AT 1.25 on the afternoon of the 15th August, 1961, the Cromer coastguard received a message from the coastguard look-out at Cley that a motor yacht was burning a smoke distress flare some four to five miles north-east-by- east of the look-out.

The flare was also seen by David West, the coxswain's son, who informed his father, Coxswain Henry West. The coxswain telephoned both Cromer coastguard and the honorary secretary, Brigadier A. L. Kent Lemon. The maroons were fired at 1.35.

A strong breeze was blowing from the north-west with squalls. There was a short steep sea, the weather was cloudy, and visibility was moderate. It was two and a half hours before low water and the tide was setting to the westward.

Converted Ship's Boat At 1.43 the Sheringham life-boat The Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, which is one of the 37-feet Oakley type, was launched. She made for the position given and an hour later found the 35-feet converted ship's boat Lucy lying with the wind on her port beam and with her engine out of action. The boat was making water and her crew had a small sail set in an attempt to keep her steady. There were two men, one woman and a boy on board.

Coxswain West advised the crew of the Lucy to lower the sail and try to put the boat before the wind. He then ran in on her port side and successfully put one man on board. This was Bowman A. Scotter. He then made a second run in, and this time two other members of the crew succeeded in boarding the Lucy. They were Second Coxswain H. J. West and Signalman E. Wink.

Woman Unconscious The second coxswain reported that the woman on board was unconscious and in a state of collapse, but because the Lucy was making water fast through her stern tube the two men in her crew could not leave the pump or bucket to attend to her. Coxswain West there- fore decided to go alongside a third time and take the woman off. Using his engines, he held the life-boat along- side for about four seconds, during which time the woman was lifted aboard the life-boat. The coxswain then came in a third time and took off the owner of the Lucy and the young boy. On his fifth run in the life-boat crew passed a securing rope, but this immediately parted.

Coxswain West was now becoming seriously concerned for the safety of the men still on board the Lucy, for she nearly capsized twice because of the short, steep sea and the amount of free surface water aboard her. He there- fore went alongside a sixth time and took off the fourth member of the crew.

The three members of the life-boat crew who were still on board the casualty did not have time to jump, but the two boats were washed together and all three men managed to scramble aboard the life-boat. Bowman Scotter was in danger of being crushed between the two boats, but he managed to pull him- self away just in time.

Ambulance Waiting The life-boat then made for Shering- ham. A message was sent asking for an ambulance and a doctor to be wait- ing, and the woman was wrapped in blankets. She had recovered con- sciousness and was given hot cocoa to drink, and the life-boat crew succeeded in preventing her from becoming un- conscious again.

The life-boat was beached at 5.30.

She was later re-launched, as Coxswain West thought the Lucy might be a danger to shipping, but it was found that the Lucy had drifted clear and she was allowed to go ashore at Salthouse.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Coxswain Henry West, Second Coxswain R. H. West, Bowman H. Scotter and Signalman E. Wink.

Vellum service certificates have been issued to the other members of the crew : Mechanic E. C. Craske, Assist- ant Mechanic J. H. Bishop, and crew members G. High, D. Little, B.

Middleton, J. West..