JANUARY DURING JANUARY life-boats were launched on service 53 times and rescued 15 lives.

t [BOAT FOUND AFTER MESSAGE FROM HELICOPTER 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 making for the position, the life-boat received a radio message on very highfrequency 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 badly and her engine was flooded, the lifeboat 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.

CREW ASK FOR NO PAYMENT Arranmore, Co. Donegal. On the 1st of January, 1959, the body of a young man from Arranmore, who had been killed in an accident in Wales, was brought to Burtonport, but because of the stormy weather it was not possible to take the body to the island.

The weather had not improved the next day, and in answer to a request from the parents of the young man the lifeboat was launched at noon in a northeasterly gale and conveyed the body to the island. The life-boat crew and and helpers did not wish any rewards to be paid.

TOW FOR TRAWLER IN NEAR GALE Newcastle, Co. Down. At 3.15 on the afternoon of the 1st of January, 1959, a passing motorist told the motor mechanic that a fishing trawler anchored off Mullartown Point was burning distress flares. At 3.40 the life-boat William and Laura was launched in a heavy swell. There was a near gale blowing from the southsouth- west, and it was high water.

The life-boat found the fishing trawler Rosebud of Dundalk with a crew of five. Her engine had broken down and she was taken in tow to Newcastle harbour, arriving at 5.10. Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £9 11s.

TWO LIFE-BOATS FIND BOAT IN GALE Dungeness, Kent, and Hastings, Sussex.

At 10.12 on the night of the 1st of January, 1959, the coastguard at Fairlight informed the Hastings honorary secretary that two flares had been seen south-east of the look-out. At 10.45 the life-boat M.T.C. put to sea after a very difficult launch. There was a west-south-westerly gale, the sea was very rough, and it was low water.

The sky was overcast with rain squalls.

The honorary secretary at Dungeness was informed that the Hastings lifeboat had been launched, and at 11.5 the Dungeness coxswain heard a distress message on his wireless. The Dungeness life-boat Mabel E. Holland was launched forty minutes later. Both life-boats found the house-boat Petrina with four people on board. Her engine had broken down. The Dungeness life-boat took her in tow, with the Hastings life-boat standing by. The tow-rope parted but was soon reconnected, and the Hastings life-boat escorted the Petrina and the Dungeness life-boat until they were a mile and a half north-east of Dungeness, where the Petrina was put to a safe anchorage.

The Hastings life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 5.29, and the Dungeness life-boat reached her station at three o'clock. The owner of the Petrina made a gift to the Dungeness crew and a donation to the Institution's funds. Rewards to the crews : Dungeness, £18 5s.; Hastings, £20. Rewards to the helpers on shore : Dungeness, £16 16s. ; Hastings, £35 16s.

BOY RESCUED FROM CAPSIZED DINGHY Poole, Dorset. At 7.40 on the evening of the 2nd of January, 1959, the police at Wareham told the coxswain that a sailing dinghy had left Wareham at three o'clock in the afternoon and had not returned. The crew consisted of a father and his two sons. The coastguard at Southbourne also telephoned the same message. At 7.55 the life-boat Thomas Kirk Wright was launched in a moderate sea. There was a moderate west-north-westerly wind, and it was low water. At 9.20 the life-boat, which was helped in the search by a boat from the Joint Services Amphibious Warfare School, Hamworthy, found the upturned dinghy about a hundred yards inside the mouth of the River Wareham. A thirteenyear old boy was lying semi-conscious in the bottom of the boat. He was taken aboard the life-boat and given dry clothing, a hot drink and some food. The life-boat brought him to Wareham Quay, from where an ambulance conveyed him to hospital. The life-boat returned to the position at which the dinghy had capsized, and after it had been righted the body of the second boy was found. After an unsuccessful search had been carried out for the father the life-boat returned to her station at 12.20. The body of the man was found next day by a helicopter and was recovered by a boat from the Warfare School. The widow of the owner of the dinghy gave the dinghy, a trailer and gear to the Institution to dispose of. Rewards to the crew, £14 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s.

DOCTOR TAKEN OUT TO STEAMER Margate, Kent. At 5.15 on the afternoon of the 3rd of January, 1959, the watchman of the local pilot cutter informed the honorary secretary that a radio message had been received from the s.s. Seaford of London, asking for a doctor, as the master was seriously ill.

She was near the Kentish Knock lightvessel, eighteen miles north-east of Margate. As the distance was too great for the pilot cutter to go and as no other boats were available, thelife-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11) was launched at 5.38 with a doctor on board. The sea was rough, and there was a strong north-westerly wind and a flood tide. The life-boat met the Seaford seven and a half miles from Margate at 6.35, and the doctor was put aboard her. He found that the master had died, and his body was brought ashore and landed at Margate at 8.45. Rewards to the crew, £12 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 4s.

ALL-NIGHT SERVICE TO FISHING VESSEL Moelfre, Anglesey. At 9.15 on the evening of the 4th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a fishing vessel had broken down with engine trouble twelve miles north-west of Point Lynas.

At 9.30 the life-boat Watkin Williams was launched in a rough sea, with a strong north-westerly wind blowing and an ebb tide. The weather was squally with sleet. The life-boat found the fishing vessel Isabel May of Belfast with a crew of two. She took her in tow to Moelfre Bay, but as the weather was uncertain she later towed her to Beaumaris pierhead, where the fishing vessel was secured. The life-boat reached her station at 6.30 in the morning.

Rewards to the crew, £20 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £5.

SICK CHILD TAKEN OFF SWEDISH VESSEL Stornoway, Hebrides. At 11.15 on the night of the 4th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the motor vessel Inga of Helsingborg, Sweden, was anchored in Branahuie Bay three miles from Stornoway and had a very sick child on board who needed a doctor. As there was no other suitable boat available, the life-boat The James and Margaret Boyd put out with a doctor on board at 11.45. The doctor was put aboard the vessel and decided after examining the child, who was five months old, that she should be taken to hospital. The mother and child were taken aboard the life-boat and landed at Stornoway at 1.30, where an ambulance was waiting to take them to hospital. Rewards to the crew, £6 5s.

