FOR an outstanding service following a call to a ten-year-old boy who was seriously ill Coxswain Philip Byrne of Arranmore has been awarded the silver medal for gallantry.

At 5 o'clock on the afternoon of 29th November, 1966, the priest on Tory Island telephoned the Arranmore honorary secretary, Mr. Bernard Gallagher, saying that a ten-year-old boy was seriously ill with suspected appendicitis. Mr.

Gallagher spoke with the doctor at Bunbeg, who confirmed that the child's condition was serious and that an operation was necessary. Dr. Can had already contacted the Royal Air Force at Ballykelly, but weather conditions were such that a helicopter could not be sent.

Mr. Gallagher then made contact with the lighthouse keeper on Tory Island to discuss how the boy could be taken oif. The lighthouse keeper said that this would be impossible until the tide had fallen sufficiently to uncover a rock ledge, which would afford some protection at the jetty. This would not be until after 10 o'clock.

POOR CONDITIONS The maroons were fired at 7 o'clock. Wind and sea conditions were such that the crew had considerable difficulty in reaching the life-boat. There was a north westerly gale, the sea was very rough and visibility was poor. It was just after high water.

The Arranmore life-boat, W. M. Tilson, which is one of the 46-foot 9-inch Watson type, slipped her moorings at 7.45. The 2i-mile journey to Tory Island was completed in about 2- hours.

As the life-boat approached the island parachute flares were used to light up the shore. In heavy seas Coxswain Byrne felt his way in towards the jetty, which is surrounded by rocks. Because of these rocks and the shoal water it was impossible for the life-boat to be brought alongside the jetty, and she had to stand by while a local boat tried to bring the sick boy out.

This was a large curragh which had four men aboard. The curragh left the slight shelter afforded by the jetty and with great difficulty her crew rowed her through the heavy seas to the life-boat. The sick boy and his father were then put aboard the life-boat, but as this was being done an oar was broken and the thole pins on one side of the curragh snapped. As a result it was not possible to keep the boat head to wind and sea. An anchor was dropped, but it failed to hold, and the curragh began to drag quickly on to the rocky lee shore.

FLARE FIRED Coxswain Byrne realized the full dangers of the situation but without hesita- tion ran the life-boat in towards the curragh. A line was passed, and the curragh was towed clear by means of the nylon securing rope. She was towed as close to the pier as possible and was then let go. A parachute flare was fired to light her way in.The sick boy was made as comfortable as possible in the fore cabin and the life-boat left Tory Island about midnight. She had an extremely uncomfortable return passage to the mainland in rough seas and gale force winds, but shereached Burtonport at 3.30 in the morning. An ambulance was waiting to take the boy to hospital.

The life-boat then returned to her moorings at Arranmore but her crew were unable to go ashore in the boarding boat for a further hour because of the weather conditions. They finally landed at 5.45 after having been on service for ic-J hours.

The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to the other seven members of the crew: Second Coxswain Philip Boyle, Bowman Edward Gallagher, Motor Mechanic Charles Boyle, Assistant Mechanic Neil Byrne, Crew Member John Burne, Crew Member Brian Byrne and Crew Member Bernard O'Donnell..