ON the night of 2nd /3rd April, 1966, the motor vessel Anzio I went aground.

The Humber life-boat was launched. She was unable to save any lives, but for the attempt which she made in extremely severe conditions Coxswain Superintendent Robertson Buchan has been accorded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum.

At 11.40 p.m. on 2nd April Coxswain Buchan learnt from the Humber coastguard that two red flares had been sighted off the Lincolnshire coast in the direction of Donna Nook. There was a north-easterly gale (force 9) and the weather was overcast. There were intermittent showers of heavy rain. It was two hours after low water.

LAUNCHED IN TEN MINUTES The Humber life-boat, City of Bradford HI, which is one of the 46-foot 9-inch Watson type, was launched in 10 minutes. Fifty minutes later she sighted the wreck of the m.v. Anzio /, which was heading north west and lying with her starboard side beam on to the seas. Heavy seas were half way up the deck and washing right over her.

Because of the heavy, breaking seas on the bank and around the wreck Coxswain Buchan realized there was no chance of coming alongside, and he decided to anchor and veer down to the wreck.

As this was being done, three members of the crew who were tending the cable forward, Second Coxswain Thomas Beverley, Bowman Clifford Staves, and Crew member Edgar Knaggs, were washed off their feet and thrown back on to the wheelhouse by a heavy sea which completely enveloped the life-boat.

All three men were injured. Second Coxswain Beverley was badly bruised, Bowman Staves received injuries to his ribs, and Edgar Knaggs injured his head.

They all immediately returned to their postions and continued to veer the cable until the life-boat was within 30 yards of the wreck. Meanwhile the breeches buoy and the gun line had been made ready for use.

SEARCHLIGHT WAS USED The searchlight was trained on to the wreck, which was now seen to be on her beam ends, with no sign of life aboard. Fifteen-foot waves were washing right over her, and it seemed clear that the crew had either abandoned ship or been swept overboard. Nevertheless, Coxswain Buchan remained for over twenty minutes, scanning the wreck in the beam of the searchlight for any signs of life.

Heavy seas continued to wash over the life-boat. Three times the cockpit and after cabin were completely filled. The plastic side screens to the wheelhouse bulged inwards with the weight of water.

The echo sounder was operating throughout, and in the trough the life-boat had only 5 feet of water under her keel.

Finally Coxswain Buchan decided that no useful purpose could be served by remaining longer. The anchor was recovered, but the life-boat continued searching down tide for survivors until 8.35 in the morning, even though the coxswain was convinced that anyone who had been washed overboard must by then have been cast up on the beach by the onshore gale.

When the life-boat finally left the area all that could be seen of the wreck were the mast and the top of the funnels. The life-boat finally reached her station at 9.55 a.m..