SICK MAN TAKEN OFF GREEK STEAMER Shorehani Harbour, Sussex. At 2.25 on the afternoon of the 5th of January, 1959, a message was received from Niton radio that a Greek seaman aboard the S.S. Panaghia had been taken ill and needed medical attention. At 2.55 the life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched with two doctors on board in a slight swell. There was a light south-south-westerly breeze and a flood tide. The life-boat found the steamer six miles south-south-west of the harbour and the two doctors were put aboard to attend the sick man.

He was then transferred to the life-boat, which landed him at 5.10. The man had acute appendicitis and was taken to hospital. Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 5s.

SICK MAN TAKEN OFF NORWEGIAN STEAMER Barra Island, Hebrides. At 4.30 on the afternoon of the 5th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that there was a sick seaman on board the S.S. Fridtjof Nansen, of Kristiansand, Norway. The Norwegian steamer altered course for Barra Head and was expected to be ninety miles off the Southern Hebrides at noon the next day. At ten o'clock the next morning the honorary secretary was informed that the steamer was then approaching Barra. Arrangements were made for the life-boat to meet her at 2.30 off Lochboisdale. The lifeboat ft. A. Colby Cubbin No. 3 put out at 11.30 with a doctor on board. There was a smooth sea, a moderately easterly breeze was blowing, and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat reached the position given at 1.30, but contact was not made with the steamer until 4.10. The sick man was transferred to the lifeboat and landed at Lochboisdale, where an ambulance took him to hospital with suspected appendicitis.

The life-boat reached her station at 9.15. Rewards to the crew, £24 5s. ; reward to the helper on shore, £1 Is.

THREE YOUTHS RESCUED FROM DINGHY Lytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire. At 2.45 on the morning of the 7th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Blackpool life-boat was searching for three youths who had drifted out to sea in an inflatable dinghy. At 8.10 the coastguard asked for the Lytham-St. Anne's life-boat to be launched too to help in the search, as the Blackpool life-boat had not found the dinghy. The Lytham- St. Anne's life-boat Sarah Townsend Porritt put out in a calm sea.

There was a light north-easterly wind and it was high water. It was overcast and snowing. A Royal Air Force aircraft guided the life-boat to the dinghy, which was found one mile north of Nelson Buoy at the entrance to the Ribble estuary. The three youths were suffering from exposure, and as the dinghy was leaking they had been baling out with their hands and shoes. They were taken aboard the life-boat, given clothing and refreshments, and landed at Lytham, where they were taken to hospital. The lifeboat reached her station at 11.50.

Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 2s.

LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY MOTOR VESSEL IN GALE Lowestoft, Suffolk. At 7.54 on the morning of the 7th of January, 1959, the coastguard passed on to the honorary secretary a report that a rocket had been seen near the Gorton lightvessel.

At 8.15 the life-boat Michael Stephens put out in a rough sea. A northnorth- easterly gale was blowing and it was high water. The life-boat found the motor vessel Borthwick of Glasgow with her engines broken down. The Borthwick had anchored, and the lifeboat stood by her until a tug arrived to take her in tow. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 2.5. Rewards to the crew, £12 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s.

INJURED SEAMAN TAKEN OFF STEAMER Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. On the evening of the 7th of January, 1959, the pilot cutter Leader took a doctor out to the s.s. Sandstar in Yarmouth Roads to attend an injured seaman. The doctor diagnosed a compound fracture of the left thigh and asked for the lifeboat to be launched to bring the man ashore on a stretcher. The life-boat S.G.E. left at 8.45 in a calm sea, with a light north-westerly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. The man was brought ashore and the life-boat reached her station at ten o'clock. Rewards to shore, £3 15s.

POST OFFICE ENGINEERS TAKEN TO LUNDY Appledore, Devon. On the 7th of January, 1959, the Post Office telephone engineer in charge asked the honorary secretary for help in bringing three engineers to Lundy Island, as the only telephone line to the island had been out of action since Christmas and the weather had been too bad for local craft to make the crossing. The life-boat Violet Armstrong put out at seven o'clock the next day with the three engineers on board. There was a choppy sea and a fresh northerly wind. The engineers were landed, and the life-boat reached her station at three o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £18 10s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 8s.

Refunded to the Institution by the General Post Office.

DOCTOR TAKEN TO FISHING VESSEL Anstruther, Fifeshire. At 5.15 on the afternoon of the 8th of January, 1959, the assistant honorary secretary was informed that a message had been received from the fishing vessel Coral Isle of North Shields that one of her fishermen was seriously ill, and that as the tide was ebbing he could not be landed. At 5.40 the lifeboat James and Ruby Jackson was launched, with a doctor on board, in a slight swell. There was a north-easterly wind and an ebb tide. The life-boat met the Coral Isle off the harbour.

The doctor went aboard but he found that the fisherman had died. The lifeboat returned to her station at 6.40.

Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £8 16s.

SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS FROM FISHERY CRUISER Wick, Caithness-shire. At 8.30 on the morning of the 9th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a red flare had been seen off Helman Head, and ten minutes later more flares were seen six miles east of Clythness. The life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 9.5 in a moderate swell, with a northeasterly wind of nearly gale force blowing and a flood tide. She searched over a wide area but found only some wreckage of the fishery protection cruiser Freya, which had sunk within ten minutes of being hit by a huge sea a mile and a quarter east of Sarclet Head. The Freya had had a crew of nineteen, sixteen of whom had been picked up from a rubber dinghy by the Belgian trawler Saint Jean Berchman.

A search for the three missing men was carried out by ten trawlers, a helicopter and the life-boat, but it was unsuccessful. The life-boat finally reached her station at 2.50. A letter of thanks was received from the Scottish Home Department. Rewards to the crew, £13 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s.

MAN WITH FRACTURED SKULL TAKEN OFF SWEDISH VESSEL Stornoway, Hebrides. At 5.45 on the morning of the 13th of January, 1959, the honorary secretary heard from Wick radio station that there was a badly injured seaman aboard the motor vessel Magna of Helsingborg, Sweden, who needed medical attention. At 6.5 the life-boat The James and Margaret Boyd put out with a doctor on board in a slight sea. There was a gentle northerly breeze and a flood tide.

