.30 the life- boat Mono, was launched. A westerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat found the sand boat David P., of Leith, with a crew of four, between Newport and Tayport High Light, anchored very close in- shore. She was waterlogged and the seas were breaking right over her.

Her crew beached her and the life-boat rescued them. She then received a wireless message that another boat had rescued two men from the sand boat Harfat, but that a third man was missing. She landed the crew of the David P. at Dundee and then searched for the missing man until eight o'clock the next morning. She found nothing and returned to Dundee at 8.15. There she remained for some hours owing to the bad weather, and arrived back at her station at 2.45 that afternoon.

The owner of the David P. made a gift to the Institution.—Rewards, £12 13*. 6d.

DUTCH VESSEL WITH HEAVY LIST Lowestoft, Suffolk.—At 3.57 in the afternoon of the 17th of January, 1952, the coastguard telephoned that a Dutch motor vessel was in distress twelve miles east-south-east of Lowes- toft. • She was listing heavily. At 4.15 the life-boat Michael Stephens left her moorings. A north-westerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea and squalls of sleet. The life-boat found that the motor vessel was the Seaham, of Rotterdam, of 399 tons, laden with coal. Her cargo had shifted, and four of her crew of eight had abandoned her, but their boat had been swamped.

The Trinity House vessel Warden was standing by, and had rescued one of the four, but the other three had been swept away. The Warden wirelessed the life-boat that the Seaham's three engineers wanted to abandon ship.

The life-boat attempted to get along- side, but the Seaham's leeside was awash, her davits were rolling into the sea, it was difficult and dangerous to approach her. It was not until the fourth attempt, and with her wireless mast carried away, that the life-boat succeeded, and rescued the three engineers. The master refused to leave his ship, and the life-boat went in search of the three missing men, while the Warden continued to stand by the Seaham. She searched for two hours, but could not find them. The master now signalled that he wished to abandon ship, so the life-boat went alongside, took him off, and made for her station, where she arrived at 12.15 the next morning. The owners of the Seaham made gifts to the life-boatmen and to the Institution.—Rewards, £16 6*.

AGROUND ON THE TRAINING WALL Teesmouth, Yorkshire.—At 10.25 on the night of the 17th of January, 1952, the South Gare Lighthouse keeper telephoned that a ship had gone aground on the training wall in the mouth of the River Tees, and at eleven o'clock the life-boat John and Lucy Cordingley was launched. A strong north-westerly gale was blow- ing, with a rough sea. The life-boat found the motor vessel Futurity, of London, with a crew of six. She stood by her until she refloated, but the Futurity was then blown across the wall and over the Brand Sands.

After a time her anchors held her, and when the tide rose sufficiently she was able to make for the main channel and went on her way to Middlesbrough.

The life-boat then went to Middles- brough, as the weather was too bad for her to be hauled up her slipway at her station, and was taken back to Tees- mouth on the 19th.—Rewards, £27 6s. Qd.

GERMAN CADET TRAINING SHIP IN DISTRESS Margate, Kent, Walton and Frinton, Essex, and Ramsgate, Kent.—At 1.33 in the morning of the 18th of January, 1952, the Margate coastguard telephon- ed the Margate life-boat station that the North Foreland Radio Station had reported a message from the four- masted barque Pamir, of Germany, a cadet training ship. She was at anchor twenty-nine miles east-north- east of North Foreland and needed a tug. A fresh north-westerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea and heavy snow squalls. At 2.12 the life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service No. XI was launched. The Pamir, which was making heavy weather, wirelessed to the life-boat asking her to take off forty-nine boys. The life- boat then wirelessed the Ramsgate coastguard asking that the Walton and Frinton life-boat should come out and stand by the vessel while she took the boys on board. The Walton-on- the-Naze coastguard telephoned this message to the life-boat station at 6.30, and at 7.10 the life-boat E.M.E.D., left her moorings.

Meanwhile the Margate life-boat had asked the Pamir, by wireless, to burn flares, but in the heavy snow squalls the life-boat missed her. It was not until nine o'clock that she found her, with the help of a trawler's direction finder, but the master of the Pamir hailed the life-boat that he had decided to keep the boys on board.

The Walton and Frinton life-boat arrived at 11.40 and the two life-boats stood by. Then, about 3.30 in the afternoon a tug arrived, but the weather was so heavy that it was not possible to pass across a tow-rope.

