SEPTEMBER

Launches 52. Lives rescued 115.

SEPT. 2ND. - WICK, CAITHNESS-SHIRE.

At 6.36 A.M. the coastguard informed the life-boat authorities that the trawler Washington, of Grimsby, was ashore near Duncansby Head. The weather was very foggy, with a fresh southerly breeze and a rough sea. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 7 A.M. and found the trawler, but she had already got off. She was making a lot of water and the skipper decided to make for Wick, accompanied by another trawler and the life-boat. The Washington was safely berthed at twelve noon. - Rewards, £4 10s. 6d.

SEPT. 2ND.- WICK, CAITHNESS-SHIRE.

At about 11.20 P.M. information was received from the coastguard that the trawler Navarre, of Grimsby, was ashore about five miles south of Duncansby Head. A fresh southerly wind was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. The weather was foggy. In the absence of the coxswain, who was ill, and second-coxswain, who was on naval service, a pilot took charge of the motor life-boat City of Edinburgh when she put out at 11.40 P.M. She found the Navarre on the rocks at Skirza Head. Another trawler was attempting to get her off. This was unsuccessful.

The weather became worse and the trawler began to break up. Her skipper signalled for help and the life-boat immediately went to her and took off nine of the crew of eleven. As the life-boat drew away, she twice bumped on sunken rocks.

The other two members of the crew were rescued from the shore by the coastguard life-saving apparatus. The life-boat returned to her station at 5.40 A.M. - Rewards, £8 15s.

War declared at 11 a.m. on the 3rd of September.

SEPT. 3RD. - ILFRACOMBE, DEVON.

Shortly before 6 P.M. information was received from the police that a small boat was in difficulties outside the breakers in Woolacombe Bay. A squally W. by S. wind was blowing, with a heavy ground sea. The motor life-boat Rosabella was launched at 6.11 P.M. and found the small boat with a man and two boys on board. They were keeping her afloat by baling. All three were wet through, and the boys were distressed and exhausted. They had been out since ten in the morning. The life-boat took them on board and towed the boat to Ilfracombe, arriving at 8.40 P.M. The rescue was witnessed from the shore at Woolacombe by a large crowd of visitors and residents.- Rewards, £19 6s.

SEPT. 3RD. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. At about 4.10 A.M. it was reported that a vessel was showing distress signals about one and a half miles south of Walton Pier. The weather was clear with a strong breeze. The sea was rather rough. The motor life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched at 4.50 A.M. and found the barge Eureka, of Harwich, with three men on board. Her main sail was damaged and she was completely unmanageable. At her skipper’s request, life-boatmen boarded the Eureka.

The life-boat then towed her to Harwich, arriving at 7.35 A.M. She arrived back at her station at 10.15 A.M. - Property salvage case.

SEPT. 7TH. - LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS.

At 10 P.M. the life-boat station was informed by the coastguard that the steam trawler Commander Nasmith was ashore on the north side of Stroma. A later message said that the vessel was ashore on the Lowther Rock, South Ronaldshay. A strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The night was very dark, with rain. The motor life-boat Thomas McCunn put out at 10.45 P.M. The skipper of the trawler asked her to stand by until high water. She did so. The trawler refloated and went on her way, and the lifeboat returned to her station, arriving at 8.30 A.M.-Rewards, £14 9s. 6d.

SEPT. 9TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX, AND DUNGENESS, KENT. At 9.29 P.M. the coastguard at Fairlight reported that an aeroplane had come down in the sea a mile to the east. The weather was clear and the sea was calm. At 9.35 the Dungeness lifeboat station was told by the observer post at Dungeness that an aeroplane had come down in the sea about seven miles W.S.W. of Dungeness. At 9.40 Mr. R. Cooke, volunteer-in-charge of the life-saving corps at Pett, was told that an aeroplane had come down about one and a half miles south of Pett. The Hastings life-boat, Cyril and Lilian Bishop, was launched at 9.47 P.M. ; the Dungeness motor life-boat, Charles Cooper Henderson, at 9.45 P.M. Mr. Cooke called for a crew to man his motor boat, and put out with three men. He was the first to find the aeroplane. Her crew, four in number, were on the top of the machine. Mr. Cooke landed them at Pett. At 10.40 the Hastings life-boat found the aeroplane, abandoned by her crew, and towed it into Hastings, arriving at 1.30 A.M. The Dungeness life-boat cruised about, using her searchlight, for an hour and a half, but found no trace of the aeroplane. Later she learned from a destroyer that the crew had been saved, and returned to her station, arriving at 1 A.MRewards : Hastings, £28 14s. 6d. ; Dungeness, £22 2s. ; the four men who manned the motor boat, £2, and 5s. for the use of the boat.

