50 years ago LIFE-BOAT BULLETIN No.24 1946 A year of peace In the twelve months from the end of the war in Europe on 8 May 1945, life-boats rescued 677 lives.

That is an average of 56 lives a month and is only 50 lives less than were rescued during the last twelve months of the war.

PERSONAL GALLANTRY The Institution has awarded its silver medal to Robert Harland of its Whitby crew, who dived overboard from the life-boat on 23 February, in a heavy, confused sea at the harbour mouth and rescued a fisherman who had been washed out of his boat and was drifting by unconscious. The Carnegie Hero Trust Fund has awarded him an honorary certificate and £ 15. On that day the Whitby life-boat went out six times to the help of the fishing fleet, driven home by the gale and escorted eight of the boats across the bar and into the harbour. Coxswain Harry Murfleld has been awarded the bronze medal, and he and his crew £28.

The motor mechanic at Walmer, C. P. Cavell, who won the thanks on vellum in 1945 for bringing the lifeboat ashore single-handed in a rough sea, has been awarded it again for rescuing one of the crew of the lifeboat who fell overboard when she was alongside a steamer. In hauling him in, Cavell was in danger himself of being crushed between the two.

BRONZE MEDAL FOR CAMPBELTOWN On the night of 16 March, an American steamer, "Byron Darnton", went ashore on Sanda Island off the Mull of Kintyre. There the Campbeltown life-boat found her the next morning among the rocks. The life-boat had two men of island on board to pilot her. Her rudder had been damaged and her engine had broken down, but both had been temporarily repaired and - against the advice of the islanders - the Coxswain took her alongside the steamer. Although she was pounding heavily on the rocks herself, she rescued the 54 men and women on board. Coxswain Duncan Newlands has been awarded a clasp to the bronze medal which he won in 1942, and the assistant motor mechanic, Duncan Black, the thanks on vellum.

TO THE HELP OF A SUBMARINE The submarine, "Universal", broke down in Cardigan Bay on the night of 3 February in a gale with a rough sea running and drifted up the bay for 60 miles. Four life-boats went out to her help, the St. David's boat, which helped a destroyer to get her in tow, Fishguard, New Quay and Aberystwyth. After she had drifted 60 hours, with life-boats standing by her, the commander decided to abandon her, and the Fishguard and Aberystwyth boats rescued her crew of 28 men. The Institution gave the crew of the four life-boats awards amounting to £175.

DUTCH THANKS The Netherlands Ministers for Shipping and Foreign Affairs have sent the thanks of their Government to the Life-boat Institution and "the gallant crews of its lifeboats for the services during the war by which the lives of a great number of Netherlands seamen have been saved". Life-boats went out 70 times to Dutch vessels, rescued 71 lives from them and landed another 69 men..