Shortly after 3.30, as the weather was moderating, it was agreed that the Walton and Frinton life-boat should return to her station while the Margate life-boat continued to stand by.

At 6.15 she saw the Pamir move quickly in a southerly direction and thought that her cable had parted.

The life-boat wirelessed this news to Ramsgate and at 7.30 the Ramsgate life-boat Prudential left her moorings.

Meanwhile the Margate life-boat and the tug chased the barque and, using her searchlight, the life-boat saw that the ship had set storm canvas and was resuming her voyage. This news was wirelessed ashore and the Rams- gate life-boat was recalled, arriving back at her station at 7.26. The Walton and Frinton life-boat arrived at her station at ten o'clock that night and the Margate life-boat made for Ramsgate, arriving at 12.10 on the morning of the 19th. She returned to her station that afternoon. The master of the Pamir later wirelessed his thanks to the Margate life-boatmen.

—Rewards, Margate, £68 16s. 2d.; Walton and Frinton, £46; Ramsgate, £13 3,9.

EIGHT FISHING BOATS ESCORTED INTO HARBOUR Scarborough, Yorkshire. — On the afternoon of the 20th of January, 1952, a strong and increasing north-easterly wind was blowing, with a heavy sea, and at 2.20 the life-boat E.C.J.R.

was launched to escort in the return- ing fishing boats. She met the Con- stance, Pilot Me II, Betty, Premier, Hilda II, Rachel, Betty Sheader and Courage, gave life-belts to two of them, escorted them all to the harbour, and returned to her station at 4.15.— Rewards, £13 Is.

RESCUE BOAT HERSELF IN DISTRESS Humber, Yorkshire.—At 9.45 on the night of the 21st of January, 1952, the Spurn Point coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Don, of Goole, which was at anchor half a mile west of the Middle Light Buoy, had reported that her second officer had fallen overboard at 9.15, that she had lowered a boat with three men to search for him, and that the strong tide had swept the boat away.

At 10.5 the life-boat Edward Z. Dresden, on temporary duty at the station, was launched. She did not find the second officer, but another steamer at anchor signalled that the boat had made fast to her. The life-boat took the three men on board, towed their boat back to the Don, and returned to her station at one o'clock next morning. Themaster of the Don expressed his thanks.—Paid Permanent Crew.

A FISHING BOAT ESCORTED IN Whltby, Yorkshire.-—At noon on the 26th of January, 1952, the second coxswain reported that the local motor fishing vessel Pilot Me II had wire- lessed that she was making for the harbour. A strong northerly breeze was blowing, with a heavy sea. At 12.15 the No. 1 life-boat "Mary Ann Hepworth was launched, found the fishing vessel off Whitby Rock Buoy, escorted her to the harbour, and reached her station again at 1.5.— Rewards, £10 2s. 6d.

MEDAL SERVICE BY TORBAY On the 30th of January, 1952, the Torbay life-boat rescued the crew of eleven of the Royal Engineers steam tug Trieste. For full account of this service and the rewards given, see page 319.

DOCTOR TO A SICK MAN Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—At 1.30 in the afternoon of the 31st of January, 1952, the police reported that the S.S. Capitol, of London, wanted to land a sick man and would be off the harbour about four o'clock. She arrived at 4.30 and at 5.45 the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched in the charge of the second coxswain, with the police doctor on board, in a moderate sea with a west-south-west breeze. The doctor decided not to land the man, as the vessel was making for London.

The life-boat brought the doctor ashore again, and returned to her station at seven o'clock that night.—• Rewards, £10 16s.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed, or could do nothing: Whitby, Yorkshire. — January 4th.

Rewards, £11 05. 6d.

Valentia, Co. Kerry.—January 6th.

—Rewards, £12 14s. 6d.

Aberdeen.—January 7th.—Rewards £10 10s.

Llandudno, Caernarvonshire. — Jan- uary 8th.—Rewards, £14 12s.

343 January Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

9th.—Rewards, £13 11s.

