Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 6.39 on the evening of the 24th of December, 1953, the coastguard rang up to say that a steamer had wirelessed that another steamer had collided with the motor vessel Alf Everard, of London, off Sea Reach. At 6.55 the life-boat Greater London, Civil Service No. 3, was launched. There was a slight sea with a light south-westerly breeze blowing.

Using her searchlight, the life-boat found the S.S. Sir Alexander Kennedy half a mile east of No. 1 Sea Reach Buoy. The steamer had taken 011 board the crew of seven of the Alf Everard after the vessel had sunk.

The men were transferred to the life- boat, which landed them at Southern! pier at 8.30.—Rewards, £9 15s..