OCTOBER

Launches 107. Lives rescued 107.

OCT. 3RD. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX, At about 4 P.M. the coastguard reported that a motor yacht, lying about two miles S.W. by S. of Walton Pier, was flying distress signals. A moderate easterly gale was blowing, and the sea was very rough.

The motor life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched at 4.25 P.M. and found the motor yacht Herga, of Guernsey, with a crew of six, in difficulties with her engine. At the request of her crew the life-boat started to escort her to Harwich, but very soon had to take her in tow. After berthing the yacht at Parkeston Quay the life-boat returned to Walton at 9.40 P.M.- Property salvage case..

OCT. 4TH. - BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 9.45 A.M. the Craster coastguard reported that the motor fishing coble Onward was disabled a mile off the harbour. A strong E.S.E. breeze was blowing, with a rough sea.

At 9.57 A.M. the motor life-boat Clarissa Langdon was launched. The life-boat came in towards the Cullernose Watch Station, which semaphored to her that the coble had reached harbour. On her way back the lifeboat fell in with three fishing cobles of Amble, and as the weather was very bad off Boulmer Steel she escorted them to Amble. She returned to her station at 1.5 P.M. - Rewards, £9 10s.

OCT. 4TH. - WALMER, KENT. At 4.20 P.M. the Deal coastguard reported that the S.S. Noordam, of Rotterdam, lying off Deal, had signalled for a boat to take a man ashore for an immediate operation. A strong E. by S. wind was blowing with a rough sea and squalls of rain. No other suitable boat being available the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 4.45 P.M., after a second urgent signal had been made. The patient was brought ashore, accompanied by two members of the ship’s crew, and sent to hospital, the life-boat reaching her station again at 5.45 P.M. The owners, The Holland-America line made a donation of £25 in gratitude for this service.

- Rewards, £21 18s. 9d.

OCT. 5TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE.

At 2.10 P.M. the Southend coastguard reported that a vessel had stranded on the Skerryvore Reef, Machrihanish.

It was thought that the services of a tug might be needed, and the tug English - man was warned. A moderate E. gale, veering to S.S.E., was blowing, with a rough sea.

At 3.40 P.M. the motor life-boat City of Glasgow was launched. The tug also went out. The vessel in distress was the Sonja, of Helsingborg. The tug could not get near her, and the life-boat passed ropes between the two. The tug then made several attempts to tow the Sonja off, but without success.

Life-boat and tug stood by the Sonja until early morning. The tug then succeeded in towing her off, and she was able to go on her way. The life-boat returned to her station at 10.30 A.M. the following morning. - Property salvage case.

OCT. 5TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE.

Early in the morning the assistant harbour master saw distress signals coming from the bay. A strong E.S.E. wind was blowing with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched at 6.40 A.M., and found the small fishing boat Pioneer, of Peterhead, dragging her anchor. Fishing gear had fouled her propeller and she was in danger of being driven ashore. The life-boat towed her into the harbour, and returned to her station at 7.25 A.M. - Rewards, £7 6s. 6d.

OCT. 5TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE.

Information was received that the small fishing boats of Fraserburgh, Violet, Promote II, Boy George, Union, and Victory, had put out at 2.30 P.M. but had not returned by 6.40 P.M., and the coastguard at Kinnaird reported that they were making their way eastwards towards Fraserburgh Harbour. A very strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a rough sea which made the harbour entrance dangerous. At 6.55 P.M.

the motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched. She met the boats, warned them of the state of the harbour entrance and escorted them in. She returned to her station at 9 P.M. - Rewards, £14 9s. 6d.

OCT. 6TH. - THE MUMBLES, GLAMOR.

GANSHIRE. At 6 P .M. the coastguard d informed the life-boat station that the motor vessel Lochgoil, of London, had been sunk by enemy action five miles S. by W. of the Scarweather Lightship. She was a steamer of 10,000 tons with sixty-four crew and passengers on board, and was bound from Newport, Monmouthshire, to Vancouver A slight breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. At 6.10 P.M. the reserve motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched, and found that the crew of the Lochgoil had already been taken off by the S.S. Philip M. The life-boat stood by this steamer and piloted her to Mumbles Roads, where she landed forty-five of the rescued people, of whom twenty were injured. The Shipwrecked Mariner's Society, the Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance Brigade had already been informed, and when the survivors were landed they at once received medical attention, and accommodation was found for them. The life-boat returned to her station at 11.5P.M. - Rewards, £14 17s. The Royal Mail Line, owners of the Lochgoil, gave £25 to the Mumbles branch.

