AT 4.59 on the afternoon of Christmas Day, 1956, the coastguard informed the Exmouth honorary secretary, Mr.

P. H. C. Butler, that a vessel was burning- red flares four miles south- east of Orcombc Point. This is about three-and-a-half miles south-east of the fairway buoy in the river Exe. A south-easterly gale was blowing and there were high seas with continuous rain. It was less than an hour before low water. The river running into the sea had been swollen by heavy rain.

Maroons were fired at 5.4, and at 5.20 the Exmouth life-boat Maria Noble, one of the 35-feet 6-inehes Liverpool type, was launched into the sheltered waters of the river.

The coxswain, Harold Bradford, took her down river at reduced speed, as none of the channel buoys is lit.

As she approached Flatledge buoy she ran into heavy broken water caused by the bar, and the coxswain ordered full speed ahead in order that the life-boat could gain steerage On Beam Ends As she approached Orcombe Ledge buoy the life-boat shipped a very heavv sea over her starboard bow.

This laid her on her beam ends and caused her to sheer violently to port.

At this time there were three men forward. One of them was the bow- man, Bernard Bradford. The other two were E. C. Lane and William Carder.

When the boat had nearly cleared herself of the first sea but still had a list to port, William Carder shouted that he was going aft for shelter. As he did so the life-boat shipped a second heavy sea. It is believed that it was this sea which washed Carder over- board, although nobody saw him go.

After a few minutes the bowman, Bernard Bradford, went aft to see whether Carder was safe. By this time the life-boat was nearly clear of the bar, but she shipped three further heavy seas in quick succession over the starboard side. The first of these seas caused the aerial downlead plug to come adrift. One of the members of the crew, Brian Rowsell, tried to plug in the lead when he was hit by the second sea. This knocked him against the mizzen mast and injured his head. Almost at the same time the second coxswain, Jack Phillips, was washed out of the life-boat over Rowsell, striking the mizzen mast and bending it as he went. At the same time it was learnt that Carder was missing. The time was now about 5.50.

Search Must be Hopeless With the sea that was running and in the general conditions prevailing Coxswain Bradford reached the con- clusion that a search must be hopeless and that to turn the boat at that moment would be to invite certain disaster. He therefore decided to in- form the shore by radio-telephone that two men were missing, and to make for the casualty. Because of the damage to the aerial it was some fifteen minutes before the message could be passed. As soon as it was received on shore Mr. Butler and the coastguard organised search parties.

Coxswain Bradford by this time was badly shaken and bruised and the second coxswain had been washed overboard. The mechanic, William Mann, took the wheel, and the life- boat made for the casualty. She was a Dutch motor vessel, the Minerva, of 336 tons, in ballast. She had anchored because of engine trouble and was in danger of dragging.

At 6.35 the Torbay life-boat George Shee was launched. She too went to the Minerva and relieved the Exmouth life-boat, which made for Brixham harbour, arriving at ten o'clock. The Torbay life-boat stood by the Minerva until she had repaired her engines and was under way. The life-boat then returned to her station, which she reached at 10.25.

Half Swimming and Drifting Jack Phillips meanwhile had man- aged, half swimming and half drifting, to reach the shore to the eastward of Orcombe Point, where he was found by search parties and taken to hospital.

He subsequently recovered. Shortly afterwards William Carder was found lying head down in the surf, and all efforts to revive him were unsuccess- ful. Brian Rowsell was treated in hospital for head injuries.

William Carder was unmarried, but the Institution is paying a pension to a member of his family. The funeral took place at Littleham Parish Church on the 28th of December, 1956. Sir Arthur Reed, J.P., represented the Committee of Management of the Institution. A letter of commendation was sent to Motor Mechanic William Mann.

Rewards: Exmouth, rewards to the crew, £23; additional monetary rewards to the crew, £40; rewards to the helpers on shore, £15 14s.; total rewards, £78 14s.; Torbay, rewards to the crew, £12 5s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s..