THE portrait on the cover is of Coxswain H. O. Thomas of Torbay. He became assistant motor mechanic of the Torbay life-boat in February 1941 and ten years later was appointed coxswain. He was awarded the bronze medal for gallantry for the rescue of the crew of eleven of the Royal Engineers' tug Trieste on the 30th of January, 1952. A whole gale was blowing from the southsouth- west, and to bring the life-boat alongside the tug, which was yawing violently, called for very skilful seamanship. Since Mr. Thomas was appointed assistant motor mechanic Torbay life-boats have been launched on service 177 times and have rescued 99 lives. The photograph is reproduced by courtesy of Nicholas Home..