Margate, Kent.—At 12.15 on the after- noon of the llth of November, 1954, the coastguard telephoned that a smallboat with four men in it was in diffi- culties between one and a half and two miles west of Herne Bay pier.

At 12.25 the life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service No. II was launched.

The sea was rough, a strong south- westerly breeze was blowing, and it was high water. The life-boat made for the position, and a United States air-sea rescue aircraft wirelessed that she had seen the boat about four miles north-east of Herne Bay, and that another boat was trying to tow her ashore. The life-boat eventually found the rowing boat and saw that she and the boat towing her were making heavy weather. The life-boat escorted them to Herne Bay and returned to her station, arriving at 3.35.—Rewards £13 135..