Ax 9.14 on the evening of the 7th of December, 1959, the honorary secretary of the Torbay, Devon, life-boat station, Mr. F. W. H. Park, was informed by the coastguard at Berry Head that the Dutch tug Cycloop, which was shelter- ing in Torbay with three lighters in tow, needed help. Her position was half a mile south of Torquay.

The master of the tug had cut one lighter adrift after its rope had fouled the tug's propeller. There were two men on board the lighter, which was 120 feet in length and loaded with 12-inch steel pipes.

A whole gale was blowing from the south-east and there were frequent fierce rain squalls, which at times reduced visibility to less than half a mile. The weather was overcast and the sea was very rough. The Torbay life-boat Princess Alexandra of Kent, which is one of the 52-feet Barnett type, put out at 9.35, two and a half hours before high water. At 9.55 lights were seen close inshore, which were found to be those of the lighter.

The lighter was aground aft with her bows to the south-east, half a mile south-east of Torquay harbour.

Heavy Seas Sweeping Coxswain Henry Thomas brought the life-boat into the wind well ahead of the lighter and anchored on a rocky bottom in three fathoms. With both engines moving slowly astern about eighty fathoms of cable were veered until the life-boat was abreast of the stern superstructure of the lighter. A rock close under the starboard quarter of the lighter, which was just covered, prevented the coxswain from coming further astern. Heavy seas were sweep- ing the lighter from forward to aft, she was pivoting on her stern with her bow rising and swinging to each wave, and at times the life-boat was lifted well above the level of the lighter's deck.

Coxswain Thomas managed to bring the port bow of the life-boat alongside the starboard side of the lighter amid- ships. One of the two men aboard the lighter threw a small dog into the life- boat and then jumped himself. The other man, who was older, hesitated, and before he could jump the life-boat was carried clear of the lighter's side.

Coxswain Thomas tried to bring the life-boat alongside again to allow the second man to jump. He was unable to do so because the lighter was being driven further up the beach by the rising tide and onshore gale and her bows were swinging across the wind to the north- east. He repeated this manoeuvre four more times, but he was still unable to bring the life-boat close enough for the man to jump.

Almost Lifted Aboard Lighter He then decided to put his port quarter alongside the starboard side of the lighter. This manoeuvre too was repeated twice, at the third attempt the life-boat's stern being almost lifted aboard the lighter. The lighter had now been carried into such a position that it was impossible to get alongside her, and a line was thrown to the man so that he could be hauled off to the life-boat. The Dutchman who was already on board the life-boat called out instructions to him to put the line around his body, but he made it fast to a bollard, and holding on to it dropped over the side and started to pull himself through the water. In an effort to help him Coxswain Thomas veered a little more cable, but when the man was only some ten feet from the life-boat he let go of the rope. A breeches buoy was thrown to him, but he made no effort to grab it. Coxswain Thomas again manoeuvred the life-boat towards him, and in spite of the violent motion of the boat he was hauled aboard with the help of the boathook. He was un- conscious, and two members of the life-boat's crew tried to revive him by artificial respiration, but without success.

The life-boat weighed anchor at 10.40 and made for Brixham. A doctor boarded her in the outer harbour at 11.15. He too applied artificial respira- tion, but the man was already dead.

At the inquest which was held subse- quently it was decided that he had died from shock before being taken from the water.

For this service the silver medal for gallantry has been awarded to Cox- swain Henry Thomas.

Third Bronze Medal The third service clasp to the bronze medal for gallantry has been awarded to Mechanic Richard Harris, whose earlier awards were for rescues carried out in 1939 and 1943.

The thanks of the Institution in- scribed on vellum have been accorded to Second Coxswain Abraham Bartlett, Bowman John Fry, Assistant Motor Mechanic James Harris and the other three members of the crew, D. Thomas, K. Thomas and P. Easton.

Among letters of appreciation re- ceived was one from the Netherlands Ambassador.

Scale rewards to the crew, £12 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s.

Additional rewards to the crew, £24..