ADRIFT IN A GALE New Quay, and Aberystwyth, Cardigan- shire.—At 9.23 in the morning of the 9th of January, 1952, the Fishguard coastguard telephoned the New Quay life-boat station that the tanker Audacity, of London, was in difficulties with a broken propeller sixteen and a half miles north-east by north of Bardsey Light and was drifting to the south-east, that the Trinity House vessel Argus was standing by her and that a tug had put out to take her in tow. All day the New Quay station kept in touch with the coastguard.

Meanwhile the Strumble Head coast- guard had informed the Aberystwyth life-boat station at 10.40, and at 11.30 the life-boatmen assembled. They stood by on shore all day.

At 7.5 that night the New Quay coastguard telephoned the New Quay life-boat station that the Audacity had drifted to a position seventeen miles north-west of New Quay Head. At 7.35 he reported that she was in dis- tress, and at 7.50 the life-boat St.

Albans was launched. A fresh north- westerly gale was blowing with a rough sea. The life-boat found that the motor vessel Alacrity had taken the Audacity in tow, so she returned to her station, arriving at 4.30 in the morning of the 10th.

The Aberystwyth life-boatmen had remained on duty until 9.30 at night, but had not launched as the New Quay life-boat had put out. At 10.30 in the morning of the 10th the Aberyst- wyth life-boat station learned from the Tenby coastguard that the Alacrity had taken the Audacity in tow, but that the tow-rope had parted. At 11.25 the news came that the tug had secured a wire cable, and for the fourth time had the Audacity in tow.

They were making steady progress forty-one miles north-east of Strumble Head, which was about four miles south-east of Aberystwyth Buoy, but should the tow part again they would be in a serious position, so at 11.50 the life-boat Aguila Wren was launch- ed. She wirelessed the vessels, but they replied that her services were not needed and she returned to her station arriving at 2.10 that afternoon.— Rewards, New Quay, £27 0*. 6d.; Aberystwyth, £28 18,9. 6d.

Falmouth, Cornwall.—January 10th.

—Rewards, £7.

Port Erin, Isle of Man. — January 13th.—Rewards, £27 19s.

Penlee, Cornwall.—January 14th.— Rewards, £10 12s.

Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.—Janu- ary, 17th.—Rewards, £14 5s.

Ramsgate, Kent.—January 17th.— Rewards, £8 12s. 6d.

Sennen, Cove Cornwall. — January 17th.—Rewards, £30 2s.

Donaghadee, Co. Down. — January 18th.—Rewards, £12 5s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—January 22nd.

—Rewards, £7.

Islay, Inner Hebrides.—January 24th.

—Rewards, £9 18s.

Cromer, Norfolk.—January 28th.— No expense to the Institution.

Walton and Frinton, Essex.—January 28th.—Rewards, £16 5s.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. — January 29th. — Rewards, £11.

Caister, Norfolk.—January 29th.— Rewards, £12 13s.

Howth, Co. Dublin.—January 30th.

—Rewards, £11 8s.

TWO LIFE-BOATMEN LOST WHILE FISHING Wells, Norfolk.—At 6.0 on the night of the 30th of January, 1952, the life- boat coxswain received a message that two life-boatmen had fallen overboard from their fishing boat Tony while working on their nets, and at 6.44 the life-boat Cecil Paine was launched.

The sea was smooth with a light south- westerly breeze blowing. The life- boat searched widely, and found the Tony's gear, but there was no trace of the men. They were both drowned.

The life-boat returned to her station at 9.15.—Rewards, £20 4s.

Workington, Cumberland.—January 31st.—Rewards, £9 15s. 6d.

Moelfre, Anglesey. — January 31st.

—Rewards, £24 6s.

FEBRUARY DURING February, 1952, life-boats went out on service 19 times but rescued no lives.

FISHING BOAT ESCORTED IN Whitby, Yorkshire. — During the morning of the 4th of February, 1952, a strong north-easterly gale was blow- ing and the sea was heavy. The Whitby fishing vessel Lead Us was at sea, and at noon she wirelessed asking if it were possible to make Whitby.

She was told that the life-boat would meet her off Whitby Rock Buoy. At 1.5 that afternoon the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched, escorted in the Lead Us, and reached her station again at 2.55.—Rewards, £9 12s.

A LONDON BARGE TOWED IN Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 2.26 in the afternoon of the 4th of February, 1952, the life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was launched on exercise in a rough sea with a moderate north-north-west breeze blowing. At three o'clock she was four miles south-by-west of Clac- ton and there found the motor barge Delce, of London, with a crew of three.

