Caister, Norfolk. At 8.20 on the morning of the 13th of December, 1960, the life-boat mechanic telephoned to say the barge Will Everard was aground on Scroby Sand due east of the life-boat station. This was confirmed later by the coastguard. It was decided to keep the vessel under observation, as no signals of distress had been seen. A moderate north-easterly wind was blow- ing and causing a moderate sea. At 11.10 the life-boat Jose Neville was launched two hours after low water. She reached the Will Everard, which had apparently grounded in the late afternoon the day before. The life-boat was now informed that the motor vessel Serenity would be coming from Great Yarmouth to give help. When the Serenity arrived the life-boat took soundings round the barge, and after piloting the Serenity into position, ran a wire from the barge to her. This wire parted, and just before towing opera- tions began with a second wire it fouled the screw of the Serenity, which drifted aground and on to the barge. The life- boat towed Serenity to a deep water anchorage and then made for the barge.

The skipper was told that the life-boat was returning to her station but would answer any distress signals that might be made. She reached her station at 6.15, and the Will Everard refloated about three hours later..