Shoals had been finally cleared the coxswain set course for Longhope. The life- boat reached Longhope pier at 6.30 and landed the survivors. She was refuelled and ready for service again at 7 o'clock.

In addition to the award of a medal to Coxswain Kirkpatrick, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to the other five members of the crew: Second Coxswain James Johnston, Bowman Daniel Raymond Kirkpatrick, Mechanic Robert R. Johnston, Assistant Mechanic James Swan- son and crewman Robbie Johnston.

WHEN a Grimsby trawler went aground on the Island of Hoy in the Pentland Firth during the early hours of 1st April, 1968, a series of events began which led to the saving of the lives of 15 men. It also resulted in the award of a second bar to his silver medal for gallantry to Coxswain Daniel Kirkpatrick of Longhope.

Coxswain Kirkpatrick thus became the only man alive today to have been awarded the R.N.L.I.'s silver medal for gallantry three times.

The Longhope station first learnt that the trawler Ross Puma was in difficulties at 2.27 in the morning when the coastguard told the honorary secretary, Mr.

J. M. F. Groat, that a mayday signal had been picked up by Wick Radio. This stated that the trawler was ashore on the south east side of the Island of Stroma.

Maroons were fired at 2.47, and six minutes later a further message was received from the coastguard. This gave a new position for the casualty, which was two miles north of Torness Point on the Island of Hoy.

EXCEPTIONALLY COLD The wind was from the north west approaching gale force in squalls. The sea was rough and in the squalls visibility was reduced to less than 50 yards. It was exceptionally cold with heavy sleet and snow. It was two hours after high water.

The Longhope life-boat, T.G.B., which is one of the 47-foot Watson type, put out at 2.56. Good progress was made through the Pentland Firth with the ebb tide. Visibility improved for a time, and Coxswain Kirkpatrick was able to fix his position off Torness Point at 3.24. The crew then sighted a red flare to the north, and they fired a parachute flare in acknowledgement.

The searchlight was played on to the sea and rocks as the life-boat began to search close inshore to the north of Torness Point. At 3.30 contact was made with the trawler by radio telephone, and from then onwards excellent radio com- munications were maintained.

It was at 3.45 that the crew of the life-boat first sighted the Ross Puma. The trawler was close inshore and aground on the Little Rackwick Shoals. She was heading approximately south east.

The Little Rackwick Shoals consist of almost continuous skerries and rocks extending about 600 yards out to sea. The casualty was aground on the north side and was lying only about 50 yards from the shore, where there are cliffs some 300-400 feet high.

The trawler was listing about 35° to starboard. She was rolling and pounding heavily. Most of the crew could be seen on the starboard side aft. Here they were trying to get some shelter from the deck housing, but they were being swamped by the seas which continually broke over the vessel. The seas were rising and falling some 15 to 20 feet alongside. The life-boat crew also noticed that there were three life rafts alongside the trawler, but as the life-boat approached one of these broke adrift.

IN GRAVE DANGER Coxswain Kirkpatrick decided that the trawler's crew must be taken off without delay. The Ross Puma was in grave danger of being swung beam on to the sea and rolled over the reef. He therefore sent a message by radio telephone that he would try to effect a rescue at once.

The life-boat skirted the seaward side of the shoals. Coxswain Kirpatrick then ordered the anchor to be let go to windward of the trawler. 80 fathoms of cable were veered, and the life-boat came within 20 yards of the trawler's starboard quarter.The life-boat was rolling and pitching violently in the confused sea and swell inside the shoals. This made it extremely difficult to fire a rocket line with any accuracy. The line which was fired unfortunately fell clear of the trawler to leeward.

STRUCK ROCK The life-boat crew found themselves facing a new danger. A tide eddy, together with the effect of the wind and sea, began to carry the life-boat closer into the skerries. The life-boat struck a rock under her port side, and Coxswain Kirkpatrick immediately went ahead on the engines, and the anchor cable was shortened in.

The immediate danger was cleared, and the coxswain then ordered the anchor cable to be veered out to about 70 fathoms. Then, using his engines to keep clear of the skerries, he took up a new station about 25 yards from the trawler on her starboard quarter.

The coxswain now decided that the best hope of saving the trawler's crew was to take them off with the use of one of her own life rafts rather than with the life-boat's breeches buoy. He sent a message by radio telephone announcing his intentions, and a rocket line was fired. This time it fell across the deck of the trawler. The life-boat's securing rope was bent on to the rocket line and hauled aboard by the trawler's crew. With the greatest difficulty they succeeded in securing it to one of the life rafts, and a second line was then attached to the opposite side of the raft. This line secured the raft to the trawler.

One by one seven members of the Ross Puma's crew jumped from the deck into the life raft. At times the raft was several feet below deck level and a moment later was several feet above it. One young man hesitated and found himself hanging over the side of the trawler. His crew mates managed to haul him back aboard before the next sea broke.

Coxswain Kirkpatrick kept the life-boat in position by frequent use of his engines, and the bowman, Ray Kirkpatrick, remained forward tending the anchor cable. The two mechanics controlled the engine and the radio telephone, and the other two members of the crew manned the searchlight.

Once the seven men had been taken aboard the raft the life-boat crew hauled in the securing rope while the eight men aboard the trawler slacked away on their rope. As soon as the raft cleared the slight shelter afforded by the side of the trawler it was swept violently towards the skerries.

SEA FILLED COCKPIT While the life-boat crew were trying to heave the raft alongside, a heavy sea struck both the raft and the life-boat. It completely filled the life-boat's after cockpit, and the raft was filled with about a foot and a half of water. The raft was carried away to leeward, and the life-boat crew now had the greatest diffi- culty in hauling it back alongside. They succeeded in doing so and seven men were helped aboard the life-boat. They were immediately sent below to the cabin for some warmth.

Eight men still remained aboard the trawler. The raft was hauled back, and the same manoeuvre repeated. The eight men jumped on to the raft one by one, the last of them releasing the trawler's rope. Once again when leaving the slight shelter of the side of the trawler the raft was swept to leeward, but the life-boat crew hauled it alongside once more, and the eight men were taken on board the life-boat.

The time was now 4.35. The rescue operation had lasted 40 minutes, and a message was passed to Wick radio to say the rescue had been completed.

The survivors were given rum and hot soup, and once the Little Rackwick.