Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 5.33 on the morning of the 3rd of February, 1954, the Walton-on-the-Naze coast- guard telephoned that a vessel had stopped south-south-east of the coast- guard station and was showing the " Not under command " signal. Watch was kept on her, and at daybreak a steamship was seen to be aground on the Gunfleet sands about five and a half miles south-south-east of the coastguard station. At 8.30 the life- boat Edian Courtauld put out in a very rough sea and fresh north- easterly gale. She found the S.S. Hera, of Mariehamn, Finland, at ten o'clock.

She stood by her, but half an hour later the Hera drove three-quarters of a mile over the sands, cleared them and reached deep water. The life-boat was no longer needed and returned to her station, arriving at 1.45.—Rewards £21..