AT 3.10 on the afternoon of the 18th of May, 1955, Coxswain William Cox. of Wells, was told by the coastguard that a message had been received from the S.S. Richmond Queen, of London, that the S.S. Zor, of Istanbul, was in distress six miles west-north-west of the Dudgeon lightvessel. Maroons were fired immediately and the Wells life- boat Cecil Paine was launched at 3.25.

A northerly gale was blowing and there were squalls of sleet and hail.

It was one hour before high water.

The Wells life-boat reached the Zor at 6.55 and found her anchored with her head between west and west-north- west, and with a list to starboard of about forty degrees. The Zor was loaded with timber, and as each succes- sive sea hit her baulks of wood fell from her deck into the sea. A fresh gale was now blowing from the north- north-west and there was a steep breaking sea.

The Richmond Queen was still stand- ing by. She had taken on board the wife of the captain of the Zor and several members of her crew whom she had apparently picked up from one of the Zor's boats.

Securing Rope Aboard The captain of the Richmond Queen asked the coxswain to run a line to the Zor. He did so, going along the Zor's port side and putting a securing rope aboard to keep the life-boat in posi- tion. At times the life-boat was hitting the Zor's bilge keel.

One of the Zofs crew slid down a rope into the life-boat. The captain then followed him and asked to be taken to the Richmond Queen so that he could talk to his wife and to the Richmond Queen's captain. The life- boat took the Zor's captain to the Richmond Queen, where he remained for some ten minutes before asking the coxswain to put him back aboard his own ship. This too was done, although with considerable difficulty.

The life-boat then stood off, but when it appeared that some of the Zofs crew wished to leave her, the coxswain brought the life-boat along- side once more and four men and some baggage came aboard.

The captain of the Richmond Queen then asked Coxswain Cox to run another line to the Zor as the first one had parted. The coxswain answered that lie would not do so, because of the danger to survivors, until a lull gave him the opportunity. The line was then passed and Coxswain Cox tried to persuade the rest of the crew to abandon ship.

They refused and the coxswain, realising that his fuel was running low, asked to be relieved by another life- boat at 1.22 early on the 19th of May.

At 1.30, by which time the Sheringham life-boat had already been launched and a tug had also reached the scene, the Wells life-boat left the Zor. She reached Wells at four o'clock in the morning and landed the survivors.

Heavy Sea Running The Sheringham life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched at 12.15 early on the 19th of May. The posi- tion of the Zor was then 25 miles north-north-east of Sheringham. A fresh wind was now blowing from the north-west and the life-boat had to be launched into a heavy swell. A heavy sea was running off shore and the wind increased steadily. By the time the Sheringham life-boat reached the Zor at six o'clock in the morning the wind was blowing strongly from the north- north-west.

The Zor was still lying to her anchor, approximately head to wind, with a heavy list to starboard. She was sur- rounded by timber from her cargo which continued to be washed out as seas struck her. Coxswain Henry West came to the conclusion that she would not remain afloat for long.

He approached the Zor from astern, and after circling her closed her star- board side through a gap in the floating timber. He asked the captain to abandon ship, but the captain refused.

The coxswain then made for the tug Serviceman and asked her skipper what he intended to do. He was told that an attempt to tow would lie made as soon as the weather moderated.

The life-boat stood by until 8.30, when the tug managed to get a line aboard. Shortlv afterwards the Zor took a further list and her captain signalled that he wanted to abandon ship. Coxswain West then tried to find a passage through the floating timber on the starboard side, which was on the lee side, but he could not do so. He, therefore, decided to risk taking the crew off on the weather side.

Sank Stern First Approaching bow on, the life-boat was edged up to the Zor and a rope was passed aboard. The captain and the three remaining members of the crew slid down the rope into the hands of the life-boat crew. Almost immed- iately afterwards the Zor's remaining mast broke off and the rest of the deck cargo fell into the sea. The Zor began to sink slowly stern first.

The Sheringham life-boat then re- turned to her station, which she reached at 1.30 in the afternoon.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Coxswain William Cox, of Wells, and Coxswain Henry West, of Sheringham.

Additional monetary awards of £2 each were paid to every member of both crews. Wells: Scale rewards to the crew, £23 125.; scale rewards to the helpers on shore, £20 4s.; addi- tional rewards to the crew, £16. Total rewards, £59 165. Sheringham: Scale rewards to the crew, £31 10s.; scale rewards to the helpers on shore, £16 18s.; additional rewards to the crew, £20. Total rewards, £68 8*..