Dungeness, and Dover, Kent; and Hastings, Sussex.—At four o'clock on the morning of the 16th of November, 1953, the Lade coastguard telephoned the Dungeness life-boat station that the S.S. Perou, of Havre, had reported that she had been in collision with the S.S. Vittoria Claudia, of Genoa, which had a crew of twenty-five, two miles south of Dungeness. The coastguard later stated that a pilot boat which had been at the position had stated that there was no sign of any vessel in need of help. Nevertheless, at 4.53 the life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson was launched in a slight sea with a light south-westerly breeze blowing.

She found wreckage of the Vittoria Claudia, which had sunk, two miles south-east of the life-boat station. She began at once to search for survivors.

At 5.13 the Fairlight coastguard informed the Hastings life-boat station, and at 5.32 the life-boat M.T.C. was launched. At 5.17 the Sandgate coast- guard informed the Dover life-boat station, and the life-boat Southern Africa put to sea at 5.45. The life- boats searched widely. The Dunge- ness life-boat found two bodies, and the Hastings life-boat one. The M.T.C. transferred the body she had found to the Charles Cooper Henderson, and both life-boats returned to their stations, Dungeness arriving at 10.45 and Hastings at 3.50. The Dover life-boat found only a ship's boat, which she towed to Dover. She reached her station at 4.30. At 2.53 the Lade coastguard again telephoned the Dungeness life-boat station to say that an open boat had been seen three miles north-west of the Varne light- vessel. The Charles Cooper Henderson was launched a second time at 3.40.

She searched widely, but found noth- ing, and reached her station again at 8.30. Twenty members of the Italian steamer's crew lost their lives, but the pilot boat rescued the five survivors.— Rewards: Dungeness. 1st service, £37, 2nd service, £35 3s.; Dover, £11 15.9.; Hastings, £44 16s. 6d..