She was drifting, with her engine broken down. At the request of her skipper the life-boat stood by. The Delce then anchored, but the anchor did not hold her, and the skipper asked the life-boat to take her in tow. This she did, brought the Delce to Bright- lingsea, and then brought her engineer to Clacton. She reached her station again at 7.15 that night.—Property Salvage Case.

ANOTHER INJURED MAN LANDED Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—At 1.36 in the afternoon of the 5th of February, 1952, the Gorles- ton coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Poole Channel, of London, had wirelessed that she was making for Great Yarmouth with an injured man.

She expected to arrive at five o'clock and asked that the man might be landed. The life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 4.45 in charge of the second coxswain, with a doctor on board. A light west-north-west breeze was blowing, with a slight swell. The life-boat met the steamer off the harbour, took on board her boatswain, who had injured his collar-bone, wirelessed for an ambulance to meet her at her station, and arrived there again at 5.23.—Rewards, £14 8s. 6d.

THIRTY-THREE HOURS AT SEA Tynemouth, and Culler-coats, Northum- berland.—At 11.43 in the morning of the 9th of February, 1952, the coast- guard telephoned that the motor vessel Hans Hoth, of Hamburg, of 370 tons, with a crew of nine, had wirelessed that she was listing and needed a life- boat. She was fifty-six miles east- north-east of the Tyne. At 12.15 that afternoon the Tynemouth life-boat Tynesider was launched in a rough sea with a strong northerly wind blowing.

The tug Hendon also put out and passed the life-boat, but the weather got worse, the seas-increased, and she re- duced speed. The life-boat maintain- ed full speed, overtook the tug and passed her. Guided by an aeroplane and a flare burnt by the Hans Hoth, she found the motor vessel eighty-eight miles north-north-east of the Tyne.

It was then 12.38 in the morning of the 10th. The master said that the list was less than it had been and asked the life-boat to stand by. This she did, and two hours later the tug arrived. The tug had already arranged with the Hans Hoth by wireless to take her in tow at daybreak, so at 2.30 in the morning the life-boat made for her station.

As she was approaching Tynemouth at nine o'clock that night, a wireless message came from the tug that the crew of the Hans Hoth wished to abandon ship and had asked the life- boat to return. She replied that she would put into Tynemouth to refuel and return immediately to the Hans Hoth's help, but shortly afterwards she picked up a message from the Cullercoats station to the tug which said that the Cullercoats life-boat was launching. The Tynemouth life-boat continued on her way and moored at 9.55. She had then been out for 33 hours 40 minutes.

Meanwhile the Cullercoats life-boat Isaac and Mary Bolton had launched at 9.35, in a moderate breeze, with a swell, but when she was fourteen miles out a message came from the tug that she herself had taken off the Hans Moth's crew, and she made for North Shields where she arrived at 12.15 next morn- ing the llth. There her crew left her, as the weather would have made it difficult to rehouse her, and returned to Cullercoats. Just after nine o'clock a message came through the Tyne- mouth coastguard that the tug now wanted a life-boat to take over the rescued crew from her, so that she herself could try to salve the Hans Hoth. At that the Cullercoats men returned to North Shields and the life-boat put out again at 9.20. -The tug and the Hans Hoth were now only twenty miles from the Tyne, but the sea was rough, and the life-boat arrived to find only the tug. The Hans Hoth had foundered. She re- turned to North Shields, arriving at two in the afternoon. There she remained until the morning of the 13th when she was taken to Cullercoats and arrived at 11.40.—Rewards, Tyne- mouth, £77 3*.; Cullercoats, first service, £30 10*., second service, £18 8s.

FALLEN OVER THE CLIFF New Quay, Cardiganshire.—At 9.0 in the morning of the I Oth of February, 1952, the police telephoned that a man had been missing from his home since five o'clock the previous evening and was thought to have fallen over a cliff.

Search parties had gone out but had not found him, and at ten o'clock the life-boat St. Allans was launched in a smooth sea with a light westerly breeze blowing. She found the man's body on Coybal beach, two miles west of New Quay, brought it to the harbour and reached her station again at 12.15 that afternoon.—Rewards, £13 12s. 6d.