SEPT. 10TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK. While bound for Newcastle the S.S. Magdapur, of Liverpool, a vessel of 8,640 tons, carrying a crew of eighty, was sunk by a U-boat off Aldeburgh. Information reached the lifeboat station at 3.20 P.M. from the coastguard, and seventeen minutes later the motor lifeboat was on her way. The sea was smooth, with a light S.W. wind. The life-boat found three steamers standing by the Magdupur, which was sinking, with her back broken.

The water round her was covered with black oil. Some twelve survivors, most of them injured, were first rescued from the sea with the help of the ship’s boat. The remainder were then taken on board the life-boat from the steamers. The injured were treated, and artificial respiration given by two of the lifeboatmen.

The honorary secretary, Mr. Walter Riggs, watched the rescue from the shore and when he saw the life-boat returning with a large number on board, he at once arranged for first-aid help. Dr. Robin Acheson, honorary surgeon to the branch, took charge when the boat reached the shore, and with the able and willing help of the St. John Ambulance, the Shipwrecked Mariners Society and local first-aid organizations, gave help to all who needed it. Nine had to be brought ashore on stretchers. The others, though much exhausted, were able to walk.

The rescued were 18 white men and 56 lascars. All were smothered from head to foot in black oil. The second officer was brought ashore dead. Five other members of the crew were missing.

The service was carried out in fair weather, but it was marked by the prompt launching of the life-boat and the efficient co-operation of all who could in any way help.

The life-boat returned to her station at 5.30 P .M two hours after putting out.

She was covered with oil and blood, but she was cleaned, refuelled, and ready for service by 8 P.M.

A letter of thanks was sent to Dr. Robin Acheson, and in view of the fact that the lifeboat crew’s clothes were badly damaged by oil, an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale   s granted to each member of the crew. Standard rewards to the crew, £16 3s. ; additional rewards to crew, £5 ; total rewards, £21 3s.

SEPT. 10TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. The coastguard reported that the sailing yacht Wisp, of Shoreham, had capsized about one and a half miles to the southward of the harbour entrance. A fresh westerly wind was blowing, with a rather rough sea. The motor life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched at 5.21 P.M.

and rescued the crew of two. They were exhausted and had to be revived. She then took the yacht in tow and brought her into Shoreham, arriving at 6.10 P.M. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d.

SE P T . 15TH. - COURTMACSHERRY HARBOUR, CO. CORK. A telephone message was received from the Superintendent of the Coast Life-Saving Service at about 6.30 A.M., asking that the life-boat should be sent out to meet the Norwegian motor vessel Ida Bakke, which had on board the crew of a steamer which had been sunk by enemy action. The motor life-boat Sarah Ward and William David Crosweller was launched in a calm sea at, 6.45 A.M. and went to the Old Head of Kinsale. There she took on board the crew of forty-two of the oil tanker British Influence, of London. She then returned to her station and landed them at Courtmacsherry at 10 A.M. - Rewards, £4 10s. 0d.

SEPT. l5TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

At 7.20 P . M . the coastguards telephoned that four boats were adrift near the Shambles Lightship with the crew of a Belgian steamer on board. The weather was fine. The motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched at 7.40 P.M., and found that the steamer was the Alex Van Opstal, of Antwerp, and that she had been sunk by a British mine. Her crew had got away in the ship’s boats, and the life-boat found them in tow of a Greek steamer. She stood by the steamer until she reached a safe anchorage in Weymouth Bay, and then returned to her station arriving at 11.45 P.M. - Rewards, £8 15s.

SEPT. 16TH. - COURTMACSHERRY, CO. CORK. At 3.20 A.M. a telephone message was received from the Superintendent of the Coast Life-Saving Service that the motor vessel Cheyenne, a tanker of Newcastle, had been sunk by enemy action 200 miles off the Fastnet Lighthouse on the previous day, and that her crew had been picked up by the Norwegian vessel, Ida Bakke. The life-boat was asked to meet the Ida Bakke off the Fastnet, and bring the rescued crew ashore. The motor life-boat Sarah Ward and William David Crosweller was launched at 4.30 A.M. A strong E. wind was blowing with a rough sea. The life-boat fell in with the Ida Bakke at 8.30 A.M., took on board the thirty-seven rescued men, and landed them at Baltimore, returning to her station at 4.55 P.M. - Rewards, £14 16s. 6d.

SEPT. 22ND. - HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 8.8 P.M. it was reported by the coastguard that a vessel was showing signals of distress near the Plough Seat Rocks. A fresh N.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy swell. The motor life-boat Milburn was launched at 8.18 P.M. and found the S.S.

