Islay, Hebrides. At 9.40 on the night of the 13th of January, 1958, the the Kilchoman coastguard informed the honorary secretary that H.M.S. Bar- combe was aground on Oronsay. At 10.5 the life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth put out in a slight sea. There was a light south-westerly wind with fog patches, and the tide was flooding.

The life-boat went to the position and carried out a search of Oronsay and the eastern side of Colonsay without success. Several naval craft were also searching. At 10.20 the next morning the life-boat put in at Scalasaig to re- fuel and then made for the north end of Colonsay. Searching was made diffi- cult by dense fog, but at 4.20 a new position for the Barcombe was given.

This was near Garvelloch Rocks. When the life-boat reached this position thefishing boat Rosebud reported that she had seen the Barcombe on the eastern side of Loch Buie. The life-boat found the Barcombe badly holed and flooded to the decks. Of her crew of thirty-one fourteen were taken off by H.M.S.

Kingfisher and the remaining seventeen were transferred to her by the life-boat, •which reached her station at 12.45 early on the 15th of January, after being at sea for almost twenty-seven hours.

Rewards to the crew, £56 15s. ; re- wards to the helpers on shore, £3 18s..