Aberdeen.—At 11.19 on the morning of the 29th of January, 1956, the coast- guard rang up to say that a message had been received from the Stone- haven radio station that the trawlers York City, of Grimsby, and Junella, of Hull, had picked up the crew of nine of the German motor vessel, Gertrude, which had sunk about 123 miles east- by-south of Peterhead. The trawlers were making for Aberdeen, and at 1.26 on the 30th the coastguard stated that they had been sighted three miles to the east-south-east. As the sea was rough and a strong south-south- west wind was blowing, the no. 1 life- boat Hilton Briggs put out at 1.50 to stand by the trawlers as they entered the harbour. The tide was flooding1.

Using her radio telephone, the life- boat spoke the trawlers and gave them advice on local conditions and the best way of approaching the harbourentrance. She then put pilots aboard and escorted the trawlers to the harbour, reaching her station again at 3.30—Rewards to the crew, £10; re- ward to the helper on shore, £2 6s..