AT 9.25 on the night of the 21st of September, 1953, the Tenby coast- guard learnt that the pumps in the St.

Gowan lightvessel had stopped work- ing and that she was in danger of sinking. There were seven men on board the lightvessel.

A full gale was blowing from the west-south-west and there were heavy rain squalls. The sea was extremely rough, and a heavy swell from the south-west made conditions such that the district officer of H.M. Coastguard at Tenby later declared: " I have experienced stronger winds during my service in H.M. Coastguard, but I have never seen the sea so bad.

This is the first time I have had some hesitation in asking the life-boat to put to sea. I must say that there was none whatever on the part of the coxswain." Maroons were fired at 9.37, and at 9.42 the Tenby life-boat John R. Webb was launched. The lightvessel lies some fifteen miles west-south-west from Tenby, and the life-boat, after passing through Caldy Strait, where some protection from the land was to be had, made steadily towards her for some three hours.

At twenty minutes past midnight the lightvessel was asked by wireless to indicate her position by rockets or flares. A quarter of an hour later the Tenby coxswain reported by wireless that he had seen a signal and that the life-boat was now near the light- vessel. He did, in fact, reach the lightvessel at 1.10. By this time the lightvessel was showing only a small oil lantern.

The flood tide was making to the east-south-east, and the lightvessel was lying head to wind and sea, with the swell on her port bow. She was rolling heavily and surging against her cable. The captain of the lightvessel advised the coxswain to come along her starboard side.

This the coxswain did, but the first attempt at a rescue failed, as the crew of the lightvessel could not make fast the securing rope, and the life-boat was carried awav. The high seas and the heavy swell, together, made both the lightvessel and the life-boat extremely lively, and huge seas were breaking over both vessels.

Once again the coxswain brought the life-boat round, and this time by manoeuvring the engines and with the help of a rope forward from the lightvessel he managed to remain alongside for a few moments. This was long enough for two men in the lightvessel to be taken on board the life-boat. Then the rope parted.

A third attempt was made. The coxswain came round and alongside.

Another line was thrown forward and the engines were continually man- oeuvred. The crew of the life-boat lined the port side, and this time they managed to haul the five remaining men into the life-boat. While this was being done the lightvessel rolled on to the life-boat, damaging her slightly.

The rescue operations lasted a full fifteen minutes, and about 1.25 the life-boat started back for Tenby. She reached the harbour at 3.30, and the survivors were landed by R.A.F.

tanker. The life-boat waited till 4.15 for enough water to enter the harbour.

She then refuelled and made for out- side moorings, and was ready again for service at 7.50.

Many tributes to the courage and skill of Coxswain Richards and the crew were paid. The Mayor of Tenby, Councillor H. G. Hart, said at a meeting of the town council the next da}7 : "If ever a man felt proud of his townsmen that man was myself last night. We who know the sea also know that only supreme skill and daring would take the life-boat along- side that lightship in such seas." The council unanimously expressed their "appreciation and hearty con- gratulations upon the wonderful courage and seamanship displayed in taking the life-boat alongside the lightship in such mountainous seas." Tributes were also paid by the Elder Brethren of Trinity House and the Chief Inspector of Coastguard.

The Institution made the following awards: To COXSWAIN THOMAS B. RICHARDS, the silver medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed.

To BOWMAN WILLIAM R. THOMAS, the bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed.

To MOTOR MECHANIC WILLIAM H.

ROGERS, the bronze medal for gallan- try, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed.

To each of the six other members of the crew, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum and framed.

To the coxswain and each of the eight members of his crew a special award of £5 in addition to the reward on the ordinary scale of £2 3s. Scale rewards to crew and launchers, £29 14s.; additional rewards to the crew, £45. Total rewards, £74 14s..