Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 7.40 Ott the evening of the 19th of April, 1957^ the coastguard telephoned to say ft German tanker had reported a small vessel drifting near the East Shoebury buoy. At 8.10 the life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched. There was a moderate sea, a moderate south-easterly breeze was blowing, and the tide was ebbing.

The life-boat found the yacht Ava, of London, aground inside the East Shoebury buoy. The life-boat was not able to come near enough to rescue the yacht's crew of two, and she returned to Southend to collect a small boat.

She reached the position again, and the small boat took off the two people and transferred them to the life-boat.

When the tide had begun to flow the life-boat went alongside the yacht and put a tow rope aboard. She then returned to her station, arriving at 2.20 the next morning.—Property Salvage Case..