Stromness, Orkneys.—At five o'clock on the afternoon of the 16th of Decem-ber, 1954, a man at Rosgar telephoned that distress flares could be seen near Skerry Ness, Hoy Sound. At 5.13 the life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched.

There was a heavy sea, a whole gale was blowing from the south-west, and the tide was ebbing strongly. The life- boat found the steam trawler Bon- accord, of Aberdeen, with a crew of eleven, ashore at Skerry Xess. She had a heavy list to port, and at the request of her skipper the life-boat stood by. When the tide started to flood, the trawler heeled over to star- board and pounded the bottom. The life-boat passed a rope to her, and at 9.30 a fishing boat arrived and also took the trawler in tow. The fishing boat damaged herself and let go. Half an hour later the life-boat pulled the Bonaccord clear, but the trawler again grounded. The life-boat towed her clear a second time and put her second coxswain on board to pilot her to Stromness. The life-boat then re- turned to her station, arriving at 12.30 early on the 17th.—Rewards, £19 18s..