FOR the rescue of four men from the m.f.v. Jaroma, a letter of thanks, signed by the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.s.o., has been addressed to Coxswain Alfred Manning and the crew of the Margate, Kent, life-boat and the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to David Lacey, Christopher Brown and John O'Toole, the crew of the IRB.

At 1.21 p.m. on 24th August, 1969, it was learnt that a motor vessel had gone aground on the rocks off the Coastguard look out at Foreness Point. Maroons were fired nine minutes later.

The wind was north west, with a corresponding sea, and the weather was overcast and squally with visibility 4/7 miles. The Margate life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11), which is a 46 ft. 9 in. Watson, was launched at 1.45 and passed to the east of Foreness rocks. By 2.10 p.m. she was within 200 yards of the casualty.

STRONG SWIMMERS Meanwhile, at 1.48 p.m. Emergency Mechanic D. Lacey, who was at the har- bour, telephoned the honorary secretary and suggested that it would be advis- able for the IRB to be launched to assist. After ascertaining that the other IRB crew members would be Mr C. W. Brown and Mr. J. P. O'Toole, both experienced skin divers and strong swimmers, the honorary secretary agreed, and the IRB was launched at 2 o'clock.Coxswain Manning, in the meantime, had told the Coastguard that he proposed to anchor the life-boat in about seven feet of broken water and wait until the flood tide made, when he would attempt to take the casualty in tow.

On arrival the IRB went alongside the life-boat, and after consultation with the coxswain, it was decided that the IRB would go alongside the casualty to find out the position and inform her of the coxswain's intentions, since there was no radio contact. Accordingly the IRB approached the casualty from the east (she was lying with her stern to the north east), and with great difficulty managed to get alongside her port quarter and put a line aboard.

At this time a heavy breaking swell estimated as occasionally five feet high was sweeping past the stranded fishing boat. After ascertaining that neither the skipper nor his crew wished to be taken off, the IRB returned to the life-boat under very difficult conditions, the boat touching bottom and being swamped on several occasions.

After reporting to the coxswain of the life-boat, who decided to lay off until there was about two hours flood, the IRB then returned to her station, it having been agreed that the IRB would relaunch at about 4.15 p.m.

TOUCHED BOTTOM At about 4.30 p.m. the IRB returned to the life-boat and lay alongside until there was sufficient water for the life-boat to approach the casualty. As soon as this was possible the life-boat coxswain steered as close to the casualty as he could get and again let go his anchor.

While the life-boat was moving in the IRB tried to go alongside the casualty and inform her of the coxswain's intentions. On the first attempt there was insufficient water and the IRB turned back into deeper water to avoid the danger of breaking surf.

Shortly afterwards a further run in was made from the eastward, and the IRB got to within about 10 yards of the casualty when the engine again touched bottom. Helmsman Lacey immediately stopped and tilted the engine. It was decided that he and his two crew members should go over the side and haul the IRB alongside the casualty.

This was done with great difficulty, the men being up to their waists in break- ing surf. Having quickly told the casualty of the life-boat's intentions it was then necessary for the IRB to make for deeper water as it was becoming increasingly difficult for the crew to stay on their feet and still retain hold of the IRB.

ANCHOR DRAGGED The IRB then made a second run in and placed a crew member aboard to assist. By this time the life-boat had re-anchored and the IRB transferred a line from her to the casualty, and the tow rope was connected. The life-boat then took the weight on the tow rope to prevent the casualty driving further ashore, but after about half an hour her own anchor started to drag and the life-boat herself began to drive westwards towards the rocks.

The coxswain then passed his end of the tow into the IRB while the life-boat again anchored further to seaward. When this had been done the IRB again, with great difficulty, passed the tow back to the life-boat using the IRB's anchor line as a messenger.

By this time the casualty was taking in water fast and the Coastguard told the coxswain that she would probably sink in about 10 minutes. The coxswain therefore weighed anchor and started to tow the Jaroma to Margate. When half way back the IRB transferred two of the fishing boat's crew to the life-boat as the casualty's decks were by now awash. The casualty had no rudder control and was very difficult to tow on account of the weight of water in her.When about 75 yards off Margate harbour the tow parted and the IRB passed another. However, when about 30 yards west of the pierhead, the casualty's bollard pulled out and she went aground on the sands with the seas washing over her. The IRB then took off the skipper and remaining crew members and trans- ferred them to the life-boat. The fire service were standing by but could do nothing, and the Jaroma became a total loss.

The life-boat moored alongside the harbour wall at 9.10 p.m. The IRB returned to her station at 9.15 p.m., and the life-boat was rehoused at 11.15 p.m..