Humber, Yorkshire. At 7.25 on the morning of 1st of January, 1959, the coastguard at Spurn Point informed the honorary secretary that three red flares had been seen about six or seven miles off Withernsea. At 7.47 the life-boat City of Bradford III was launched in a rough sea, with a strong south-west-by-westerly wind blowing and a flood tide. While she was mak- ing for the position, the life-boat received a radio message on very high- frequency from a helicopter, which had joined in the search, that a boat had been seen with two men on board two or three miles off Withernsea. At 10.15 the life-boat found the fishing vessel Excelsior of Hull, which had collided with a Royal Air Force target buoy. As the boat was leaking badlyand her engine was flooded, the life- boat towed her to Grimsby, arriving at four o'clock. The life-boat reached her station at 6.20. Paid permanent crew.

Additional rewards, £29 4s. 6d..