Exmouth and Torbay, South Devon.— At 4.40 on the afternoon of the 15th of August, 1956, the Brixham coastguard rang up to say that the Devon County Constabulary had reported that two children who had gone out from Dawlish in a small boat had been mis- sing since the day before. The Torbay life-boat George Shee put out at 5.10.

There was a moderate sea, with a gentle south-westerly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. At 5.30 the Ex- mouth life-boat Maria Noble was launched to help the Torbay life-boat in her search. Both life-boats searched in co-operation with aircraft over a wide area. Finally the aircraft located the boat off Hopes Nose. The life- boats both made for the position, with the aircraft indicating the direction by green flares. The life-boats were in constant communication with each other. The Torbay life-boat came up with the dinghy and took off the two children, a fourteen-year-old boy and his nine-year-old sister. They had been afloat for thirty-three hours and were very tired and cold. They were wrapped in blankets and given hot drinks, and were landed at Exmouth where their anxious parents had waited for their return. The Exmouth life-boat arrived back at her station at eleven o'clock and the Torbay life- boat at 12.45 early on the 16th.—• Rewards to the crews: Exmouth, £10 17s.; Torbay, £15 17*.; rewards to the helpers on shore: Exmouth, £13 2s.; Torbay, £1 4*..