Miltrap, of Newcastle, with her engine broken down. The life-boat towed her to a safe anchorage in Holy Island Harbour, and returned to her station at 10.30 P.M. - Property salvage case.

SEPT. 22ND. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

At 8.45 P.M. the Royal Naval Shore Signal Station reported that red flares had been seen in an easterly direction. A fresh northerly wind was blowing, with a very rough sea. At 8.48 P.M. the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched.

The steam trawler Kopenes, of Grimsby, was found aground on the Middle Binks, with a broken propeller. Signals were made to the shore for a tug, and the life-boat stood by until she arrived. The tug took the trawler in tow, and the life-boat escorted her to safety, returning to her station at 12.40 A.M.- Paid permanent crew : Rewards, 12s.

SEPT. 24TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

A message was received from the coastguard at 8 A.M. that a steamer was sinking through enemy action, three or four miles E. by N; from the look-out. A N.W. breeze was blowing, with a heavy swell. The No. 1 motor life-boat Abdy Beauclerk was got away in nine minutes. In the meantime the crew of the steamer, some of them injured, had taken to the ship’s boats. She was the Phryne, of Caen, of 3,500 tons, bound from Immingham to Bayonne, with coal, and carrying a crew of twenty-four. After taking on board the whole of the crew the life-boat took the two boats in tow, and in response to a signal from the shore made a good landing to leeward of the slipway which had been badly scoured away. The life-boat was ashore at 9.40 A.M. and the injured members of the Phryne’s crew were sent by ambulance to Ipswich Hospital. A letter of thanks was received from the owners. In 1945, after the liberation of France, a letter of appreciation was received from the Radio Officer.- Rewards, £16 18s.

SEPT. 25TH. - REDCAR, YORKSHIRE.

While homeward bound for Grimsby, the steam trawler Oswaldian, laden with Ash and carrying a crew of eleven, ran ashore on the Salt Scar Rocks off Redcar. The weather was hazy with a heavy swell from the northward.

She burnt flares and the motor lifeboat Louisa Polden was launched to her help at 9 P.M. She took off four members of her crew. Four of the remaining men were taken off and landed by a boat which had put out from the shore, and the other three got away in their own boat and made for the life-boat.

The life-boat then stood by for some hours, and as the weather had improved, she put the seven men on board the trawler again. At 1 A.M. they were able to refloat her under her own steam, and the life-boat returned to her station at 1.20 A.M.-Rewards, £14 4s.

SEPT. 27TH. - STROMNESS, ORKNEYS.

At 1.30 A.M. the Kirkwall coastguard reported that a Norwegian steamer was ashore at Burness, Sanday, nearly fifty miles away. The weather was fine, with a light N.E. windblowing. The motor life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched at 2.35 A.M., and, going through Hoy Sound, found the motor vessel Sardinia, of Oslo, at 7.30 A.M. The life-boat stood by until the vessel refloated and said that she did not need further help. The lifeboat set out on her return journey at about 8.40 A.M., by way of Holm Sound, and reached her station again at 2 P.M. - Rewards, £14 18s. 6d.

SEPT. 27TH. - WALMER, AND RAMSGATE, KENT. A t 6.4 5 A.M   the Deal coastguard reported a motor barge drifting ashore to the N.E. of their station. A heavy sea was running with a strong easterly wind. At 7.5 A.M. the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched. She found the motor barge Halcyon, of Hull, with a crew of three. She was then gradually drawing away from the shore, and the lifeboat escorted her into deep water. The lifeboat returned to her station at 8.20 A.M.

Eight minutes later another coastguard message was received that the Halcyon was again drifting ashore. The life-boat put out a second time at 9 A.M. Six minutes later the Ramsgate motor life-boat Prudential, also put out in response to a message from the coastguard that the Halcyon was driving ashore a mile north of Sandown Castle. She found the barge striking the ground, got ropes aboard her, with considerable difficulty ; and took her in tow. Shortly afterwards the Walmer life-boat arrived on the scene, but, as her help was not needed, she returned to her station, which she reached at 11.30 A.M.

The Ramsgate life-boat, with the barge in tow, reached Ramsgate at 10.57 A . M . - Rewards : Walmer, first launch, £9 13s. 6d., second launch, £9 13s. 6d. ; Ramsgate, Property salvage case.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given :

SEPT. 1ST. - SENNEN COVE, CORNWALL.

A bather had got into difficulties in a rough sea, but the life-boat could find no sign of him and he was believed to have been drowned. - Rewards, £6 7s. 6d.

