ON the 26th of April, 1955, the S.S.

Germania, of Piraeus, ran ashore to the east of Beachy Head. During the next ten days a number of salvage boats went out to her, and at 4.30 on the afternoon of the 6th of May Coxswain Thomas Allchorn, of East- bourne, learned from the coastguard that flares were being shown from the wreck of the Germania.

The maroons were fired, and at 4.45 the Eastbourne life-boat Beryl Tollemache was launched. A fresh gale was blowing from the south-west, there was a rough sea, and it was over- cast. It was an hour before low water, and because of the state of the tide the life-boat bumped twice on the sand as she was being launched.

The life-boat headed for the Ger- mania, but before reaching her she saw a boat a mile to the south-west of the wreck. This was the salvage boat Endeavour. There were two men on board, and from them Coxswain Allchorn learned that the flares had been shown to call attention to their distress. In the heavy seas it was all they could do to keep afloat when they had hove-to.

The life-boat took the Endeavour in tow at 5.45, and three-quarters of an hour later anchored her in the lee of Eastbourne pier. While she was tow- ing the Endeavour she received a further distress message by radio telephone, which stated that another salvage boat was in difficulties a mile and a half south-east of the Eastbourne life-boathouse and was asking the Hastings life-boat to launch to her help.

Second Boat Found Coxswain Allchorn decided to make for the second boat and found her to the cast of Cooden. This boat was the Moonbeam, which also had two men on board. The time was now about seven o'clock.

The life-boat took the Moonbeam in tow and headed back towards East- bourne. In the very rough seas tow- ing was difficult, and the tow rope parted four times. Soon after the Moonbeam had been taken in tow a piece of driftwood was drawn into the life-boat's starboard propeller. This caused the shaft to bend, and there was a drop in revolutions as a result. It was nearly nine o'clock at night by the time the life-boat anchored the Moonbeam close to the Endeavour and took both crews off.

While the Eastbourne life-boat had been towing the Moonbeam she had received a further message by radio telephone saying that more flares had been shown from the wreck. The life-boat therefore returned to the Germania, which she reached about 9.30. The coxswain found that the Life-saving Apparatus team had got a line aboard from a cliff-top, but the salvage party on board the Germania had not been taken off.

Fresh Gale Blowing By this time a fresh gale was blow- ing from between south-west and west, and a heavy sea was running.

The tide w as about half flood, and be- cause of heavy clouds the night was dark.

Coxswain Allchorn made one explor- atory approach to mark the rocks surrounding the Gcrmania. The wreck lay on a rocky ledge in very shallow water about half a mile east of Beachy Head lighthouse, with her bow to the north-west on one ledge and her stern on another. Her back was broken. A large rock just awash close off her starboard side and a ship's boat lowered to the rail on the same side made it extremely difficult for the life-boat to approach her.

Heavv seas were hitting the stern and port side of the wreck and break- ing high over her masts and funnel.

At his second approach the coxswain brought the life-boat outside the rock off the Germania's starboard quarter.

He then turned sharply inside the inner ledge of rocks and came along- side with his bow to the Germania's stern. In this he was helped by a searchlight worked by the Life-saving Apparatus party from the cliff.

The depth of water alongside the wreck varied considerably because of the rocky bottom, but there were about ten feet at the vessel's stern.

The life-boat hit the bottom as she approached, but she was only super- ficially damaged.

Engine's Damaged Shaft There was a rope ladder over the side of the wreck, and by holding on to lines which hung from the deck and by the use of her engines the crew kept the life-boat in position. Al- though she was in the lee of the Germania she was rising and falling in a considerable sea. Throughout this operation the motor mechanic, [Michael Hardy, was handicapped by having to nurse the starboard engine, which had a damaged shaft, yet he succeeded in carrying out all the cox- swain's instructions with complete success.

There were sixteen men on board the wreck, and in less than ten min- utes they all clambered down the rope ladder and jumped aboard the life- boat. One man hurt his foot and others received minor injuries.

Coxswain Allchorn succeeded in bringing the life-boat clear of the wreck without damage, and he then returned to Eastbourne. The sur- vivors were landed at 10.15.

In addition to the Endeavour and the Moonbeam two other motor boats, the Enfilade and the William III, were also in difficulties during the day.

The William III was escorted by the Newhaven life-boat to Newhaven. and the Enfilade was finally wrecked near Dungeness. One of her crew reached the shore, but the other man was missing. The Dover, Dungeness and Hastings life-boats all joined in the search, but without success. A heli- copter from Manston also searched unsuccessfully the next day.

Second-Service Clasp For this service Coxswain Thomas Allchorn has been awarded a second- service clasp to his bronze medal. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Motor Mechanic Michael Hardy. Addi- tional monetary rewards of £2 each were paid to every member of the crew.

In 1940 Coxswain Allchorn won his first bronze medal for gallantry as a member of the crew which rescued 29 people from the S.S. Barnhill.

Scale rewards to the crew, £9 6s.; scale rewards to the helpers on shore, £16 10s.; additional rewards to the crew, £14. Total rewards, £39 16s..