On Scroby Sand WHILE WORKING aboard their lifeboat on Saturday December, 1979, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston crew, at 1758, heard a mayday from the fishing vessel St Margarite. Coxswain/Mechanic Richard Hawkins told Yarmouth Coastguard that the boat was manned and as the honorary secretary was on the road and could not be contacted he agreed to an immediate launch; at 1805 the 44ft Waveney lifeboat Khami set out from her pen. The honorary secretary was subsequently informed of the launch and went to the Coastguard lookout.

The weather was overcast. A strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the north east with a short steep sea and, following two days of easterly winds,there was a heavy easterly swell. It was just on low water.

On clearing the pierheads Coxswain Hawkins asked the casualty to fire a red flare to pinpoint her position. This was done and a bearing and radar target showed her to be on Scroby Sand, about 3'/2 miles away on a bearing of 045°. At 1812 a message came from St Margarite on VHP channel 16 to say that she was breaking up. Coxswain Hawkins decided he was going in to the casualty over the banks and, continuing on course at full speed, he gave orders for all watertight doors to be checked and lifelines rigged and that all the crew should wear their bump caps.

At 1825 the lifeboat was about 500 yards west of the casualty. By the light of a parachute flare the fishing boat could be seen lying bows pointing south west and listing to port on the bank. She was pounding on the bottom and being washed overall by the heavy breaking swell and sea. On being told that the echo sounder was indicating no water Coxswain Hawkins said switch it off; they had to go in.

On a first approach Coxswain Hawkins tried to come alongside the casualty to port, but he was touching the bottom in the troughs and it was clear that he could not keep enough manoeuvrability; the surf would always stop him closing. Taking the lifeboat clear, he decided to head straight into the sea and put his starboard side on to the starboard side of the casualty. At this time the wind was still force 6 from the north east with a rough, steep sea and, with the heavy easterly swell, 10 to 15 foot breaking seas were sweeping across the bank.

As she was approaching St Margarite the lifeboat took a heavy sea over the bows. She hit the bottom and was rolled first to port and then to starboard to strike the starboard bow of the casualty.

She was held there by Coxswain Hawkins while the first survivorjumped and was grabbed and hauled aboard by the lifeboat crew.

Although the crew shouted to the second survivor to wait, he jumped just as a heavy sea forced the boats apart.

He missed the reaching arms of the crew and grabbed on to the forward starboard lifting eye. While the crew held on to him as best they could, Coxswain Hawkins, using his engines, fought to prevent the lifeboat slamming alongside the casualty again, crushing the survivor and injuring his crew. This he managed to do and the survivor was hauled safely aboard. The lifeboat then -went astern clear of the bank and into the safer waters of Yarmouth Roads. It was now 1835.

The rescued owner of the fishing vessel asked if there was any chance of saving his boat. Coxswain Hawkinsrefused to attempt to go on to the bank for her but agreed to wait to see if she would be washed clear on the rising tide. At 1915 the casualty was bounced clear of the bank and the lifeboat was taken alongside. While an RAF helicopter from Coltishall illuminated the scene, a lifeboatman was put aboard and a tow line fixed. The casualty was towed back to Gorleston, entering the harbour at 1930. The lifeboat was back on station and ready for service at 2200- The casualty, however, later sank at her moorings.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Richard J. Hawkins and medal service certificates were presented to Acting Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Michael T. Brown and Crew Members Stanley C. Woods, John L. Cooper and David R. Parr..