The life-boat came alongside the Magna a mile and a half outside the harbour and the injured man, who had fractured his skull by a fall in the engine room, was taken on board. He was brought ashore and conveyed to hospital but died there later. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s.

SEARCH AFTER AIRCRAFT CRASHES INTO SEA Buckie, Banffshire. At 1.55 on the afternoon of the 13th of January, 1959, a message was received from the coastguard that an aircraft had crashed three quarters of a mile north of Scaur Nose Head. At 2.5 the life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow was launched in a slight swell.

There was a moderate northerly wind and a flood tide. Several aircraft also joined in the search and a helicopter dropped markers. The lifeboat picked up pieces of wreckage and parts of the body of the pilot and clothing. She reached her station at 4.45. Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; reward to the helper on shore, 12s.

ESCORT FOR FRENCH TRAWLER Torbay, Devon. At 7.30 on the evening of the 14th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the coxswain that a French trawler was leaking and needed help thirty miles east of Start Point. The life-boat Princess Alexandra of Kent was about to leave her moorings when the coastguard informed the coxswain that as the casualty was between Weymouth and Brixham the Weymouth life-boat had been requested to launch. After consultation the Torbay life-boat put out at 8.10 in a rough sea. A strong east-south-easterly wind was blowing and the tide was flooding. The weather was misty and there was squally rain.

The life-boat found the trawler Jean Charles Francoise twelve miles from Brkham, but she was under control.

The life-boat escorted her to harbour, arriving at eleven o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s.

LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY TILL TUG ARRIVES Caister, Norfolk. At 3.30 on the afternoon of the 15th of January, 1959, the coastguard at Great Yarmouth informed the honorary secretary that a vessel was stationary a quarter of a mile east of Winterton. She was not at anchor and was making no distress signals. The weather was foggy, and there was a slight swell. A light north-westerly breeze was blowing, and the tide was ebbing. At 4.10 the lifeboat Jose Neville was launched and found the s.s. John Carrington ofLondon aground. The coxswain put one of his crew aboard, but the captain informed him that the steamer's owners had summoned a tug. The life-boat stood by until the tug arrived and was preparing to connect a tow wire when the John Char ring ton refloated. The life-boat reached her station at 11.30.

Rewards to the crew, £22 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £6 12s.

DUTCH VESSEL ESCORTED TO HARBOUR Fenit, Co. Kerry. At noon on the 22nd of January, 1959, the life-boat Hilton Briggs put out in a heavy swell to the help of the motor vessel Sheraton of Rotterdam. A gale was blowing from the north-north-east, and the tide was flooding. The Dutch vessel, with a crew of nineteen, had been standing off in Tralee Bay throughout the previous night as a pilot had been unable to board her because of the weather conditions and her master did not have a local chart. The life-boat escorted her safely into harbour. Rewards to the crew, £5 ; reward to the helper on shore, 13s.

LIFE-BOATS STAND BY WHILE BOATS ENTER HARBOUR Whitby, Yorkshire. On the afternoon of the 22nd of January, 1959, the coxswain was informed that four local fishing boats were still at sea. As there was a big fresh coming down the river and a strong northerly wind was blowing, it was decided to launch the life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth to stand by while the vessels entered harbour.

She was launched at 2.5 and stood by until the fishing boats Stakesly Rose, Success, Pilot Me and Lead Us had entered the harbour safely. The lifeboat was rehoused at four o'clock.

Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s.

DOCTOR TAKEN TO PATIENT IN GALE Lerwick, Shetlands. At 2.5 on the afternoon of the 23rd of January, 1959, the medical officer of health for the county of Zetland asked the honorary secretary for the use of the life-boat to convey a patient who was in urgent need of medical attention from Girlsta to Lerwick. A doctor from Scalloway had been unable to reach the patient because of severe weather conditions, and as there was no other suitable boat available, the life-boat Claude Cecil Staniforth left her moorings on the ebb tide at 2.30. After a doctor had boarded her she made for Brenthammersland in a north-easterly gale with heavy snow showers and poor visibility, arriving at 4.27. The patient was embarked and landed at Lerwick at 5.33. Rewards to the crew, £12 5s.

Refunded to the Institution by the St.

Andrew and Red Cross Scottish Ambulance Service.

ESCORT FOR LAUNCH TOWING FORMER LIFE-BOAT New Brighton, Cheshire. At 10.40 on the night of the 26th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Dutch coaster Toni had reported seeing a distress signal made by the crew of a boat near the wreck of the Ousel off Rock Ferry. The life-boat Norman B. Corlett was launched at eleven o'clock after this report had been confirmed. There was a fresh southsouth- easterly wind with a choppy sea and a flood tide. The life-boat reached the position and found a launch towing an ex-R.N.L.I. life-boat, which was being used as a tender by a contractor working in the river at the new oil jetty. The crew of the ex-life-boat had run short of fuel. The life-boat escorted the boats back to the contractor's ship and then returned to her moorings, arriving at 12.45. Rewards to the crew, £7 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 6s.

SPANISH TRAWLER ESCORTED TO HARBOUR Valentia, Co. Kerry. At 11.20 on the night of the 26th of January, 1959, a message was received from the trawler agents at Cahirciveen that a Spanish trawler was sinking twenty-five miles south-west of Skelligs Rock. Another vessel was standing by. At 11.53 the life-boat Rowland Watts put out in a rough sea. There was a south-easterly gale and it was low water. The lifeboat found the trawler Virgen de la Guia of Passajes seven miles south-west of Skelligs Rock. She escorted the trawler safely into Valentia harbour and then returned to her moorings, arriving at 5.30. Rewards to the crew, £11 15s. ; reward to the helper on shore, 17s.

TWO LIFE-BOATS IN SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS Anstruther, Fifeshire, and Broughty Ferry, Angus. At 7.34 on the evening of the 27th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary at Anstruther that the fishing boat Devotion of Kirkcaldy was on fire about a mile and half off Fifeness. The life-boat James and Ruby Jackson was launched at eight o'clock in fine weather with poor visibility and an ebb tide. She made for the position given but was unable to find the fishing boat.

