Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 9.8 on the evening of the 24th of December, 1959, the coastguard passed on to the honorary secretary a message received from the police at Sheerness that shouts for help had been heard near the Harty ferry in the river Swale. After further enquiries has been made the life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched at 10.5 in a moderate sea.

There was a gentle south-easterly wind and the tide was half ebb. The life- boat proceeded up the river until she found the tug Exchange of Southamp- ton, which was flashing lights. The tug was making water and the two men aboard her were transferred to the life- boat. Members of the life-boat crew boarded the tug, which was then taken in tow to Southend, where she arrived at 7.45. Property salvage case..