AT 12.38 early on the morning of the j 2nd of January, 1956, the motor vessel Citrine of Glasgow, a vessel of 779 tons, bound from Llandulas for London with a cargo of limestone and carrying a crew of ten, wirelessed that her fore hatch had stove in and that she needed immediate help. Her position was three miles east of the Lizard.

Eighteen minutes later the Lizard coastguard telephoned the Lizard life- boat station, and at 1.25 the Lizard life-boat Duke of York was launched.

At 1.8 the Porthoustock coastguard informed the Coverack life-boat station and twelve minutes later the Coverack life-boat William Taylor of Oldham was launched. The second coxswain, Reginald Carey, was in charge as the regular coxswain, Archibald Rowe, was sick.

Down by the Head A fresh gale was blowing from the north-west with squalls. Clear of the lee of the land the sea was very rough.

The tide was ebbing.

The Coverack life-boat was the first to reach the Citrine. This was at 1.50. She found her well down by the head, with her stern to wind, and she closed her starboard quarter. The Citrine's master was trying to reach the shelter of the land stern first, and he wirelessed that he intended to try to beach his ship on Kennack Sands, about a mile north of Cadgwith. The Coverack life-boat stood by her, and the Lizard life-boat also reached the position at 2.5.

Both Life-boats Remain The Citrine made some progress and both life-boats remained with her.

Wind and sea conditions began to improve as they approached the land, but about 2.30 the Citrine hit the bottom and she began to sink quickly.

Her crew tried to launch one of the ship's boats, but it fouled the falls and capsized. Seven of the crew were thrown into the sea, but the other three managed to scramble aboard the Citrine again.

The Coverack life-boat rescued four of the men from the sea and the Lizard life-boat rescued the other three. By this time most of the deck of the Citrine was awash, and she had a very heavy list to port. It was clear that she could not remain afloat long, and the three men aboard seemed unlikely to jump.

Acting Coxswain Carey decided he must go in towards the three men re- maining on board. He took the life- boat full-speed ahead over the port quarter of the Citrine, which was listing heavily towards him. He then brought the life-boat full-speed astern, the life-boat's keel just touching the deck of the wreck. The three men each grabbed one of the life-boat's outside life-lines and were dragged clear of the vessel just before she sank.

They were quickly hauled on board, and the life-boat returned to Coverack, arriving at 3.30. One of the men who had been picked out of the sea by the Coverack life-boat died. The Lizard life-boat reached her station again at 3.25.

A Bronze Medal For this service the bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to Acting Cox- swain Reginald Carey.

Rewards: The Lizard, rewards to the crew £7 10s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £9 18*. Coverack, rewards to the crew, £14 5,?.; rewards to the helpers on shore etc., £10 16.5. The owners made gifts of money to both crews and a donation to the funds of the Institution..