AT 11.10 p.m. on the night of Saturday I4th September, 1963, Mr. R. Watt, the honorary secretary of the Mallaig life-boat station, learnt from the police that a number of people were trapped on a cliff in Loch Duich. A quarter of an hour later the Mallaig life-boat E.M.M. Gordon Cubbin, which is one of the 52-foot Barnett type, put out with Second Coxswain Charles Hen- derson in command. She took her boarding boat in tow.

Near Gale Blowing A near gale was blowing from the south, the sea was rough, and heavy rain caused poor visibility. The tide was half ebb.

Second Coxswain Henderson fol- lowed a course through the Sound of Sleat to Glenelg Bay and then through Kyle Rhea to Loch Alsh and the mouth of Loch Duich. By the time the life-boat had reached Loch Duich a full gale was blowing and visibility had become very much worse. There are no shore navigational aids in the area, and Second Coxswain Henderson pro- ceeded slowly through the narrow entrance to Loch Duich, using para- chute flares and a searchlight.

At the head of the loch the life-boat embarked a local man named McDonald, who knew just where the people were trapped. She then made for a position where she anchored about 80 yards off shore.

Climbed up Cliff During a lull the boarding boat man- ned by two members of the life- boat's crew, R. Mackenzie and R.

Rimmer, managed to get ashore. The two men climbed about 200 feet up the cliff, which was illuminated by para- chute flares. They then guided five adults and two children down the cliff to the boarding boat.

Weather conditions were such that it would have been unsafe for the board- ing boat to be rowed back to the life- boat. A rocket line was therefore fired from the life-boat and a veering line passed to the shore. The survivors and the two members of the crew were then hauled back to the life-boat from the boarding boat in two trips. The second trip was completed at 4.30 a.m.

The survivors were given hot soup and landed at Altracervy.

The life-boat then made for Ornsay Island to search for a small boat which was missing. She failed to find the boat and finally reached her station at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, I5th September.

Thanks Inscribed on Vellum For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum was accorded to Second Coxswain Charles Henderson.

Vellum service certificates were is- sued to the other members of the crew: David McMinn, George Edward Lawrie, D. Henderson, R. Rimmer, R. Mackenzie, I. Campbell and G.

Christie, and to Mr. McDonald..