Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 10.2 on the night of the 28th of March, 1952, the Walton-on-the-Naze coast- guard telephoned a wireless message from the motor vessel Seniority, of London, that she had lost an anchor and was drifting towards Rough Tower. At 10.45 the life-boat Mary Scott, on temporary duty at the sta- tion, was launched. A fresh east- north-east gale was blowing with a rough sea. The life-boat found the Seniority at 12.30 the next morning with one anchor down one mile north of the tower. She had dragged towards the Cork Sands, but the one anchor was now holding her and the skipper said that he would make for Harwich at daybreak. The life-boat remained with her for a while then told the skipper that she would go to Harwich, but would be ready to put out again if he needed her. She reached Harwich at 3.30 that morning and left for her station at 10.30.

At 11.17 the Walton-on-the-Naze coastguard reported that the Seniority, now two miles west-south-west of Rough Tower, had asked for the life- boat in case her remaining anchor parted. A man was immediately sent out in a motor boat to take petrol to the life-boat and tell the coxswain.

She reached the life-boat at 11.55 just as she arrived at her moorings. The life-boat took on board the petrol and at once put to sea again. The weather was still bad and the snow-storms made visibility very poor, but a steamer helped the life-boat to find the Seniority. The skipper asked the life-boat to stand by until a tug arrived. This the life-boat did for an hour and a half. The skipper then said that he thought he was all right, and the life-boat returned to her station which she reached at 5.30 that evening.—Rewards, 1st service, £40 5s.; 2nd service, £32 Is. 6d..