Lowestoft, Suffolk.—At one o'clock on the afternoon of the 20th of November, 1952, the coastguard reported a mes- sage from the motor fishing vessel Montbretia, of Hull, asking for help as her engines had failed whilst on passage from Yarmouth to Brightlingsea. She was three miles east of Benacreness, and was drifting towards the New- combe Sands after breaking away from a cargo boat which had had her intow. The life-boat Michael Stephens put out at 1.40 in a choppy sea with a fresh south-easterly wind blowing.

At the request of the skipper the life- boat took the Montbretia in tow, got her clear of the sands and brought her to the harbour, where a tug took charge. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 4.5.—Property Salvage Case..