OCT. 7TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. Two vessels were seen to be ashore on Goodwin Sands. One of them was the Admiralty trawler Cape Barracouta. A light E.N.E.

wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. At 1.45 A.M. the motor life-boat Prudential was launched. As it was difficult for tugs to approach the Cape Barracouta owing to the shallow water, the life-boat carried hawsers and lines to her and enabled her to refloat without damage. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 8.24 P.M. Rewards, £23 5s. 6d.

OCT. 7TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET. At 11.15 P.M. the coastguard informed the lifeboat station that signals of distress had been seen near Grove Point. A message was received a few minutes later that a ship was in distress, through enemy action, near the Shambles Light-vessel. A light E. wind was blowing with a smooth sea. The motor lifeboat William and Clara Ryland was launched at 11.52 P.M. She reached the vessel at 12.30 A..M., and found her to be the S.S.. Binnendijk, of Rotterdam, of 6,873 tons, bound laden from New York to Rotterdam. Her crew of forty-one had already been taken off by an Admiralty examination steamer, but the lifeboat stood by until the steamer sank, and then returned to her station at 3.15 A.M. A little while before the life-boat‘s return the coastguard reported that a very heavy explosion had occurred near the Shambles Lightvessel at 3 A.M. They thought that another vessel was in difficulties. At 3.50 A.M. the life-boat was again launched, on instructions from the senior naval officer at Portland.

She searched the position given, found only wreckage, and returned at 8.15 A . M . - Rewards : first launch, £13 2s. 6d. ; second launch, £16 9s.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT CROMER OCT. 9TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

At 6.25 in the morning the Cromer coxswain learned through the Humber radio and the coastguard that a vessel had gone ashore on Haisborough Sands, thirteen miles to the east. A breeze was blowing with increasing force from south-east-by-east. A very heavy sea was running. The tide was at half ebb. There was mist and rain.At 6.45 the No. 1 motor life-boat H, F. Bailey was launched. Before launching the coxswain had asked the coastguard to get the position of the vessel. and shortly after eight o’clock the life-boat heard on its wireless the coastguard asking the Haisborough Light-vessel to tell her that the vessel had grounded on the Ower Bank. She was nowhere near the Haisborough Sands, but another nineteen miles further on.

At this time the life-boat was near the North Middle Haisborough Buoy.

She went south towards Middle Haisborough Buoy and then across the sands to the gap between that buoy and the East Haisborough Buoy.

From there she set a course for the Ower, to the north-east. About one o’clock she crossed the Leman Bank, and shortly afterwards saw the vessel aground on the Ower. She was a Greek steamer, the Mount Ida, of Piraeus, of 4,275 tons, loaded with grain and timber, and on her way from Vancouver to Hull. She had a crew of twenty-nine on board.

The steamer was lying nearly head on to the seas, so that she offered the life-boat no lee. She had a list to starboard. Part of her bridge had been smashed. Her starboard lifeboats had been carried away. A very heavy sea was running on the bank.

A DOZEN ROPES SNAPPED It was now about 12.30, and the coxswain approached her on the port side, but before a rope could be thrown the life-boat was struck by two heavy seas and flung back. The coxswain made a second attempt to go along side, but he found that the ship had set up such strong cross currents in the tide as made it impossible for the lifeboat to remain alongside her. He decided to wait until slack water before making another attempt. He took the life-boat clear of the sands and signalled to the ship what he intended to do.

At 2.15 in the afternoon the coxswain decided that the tide had slackened enough for another attempt to be made. Wind and sea, however, had by this time considerably increased.

The life-boat went alongside and ropes were thrown to her from the wreck, but they snapped almost at once from the strain put upon them by the heavy seas. At least a dozen ropes were snapped. There was no hope of being able to keep the lifeboat alongside the steamer by ropes.

Instead the coxswain used the lifeboat’s engines. He drove ahead as the seas broke alongside the ship, and so prevented them from sweeping the life-boat away from her.

A rope ladder was dropped over the steamer’s side and six men climbed down into the life-boat. A seventh man began the attempt, but when about half-way down he hesitated.

