Stromness, Orkneys.—At seven o'clock on the evening of the 9th of December, 1955, the Kirkwall coastguard rang up to say that a landing barge had run ashore at Ness Beacon. At 7.18 the life-boat Archibald and Alexander M.

Paterson was launched on service for the first time. The sea was choppy, there was a fresh easterly breeze, and it was one hour after high water. The life-boat found the 270-ton War De- partment landing craft L.405 between Quarry and Point of Ness. She had twelve men on board. The life-boat remained with the landing craft, but at 9.45 she was high and dry. The life-boat returned to Stromness, arriv- ing at ten o'clock. The coxswain then went aboard the landing craft from the shore to make arrangements with the master to refloat her, and at four o'clock on the morning of the 10th the life-boat was launched again. She took the landing craft in tow, and after one unsuccessful attempt pulled her clear. The second coxswain went on board to act as pilot, and the life-boat towed the landing craft to Stromness, arriving at eight o'clock.—Rewards to the crew, £25 10s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 4s. 6rf..