TWO GIRLS ON A ROCK Arbroath, Angus.—At 7.22 on the night of the 17th of February, 1952, the coastguard telephoned that two girls were marooned on a rock east of Auchmithie, about four miles north of Arbroath, and at 7.33 the life-boat Robert Lindsay was launched. The weather was fine, with a calm sea.

Using her searchlight, the life-boat found the two girls. With them were five men who had tried to get them ashore. The life-boat took them all on board and landed them at her station at 9.15.—Rewards, £10 16s.

FISHING BOAT BROKEN DOWN Portpatrick, Wigtownshire—At 10.47 in the morning of the 18th of February,1952, the coastguard telephoned that the local fishing boat Frigate Bird had broken down one and a half miles to the southward and at 11.12 the life- boat Jeanie Speirs was launched.

The sea was moderate with a fresh north-north-west breeze blowing. The life-boat found the Frigate Bird, with a crew of three, four miles south of Portpatrick, towed her to the harbour and reached her station again at 12.30 that afternoon.—Rewards, £4.

AGROUND IN A FOG Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—At 6.25 in the morning of the 28th of February, 1952, a life-boatman picked up on his wireless set a message from the motor fishing boat Pride o' the Clyde, of Tarbert, that she was aground at Skipness Point and needed help. At 6.47 the life-boat City of Glasgow left her moorings. The sea was slight, and the east-south-east breeze was light, but there was fog. The life-boat found the fishing boat, with six on board, and towed her off. The fishing boat then made for Tarbert, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 12.45 that afternoon.— Rewards, £16 Vs. 6d.

ON THE ROCKS IN A FOG Anstruther, Fifeshire.—At 10.17 in the morning of the 28th of February, 1952, the coastguard telephoned that a fishing boat had gone ashore at Path Head, and at 10.40 the life-boat James and Ruby Jackson was launched. The' sea was calm but there was a dense fog. The life-boat found the motor fishing boat A.J.J. & M., of Pitten- weem, with a crew of four, on the rocks, and towed her clear. The fishing boat then made for Pittenweem under her own power, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 12.20 that afternoon.—Rewards, £12 165. 6d.

LIFE-BOAT ACTS AS RUDDER St. Helier, Jersey.—At 6.5 in the morning of the 29th of February, 1952, the harbourmaster reported that the S.S. Lyntre, of Jersey, had wirelessed that she had hit rocks off Noirmont Point, and at 6.25 the life-boat Elizabeth Rippon left her moorings.

The sea was smooth. The life-boat found the Lyntre, laden with coal, drifting in St. Aubin's Bay. She had damaged her propeller and rudder, was out of control and was making water.

The harbour tug put out, and the life-boat and a pilot boat took the steamer in tow, but they could not hold her. The Lyntre then anchored and waited for the tug, which took her in tow. The skipper's wife and ship's papers were first transferred to the life-boat, and the life-boat made a line fast to the stern of the steamer and helped to steer her. She was berthed in St. Helier and the life-boat reached her station again at 8.40.—Property Salvage Case.

LIFE-BOATMEN DIG IN THE SAND Caister, Norfolk.—At ten o'clock in the morning of the 29th of February, 1952, the coastguard reported that a vessel had gone aground off Waxham, and at 10.15 the life-boat Jose Neville was launched. The sea was calm, with a fresh north-easterly breeze blowing, but there was fog. The life- boat found the motor vessel Serenity of London, with a crew of nine, on Waxham beach. The Serenity's boat tried to pass a line from her to a tug, but the wind and tide prevented her, so the life-boat passed it. The tide was ebbing and the Serenity could not be moved until the next high tide.

While waiting for it the life-boatmen dug away a large amount of sand round the Serenity. As the tide rose she was pulled off the beach and made for Great Yarmouth under her own power.

The life-boat returned to her station arriving at ten o'clock that night. The owner thanked the life-boatmen.— 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: Arranmore, Co. Donegal.—February 6th.—Rewards, £70 10s.

Str omness, Orkneys.—February llth.

—Rewards, £52 17s.

Stromness, Orkneys.—February 16th.

—Rewards, £40 19s. Qd.

Barrow, Lancashire.—February 18th.

—Rewards, £10 12s. Qd.

Ramsgate, Kent. — February 25th.

—Rewards, £12 14s.

Redcar, Yorkshire.—February 27th.

—Rewards, £10 8s..