The life-boat’s crew shouted to him to jump. Instead he started to climb back, but before he could get aboard the steamer again a big sea lifted the life-boat right to the top of the ladder and the man’s leg was crushed between her and the steamer’s side. His comrades pulled him aboard and did their best to stop the flow of blood from his mangled leg. Then they tied him in blankets and lowered him by ropes from the steamer’s port life-boat into the life-boat.

While the injured man was being attended to, no other members of the steamer’s crew would come down the ladder. Then only about six of the remaining twenty-two would venture to use it. The others slid down a rope from the port life-boat.

TWENTY-NINE RESCUED It was not until about 3.30 in the afternoon that the last of the twentynine men had been rescued. The lifeboat had been alongside the steamer, held in position there by her engines, for well over an hour. She had been swept almost continuously by heavy seas. She had been flung against the wreck and badly damaged. Only the bold seamanship of the coxswain, the care with which the mechanics had handled the engines, and the promptness with which they had carried out the coxswain’s orders had made it possible to keep alongside the steamer at all.

When the last man had been rescued, the coxswain decided that his best way of clearing the sands was to drive straight ahead through the seas. This was safely accomplished, and he made for Cromer as the best place to land the injured man and to get him medical help as soon as possible.

A LAUNCHING MISHAP There the life-boat arrived at eight in the evening, but, with the sea that was running, it was impossible to land the man on the slipway. The coxswain thereupon called out the No. 2 life-boat Harriot Dixon, which is launched by tractor off the open beach.

The Harriot Dixon was launched at 8.25, with Dr. D. Vaughan on board.

Unfortunately, as she was being launched, a throttle wire broke, the engine stalled, and the life-boat was thrown right across the carriage. A hole was knocked in her port quarter, the carriage was broken, and the lifeboat was launched stern first. In spite of this mishap she got safely away, and brought ashore the injured man, the other twenty-eight rescued men, and the H. F. Bailey’s crew. The motor mechanic of the H. F. Bailey stayed on board her, with four members of the Harriot Dixon’s crew, to look after her while she lay at anchor.

The injured man was taken at once the the Cromer and District Hospital, but there he died of his injuries the next night.

went to the boat-house intending to refuel the H. F. Bailey from the slipway.

This was found to be impossible.

It was impossible also, owing to the mishap to the tractor, to launch the Harriot Dixon again, so the biggest shoreboat available was loaded with forty tins of petrol, and she took them and the crew out to the H. F. Bailey.

Two of the life-boatmen brought the shoreboat in again. They narrowly escaped being capsized in the broken water. The H. F. Bailey stood by until they had signalled that they were, safely ashore, and then made for Bacton.

A strong wind was blowing from the south-east. There was haze and heavy rain, but the sea was now moderate.

The vessel in distress was the steam drifter Vera Creina, of Lowestoft, with ten men on board. She was on her way home from the fishing grounds and had run aground.

The life-boat reached her at one o’clock next morning. She was hailed from the shore and told that the drifter’s crew had already been rescued by the coastguard life-saving apparatus.

The drifter herself was refloated two days later.

The coxswain sent his crew home at once to get dry clothes and a meal.

They had then been out for fourteen hours.

A SECOND CALL Meanwhile, the tractor and the carriage of the Harriot Dixon had been completely submerged. They had to be hauled out by means of the winch and a wire hawser, a difficult task in the darkness, wind and rain. The coxswain remained on the beach until this had, been done. He then went home, but he had only just got inside when news was brought him that a vessel was in distress off Bacton, nearly ten miles south-east of Cromer. He called out the crew again, stayed only to put on dry clothes himself, and As the life-boat had been damaged, during the service to the Mount Ida, the coxswain, instead of returning to Cromer, made for Lowestoft, twentyfive miles further south, where repairs could be started at once. The lifeboat arrived there at 6.30 in the morning and her crew returned by road arriving at midday. It was then, thirty hours since they had set out to the help of the Mount Ida. During those thirty hours they had been at.

sea nearly twenty-one hours and had travelled over 100 miles.

THE DAMAGED LIFE-BOATS The smaller life-boat, Harriot Dixon, was found to have six planks in her skin fractured on the port side and a hole in one of the air-cases. She was temporarily repaired with a patch of copper on the outside, and strengthened with timber on the inside. These repairs were completed by the 12th, and the life-boat was then again ready for service.The larger life-boat, the H. F. Bailey, was found to have her stem badly damaged at the forefoot. Four inner skin planks, two ribs and two deck beams had been fractured Twenty feet of the fender on the starboard side had been broken to splinters, The footwale was badly split all along the starboard side. Stanchions had been bent and the guard chains broken.