She continued the search for some time, and eventually two bodies were found and recovered. The coxswain learnt by radio-telephone in answer to his enquiries that the Devotion had had a crew of three or four, and he continued the search throughout the night for possible survivors. Nothing further was found, and the life-boat returned to her station at six o'clock on the morning of the 28th of January and landed the two bodies. At 7.35 that morning the Broughty Ferry life-boat Mona was launched to continue the search. She found only pieces of fish boxes and a bundle of burnt papers, which were handed to the police when the life-boat returned to her station at 1.45. Anstruther : rewards to the crew, £24 5s. ; rewards to the helpers onshore £8 lls. Broughty Ferry : rewards to the crew, £18 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £2 14s.

DUTCH COASTER AGROUND IN FOG Dover, Kent. At 6.11 on the morning of the 30th of January, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a coaster was aground in St. Margaret's Bay. The honorary secretary asked for further information, and at seven o'clock the life-boat Southern Africa put out. There was a moderate sea, with a gentle northerly wind, dense fog and an ebb tide. The life-boat found the coaster Minorea of Groningen high and dry and stood by until she refloated. She then returned to her station, arriving at 2.8. Rewards to the crew, £18.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed, or could do nothing : Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—January 1st—Rewards, £12 5s.

Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire.— January 2nd.—Rewards, £26 8s.

Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.—January 2nd.—Rewards, £17 8s.

Hartlepool, Co. Durham.—January 2nd.—Rewards, £12 6s.

St. Mary's, Scilly Isles.—January 2nd.

—Rewards, £25 13s.

Walmer, Kent.—January 3rd.—Rewards, £36 lls.

New Brighton, Cheshire.—January 5th.—Rewards, £10 8s.

Blackpool, Lancashire.—January 7th.

—Rewards, £32 6s.

Redcar, Yorkshire.—January 12th.— Rewards, £14 17s.

Stornoway, Hebrides.—January 13th.

—Rewards, £7 10s.

Weymouth, Dorset.—January 14th.— Rewards, £10 10s.

Broughty Ferry, Angus.—January 15th.—Rewards, £25 2s.

Stornoway, Hebrides.—January 16th.

—Rewards, £12 5s.

Aberdeen. — January 18th. — Rewards, £10 9s. 6d.

Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire.— January 21st.—Rewards, £15.

Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—January 21st.—Rewards, £56 6s.

St. David's, Pembrokeshire.—January 21st.—Rewards, £33 6s.

New Quay, Cardiganshire.—January 21st. Rewards £57 10s, Portrush, Co. Antrim.—January 28th.

—Rewards, £10 lls.

Walmer, Kent.—January 30th.—Rewards, £24 2s.

Newhaven, Sussex.—January 30th.— Rewards, £16.

Padstow, Cornwall.—January 31st.— Rewards, £6 17s.

FEBRUARY DURING FEBRUARY life-boats were launched on service 29 times and rescued 27 lives.

TOW FOR FISHING BOAT WITH ENGINE BREAKDOWN Lowestoft, Suffolk. At 5.10 on the afternoon of the 1st of February, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the fishing boat Marina needed help as her engine had broken down off Pakefield. The life-boat Michael Stephens put out at 5.23 in a choppy sea, with a fresh north-easterly wind blowing and an ebb tide. She found the fishing boat with a crew of two and took her in tow, arriving at her station at 6.40. Rewards to the crew, £10 ; reward to the helper on shore, 12s.

SICK BOSUN TAKEN OFF STEAMER Penlee, Cornwall. At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 2nd of February, 1959, the port medical officer told the honorary secretary that the s.s. Asia of Liverpool, which was then three miles south-south-west of Carn Du, was making for Mounts Bay as her bosun was seriously ill with pneumonia and needed medical attention. At 12.45 the life-boat W and S was launched in a rough sea. There was a strong easterly wind and it was high water. The lifeboat made for Newlyn, where she embarked the port doctor and ambulance men, and left at one o'clock to meet the steamer. The doctor was put aboard the steamer, and after examining the patient he arranged for him to be transferred to the life-boat. The life-boat reached Newlyn at 3.15, when the bosun was taken to hospital. He was discharged eleven days later. The lifeboat remained at Newlyn because of the heavy ground swell near the Penlee slipway until the 9th of February, when she returned to her station. The owners of the steamer made a donation to the Institution's funds. Rewards to the crew, £14 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £10 19s. 6d.

MEDAL FOR ORKNEY COXSWAIN On the 4th of February, 1959, the Longhope, Orkneys, life-boat rescued the crew of fourteen of the steam trawler Strathcoe. For this service, a full account of which appears on pages 222-3, Coxswain Daniel Kirkpatrick was awarded the silver medal for gallantry.

ESCORT FOR COASTER IN DENSE FOG Eastbourne, Sussex. At 7.5 on the morning of the 6th of February, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a vessel was thought to be ashore east of Beachy Head. After further enquiries had been made it was reported that the coaster Friargate of Hull had hit Beachy Head ledge and needed help immediately. The lifeboat Beryl Tollemache was launched at 7.45 in a calm sea and dense fog. The tide was flooding. The life-boat found that the coaster had been holed and was making water. The pumps were keeping the water under control, and the life-boat escorted the coaster to Newhaven harbour, which was reached at 10.20. While returning to Eastbourne the coxswain was informed that the s.s. Juan Illueca of Valencia was ashore at Birling Gap. The life-boat made for the position and went alongside the steamer. Her master informed the coxswain that he was in no danger and did not need help, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 3.30.

Rewards to the crew, £17 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £13 12s.

TWO LIFE-BOATS SEARCH FOR FRENCH TRAWLER Valentia, and Fenit, Co. Kerry. At 12.55 early on the morning of the 7th of February, 1959, the coxswain of the Valentia life-boat was informed that the French trawler Mary-Brigitte of Concarneau was sinking three miles south of the Blaskets. Nine minutes later the trawler reported that her crew were abandoning ship. The life-boat Rowland Watts left her moorings at 1.35 in a south-easterly gale, with a rough sea and a flood tide. She arrived at the position given at 3.5 and carried out a search of the area but found nothing.

