AT 1.40 on the afternoon of the 27th of October, 1959, the coastguard informed Coxswain Hugh Jones of Beaumaris that the Greek tanker Essar I was drifting with engine trouble and with her engine room flooded one mile north of Point Lynas. The nearest life-boat station to the scene of the casualty was Moelfre, but the Moelfre life-boat had already put out to the help of the Hind- lea, a service which is described on page 380.

At two o'clock therefore the Beau- maris life-boat Field Marshal and Mrs.

Smuts, which is one of the 46-feet Watson type, was launched. A whole gale was blowing from the north, the sea was very rough, and visibility was restricted by flying spray.

Second Life-boat Launched After the Moelfre life-boat had landed the crew of the Hindlea the coastguard at Holyhead advised her coxswain, Richard Evans, by radio-telephone to stand by the Greek tanker. The Moel- fre reserve life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson therefore put out again at 3.25 and reached the Essar I, which was dragging her anchor, twenty-five minutes later.

At 5.18 Coxswain Evans suggested to the master of the tanker that he should let go a second anchor because of the conditions in the shallow water, and at 5.43 he reported that the tanker's anchors were holding and requested permission to return to the station for refuelling.

At six o'clock the Beaumaris life- boat reached the position, having made a passage of about nineteen miles in four hours into the teeth of the gale and against the flood tide. When she arrived the Moelfre life-boat returned to her station.

Gale Continues Through Night The master of the tanker asked the Beaumaris coxswain to stand by during the night until a tug could reach the scene. Coxswain Jones therefore secured astern of the ship. During the night, through which the gale con- tinued, the securing rope parted three times. The wireless aerial had been carried away by heavy seas during the life-boat's passage from her station, but contact could still be maintained with the tanker and through her with the shore.

At nine o'clock on the morning of the 28th of October the Moelfre life- boat again reached the scene of the casualty, and the Beaumaris life-boat returned to her station, arriving at eleven o'clock.

During the day conditions remained nearly unchanged, and the Moelfre life- boat continued to stand by until a tug arrived and got lines aboard the tanker.

The Moelfre life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at four o'clock.

Town Council's Tribute The Beaumaris life-boat sustained some damage during the service.

For this service a letter of apprecia- tion from the Chairman of the Com- mittee of Management of the Institution was sent to Coxswain Hugh Jones and the other members of the Beaumaris crew. The Beaumaris Town Council at a meeting on the 2nd of November resolved to place on the record " the very gallant and valuable services" of the Beaumaris life-boat on this occasion.

Scale rewards to the Beaumaris crew, £50 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £9 11s. Additional rewards to the crew, £36.

Moelfre: rewards to the crew, £31 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £7 12s..