AT 3.50 early on the morning of the 19th of December, 1953, the coast- guard rang up to say that the police had reported that the trawler Notre Dame de la Mer, of Boulogne, had run on to the rocks on Foreness Point about one and a half miles east of Margate. The sea was then calm and there was no wind. Because of fog visibility was only two hundred yards.

At low water the trawler was left high and dry and her crew of seven went ashore.

Crew Refuse to Leave About 4.45, at the turn of the tide, the crew returned to their ship as they were determined to save her. By now the wind had begun to freshen and was blowing from the north-west.

The coxswain of the Margate life-boat, Denis Price, went by car to a point near the stranded trawler. He came to the conclusion that as the weather was becoming worse the life-boat should try to tow the trawler off, since her crew refused to leave her again.

At 6.10 the Margate life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service No. XI was launched. By now the sea was becom- ing rough and" the tide was flooding to the westward. The life-boat reached the scene at 6.35, but the water was not deep enough for her to get close to the trawler. She therefore laid off until eight o'clock.

By then the trawler's bow was seen to be lifting, but she was being driven inshore and was pounding heavily.

Award to Coxswain The coxswain tried to take the life- boat alongside but failed. After touching on a rocky ledge he tried again. This time he approached from windward and let go his anchor to veer down on the trawler. The anchor dragged on the chalk bottom, and the life-boat ended up close to the trawler.

Using their line throwing pistol, the life-boatmen passed a tow rope across.

Both vessels pounded the bottom, but the life-boat pulled the trawler clear, weighed her anchor, and towed the trawler to Ramsgate, which was reached at 10.30. The life-boat was undamaged, but because of the weather remained at Ramsgate until the next day, when she returned to her station.

For the determination, initiative and fine seamanship he showed in extricat- ing the trawler from what seemed a hopeless position Coxswain Denis Price was accorded the thanks of the Insti- tution inscribed on vellum. Rewards of £37 10s. were paid.

Coxswain Price won the silver medal for the rescue on the 7th of November, 1952, of the crew of the barge Vera, of London, in a whole gale..