Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 1.50 early on the morning of the 23rd of October, 1960, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that cries for help had been heard off Camper Road to the east of the gasworks. The weather was calm and the sea smooth, with dense fog. At 2.20 the life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched on the ebb tide to search the area. At no time was the shore sighted, although some reflection of shore lighting was seen at times. The life-boat made constant use of the loud hailer during the search. Suddenly out of the fog Shoebury Barge pier light was seen about ten yards away. The coxswain immediately went full astern, but the life-boat grounded on the old pier and fouled underwater obstruc- tions. As soon as the ebb tide allowed, the life-boat was shored up and she refloated on the next tide. In thisconnection considerable help was received from Mr. C. J. Moorhouse, a member of the branch committee, and his employees and also from the local police and members of the garrison at Shoeburyness. The life-boat reached her station at 1.20. It was learnt after- wards that two men had taken a dinghy from the gasworks pier, and later their bodies were found on the foreshore. The Clacton life-boat was launched as soon as the Southend life- boat reported she was ashore..