AT 1.8 on the afternoon of the 7th March, 1962, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary of the Cloughey life-boat station in County Down, Mr.

S. C. B. Bryans, that the Dutch coaster Frida Blokzijl of 270 tons was drifting ashore near Strangford Lough fairway buoy and needed help immediately.

A gale was blowing from the south- east and there was a very rough sea with considerable broken water. The weather was overcast with some mist.

It was one hour after high water.

The Cloughey life-boat, Constance Calverley, which is one of the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool type, put out at 1.50.

At 2.35 she reached the casualty, whose position was then one mile south of the Butter Pladdy buoy. The coaster's steer- ing gear was out of action, and her master was using the engines in an effort to keep her off the dangerous lee shore.

Seven Separate Attempts Coxswain Walter Semple made seven separate attempts to bring the life-boat alongside the coaster, but the motion of both vessels was so violent that it proved a difficult and hazardous opera- tion. At times the seas were reaching the upper edge of the coaster's sheer- strake, a height of about fifteen feet.

At the seventh attempt the life-boat successfully closed the coaster, and four men managed to jump aboard. The master decided to remain in the ship.

The time was then 3.25, and Coxswain Semple, fearing the effects of exposure on the four rescued men, decided to land them as soon as possible. The life- boat reached Portavogie at 4.35, where the four men were landed. Meanwhile local fishing boats stood by the Dutch coaster.

The weather conditions had been growing worse, and the wind now in- creased to a strong gale. At six o'clock the life-boat was again near the coaster, which by this time had let go both her anchors. She was dragging towards the shore to the north-west and yawing and surging heavily. At 6.10 the master asked to be taken off.

Light Now Failing The light was now failing, and Cox- swain Semple had to try to bring the life-boat alongside once more in con- ditions which had grown worse. At his second attempt the life-boat came close enough for the master to be able to jump aboard. The life-boat then re- turned to Portavogie, which was reached at 7.30 in the evening.

In his attempts to bring the boat alongside the casualty the coxswain received valuable help throughout from the mechanic, George Young.

For this service the bronze medal for gallantry has been awarded to Cox- swain Walter Semple, and the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Motor Mechanic George Young.lMedal service certificates have been issued to the other members of the crew: Second Coxswain John Donnan, Bowman Walter Beggs, Emergency'Mechanic A. Walls,'andcrew members George Calvert and James McMaster..