OUTSTANDING services in which courage and skilled seamanship were displayed by St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, life-boat personnel in the rescue of ten crew from a Swedish motor vessel under fierce weather conditions, have been recognised through R.N.L.I. awards.

Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge, jnr. has been awarded a silver second service clasp, and second coxswain Ernest Roy Guy and motor mechanic William Richard Burrow have been awarded bronze second service clasps.

Additionally, Richard Lethbridge (bowman), William Harry Lethbridge (assistant mechanic) and crew members Rodney Terry and L. Green have been accorded the R.N.L.I. thanks on vellum for their part in the gallant and lengthy rescue operation.

This began at 2.22 a.m. on 21st February, 1970, when the coastguard reported that the 450-ton Nordanhav of Lidkoping was listing heavily north of the Isles and in need of immediate help. The weather was squally, visibility poor, with a very rough sea and heavy swell. The life-boat Guy and Clare Hunter was launched.

In a force 8 wind and strong flood tide she headed for the initial Mayday position without reducing speed in view of the urgency.

Nearly an hour later the life-boat was told that H.M.S. Ulster had sighted red flares in the distress area and that an aircraft was also searching. Then H.M.S.

Ulster found and stood by the casualty, the crew of which were preparing to abandon ship. Overcoming by skilled seamanship difficulties caused by inter- ference on the radar screen, Coxswain Lethbridge continued on his course and eventually reached the casualty. The ship at this time had no power and was therefore showing no lights so was not visible until the life-boat came within close range.

UNSTABLE CONDITION The Nordanhav, which was illuminated by the R.N. ship's searchlight, was lying down by the head, listing badly to port and rolling and pitching in an obviously unstable condition.

Realising there was a possibility of the ship capsizing, Coxswain Lethbridge decided to close her without delay. He took the life-boat between H.M.S. Ulster and the casualty and turned alongside the motor vessel's port side, but so bad were the conditions it was not possible to use securing ropes and it was out of the question to approach the pilot ladder. - Coxswain Lethbridge, using considerable skill and judgment, kept the life- boat alongside amidships using his helm and engines—in spite of the violent conditions which caused his boat to 'bounce' badly 10 feet to 15 feet away fromthe casualty. Each time the vessels came together survivors were grasped by crew members and helped aboard the life-boat. At times the life-boat stanchions were bent inboard almost blocking the starboard working area. Although these spring back they were an ever-pressing danger to the men aboard.

Throughout the rescue operation there was constant threat of the casualty capsizing on to the life-boat, but by 7.10 a.m. all survivors were aboard the Guy and Clare Hunter, which was then manoeuvered clear and headed for St.

Mary's, arriving back at station at 1.2 p.m. after a 35-mile passage..