Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 2.5 early on the morning of the 2nd of No- vember 1954, the Walton-on-the-Naze coastguard rang up to say that a mes- sage from the S.S. Themsleigh, of Hull, stating that she had run aground on the Gunfleet Sands near Middle Gun- fleet buoy, had been intercepted. At 2.38 the life-boat Edian Courtauld put out. There was a slight sea, a light southerly breeze was blowing, and it was nearly high water. The life-boat made for the sands and at 3.15 found the Themsleigh about a quarter of a mile west-south-west of Middle Gun- fleet buoy. The Themsleigh had a crew of thirteen and carried a cargo of steel scrap. The coxswain boarded her, and her skipper asked if the life-boat would stand by. The skipper hoped to refloat his ship at the next high water, but he asked the life-boat to try to do so in the meanwhile.

The life-boat laid out a kedge anchor and wire rope, and with the life-boat towing her, the Themsleigh tried to pull herself clear. She remained fast, and at 5.30 in the evening the life-boat took her mate ashore. The life-boat put to sea again at eleven o'clock at night and found a tug with the steamer.The life-boat passed a rope from the tug to the steamer and about three o'clock on the 3rd, at high water, efforts were made to refloat her. They were again unsuccessful, and at six o'clock the life-boat returned to her station for fuel and stores. She put to sea again at 12.37 and took with her a Lloyd's representative and a member of a salvage association who had asked to be taken to the steamer. A second tug had put out and the life-boat con- nected both of them to the steamer.

At high water that afternoon the Themsleigh refloated and was towed to Harwich accompanied by the life- boat. Harwich was reached at 6.45 in the evening and the life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 8.25.—Property Salvage Case..