A LETTER of commendation signed by the Secretary of the Institution, Mr.

Stirling Whorlow, O.B.E., was sent to Coxswain A. E. V. Cadman, D.S.M., and the crew of the Dover life-boat on the part they played in rescuing seven men from the Varne lightvessel on 2nd December, 1966.

At 10.30 in the evening of ist December the Folkestone coastguard reported an alteration in the bearing of the Varne lightvessel. This was reported to Trinity House and the Trinity House vessel Siren, which was anchored in the Small Downs, put out to investigate.

SEA EXTREMELY ROUGH By i o'clock in the morning the Siren was off the South Foreland, where the strength of the south westerly gale was between force 10 and n. The sea was extremely rough and there was a heavy swell, and in the conditions the Siren was unable to make headway against the tide and wind with her engines at three- quarter speed. The tide turned at 5 o'clock and the Siren reached the Varne lightvessel at 6.50. She found the lightvessel 2 -4 miles from her assigned position.

Conditions were too bad for the Trinity House vessel to move the lightvessel, and her commander asked for the Dover life-boat to stand by, as there was a danger that the lightvessel might drag nearer to the Varne bank. This request reached the honorary secretary of the Dover life-boat station, Mr. B. D.

Ebsworth, at 7.10.

At 7.46 the life-boat Southern Africa, which is one of the 51 foot Barnett class, left her moorings. The wind was from south west by west, the strength being now about force 8. Once the life-boat was clear of the land the wind increased to force 9 and veered to the west. The sea continued very rough and there was still a heavy swell. The tide was setting to the south west. The life-boat reached the Varne lightvessel at 9 o'clock and stood by. With the wind hi the west it seemed likely that the Varne lightvessel would drag on to the Varne bank when the north westerly tide came away. There was a heavy breaking sea on the bank and the commander of the Siren therefore asked the life-boat to take the crew off the lightvessel before the tide turned.

WAS PITCHING AND ROLLING In spite of the tide which was running to the south west, the lightvessel was heading in a westerly direction. She was pitching and rolling heavily and sheering through about 40°. The height of the waves from crest to trough was estimated to be 20 feet. Oil was spread from the lightvessel's nosepipe, but it had little effect as the tide was carrying it away from the position where the men would have to be taken off.

At 10.42 the life-boat made her first run in to a door in the bulwark on the lightvessel's port side. Five of the crew were taken off, the life-boat backing away after each man had jumped, and then coming in for another run. On the fifth run in the life-boat fender struck a waterline porthole and broke it. The master and remaining crew member closed the deadlight over this before leaving.The last to jump was the master of the lightvessel, who slipped while doing so. But for the quick action of members of the life-boat crew who caught him he would have landed head foremost into the life-boat. The rescue was completed by 11.35 an i the life-boat made towards Dover escorted by the Siren. She reached Dover at 1.40 and the eight rescued men were put aboard the pilot cutter Patrol. The life-boat was moored and at 2.30 in the afternoon she reported ready for service again.

The Elder Brethren of Trinity House made a gift to the life-boat crew..