Lowestoft, Suffolk.—At 7.30 on the evening of the 1st of September, 1956the coastguard telephoned that a French trawler was burning flares a mile and a quarter south of Lowestoft harbour. The life-boat Greater Lon- don (Civil Service No. 3) on temporary duty at the station, was launched in a rough sea. There was a strong north- easterly wind, and the tide was ebbing.

Five minutes before the life-boat was able to reach the position the trawler Les Deux Jeaunes, which had grounded on the Newcombe Sands, with a crew of nine, sank. By now it was almost dark, and the life-boat went to the leeward among the wreckage and saw the crew in the sea clinging to oars and floats. With great difficulty all nine men were taken on board the life- boat and landed at Lowestoft, where they were given hot baths, food and clothing. As soon as the life-boat returned, a further message was re- ceived that another French trawler, the En Avant, was also burning flares about a quarter of a mile east of the position of the sunken Les Deux Jeaunes. She put to sea again and found that the crew of the trawler En Avant had seen their compatriots in need of help but had not noticed that the life-boat had rescued them. After assurances had been given that the crew of Les Deux Jeaunes were all safe, the life-boat escorted the En Avant to harbour, arriving back at 8.55.—Rewards to the crew, £10 16s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £l 4s..