The repairs were completed late on the night of 20th October. The life-boat was launched next day. She returned to Cromer, ready for service again, on the 22nd October THE REWARDS This was a. very fine service, carried out in very severe weather, and the Institution made the following awards: To COXSWAIN HENRY G. BLOGG, a second clasp to his silver medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To SECOND-COXSWAIN J. J. DAVIES, SENIOR, a second clasp to his bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To H. W. DAVIES, motor-mechanic, a clasp to his bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum : To J. W, DAVIES, assistant motormechanic, a clasp to his bronze medal for gallantry. and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To H. T. DAVIES, boat signalman, and to each of the seven other members of the crew, R. C. DAVIES, F. DAVIES, J. J. DAVIES, JUNIOR, W. H, DAVIES, R. DAVIES, R. Cox and G. Cox, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each of the eleven members of the crew of the H. F. Bailey. who went out to the Mount Ida, a reward of £3 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £3 6s.

Standard rewards, £41 6s. 6d. ; additional rewards, £36 ; total rewards, £77 6s. 6d.

To the coxswain and crew of the Harriot Dixon who, owing to the accident with the tractor were on duty for eleven hours, £1 17s. 6d. each ; total rewards, £33 ; To the Coxswain and crew (some of whom had manned the H. F. Bailey and some the Harriot Dixon in the service to the Mount Ida) who went out to the Vera Creina, £1 17s. 6d.

each ; total rewards,, £23 2s. ; Total rewards for the services to the Mount Ida and the Vera Creina, £133 8s. 6d.

The owners of the Mount Ida gave £50 to the Institution.

WATERFORD. A W. by S. wind was OC T . 9 T H - HELVICK HEAD, CO.

blowing, with a heavy sea. At 2 P.M. the motor life-boat Elsie was launched to the help of the motor vessel West Coaster, of London, which was in distress in the bay.

She found that the vessel’s engine had broken down and that her anchors were not holding.

The life-boat attempted to take the West Coaster in tow. but in the heavy sea the ropes broke and the life-boat’s stern bollard was damaged. She then went to Dungarvan where she got a local steamer to bring the West Coaster into harbour. She returned to her station at 7 P.M. - Rewards, £12 1s. 6d.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT THE HUMBER OCT. 10TH.- THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. At 4.20 in the morning the watchman saw a vessel heading for the beach. He gave the alarm and the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched at 4.55. A gale had been blowing. It had dropped to a fresh wind, from the south-south-west, but it had left a very heavy sea running.

Twenty minutes after she launched the life-boat found the steam trawler Saltaire, of Grimsby, aground on the Inner Binks. She was rolling, her gunwales right under, and the seas were breaking over her. The trawler was lying head off shore, so the coxswain anchored to windward, and dropped down on his cable. By the light of his searchlight, he came alongside and held the lifeboat there while the nine men of the trawler’s crew jumped aboard. One of the men fell between the trawler and the life-boat, but he was pulled aboard before the seas had flung them together again. At 6.30 the rescued men were landed.IN PERIL A SECOND TIME At low water it was possible to walk out to the Saltaire, and by now the wind had dropped. Her crew, with the owner’s agent, returned to her, and a wire was run out, to seaward for a tug to pick up. It was hoped to tow her off at high tide, but as the tide rose the wind went round to the eastward and freshened. The sea got up rapidly and the Saltaire was swung broadside on to the seas and fell over to seaward. She lay at an angle of 40 degrees, with seas breaking right over her. Her crew took shelter in the wheelhouse. The life-boat crew had been watching and they launched at once. It was then two in the afternoon.

men were hauled into the life-boat.

Three were still on the wreck.

There was not enough water between the Saltaire and the shore for the lifeboat to get to leeward of her, and on the windward side it was impossible to approach because, lying at an angle as she was, her masts were in the way.

The only way to rescue her crew was to haul them through the water in a breeches buoy. The coxswain anchored to windward ; paid out a little cable ; made fast another rope to the cable from the starboard quarter ; and then, by going ahead and astern on his engines, he kept the ropes taut and held life-boat steady while a line was fired over the wreck. Ropes, a tail block and a lifebuoy from the life-boat were then hauled across by the trawler’s crew, but they had very great. difficulty in finding a point sufficiently high for fastening the block.

