AT 9.26 on the night of the 21st of October, 1955, the Southend coxswain, Sidney Page, learnt from the coast- guard that the S.S. Cardiff brook had wirelessed that she had seen a ship aground one mile north-north-west of the North-East Mouse buoy, and that she herself was standing by near the West Barrow buoy.

Coxswain Page consulted the honor- ary secretary, Mr. P. G. Garon, who gave instructions for the Southend life-boat Greater London II, Civil Service No. 30 to be launched. This was done at 9.45. A gale was blowing from the north-north-west, with short steep seas. There were frequent rain squalls and visibility was poor. It was nearly low water.

Sparks front Funnel Coxswain Page set a course for the West Barrow buoy, and after some time sighted a vessel with sparks com- ing from her funnel. The vessel was later seen to fire red rockets.

The life-boat closed the vessel at 11.50 and found that she was the motor barge Fence, of London, with a crew of three. The Fence had grounded on the West Barrow Sand, but she was now clear in about five fathoms of water. Her circulating pump had sucked in sand, which had caused the engine to become red hot, and her crew had difficulty in keeping her afloat. She was awash and was being- swept by the sea. The three members of her crew could be seen in the wheel- house.

Coxswain Page brought the life-boat alongside the barge's port bow, and a member of the life-boat crew was put on board with a tow rope. This was made fast, and the life-boat towed the Fence for a quarter of a mile. Then the Fence's engine broke down and the tow rope parted.

Seas Sweeping Decks The coxswain immediately brought the life-boat round astern of the Fence, and through the loudhailer told the crew to let go an anchor. This was done, but only twenty fathoms of chain paid out because of the seas which were sweeping the barge's decks.

Coxswain Page then brought the life-boat alongside the Fence's star- board quarter and took off two of her crew. Before the third man could be taken off the sea carried the life-boat clear, and another attempt had to be made to bring off the third man and the member of the life-boat crew who had boarded the barge.

This next attempt was unsuccessful but once more the life-boat was brought alongside, this time along the port quarter. The two men still on board the barge jumped into the life- boat. The life-boat then returned to her station, which she reached at 1.30 early on the morning of the 22nd.

As the Fence's lights had been extin- guished she was thought to be a danger to navigation, and at 5.14 the life- boat was launched again to tow her in. She did not succeed in finding her and returned to her station at 8.40.

Third Launch At 11.9 the coastguard reported that he could see a vessel, which he believed to be the Fence, drifting slowly to the north-west, off the Red Sand forts. The life-boat was there- fore launched a third time at 11.25.

By this time the weather had moder- ated, and the life-boat found the barge half a mile west-south-west of the forts. Three members of the life- boat crew boarded her and the life- boat towed her to Southend, arriving at 4.25 in the afternoon.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain Sidney Page.

Coxswain Page, who is the holder of the silver medal and has also been awarded the bronze medal twice, retired from the service of the Institu- tion at the end of the 1955 after serving as coxswain for over twenty- one years.

Rewards to the crew: 1st service, £10 10s.; 2nd service, £12 5s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, 1st service, £3 15*.; 2nd service, £3 las.; 3rd service, Property Salvage Case..