SEPT. 3RD. - SUNDERLAND, CO. DURHAM.

A ship had gone ashore but refloated under her own steam. - Rewards, £10 5s.

SEPT. 3RD. - LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS.

A small vessel had been reported flying distress signals, and the life-boat searched a wide area but found nothing. It was learned later that the vessel had been taken in tow by a drifter. - Rewards, £4 11s. 6d.

SE P T . 4TH. - HELVICK HEAD, CO.

WATERFORD. What looked like a burning aeroplane was reported to have been seen to drop into the sea, but nothing was found.- No rewards ; launch treated as exercise.

SE P T . 4TH. - APPLEDORE, DEVONSHIRE.

A motor boat had been reported on fire, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £7 17s. 9d.

SEPT. 4TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM.

A small boat out fishing had been kept under observation and, as the wind increased, the life-boat was launched at 9.20 P.M., but in the darkness failed to find the boat, which got in unaided. - Rewards, £7 3s.

SEPT. 5TH. - ST. HELIER, JERSEY. It was reported shortly after eleven at night that Verey lights had been seen. The life-boat put out, with Lieut. - Commander T. Le B. Pirouet, the honorary secretary, on board. She made a wide search, but as nothing had been found by daybreak she returned to her station, arriving at 9.15 next morning. - Rewards, £15 8s. 6d.

SEPT. 6TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. Information had been received that a steamer appeared to have blown up seven miles off Shoreham Harbour, but although the life-boat made a wide search she found nothing. - Rewards, £7 11s.

SEPT. 6TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. An explosion had been reported in the neighbourhood of the Corton Light-vessel, but the life-boat found that the light-vessel itself was all right, and there was no sign of any ship in distress.- Rewards, £6 10s. 6d.

SE P T . 7 T H. - BROUGHTY FERRY, ANGUS. Shortly after 10 P.M. information was received that an aircraft had dived into the sea three miles N.E. of the North Carr Light - vessel . The life-boat found nothing, spoke the light-vessel, and learned that the position was four miles N.N.E. She searched again, without success, and it was not until day came that she found oil on the sea. It was assumed that the aircraft had been lost. The life-boat returned to her station at 8.40 next morning. - Rewards, £13 1s.

SEPT. 8TH. - ARKLOW, CO. WICKLOW, AND ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD.

Shortly before midnight reports had been received that flares from a vessel ashore on Blackwater Bank had been seen.

Both life-boats searched without success, and the coxswains came to the conclusion that a mistake had been made in reporting flares.- Rewards : Arklow, £12 10s. 6d. ; Rosslare Harbour, permanent paid crew, £4 13s.

SEPT. 9TH. - MARGATE, KENT, AND SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea off Leysdown. The Margate life-boat was launched just after eleven at night in a thick fog and reached Leysdown two hours and twenty minutes later. Owing to the fog she anchored until 5.15 in the morning and then made a search, but found nothing. Meanwhile the Southend-on-Sea life-boat had been launched at 11.30 and had searched a wide area. The two life-boats met at 6.30 next morning. At 7.50 a morse signal from the RAF was received to say that all were saved. The Margate life-boat reached her station at 10.30 in the morning, and the Southend-on-Sea at 8.50. - Rewards : Margate, £18 12s. ; Southend-on-Sea, £18 3s.

(See “ Services by Shore-boats,” Herne Bay, page 97.)

SEPT. 10TH. - LYTHAM - ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. Information had been received that a yacht was in difficulties on the North Bank and a small motor launch aground. Both vessels were on a lee shore, with a strong S.W. gale blowing, and a heavy sea. Before the life-boat arrived the yacht had bumped clear over the bank and no longer needed help, and when the life-boat reached the motor boat she found that she had been abandoned. - Rewards, £9 11s.

SEPT. 10TH. - TORBAY, DEVONSHIRE.

A small sailing dinghy, which had left Paignton at two in the afternoon had not returned at ten that night, but it was learned later that she had got in safely. - Rewards, £9 13s.

SEPT. 13TH. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK, AND GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON.

NORFOLK. Early in the morning information was received that two vessels had been in collision off Lowestoft. A N.E.

gale was blowing with a rough sea, and it was very dark with heavy rain squalls. Both life-boats searched for some time and in the end found H.M. Destroyer Wallace badly damaged, but not then in any need of help - Rewards : Lowestoft, £16 3s. 6d. ; Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, £18 19s. 6d.

SEPT. 13TH. - RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.

A steamer had been reported ashore, but when the life-boat arrived she found that she had refloated without help and was able to go on her way. - Rewards, £11 5s.

