Arranmore, Co. Donegal.—About three o'clock on the afternoon of the 29th of February, 1956, the Malin Head radio station reported that the motor vessel Greenhaven, of Newcastle, had wire- lessed that her engine had broken down five and a half miles north of Rathlin O'Birne. The S.S. Galtee was standing by her. A later message said that the Greenhaven was making way at slow speed and that the Galtee was still standing by. H.M.S. Wizard put out from Londonderry, and the Galtee tried to take the Greenhaven in tow.

The weather prevented her from doing so, and at 9.30 the life-boat W. M.

Tilson put out. There was a very rough sea, a moderate westerly gale was blowing, and it was nearly high water.

The life-boat began to search, and the honorary secretary went overland tothe south side of Aran in the hope of seeing the Greenhaven. He saw her lights and immediately told the radio station. H.M.S. Wizard found the vessel aground on the south-western side of Roaninish Islands. The life- boat reached her at four o'clock on the morning of the 1st of March. By this time the Wizard was illuminating the wreck with starshell, and an air- craft was dropping flares. The wind had increased to a fresh gale and there was a heavy ground swell and high seas.

The Greenhaven's crew of ten had scrambled to the very rocky shore, but the life-boat could not come close to them because the seas were pound- ing on the rocks. The life-boat stood by with the intention of rescuing the men from the eastern side of the island at dawn, but the Greenhaven's master signalled the Wizard to arrange for a helicopter. At eight o'clock two helicopters arrived from the Royal Naval Air Station at Eglington. The weather had moderated, and they picked up the ten men within twenty minutes. They landed them at Port Noo, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 11.10. The Com- manding Officer of H.M.S. Wizard thanked the life-boat crew, and the Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland, expressed his appreciation.—Rewards to the crew, £.32 5s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, etc., £3 5s..