MFV standing into danger SHEERNESS deputy launching authority heard from Warden Point Coastguard at 2200 on March 22,1974, that a boat three-quarters of a mile east north east of the Coastguard lookout was exhibiting red hand flares and was apparently in difficulty. The Coastguard had signalled the boat at 2150 that she was standing into danger, but no apparent action had been taken despite the Coastguard illuminating the adjacent cliffs with parachute flares.

The DLA gave instructions for the maroons to be fired and the lifeboat, the 46' Watson Gertrude built in 1946, cleared her mooring in Sheerness Harbour at 2210. The wind was north east force 5 to 6 with moderate seas.

The night was overcast and high water at Sheerness was predicted for 0106.

Gertrude set course at full speed for a position received from Warden Point Coastguard north of the Southern Boom, in an attempt to reach the casualty before she was driven by wind and tide among the wreckage of old barges and boulders of the wartime boom.

At 2240 the Coastguard alerted the Coast Rescue Company to go to the shoreward end of the boom, just as Gertrude reached the sectored light at the boom's seaward limit. Realising that the casualty would be among the foul ground before Gertrude could reach her, Coxswain Charles Bowry turned the lifeboat and, on a southerly course, made for the westward side of the boom.At 2248, seeing the boat pass through the foul area, Coxswain Bowry took Gertrude on to the sand in breaking seas 7 cables from the casualty's position. The wind was now north east force 6 with rough seas and the weather remained overcast.

Warden Point Coastguard advised Coxswain Bowry by VHP radio that the casualty was too far from the beach for coast rescue equipment to be used and, as the seas lifted Gertrude, the coxswain drove the boat across the sand and mud to a position 4£ cables from the shore and close against the lee side of the 32' MFV Venture on passage from Lowestoft to Gosport with a crew of two men.

Venture's rudder head had broken and her crew were hoping to find a safe anchorage. One of the men had managed to steer by bracing his foot against the rudder over the stern, but when the engines were put ahead, he could not exert enough force to steer off the lee shore.

By 2305 a towline had been passed and the two men taken aboard Gertrude for warmth. One of the lifeboat crew tended the towline aboard Venture.

Coxswain Bowry then towed Venture into deeper water and set course for Sheerness where, at 2356, Gertrude arrived at her moorings and Venture was secured in the Great Basin.

For this service a framed letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Commander F. R. H.

Swann, CUE, RNVR, was sent to Coxswain Charles Bowry, who had accomplished the service with expert seamanship in a position five cables inside the drying line and in an area known to be foul with wreckage and boulders. Most services to which this lifeboat is called are executed in water of less than 10' depth..