At 3.15 the Fenit life-boat Hilton Briggs put out to help in the search. Both lifeboats received a radio message at 5.5 giving an amended position three miles west of Teareaght Rock, and they altered their area of search accordingly.

The British merchant vessel Manchester Spinner, two French trawlers, a local fishing boat from Dingle, an Irish Army aircraft and a Hastings aircraft of the R.A.F. were also searching. At 7.35 some fishing buoys, four fish baskets, two hatch covers and other wreckage were picked up by the Valentia lifeboat, and the Fenit life-boat also picked up wreckage. At 10.33 two bodies were recovered by the Valentia life-boat, and the search for survivors continued until the afternoon, but nothing further was found, and the life-boats returned to their stations. Valentia life-boat arrived at 5.40 and the Fenit life-boat at eight o'clock. The whole crew of nine of the Mary-Brigitte lost their lives.

A letter of appreciation was received from the French Ambassador in Dublin.

Valentia : rewards to the crew, £38 5s ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 8s.

Fenit : rewards to the crew, £38 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 8s.

DUTCH MOTOR VESSEL ESCORTED TO HARBOUR St. Ives, Cornwall. At 5.32 on the morning of the 8th of February, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the motor vessel Flevo of Groningen had run aground near Laver Point east of St. Ives Bay. The lifeboat Edgar, George, Orlando and Eva Child was launched at 5.36 in a slight sea. There was a moderate southeasterly breeze and it was high water.

At 6.7 an amended position of the casualty was given by the coastguard, which put it to the west of St. Ives Head.

The coxswain was immediately informed, and the life-boat found the Dutch vessel, which was down by the head and making for St. Ives Bay. At her master's request the life-boat escorted her to St. Ives harbour, which was reached at 7.15. Rewards to thecrew, £9; rewards to the helpers on shore, £15 2s.

FRENCH TRAWLER TOWED OFF REEF Campbeltown, Argyllshire. At 6.55 on the morning of the llth of February, 1959, the coastguard at Portpatrick told the honorary secretary that a French trawler was in difficulties between Corsewall and Campbeltown. Further enquiries were made by the coastguard, and at 7.11 the honorary secretary was informed that a message had been received from Brest le Conquet radio station that the French trawler Tonton Alexandre of Etel was ashore three miles south-east of Campbeltown. The lifeboat City of Glasgow, on temporary duty at the station, put out at 7.35.

There was a fresh south-south-easterly breeze with a heavy swell and poor visibility. It was high water. The trawler was found ashore on a reef about one mile north of Rhu Stafnish Point.

Two other French trawlers were close by, and the life-boat ran a wire from the casualty to one of these trawlers.

Attempts were made to tow the Tonton Alexandre off the reef, but the wire snapped and after some difficulty another wire was connected by the lifeboat.

As the tide rose the trawler was pulled clear, and she made for Campbeltown escorted by the life-boat, arriving at 11.40. Rewards to the crew, £14 5s.; reward to the helper on shore, 16s.

CREW TAKEN OFF DUTCH CARGO VESSEL Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. At 3.20 on the morning of the 13th of February, 1959, a message was received from the honorary secretary at Rosslare Harbour that a Dutch vessel was stranded on the rocks in Dunmore Bay and was sending distress signals. The lifeboat Annie Blanche Smith put out at 3.35 in a fresh south-easterly wind.

There was a moderate sea and a flood tide. The life-boat reached the casualty at 3.50. She was the Dutch cargo vessel Helemar H on passage from Amsterdam to Waterford with a cargo of fertilisers. The life-boat went alongside, and the vessel's master asked the coxswain to stand by. An hour later the vessel's lights were extinguished and the coxswain went alongside again and found that the engine room had been flooded. The Helemar H's crew decided to stay on board, and radio contact was maintained with the lifeboat.

At 5.30, at the master's request, seven of the crew of the cargo vessel were taken off and landed. The life-boat then returned to her and at 8.25 the master and the two remaining members of the crew decided to abandon her. The life-boat landed them and then returned to her station, arriving at 9.5. Rewards to the crew, £11 15s. ; reward to the helper on shore, 17s.

FISHING BOAT FOUND AFTER TWO LIFE-BOATS SEARCH Hastings, Sussex, and Dungeness, Kent. At 5.25 on the afternoon of the 13th of February, 1959, the honorary secretary at Hastings telephoned the coxswain of the Dungeness life-boat to ask if any of the local boats had seen the fishing boat Breadwinner of Hastings, which was overdue. The coxswain's son, who had been in the last boat to return from fishing that afternoon, reported that he had seen the Breadwinner at ten o'clock off Rye Harbour.

The honorary secretary at Hastings made further enquiries, and from the information given him he was of the opinion that the Breadwinner ought to have returned to harbour several hours earlier. At 6.38 the Hastings life-boat M.T.C. was launched, and at 7.50 it was decided also to launch the Dungeness life-boat Mabel E. Holland. There was a slight sea with light east-southeasterly airs and fog. The tide was ebbing. The fishing boat Breadwinner with a crew of two was found at ten o'clock by the Dungeness life-boat. Her engine had broken down at eleven o'clock that morning, and her skipper had unsuccessfully tried to repair it. He had waited until the ebb tide, hoping to sail his boat towards land, but the wind had dropped and he had been forced to anchor until help arrived. The Hastings life-boat reached the Breadwinner shortly afterwards and with the Dungeness life-boat standing by took the casualty in tow. She reached her station at 11.20, and the Dungeness life-boat arrived back at her station at 11.59.

A radar position of the casualty given to the life-boats' coxswains by the motor vessel Seaford was of great assistance.

Hastings : rewards to the crew, £14 5s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £27 12s.

Dungeness : rewards to the crew, £18 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £20 16s.

