Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 6.23 p.m. on 2ist April, 1965, Southend Airport informed the coastguard that an aircraft was circling over a trawler which was firing distress signals. The life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched at 6.50 in a strong northerly wind and a moderate sea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boat found the fishing boat Gladys, whose engine had broken down, in tow of a barge. At the request of the skipper of the barge the life-boat took over the tow and reached her station at ii p.m..