Aldeburgh, and Lowestoft, Suffolk.

At 12.30 on the afternoon of the 27th of June, 1959, the coastguard informed the Lowestoft honorary secretary that the motor vessel Staniel of Cardiff, which was making for Lowestoft, had a cargo of straw which was on fire. This message was passed also to the Aide- burgh life-boat station, and the Aide- burgh life-boat The Alfred and Patience Gottwald was launched at 1.13. The Lowestoft life-boat Michael Stephens left her moorings seven minutes later.

There was a moderate sea with a fresh southerly breeze. The tide was flooding.

The Lowestoft life-boat found the Staniel a mile and a half east of Sizewell Bank. Six of the life-boat's crew went aboard to help fight the fire, and the life-boat escorted the vessel on a course across Newcombe Sands, which would enable her to reach Lowestoft with the minimum delay. The fire was rapidly spreading and was fanned by the wind. When the flames reached the wheelhouse it was decided that the Staniel would have to be beached off Pakefield. Seven of her crew of nine were taken on board the life-boat, which was slightly damaged during the operation, and were landed at Lowes- toft. The Aldeburgh life-boat, which had also reached the position, stood by until the two remaining members of the Staniel's crew had been taken ashore by pilot cutter. The Lowestoft life-boat reached her station at 4.15, and the Aldeburgh life-boat reached hers at seven o'clock. Rewards to the crew : Lowestoft, £12 ; Aldeburgh, £14 9s.

Rewards to the helpers on shore : Lowestoft, 12s.; Aldeburgh, £13 11s. 6d..