Seven rescued ANGLESEY RADIO received a message from the 36' fishing vessel Kia-Ora at 1926 on January 27 to say that she had broken down off Hestan Island, was dragging her anchor in severe weather conditions and needed lifeboat assistance.

Given this information at 1941, the honorary secretary of Workington station, Cumberland, approved a launch and the crew mustered at the lifeboat station. However, due to damage which had been sustained, the boarding boat was off service under repair and, in the particular weather conditions prevailing, the substitute boat was going to be difficult to launch safely. To avoid possible further delay, therefore, Coxwain Albert Brown requisitioned a dinghy to ferry two crew members out to the 46' Watson lifeboat, City of Edinburgh, on temporary duty at the station. She was slipped from her moorings and laid alongside the dock wall where the remainder of the crew embarked.City of Edinburgh cleared the harbour entrance at 2125. The wind was south south easterly force 9, with very rough sea, heavy swell, squalls of rain and sleet and visibility down at times to half a cable. It was one hour after low water. In view of the very rough seas and the depth of water there would be at that state of the tide over the sandbanks, she had to take the outside course to Hestan Island by way of North Workington Buoy and 2' Bank Buoy; two hands were stationed on deck as lookouts until these two buoys had been passed in safety, at 2213. Course was then set for Hestan Island (323° magnetic).

At 2243 the lights of the Scottish shore were sighted and ten minutes later Coxswain Brown asked Kia-Ora, by MF radio, to set off a distress flare to help identification. Half an hour later the casualty was sighted about half a mile north east of Hestan Island and Coxswain Brown altered course towards her.

By now the wind was south south easterly force 10, giving extremely rough seas and accompanied by sleet showers.

As the lifeboat approached it was found that Kia-Ora was dragging her anchor badly and drifting to the north east.

Coxswain Brown made his first attempt to put the lifeboat alongside starboard side to the casualty, but in doing so was thrown from the wheel by the heavy seas. Control of the lifeboat was regained and by 2330 she was again manoeuvred alongside, and while, with great seamanship and determination, Coxswain Brown maintained her in this position for about four minutes, the youngest of the survivors, a tenyear- old boy, was carefully lifted across and the remaining six men were helped aboard. City of Edinburgh then manoeuvred clear of Kia-Ora stern first.

The echo sounder, working as well as could be expected in such seas, recorded 18' of water under the keel at the position of the casualty. While alongside Kia-Ora the bracket retaining the anchor was ripped from the deck by the violent motion, some of the gunwale was split and one stanchion twisted.

By now the tide had made sufficiently for the sandbanks to be crossed in safety, so City of Edinburgh set a direct course for Workington. It took twoand- a-half hours to battle back at reduced speed against the south south easterly force 10 wind; but despite failure of the breakwater and leading lights due to the severe weather, City of Edinburgh entered Workington Harbour at 0205 on January 28.

It should be noted that a request was made at 1926 to launch the Kirkcudbright lifeboat and Coxswain Davidson and his crew mustered at the lifeboat station. However, the tide gauge at the slipway showed that the depth over the bar was just under 36" and with a south south easterly wind force 8 to 9 causing a heavy sea and swell it would havebeen impossible to cross the bar. Coxswain Davidson, with his crew, stood by until 2200, when he was told that the Kirkcudbright lifeboat would not be needed.

For this service a bronze medal for gallantry has been accorded to Coxswain Albert Brown. Medal service certificates have been presented to Second Coxswain Joseph Reay, Motor Mechanic William Watchorn Smith, Assistant Mechanic Donald Muir and Crew Member Leslie Beck..