THE Maud Smith reward in memory of John, Seventh Earl of Hardwicke, for the bravest act of life-saving of the year by a life-boatman was awarded to Coxswain Douglas Kirk- aldie, of Ramsgate, for his courage on the 20th of August, 1952, in taking the life-boat alongside the stern half of the American steamer Western Farmer, which had broken in two, after a collision, to rescue five men, knowing that it might, at any moment, turn over on top of the life-boat.

For this service the Institution had already awarded him its bronze medal.

The reward given by Mrs. Porter, of Felixstowe, for the bravest deed of the year by a life-boatman was awarded to Robert Leng, the assistant motor mechanic at Flamborough, who swam ashore from the life-boat on the night of the 27th of July, 1952, and landed on the rocks in the darkness to find and succour a young man who had fallen down the cliffs. For this service the Institution had already awarded him its thanks inscribed on vellum..