AT 10.8 on the night of the 8th of March, 1957, the coastguard told the honorary secretary of the Campbeltown station, Mr. A. P. MacGrory, that the S.S. Gracehill, of Campbeltown, was ashore on Sanda island in thick fog and needed help. Mr.

MacGrory, who had been involved in a car accident earlier in the evening and had just returned home, made his way to the life-boathouse and spoke to the coxswain. Immediately afterwards his doctor advised him to go to bed, where he had to remain for three days. During this time the assistant honorary secretary replaced him.

At 10.10 the Gracehill reported that she was pounding heavily, and a quarter of an hour later the Campbeltown life-boat City of Glasgow II put out. There was a moderate southerly wind with a moderate swell from the south-east. Dense fog had reduced visibility to less than fifty yards.

Engine Room Flooded Three minutes after the life-boat put out the Gracehill reported that her engine room was flooded and that her crew were taking to the boats. Coxswain Duncan Newlands decided to set a course to the east of Sanda Island, which is eleven miles from Campbeltown loch, using the fog signal from the lighthouse as a guide.

The trawler Lairdstock was heard broadcasting on the radio-telephone, and at 11.34 the life-boat asked her whether she was fitted with radar.

The Lairdstock answered that she was and indicated that the life-boat's position was now three miles eastnorth- east of Sanda. At 12.25 another trawler, the Loch Fleet, informed the life-boat by radio-telephone that she could see her on her radar screen, and the Loch Fleet continued to give the life-boat accurate positions.

At 1.12 the life-boat reported that she had seen a flare which she believed to be from the Gracehill, and asked for more flares to be shown, as the Loch Fleet had just indicated that the lifeboat was now only three cables from the Gracehill.

Life-boat in Sight As the life-boat approached the Gracehill the steamer's crew could hear the coxswain speaking over the loudhailer, and at 1.48 she reported that the life-boat had come in sight.

The Gracehill was lying on a reef at the west end of Sanda island with her bows to the eastward. A considerable swell from the north-east was causing her to pound. A four-knot tide was running to the eastward on the starboard side of the steamer, but her port side was in still water.. The whole crew had taken to the boats, which were lying alongside the port side of the steamer.

Visibility was still less than fifty yards, and with the strong tide running this made the approach hazardous.

Nevertheless, Coxswain Newlands took the life-boat in on the port quarter of the Gracehill and transferred the crew of ten from the ship's boats to the life-boat. She left at 2.5 through fog which still persisted, and it was not until 5.55 that the life-boat finally reached Campbeltown.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Coxswain Duncan Newlands.—Rewards to the crew, £20 5s.; reward to the helper on shore, 19s..