Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 3.15 on the morning of the 31st of March, 1954, the Walton-on-the-Naze coastguard rang up to say that he had intercepted a wireless message from the S.S.

Brookside, of Sunderland, which said that she was in difficulties between the Rolling Ground Buoy and Beach End Buoy off St. Andrews shoal. At 3.19 the coastguard reported that the Brookside was aground, and later that she had asked for help. At four o'clock the life-boat Edian Courtauld put out in a moderate sea, with a fresh south-westerly breeze blowing.

She found the Brook.iide off Beach End Buoy fast on an old wreck. She had struck the wreck following a break- down in her steering gear and had been holed. The skipper asked the life- boat to help him refloat his ship, but the Brookside slipped clear before a rope could be made fast to her. The life-boat escorted her to Harwich and then returned to her station, arriving at 7.45.—Rewards, £18 10s..