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The S.S. Sydenham and the S.S. Ask

Cromer, Norfolk. — At 4.32 on the morning of the 26th of October, 1952, the coastguard telephoned to say the S.S. Sydenham had reported that a vessel was ashore on the Haisboro' Sands, eighteen miles east-by-south of Cromer, and at five o'clock the No. 1life-boat Henry Blogg was launched in a moderate sea, with a light westerly breeze blowing. The Sydenham wire- lessed that four men had left the vessel in a ships' boat and appeared to need help, and the life-boat came up with them and took them in tow.

The life-boat then made for the vessel and found her to be the S.S. Ask, of Bergen, bound for Sunderland in ballast and carrying a crew of twenty- two. She was on the inner part of the sands, and the coxswain took sound- ings round her. He then advised the master to go astern at slack tide. This the master did, and the Ask refloated.

The four men then reboarded her, the boat was hoisted, and the Ask went on her way. The life-boat was no longer required and returned to her station, arriving at one o'clock.— Property Salvage Case..