COXSWAIN'S SON BROUGHT TO HOSPITAL Barra Island, Hebrides. At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 16th of February, 1959, the local doctor requested the use of the life-boat to take the coxswain's son, who was seriously ill, to hospital at South Uist. The lifeboat R.A. Colby Cubbin No. 3 left her moorings at 3.35 in a smooth sea, with a fresh southerly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. The patient was landed at Lochboisdale, where he was successfully operated on for peritonitis. He was later reported to be making good progress.

The life-boat reached her station at 10.45. Rewards to the crew, £20 5s.

INJURED MAN TAKEN OFF TANKER Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.

At 12.36 on the afternoon of the 19th of February, 1959, Lloyd's agent informed the honorary secretary that a seaman aboard the tanker Oarsman of London had fallen thirty feet from the mast on to the deck machinery and it was feared that he had broken his back.

The tanker was reported to be proceeding with all speed towards Great Yarmouth, and at 1.19 the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched with a doctor on board. There was a calm sea with barely any wind, and the tide was flooding. The injured man was transferred to the life-boat, which landed him at 2.35. He was taken to hospital, where it was found that he had fractured his spine in addition to other injuries.

Rewards to the crew, £12 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £8 5s.

SICK MAN TAKEN OFF STEAMER Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 12.50 on the afternoon of the 20th of February, 1959, the life-boathouse attendant told the coxswain that the s.s. City of Perth of London, which was south of Shoebury buoy, had asked for the life-boat to land a sick man. At 1.30 the lifeboat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched in a moderate sea, with a fresh south-westerly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. She took the man on board and landed him at three o'clock at Southend, where he was taken to hospital with acute appendicitis.

Rewards to the crew, £7 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £3 5s.

YACHT ON SANDS REFLOATED Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 3.5 on the afternoon of the 21st of February, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Mid-Barrow lightvessel had reported that a cabin cruiser appeared to be aground two miles north-west-by-north of the lightvessel.

The life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was launched at 3.30 in a slight sea with a moderate westerly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. The weather was overcast with mist and rain. The life-boat found the motor yacht Herga of St. Helier, with a crew of three, aground on West Barrow Sands. As it was low water, the life-boat was unable to go alongside.

She stood by, and at 9,30 the yacht refloated.

The life-boat's motor mechanic helped in putting right an engine defect, and the motor yacht continued on passage to Ramsgate. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 11.30.

Rewards to the crew, £19 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £6 4s.

CHILD BROUGHT TO MAINLAND HOSPITAL Galway Bay. At 7.15 on the morning of the 26th of February, 1959, the local doctor requested the use of the lifeboat to take a child, who had pushed a nail up his nostril, to the mainland for hospital treatment. The life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson left her moorings at 8.15. The sea was very rough, and there was a strong northerly wind and an ebb tide. The life-boat embarked the child and landed him at Rossaveal, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to Galway. The life-boat reached her station at 12.15. Rewards to the crew, £11 15s.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed, or could do nothing : Dungeness, Kent.—February 5th.— Rewards, £28 3s.

Penlee, Cornwall.—February 6th.— Rewards, £12 7s.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—February 12th.

—Rewards, £25 14s. 6d.

Workington, Cumberland.—February 16th.—Rewards, £12 12s.

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—February 17th.

—Rewards, £13 4s.

Donaghadee, Co. Down.—February 19th.—Rewards, £8 15s.

Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.— February 20th.—Rewards, £5 13s.

Barra Island, Hebrides.—February 22nd.—Rewards, £37 12s.

Hartlepool, Co. Durham.—February 23rd.—Rewards, £26 15s.

Seaham, Co. Durham.—February 24th.—Rewards, £15 16s.

Sunderland, Co. Durham.—February 24th.—Rewards, £10 11s.

Appledore, Devon.—February 27th.— Rewards, £17 15s.

MARCH DURING MARCH life-boats were launched on service 35 times and rescued 54 lives.

ESCORT FOR FISHING BOAT IN TOW Arbroath, Angus. At nine o'clock on the evening of the 2nd of March, 1959, the fishing boat Bairns Pride left Arbroath to look for the fishing boat Lassie, which was overdue from the fishing grounds. At 9.50 she sent a radio message asking for other boats to join in the search as the Lassie could not be found. Several other fishing boats left harbour to help, and the life-boat The Duke of Montrose was launched at ten o'clock in a moderate sea. There was a light south-south-easterly breeze and the tide was ebbing. At midnight the Bairns Pride found the Lassie with her engine broken down seven miles south of Bell Rock. She took her in tow, and escorted by the life-boat reached Arbroath at 5.30. Rewards to the crew, £22 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 14s.

CREW RESCUED FROM SWEDISH STEAMER Wick, Caithness-shire. At 5.29 on the morning of the 3rd of March, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the s.s. Stellatus of Helsingborg, Sweden, was ashore near Freswick Bay but was in no immediate danger. At 5.50 the vessel broadcast a distress message, and the life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 6.30.

It was just after high water. The weather was fine with a moderate south-easterly breeze blowing and a swell. The life-boat found the steamer two and a half miles south of Duncansby Head and stood by. At noon twelve men were taken off at the captain's request, and the life-boat landed them at Wick at 2.30. She returned to the Stellatus at 6.10. By then the captain had decided to abandon his ship, and the remaining fourteen men on board were rescued.

The life-boat reached Wick at 7.30.

Rewards to the crew, £38 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 14s.

WOMAN TAKEN FROM ARAN ISLAND TO MAINLAND Galway Bay. At noon on the 5th of March, 1959, a woman living on Aran Island, who had just received news of the death of her father, asked if the life-boat would take her to the mainland as no other transport was available. At 12.15 the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson left her moorings with the woman on board. There was a rough sea, with a very strong southwesterly wind blowing and a flood tide.

The woman was landed at Rossaveal, and the life-boat reached her moorings at 3.15. The woman made a donation to the Institution's funds. Rewards to the crew, £6 ; reward to the helper on shore 14s.

DOCTOR TAKEN TO EXPECTANT MOTHER Howth, Co. Dublin. At 3.15 on the afternoon of the 5th of March, 1959, the Baily lighthouse keeper informed the honorary secretary that a doctor was needed to attend a woman expecting a baby on Lambay Island.

