AT 1.3 on the afternoon of 8th Decem- ber, 1962, the honorary secretary of the Southend-on-Sea life-boat station, Mr.

P. G. Garon, learnt from the coast- guard that the Dutch motor vessel Temar of 198 tons was on fire. She was at anchor near the no. 2 Seareach buoy.

A strong breeze was blowing from the south-south-west, and the sea was very rough. The weather was overcast, visi- bility being moderate. It was one hour before low water.

The Southend-on-Sea life-boat Greater London II(Civil Service No. 30), which is one of the 46-foot 9-inch Watson type, was launched at 1.20. The tanker, Mobil Enterprise, two tugs and a local boat had gone to the help of the Temar, and the Temar reported that she did not need the assistance of a life-boat. Neverthe- less, Coxswain P. G. Gilson took the decision to make for the motor vessel as he believed lives might be in danger.

Head Seen Sticking Out Coxswain Gilson circled the Temar, and as he did so a man's head could be seen. He was jammed in a cabin port- hole on the starboard quarter. The time was then 1.52. A ship's boat from the Mobil Enterprise had already put aboard the tanker's chief engineer, her second officer and a deck hand with an asbestos suit and oxygen breathing apparatus, but they could not reach the man's head either from the deck of the motor vessel or from the ship's boat.

At this time the wind had increased to a near gale and one of the tugs had a line aboard the Temar. Coxswain Gilson asked the tug master to hold the casualty in a position which enabled her to afford a Jee, and he then secured the life-boat under her starboard quarter. All hands aboard the Temar were then mustered on deck to man the head and stern warps.

Oxygen Administered from Life-boat Two members of the life-boat crew, Bowman A, Martin and F. Emery, boarded the Temar and took turns at keeping the man's head out of the port- hole by pulling on his ears, while Cox- swain Gilson and Motor Mechanic J.

Polkinghorn administered oxygen each time the life-boat came up on a wave.

They were hindered by smoke and could only give the oxygen for a few seconds at a time as the life-boat rose and fell in the swell. It was then decided to cut away the deck of the Temar to allow the man, who was now in a very dis- tressed condition, to be pulled out. This was done with equipment on one of the tugs. As the deck was cut above the cabin a jet of water was played on to the man to protect him from the effects of the molten metal falling on his back.

When the deck had been cut away the chief engineer of the Mobil Enterprise, Mr. Harris, dressed in the asbestos suit, pulled the man out from the cabin. He was then taken aboard the life-boat, which landed him at Southend pier, where a doctor and an ambulance were waiting. During the return journey he was given first aid by Bowman Martin, whose skill in bandaging was later com- mended by the doctor and the hospital staff.

Lifted Ashore on Blanket When the life-boat reached the pier the doctor administered morphia on board the boat, and the survivor was then lifted ashore on a blanket, which was held at the four corners to prevent pressure on his burns.

The life-boat put out once more to the Mobil Enterprise, from which she picked up two men, two women and two children. They were all survivors from the Temar, who had been put aboard the tanker by a pilot cutter.

These six survivors were put ashore at Sheerness and the life-boat was re- housed at 8.15 in the evening.

For this service the Institution made the unusual award of its collective thanks on vellum to Coxswain Peter Gilson and the other members of the crew: Bowman Aubrey Frederick Mar- tin, Motor Mechanic John Robert Polkinghorn, Assistant Motor Mech- anic R. H. Sanders, Crew members F.

Emery and J. Polkinghorn.

Additional monetary awards were made to all members of the crew..