AT 3.40 on the afternoon of 17th November, 1962 the honorary secre- tary of the Clovelly life-boat station, Mr. J. C. Hilton, learnt from the coast- guard that a tug was firing red flares three miles north-west of Hartland Point. Five minutes later the maroons were fired. A gale was blowing from the north-west, the sea was very rough and the weather was overcast with rain squalls. It was low water.

Launch in Onshore Gale The Clovelly life-boat, William Can- trell Ashley, which is one of the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool type, was launched at 4.15. The launch was a difficult one because of the onshore gale and the fact that it was low water.

The vessel in distress was a tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Green Ranger, which had been in tow of the tug Caswell and was bound from Plymouth to Cardiff. The towline had parted off Hartland Point, and the Green Ranger eventually drifted ashore near Long Peak beach three miles south of Hart- land Point.

When the Clovelly life-boat was three miles off Hartland, Coxswain William Braund suggested that another life-boat should be sent out to help, and at 5.12 the Hartland coastguard advised the honorary secretary of the Appledore station, Captain P. Brennan, to launch.

The Appledore life-boat, which is one of the 47-foot Watson type, put out at 5.84 and had cleared the bar by about 6.25.

The northerly gale had increased in strength to force 10, and conditions on the bar, two hours after low water, were extremely bad.

Once clear of the Bideford fairway buoy Coxswain Sidney Cann set a course for Hartland Point. In spite of the very rough conditions in the race off Hartland the life-boat rounded the point about 7.45.

Once he knew that the larger life-boat from Appledore was approaching the casualty, Coxswain Braund decided that it would be unwise to round Hartland Point, and the life-boat returned to her station, which she reached at 9.20.

The Appledore life-boat searched close inshore as far as Knap Head, but in the appalling conditions with frequent squalls of sleet and hail no sign of the casualty could be seen. Coxswain Cann then turned north again. H.M.S. Agin- court reached the scene about ten o'clock and with the help of her power- ful searchlight the Green Ranger was located about an hour later.

The tanker was lying on the rocks under the cliff near Long Peak beach.

She was heading about west-north-west with her starboard side awash and seas breaking over her forecastle and fore well-deck. She had a slight list to port.

Intended to Grapple Rail Coxswain Cann decided to run down as close as he could and get in under the port bow of the tanker, which afforded some slight lee. The time was then about 11.25. He let go his anchor ahead of the casualty and using his engines man- oeuvred his life-boat towards her, his intention being to grapple the rail of the tanker abaft the break of her forecastle.

A number of rocks were jutting out on the port bow of the Green Ranger, and this left a space of not more than three or four boat lengths in which to manoeuvre.

The searchlight was played on to the tanker and instructions were called from the loud hailer, but there was no response from the tanker's crew. For fifteen minutes the life-boat backed and filled alongside the tanker, but still there was no sign of anybody aboard, and Coxswain Cann then weighed anchor, and the life-boat and H.M.S.

Agincourt both stood by.

Hazardous Crossing At 3.15 in the morning the warship passed a message to the life-boat that all the survivors from the Green Ranger had already been landed by breeches buoy. The life-boat then made for Apple- dore at half speed. The crossing of the bar was again extremely hazardous and seven gallons of storm oil were used.

The bar was crossed at 7.45, and an hour later the life-boat reached her station.

For this attempted service the silver medal for gallantry has been awarded to Coxswain Sidney Cann. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to the other mem- bers of the crew: Second Coxswain John.

Richard Bowden, Bowman William Cann, Mechanic L. G. W. Richards, Assistant Mechanic Thomas Jewell, W. Evans, S. Bowden and C. Cox.

A collective letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Com- mittee of Management was sent to the crew and helpers at the Clovelly station.

Extra monetary rewards were made..