AT 5.18 on the afternoon of the 20th of August, 1952, a Liberian ship wire- lessed that the S.S. Western Farmer, of New York, on passage from Norfolk (Virginia) to Bremen with a cargo of coal, had been in collision with the Norwegian tanker Bjorgholm eighteen miles east-south-east of Ramsgate.

The coastguard telephoned the Rams- gate life-boat station, and at 5.48 the life-boat Prudential left her moorings in a rough sea with a moderate north- north-east breeze blowing. She found the Western Farmer one and a half miles north of Sandettie Bank Buoy with a large crack in her starboard side. She was at anchor.

The Dover life-boat Southern Africa had been launched at 6.45. The Western Farmer had asked for a doctor and at 7.10 the Southern Africa was asked by wireless to fetch one from Walmer. She called at Walmer about eight o'clock, embarked a doctor and the Walmer coxswain and then made for the steamer.

Life-boat and Crew Covered in Oil Two tugs had reached the Western Farmer at 8.40, but she had been very badly damaged; she started to break up; and about nine o'clock the captain of the Western Farmer asked the Ramsgate life-boat to embark some of the older men of the crew. Seven were embarked with difficulty as the escaping fuel oil made all ropes and ladders extremely slippery. This oil also came aboard the life-boat with every wave, covering all the men and everything on her. When it was clear that the ship would break in half, the captain ordered his crew to man both the ship's life-boats. They were manned and lowered and were just clear when the fore part of the Western farmer broke away and capsized. The Ramsgate life-boat took on board the men from one of the ship's boats and then picked up another member of the crew who had jumped from the stern part into the sea.

Meanwhile the Dover life-boat had arrived. She took on board all thir- teen men from the Western Farmer's second life-boat which was in danger of drifting on to the fore part of the steamer. There were still five men in the stern part, which was partly awash and drifting. The coxswain of the Ramsgate life-boat decided to go alongside the stern part, although it was clear that it might turn over at any moment on top of the life-boat.

He brought the life-boat alongside the starboard quarter and the five men jumped aboard. The life-boat reached her station again at 3.16 the next morning. The Dover life-boat reached her station at 6.30 in the morning.

Full Knowledge of Risk The decision of the coxswain to go alongside the stern part of the steamer, after seeing the bow part capsize, was taken in the full knowledge of the risk he was running, and the whole service was most expeditiously carried out, in spite of the difficulties from the presence of fuel oil everywhere. The Institution made the following re- wards : To COXSWAIN DOUGLAS KIRKALDIE the bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a special reward of £1 in addition to the reward on the ordinary scale of £2 7s. Scale rewards, £26 14s. 6d.; special rewards, £10. Total rewards, £36 14s. 6d.; To the Dover coxswain and crew, £2 15s. each. Total rewards, £20 10s.

The Seafarers International Union in New York sent gifts of food to the life-boatmen at Ramsgate and Dover, on behalf of the crew of the Western Farmer, and presented a plaque to each station..