Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 8.10 on the morning of the 26th of February, 1958, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the tug Hawke- stone, of London, which had been towing two lighters, was missing and had last been seen approaching the Swatchway Channel. The life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched in a rough sea. There was a moderate north-north-easterly gale with snow showers, and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat found the tug high and dry one mile south of no. 5 Sea Reach buoy. She returned to her station to collect a small boat and then made for the position again.

Three or four members of the life-boat crew boarded the tug but found nobody there. The two lighters were found high and dry at All Hallows, off Yantlet Creek. After an unsuccessful search for survivors, water was pumped out of the tug, which was later towed up river. The life-boat reached her station at 4.15. The crew of six of the Hawkestone lost their lives. Property Salvage Case..