Clacton-on-Sea and Southend-on- Sea, Essex. At 4.20 p.m. on 2yth November, 1965, the Clacton coastguard told the honorary secretary of the Clactonon- Sea life-boat station that red flares had been seen north-east of Mouse. The Clacton-on-Sea life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was launched at 4.45 in a strong north-westerly gale force wind and a rough sea. The Southend-on-Sea lifeboat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 30) was launched five minutes later.

It was two hours after high water.

The life-boats went to the area given and found the barge Rodent, with a crew of two, aground one and a half miles north-north-east of the Barrow beacon on Barrow Sand. The life-boats stood by, one to leeward, one to windward, until the barge was refloated on the flooding tide. The Southend-on-Sea life-boat then went alongside and put a line aboard and towed the casualty to Southend-on- Sea. The Clacton-on-Sea life-boat stood by during this operation, returning to her station at 12.44 a.m. The Southend-on- Sea life-boat reached her station at 2.30 a.m. The owners of the barge made a gift to the crew of the Southend-on-Sea life-boat..