The weather and the state of the tide precluded the use of local boats, and at 4.15 the life-boat R.P.L. put out with a punt on deck and a doctor on board. There was a rough sea, with a strong southerly wind blowing and a flood tide. Shortly afterwards the lighthouse keeper reported that the child had been born, but the doctor was landed at five o'clock, and after an hour and a half he informed the coxswain that he would have to remain overnight as complications had set in.

The life-boat returned to Howth, arriving at 7.20. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s.

TOW FOR MOTOR FISHING VESSEL Peel, Isle of Man. At 2.3 on the morning of the 6th of March, 1959, Portpatrick radio informed the honorary secretary that the motor fishing vessel Prevalent of Brixham, with a crew of three, had broken down two to three miles north-north-west of Peel. The honorary secretary spoke by radio-telephone to the skipper, who said his vessel was in no immediate danger but that he would appreciate assistance as the wind was freshening.

The life-boat Helena Harris—Manchester and District XXXI was launched at 2.30 in a strong south-south-westerly wind with a heavy swell and rain squalls.

The tide was ebbing. The life-boat took the Prevalent in tow and reached her station at four o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £10 8s.

TOW FOR DINGHY AFTER TWO LIFEBOATS SEARCH Lytham-St. Anne's, and Blackpool, Lancashire. At 4.15 on the afternoon of the 7th of March, 1959, the police at Blackpool informed the honorary secretaries at Lytham-St. Anne's and Blackpool that a dinghy fitted with an outboard motor was drifting off Blackpool.

The weather was cloudy with some patches of mist and a fresh easterly breeze. There was a moderate sea and it was flood tide. The Lytham- St. Anne's life-boat Sarah Townsend Porritt put out at 4.45, and the Blackpool life-boat Sarah Ann Austin was launched at 5.20. Both life-boats carried out a search and found the dinghy, with a crew of two, two miles west-north-west of St. Anne's pier.

The Blackpool life-boat took the dinghy in tow, arriving back at her station at 7.45. The Lytham-St.

Anne's life-boat reached her station at 7.40. Rewards to the crew : Lytham-St. Anne's, £10 10s. ; Blackpool, £10 10s. Rewards to the helpers on shore : Lytham-St. Anne's, £3 10s.; Blackpool, £3 14s.

FIVE UNDERGRADUATES RESCUED FROM YACHT Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. At 12.12 on the afternoon of the 8th of March, 1959, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a yacht was in difficulties to the east of the harbour entrance. Five minutes later the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched in a moderate sea, with a strong easterly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. The life-boat found the yacht Daisy of Maldon, whose crew of five Cambridge undergraduates were baling with buckets.

The yacht had been bought by a group of undergraduates for an expedition to West Africa to carry out underwater surveys and geological work. Repairs had been carried out to the yacht, and on the morning of the 6th of March she had left Walton on passage for Yarmouth. When she was east of the Barnard Sands early on the morning of the 8th of March the wind had freshened and the sea had increased, causing the yacht to pound heavily.

She had begun to make water, and her crew signalled a collier, the s.s. Henfield, which took the yacht in tow.

After towing for fourteen miles the master of the collier, realising that the weather was deteriorating and the yacht's condition worsening, signalled Gorleston coastguards for help. The five men, on being rescued by the lifeboat, asked the coxswain if anything could be done to salvage the Daisy as she was not insured and all their personal belongings were on board.

The second coxswain boarded the yacht and a tow line was passed to the lifeboat, but as soon as towing began the boat took a sheer and began to sink.

The second coxswain immediately slipped the tow rope and hanging on to it jumped overboard. He was hauled aboard the life-boat, which reached her station at 1.20. Rewards to the crew, £14 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 5s.

DOCTOR TAKEN TO ADMIRALTY VESSEL Humber, Yorkshire. At 3.6 on the afternoon of the 8th of March, 1959, the coastguard at Spurn Point informed the honorary secretary that two of the crew of the Admiralty vessel D.G.V.400 needed medical attention. At 3.50 the life-boat City of Bradford III was launched with a doctor on board in a moderate north-easterly wind. There was a moderate sea and a flood tide.

The doctor found that one man had injured his fingers in a door and the other had a haemorrhage. The second man was taken on board the life-boat and landed at Spurn Point, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital. Paid permanent crew.

VELLUM AWARD TO COXSWAIN ON the llth of March, 1959, the Blyth life-boat rescued four of the crew of the s.s. Holderness of Hull.

A full account of this service, for which Coxswain Thomas Fawcus was accorded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum, appears on page 224.

FISHING VESSEL TOWED TO STROMNESS Stromness, Orkneys. At ten o'clock on the morning of the 13th of March, 1959, the assistant motor mechanic told the honorary secretary that he had heard the motor fishing vessel Enterprise calling for help on his radio.

At 10.12 the life-boat J.J.K.S.W., on temporary duty at the station, was launched in a moderate south-westerly wind with a heavy swell. The tide was flooding. The life-boat found the fishing vessel, with a crew of four, one mile west of Braga off Hoy Sound.

There was a fault in her engine, and the life-boat took her in tow to Stromness, which was reached at 11.58.

Rewards to the crew, £10 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s.

FISHING VESSEL TOWED TO PETERHEAD Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. At 2.16 on the afternoon of the 14th of March, 1959, the coaslguard passed on to the honorary secretary a report from Buchanness lighthouse that the engine of a motor fishing vessel had broken down about a mile and a half east of Buchanness. The vessel was proceeding northwards under sail and not showing any distress signals. At 2.28 the coastguard reported that the vessel was firing red flares, and at 2.47 the life-boat Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow was launched in a strong southerly wind. There was a moderate sea and a flood tide. The life-boat found the motor fishing vessel Girl Petrina of Peterhead, with a crew of four, and took her in tow to harbour, arriving at 3.5. Rewards to the crew, £9 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £3 8s.

MOTOR CRUISER TAKEN IN TOW Selsey, Sussex. At 2.10 on the afternoon of the 15th of March, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that red flares had been reported off Bognor and that further enquiries were being made. At 2.40 the coastguard reported that a small boat had been seen apparently drifting.

