Sunderland, Durham. — About two o'clock early on the morning of the 5th of March, 1954, the coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Bruse, of Oslo, had broken down at the entrance to the harbour and was drifting dan- gerously near the South Pier and the White Shell Rocks. At 2.30 the life- boat Edward and Isabella Irwin was launched in a rough sea with a strong north-north-west breeze blowing. She stood by until the steamer had repaired her engines and entered harbour.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 5.20.—Rewards, £11 Os. 6d..