A SERVICE carried out by a reserve life-boat, which resulted in the saving of three lives, has led to the award of the bronze medal for gallantry to the Howth coxswain, Joseph McLoughlin.

The first intimation of a boat in difficulty reached the coxswain from the watchkeeper at the Bailey lighthouse at 8.50 a.m. on I4th July, 1964, A fishing trawler with her engine broken down was reported in grave danger on a lee shore slightly to the north of the lighthouse.

A southerly gale was blowing. The sea was very rough and there was a heavy south-easterly swell. The weather was overcast, visibility was only moderate, and it was half an hour before low water.

A reserve life-boat was temporarily stationed at Howth at the time. This was the 46-foot Watson life-boat H. F. Bailey which for long was stationed at Cromer in Norfolk. She put out at 9 p.m. with a crew of six on board.

FOUND NEAR CLIFFS After a passage of nearly 2f miles against a very rough sea and flood tide, the life-boat found the casualty about 30 feet from the cliffs at the north side of Freshwater Bay. The time was 9.25.

The vessel in distress was the motor fishing vessel Roscairbre of Dublin.

She was lying head to wind in about two fathoms of water. Seas were breaking over her and her anchor was dragging.

There was clearly no time, to be lost and Coxswain McLoughlin decided to go alongside the vessel immediately.

He brought the life-boat to the port side of the trawler and the nylon securing rope was passed to her. This was made fast to the life-boat's port quarter bollard, and the life-boat tried to tow the fishing vessel clear. With the ropes secured in this position the life-boat could not manoeuvre and the coxswain decided to slip the tow.

HE TRIED AGAIN The fishing vessel was now in a very dangerous position and Coxswain McLoughlin, with little room to manoeuvre, decided to go in for the second time. Through broken water and against the backwash of seas from the cliff-face he brought the life-boat into a position from which the nylon rope could be secured through the drogue fairlead. This gave the life-boat a central and much more effective position for towing.

About 9.45 the trawler slipped her anchor cable and the life-boat began to tow her clear. While this was being done the fishing vessel struck against the cliff face but the life-boat towed her out safely and reached her station at 10.30 with the trawler in tow.

Five stanchions and the footrail of the life-boat were damaged, and the drogue fairlead was torn out and lost.

CERTIFICATES AWARDED Medal service certificates have been issued to the other five members of the crew.

They are Second Coxswain Peter McLoughlin, Mechanic Francis Hendy, Assistant Mechanic George McConkey, crew members Laurence McCann and Kevin O'Connor..