LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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The S.S. Craig

Caister, Norfolk.—At 2.15 in the morning of the 2nd of May, 1952, the Gorleston coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Craig, of Leith, had gone aground and was bumping heavily on the beach three miles north-west of Cockle Buoy. A very heavy sea was running with a strong easterly wind blowing. The life-boat Jose Neville was launched at 2.45 and found the Craig hard aground, with seas breaking right over her. She was a vessel of 114 tons bound for Rotterdam with a cargo of coal, and had a crew of eight. Her master asked the life-boat to stand by, but the tide was ebbing and the ship steadied, so the life-boat left her and went to Great Yarmouth, arriving about 7.50. At eleven o'clock she put out again to help refloat the Craig and passed ropes to her from a tug. The life-boat stood by while the tug pulled her clear and when it was learned that the Craig was not damaged, she returned to her station, arriving at 4.45 that afternoon.— Property Salvage Case..