AT 2.40 on the morning of the 22nd of October, 1960, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary of the Portrush, Co. Antrim, life-boat station, Mr. W. R.

Knox, that the Greek motor vessel Argo Delos of Piraeus, a ship of 10,392 gross registered tons, was ashore on Inish- trahull Island, which lies some 24 miles from Portrush.

A fresh breeze was blowing from the south-east and there was a moderate to rough sea. The weather was overcast, and conditions were clearly deteriorat- ing. It was two hours after low water when the Portrush life-boat Lady Scott (Civil Service No. 4), which is one of the 46-feet 9-inches Watson type, was launched at 3.5. Coxswain Samuel Cunningham set a course to the north- west, and at 5.58, when the life-boat was within three miles of the wreck, contact was made with H.M.S. Leopard, which was standing by.

Stern Firmly Aground About 7.15, at first light, Coxswain Cunningham approached the Argo Delos, which was heading north-north- west with her stern firmly aground on Torbeg islet, which is one mile north- by-east of Inishtrahull Island lighthouse.

Her fore end was fast on a rock, but her midship section was not aground. Her rudder was clear of the water and the sea was breaking heavily around her bow, the broken water extending aft for about one-third of the vessel's length.

The wind had now backed to the north- east and increased to near gale force.

The tide was running to the eastward.

Before deciding how to take the crew off Coxswain Cunningham made a reconnaisance on the port side of the casualty, which seemed to provide a good lee. But there was little clear water and a three-knot tide was swirling underneath the midship section of the vessel to the eastward. The coxswain therefore decided that he would have to approach the vessel from the starboard or weather side.

Could Not Speak English Nobody on board the Argo Delos appeared to speak English, and there was some difficulty in explaining to the crew of the casualty that a jumping ladder would have to be placed at the fore end of the after-deck. A ladder was put into position at 8.15, but to make sure of the best method of taking off the crew, Coxswain Cunningham took the precaution of making three dummy runs.

He had already informed the captain of H.M.S. Leopard of his intention, and the captain had agreed that the chances of a successful rescue by life-boat were greater than those of a rescue by heli- copter at that time. However, a naval party with portable radio-telephone equipment was landed on the fo'c'sle of the Argo Delos at 9.18 by helicopter, for because of internal flooding the vessel now had no electric power and it was important to maintain communication between her and H.M.S. Leopard. Be- cause of the conditions of the weather and the sea alongside the vessel the life-boat crew were not, in fact, aware that the party had been landed by helicopter, nor did the naval party know what the life-boat was attempt- ing.

Ropes Soon Parted It was at 8.15 that Coxswain Cunning- ham made his first run in with the object of taking off members of the Greek vessel's crew. Two boat ropes which had been rigged on either side of the jumping ladder were passed to the life- boat, but they soon parted and the life- boat had to leave the vessel without taking anyone off during this first run in. There was a very confused, short sea, and the life-boat was now rising and falling fifteen feet alongside the casualty.

About nine o'clock, when new and longer ropes had been rigged, Coxswain Cunningham made his second attempt to take off the crew. This time three or four men jumped, but the second man mistimed his jump and fell into the sea between the life-boat and the side of the Argo Delos. He was quickly hauled on board, and although his elbow was damaged, he was not seriously hurt.

Covered in Oily Spray In bringing the life-boat alongside, Coxswain Cunningham, in order to keep clear of the rocks at the stern of the ship, had to approach bow on, turn- ing under full starboard helm when he was within a few feet of the ship's side.

As he came alongside, the port engine was manoeuvred to keep the life- boat within jumping distance of the ladder.

Each survivor came some way down the ladder and when instructed by the coxswain jumped backwards from it into the arms of two members of the life-boat crew. While this was being done the stern rope parted four times and the head rope six times, and as a result Coxswain Cunningham had to manoeuvre the life-boat away from the ship's side on three occasions.

In the course of an hour and three- quarters the life-boat took off fourteen men. During the operation she became covered in oily spray caused by oil fuel leaking from the damaged hull of the Argo Delos. This made the deck of the life-boat so slippery that it was hardly possible to stand on it. Seas were breaking over the hull of the Greek vessel, which was pounding badly and flooding rapidly.

Severe Glancing Blows While the rescue was being carried out the life-boat received a number of severe glancing blows from the side of the vessel, which carried away the bow pudding and damaged the stem head fairlead and the fender on the port bow.

After a number of lines had parted, a composite rope with a wire heart was passed to the life-boat, as this was now the only securing rope available. The first time the life-boat dropped into the trough of the sea, when using this rope, her weight on it severely jerked the forward bollard, and a section of the fore-end planking lifted slightly, two deck beams being damaged. About the same time a rope fouled the port pro- peller, and this made further manoeu- vring of the life-boat alongside the vessel impossible.

The lifeboat therefore transferred the fourteen rescued seamen to H.M.S.

Leopard. The coxswain made for the lee of Tor Mor Rock, west of Inish- trahull, where the propeller was cleared.

She then stood by while fifteen of the crew of the Argo Delos were taken off by helicopter and landed on board H.M.S Leopard. The master and three more of his crew were taken off by helicopter during the next two days.

Fourteen Hours on Service The life-boat finally left the scene about noon and set course for Portrush at reduced speed, ariving at 5.20 in the evening after being out on service for more than fourteen hours. The Argo Delos became a total wreck.

In his report, the captain of H.M.S.

Leopard wrote: " The first survivors left the Argo Delos and were embarked by the Port- rush life-boat under the most difficult and dangerous conditions. The hand- ling, skill and bravery of the crew of this life-boat were of the highest order and earned the admiration of all on board Leopard." The whole life-boat crew were pre- sented with engraved silver tankards by the captain, officers and ship's company of H.M.S. Leopard. Both the Senior Naval Officer (Northern Ireland) and the Commander - in - Chief, Plymouth, also wrote to the Institution to con- gratulate Coxswain Cunningham and his crew.

Two Medals Awarded For this service the silver medal for gallantry was awarded to Coxswain Samuel Cunningham.

The bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to Second Coxswain Robert McMullan, of whom Coxswain Cunningham wrote:—"He did not leave the oil-covered and slippery fore- deck during the whole operation, except when I asked his advice, or told him what I proposed to do." The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to the other five members of the crew: Mechanic G.

Chambers ; Assistant Mechanic K.

McMullan ; Bowman James Stewart; Crew-members J. King and R. McKay..