DR. E. J. GORDON WALLACE, who is chairman of the Weymouth life-boat station branch, and also its honorary medical adviser, has been accorded the R.N.L.I.'s thanks on vellum for gallantry when helping to take a sick woman off a Soviet vessel.

At 4.46 p.m. on 23rd November, 1969, Dr. Gordon Wallace, who was also at the time acting as honorary secretary of the station, learnt from the coast- guard that the motor vessel Burja of Riga had a woman aboard who needed urgent medical help. The Burja was making for a position one mile from Portland Bill light.

In order to rendezvous with the vessel the Weymouth life-boat Frank Spiller Locke, which is one of the 52-foot Barnett class, was launched at 6.16 and made an eight-mile passage. There was an easterly wind of force 6-7 and the weather was squally with moderate visibility. Outside the harbour there was a rough sea and a moderate south easterly swell. It was an hour and a half before high water.

The life-boat rounded Portland Bill at 7.15. By this time sea conditions had become much worse and there was a heavy swell which was confused by the tidal race. The Burja had reached the position agreed, but although she had some lee from the bill sea conditions were still severe.

WAS NEARLY CRUSHED Coxswain Alfred Pavey managed with some difficulty to secure the life-boat alongside the starboard side of the Burja. The life-boat ranged heavily alongside, and in spite of skilful use of the engines and tending of lines by the coxswain and crew some damage was caused to the belting on the port side. A pilot ladder was lowered from the Burja.

The life-boat was then rising and falling some 10-15 feet, but Dr. Gordon Wallace decided to jump for the ladder. He succeeded in reaching it, but misjudged his timing and was very nearly crushed between the two boats. Then, when the life-boat rose clear of the ship's side, he was able to climb aboard the Burja. He was followed by two members of the crew who were both first aiders.

They were Second Coxswain Victor Pitman and Emergency Mechanic Donald Laker.

After examining the sick woman Dr. Gordon Wallace decided that she needed hospital treatment urgently. She was put into a Neil-Robertson stretcher and the Soviet crew wanted to lower her by means of a derrick. Second Coxswain Pitman thought this would be too dangerous and might well cause injury to the patient because of the violent movement of the life-boat alongside. It was there- fore agreed that the crew should lower the stretcher over the side and release it immediately the life-boat crew had seized it. In this way the woman in the stretcher was taken safely aboard the life-boat under Second Coxswain Pitman's supervision.

Dr. Gordon Wallace and the two crew members then returned to the life-boat.

It was now 8.25 and the two vessels had drifted to a position 4£ miles south of Portland Bill light. The condition of the patient was such that it was decided totake the quickest return route to Weymouth harbour even though this meant a rougher passage than would otherwise be necessary.

The life-boat reached harbour at 9.25 and the patient was put into an ambulance. At 10 p.m. the life-boat finally returned to her moorings.

In addition to the award to Dr. Gordon Wallace framed letters of thanks signed by the Chairman of the R.N.L.I. have been sent to all the members of the crew, those to Second Coxswain Pitman and Emergency Mechanic Laker making special reference to the part they played..