Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 5.15 on the evening of the 14th of December, 1956, a message was received from the coastguard that flares had been seen near the no. 1 Sea Reach buoy.

At 5.40 the life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30} was launched.

There was a rough sea, a fresh south- westerly gale was blowing, and the tide was flooding. While on her way the life-boat learnt from the North Foreland radio station that the mote* vessel Raycrest, of London, with a crew of three, was ashore one mile east-north-east of the no. 1 Sea Reach buoy. She came up with the Raycres/t and found the Dutch vessel Admiral Courbet standing by. As the master of the Raycrest did not wish to leave his vessel, the coxswain put two of hi* crew aboard with a tow rope and the vessel was brought to Sheernes^ where she anchored. The life-boai then returned to her station, arriving at 9.5. Property Salvage Case..