Wick, Caithness-shire.—At 1.10 early on the morning of the 18th of Septem- ber, 1953, the coastguard telephoned that the trawler Hassett, of Grimsby, which had a crew of twenty, had gone ashore north-east of Noss Head. At 1.25 the life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched in a heavy sea and with a strong south-easterly breeze blowing.

She found the trawler fast on the rocks on Auckengill Reef. The life- boatmen heard cries for help, so they anchored the life-boat and veered her down to the wreck. One trawlerman appeared on the bridge, and shouted for a line. As the life-boat could not get alongside the trawler, she fired lines to her and wirelessed for the coastguard shore life-saving team.

The life-boat stood by while the life- saving team rescued fifteen men, and then searched for the others. She found only one body and took it to Wick. She reached her station againat 9.40. Five trawlermen lost their lives.—Rewards, £14 15*..