SEPT. 14TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO.

CORK. At 2.20 P.M. the civic guard at Cork reported that a man had picked up a wireless S O S call from the S.S. Vancouver City, of Bideford. She was a vessel of about 5,000 tons and had been torpedoed and sunk by a U-boat about sixty miles S.E. by S. of Ballycotton Light. The position was outside the normal range for the reserve motor life-boat William Evans, which was on temporary duty at the station  but she took a reserve supply of petrol on deck and set out. With her went Dr. Ted O’Connell, in case his services were needed. The life-boat picked up the coxswain, who was out fishing, four miles off, and went on until at 1.30 A.M. on the 15th the coxswain reckoned that he had reached the position given. Several destroyers were in the neighbourhood.

The life-boat could obtain no definite news, but it was reported that several of the steamer’s crew had been killed, and that the remaining thirty had been picked up by a Dutch tanker.

At 2.30 A.M. the life-boat turned for home, but when she was about fifty-two miles S.E. of Mine Head her engine broke down. Nothing could be done in the way o f temporary repairs, and sail was set. The steam trawler Gwmaho was sighted at about 9.30 A.M., when the life-boat was thirty-two miles S. by E. of Ballycotton, and she towed the life-boat home. They arrived at 2 P.M., over twenty-one hours after the life-boat had set out. The captain of the trawler said that he would make no claim for his services as he did not know when he might need a lifeboat himself. Letters of thanks were sent to the captain of the trawler, to his owners and to Dr. O’Connell, and an increase in the usual money awards on the standard scale was made to each member of the crew.-Standard rewards to crew, £18 10s. ; additional rewards to crew, £12 ; total rewards, £30 10s.

SEPT. 15TH. - ABERDEEN, ABERDEENSHIRE.

A message had been received that a vessel was in distress through enemy action, but the life-boat found that her help was not required. - Rewards, £5 15s. 6d.

SEPT. 16TH. - MARGATE, KENT. A vessel had been reported with a bad list, which was thought to be the result of enemy action, and the life-boat put out in charge of the bowman, as both the coxswain and second coxswain were at sea fishing, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £6 4s.

SEPT. 16TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. The Italian steamer Liana had been seen aground near the Goodwin Knoll, but by the time the life-boat arrived she had refloated. - Rewards, £5 3s.

SEPT. 17TH. - TORBAY, DEVONSHIRE.

A motor boat, with ten passengers on board, had not returned and the life-boat put out to search for her, but she got in without help.- Rewards, £9 7s.

SEPT. 18TH. - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

At one in the morning it was reported that an aeroplane had crashed in the sea. She sank just after the life-boat reached her. There was no sign of her crew. The life-boat again searched in the daylight but found nothing except wreckage and this was handed over to the R.A.F. - Rewards, £15 8s. 6d..

SEPT. 18TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. A rowing boat with a boy and girl on board had been reported as missing and the life-boat put out, but was recalled as the boat had been found. - Rewards, £10 5s.

SEPT. 18TH. - SENNEN COVE, CORNWALL.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but the life-boat was recalled by the coastguard as her services were not needed. - Rewards, £12 5s.

SEPT. 24TH. - COURTMACSHERRY, CO.

CORK. A message had been received that a steamer was in distress, as a result of enemy action, about fifteen miles south of Fastnet Lighthouse. She was the steamer Hazleside, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, bound from British Columbia to Garston with a crew of thirtyfour.

As the Baltimore motor life-boat was off service the Courtmacsherry motor life-boat put out. She found nothing and put into Baltimore. There she learned that a shoreboat had two boats in tow. She put out again, with a local pilot on board, to help them, but by this time they had reached the Schull. After returning to Baltimore for food and rest the life-boat made for her station, arriving at 12.30 P.M. on 25th September.

She had then been out for over twenty hours. - Rewards, £20 10s.

SEPT. 25TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down in the channel between Hastings and Le Treport.

No position was given. The life-boat and two aeroplanes searched for some time. In the meanwhile the distress call had been cancelled and the life-boat was recalled.- Rewards, £12 12s. 6d.

SEPT. 26TH. - SUNDERLAND, CO. DURHAM.

A fishing coble had been reported in distress, but a pilot cutter took her in tow.- Rewards, £5 2s. 6d.

SEPT. 27TH. - NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX. A motor yacht had been reported broken down, but a tug took her in tow. - Rewards, £5 16s.

SEPT. 28TH. - DOVER, KENT. A small boat had been reported as capsized six miles from Dover in a rough sea, but the life-boat could find nothing. - Partly permanent paid crew : Rewards, £1 17s. 6d.