The life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched five minutes later in a calm sea with a light north-easterly breeze blowing. It was high water. The life-boat found the motor cruiser Sevona of Itchenor, with a crew of two, drifting because of an engine defect.

She took her in tow to Littlehampton, arriving back at her station at 7.30.

Rewards to the crew, £16 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £7.

MAN FOUND STRANDED ON CLIFF FACE St. Peter Port, Guernsey. At 5.45 on the evening of the 19th of March, 1959, the police telephoned the signal station asking for help in rescuing a man stranded on the cliff face between Moulin Huet and Petit Bot on the south side of the island. As the St. John ambulance launch was not afloat, the honorary secretary was informed, and the life-boat Euphrosyne Kendal left her moorings at six o'clock.

The sea was calm with a moderate north-easterly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. When the life-boat reached the position, it was found that St. John ambulance men had lowered the stranded man to the shore, where two of his friends were waiting. The three men were brought to the life-boat in a rubber dinghy. They were landed at Petit Port Bay, and the life-boat reached her station at 7.10. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ; reward to the helper on shore, 13s.

MOTOR BOAT TOWED TO HARBOUR Buckie, Banffshire. At 7.25 on the evening of the 19th of March, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a small vessel aground on the West Muck rocks, three quarters of a mile from Buckie harbour, was burning flares. The life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow was launched at 7.36 in a calm sea, with a light south-southeasterly breeze blowing and a flood tide. She found the motor boat Rosaline of Buckie with two men on board and took her in tow to harbour, arriving at 8.10. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ; reward to the helper on shore, 12s.

CREW RESCUED FROM SAILING DINGHY Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. At 6.28 on the evening of the 24th of March, 1959, the police were informed that the sailing dinghy Mild and Bitter had capsized in the bay and that two people were in the water. The honorary secretary and coxswain were informed, and at 6.45 the life-boat Fifi and Charles was launched in a slight sea. There was a moderate south-easterly wind, and it was high water. As the life-boat approached the casualty a second dinghy was seen making for the capsized boat. The dinghy had put out from the shore, but her outboard motor had broken down and her crew were using oars.

The dinghy picked up one man and the life-boat rescued the second man.

The dinghy's crew and the man they had picked up were transferred to the life-boat, and both dinghies were taken in tow to harbour, which was reached at 7.20. Rewards to the crew, £10 10s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £5 19s.

LIFE-BOAT PUTS OUT TWICE TO YACHT Ramsgate, Kent. At 5.57 on the evening of the 27th of March, 1959, the east pier watchman told the honorary secretary that a yacht had run ashore with the ebb tide on the Dike shoal off Ramsgate. At 6.5 the life-boat Michael and Lily Davis left her moorings in a light south-southwesterly breeze. There was a slight sea, and the tide was ebbing. The lifeboat found the yacht Gleaner, with four people on board, but as she was not in need of immediate help, the life-boat returned to harbour. At 9.40 the life-boat returned to the yacht and stood by while she refloated.

She then escorted her to harbour, arriving at 10.45. Rewards to the crew, £12 10s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, 10s.

TOW FOR TWO BOATS TO HARBOUR Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. At 11.24 on the morning of the 28th of March, 1959, the coxswain was informed that two boats, which were drifting towards Dinas Head, appeared to be in difficulties as their occupants were waving frantically. The life-boat Howard Marry at was launched at 11.45 in a strong south-westerly breeze. There was a moderate sea and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat found two motor boats a mile and a half north of Pwllgwaelod. They were within twenty yards of the cliff and dragging their anchors. The life-boat took them both in tow to Fishguard harbour, which was reached at 1.20. Rewards to the crew, £6 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 6s.

RESCUE FROM CAPSIZED DINGHY Tenby, Pembrokeshire. At 12.32 on the afternoon of the 28th of March, 1959, the honorary secretary was informed that a boat was being blown off shore one mile east of the lifeboathouse.

At 12.40 the life-boat Henry Comber Brown was launched in a calm sea with a gentle south-westerly breeze blowing and an ebb tide. She found a capsized sailing dinghy with her crew of two in the water. The life-boat rescued them and took the sailing dinghy in tow, arriving back at her station at 1.20. Rewards to the crew, £8 15s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 7s.

LIFE-BOAT AND HELICOPTER IN SEARCH FOR BOATS Dunbar, East Lothian. At four o'clock on the morning of the 30th of March, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the police had reported two small boats overdue which were on passage from Aberdeen to Port Seton. One of the men on board was a diabetic and needed medical attention. The life-boat Margaret left her moorings at 4.15 in a slight sea, with a moderate southwesterly wind blowing and a flood tide.

The life-boat carried out a search for the missing boats, and at seven o'clock a helicopter joined in the search, contact being maintained by very high frequency radio-telephone. At 9.18 the police at Port Seton told the honorary secretary that both boats, the Venture and Kestrel, had put into Fernieness about five o'clock as they were short of fuel, and that the men on board were safely ashore. Shortly afterwards the coxswain saw the Kestrel drifting off Fernieness, and the life-boat took her in tow, reaching her station at 3.30. Rewards to the crew, £28 5s.

The following life-boats went out on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed, or could do nothing : Stornoway, Hebrides.—March 9th.— Rewards, £7 10s.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—March 11th.—Rewards, £17 15s.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—March 11th.—Rewards, £14 5s.

Swanage, Dorset.—March llth.— Rewards £18 Is.

Stromness, Orkneys.—March 12th.

—Rewards, £10 16s.

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.

—March 15th.—Re wards, £16 10s.

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—March 22nd.— Rewards, £9 19s.

Eastbourne, Sussex.—March 22nd —Rewards, £26 6s.

Walmer, Kent.—March 23rd.—Rewards, £55 16s.

Aberdeen.—March 24th.—Rewards, £18 17s.

Swanage, Dorset.—March 25th.— Rewards, £12 18s.

Longhope, Orkneys.—March 26th.

—Rewards, £18 5s.

Newcastle, Co. Down.—March 27th.

—Rewards, £13 17s.

Cromarty.—March 29th.—Rewards, £8 15s.

Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—March 30th.

—Rewards, £24 19s..