It was now over an hour since the life-boat had anchored. The strong flood tide, the wind blowing across the tide, the shallow water, the heavy seas -all this had made it. extraordinarily difficult to keep the life-boat. close enough to the wreck for the buoy. to be drawn backwards and forwards, and at the same time to prevent the life-boat. from being flung on to her.

At times they were thirty yards apart, at times nearly touching. But the coxswain was most skilful in handling the life-boat, and his crew most skilful in working the buoy through the breaking seas, and hauling the rescued men aboard. It was the proof of their skill that not one of the seven men was hurt. But the other three, who for over an hour had watched their comrades being hauled through the seas, could not face it themselves.

They preferred to be rescued from the shore, and a party of soldiers hauled them through the surf. Two of them were badly hurt. At 3.30 the life-boat left the wreck and twenty minutes later was landing the rescued men.

The Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN ROBERT CROSS, a second clasp to his silver medal for gallantry, a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, and £5 ; To JOHN S. MAJOR, the motormechanic, the bronze medal for gallantry, a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, and £5 ; A DIFFICULT RESCUE In the end, with the seas breaking over them, they succeeded in making it fast to the top of the wheelhouse.

Then came another great. difficulty, to get into the buoy with the deck at so sharp an angle and seas smashing over it,. Three of the men had succeeded, and had been hauled through the surf to the life-boat, when some nets and other gear were washed out of the trawler and fouled the ropes and buoy. Another line had to be fired ; another block sent. over to the wreck and made fast ; then the work of rescue began again, and another four To each of the other six members of the crew, SECOND-COXSWAIN WILLIAM R. JENKINSON, WILLIAM J. T. HOOD, bowman, SAMUEL CROSS, assistant motor-mechanic, SAMUEL F. HOOPELL, GEORGE F. HOOPER and WALTER BIGLIN, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum, and £5. Permanent paid crew : Standard rewards, £1 7s. ; special rewards £40 ; total rewards, £41 7s.

OCT. 11TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON. NORFOLK. At 6.46 A.M.

the Gorleston coastguard reported a message received from Yarmouth that a vessel had apparently grounded on the Scroby Sands.

A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a smooth sea. At 7.10 A.M. the motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched. She found the S.S.

Commar, of Panama. on the sands, about a The barge was lying 100 yards from mile from the St. Nicholas Light-vessel. the shore, aground in about six feet Help was declined by the pilot of the steamer, of water. She was surrounded by but the life-boat stood by until high water.

The Commar refloated and went on her way, heavy breaking seas, which were and the life-boat returned to her station, smashing the bathing huts on the arriving at 11 A.M. - Rewards, £8 4s. 6d. shore. The coastguard life-saving rocket apparatus was quickly on the OCT. 12TH. - HOLY ISLAND, NORTHscene, and managed to send a line UMBERLAND. At 5.33 A.M. the coastguard to her, but she swung round, and the reported a ship ashore on the Goswick Sands. line got under her bottom and was The weather was wet and cold, with a useless.

moderate easterly breeze and a heavy swell.

At 5.57 A.M. the motor life-boat Milburn was At 9.50 the Walton and Frinton launched. She found the Norwegian steamer motor life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched, Royal, of Arendal, ashore on Sand Ridge. and a quarter of an hour later she The Royal was a ship of 1,000 tons, bound in ballast from Langesund to the Tyne, with a reached the barge.

crew of fifteen. Her crew declined to leave her, and the captain asked the coxswain to wait for the next tide. The life-boat returned A CLEVER MANOEVRE to her station at 8.45 A.M. and put out again at 1 P.M. to stand by the Royal until high The coxswain anchored to windward water. As the Royal did not get off the and dropped down stern first towards captain signalled the life-boat to leave, and the bow of the barge. When he was she reached her station again at 4.15 P.M. off her bow he moved the cable from At low tide the steamer was high and dry on the sands. - Rewards, £11 13s. 3d.

OCT. 12TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. - At about 11.10 P.M. the coastguard reported that a vessel was believed to be in distress a mile S.E. of the station. The report was confirmed, and the No. 2 motor life-boat, Harriot Dixon, was launched by tractor at midnight. Rain was falling heavily, and a moderate N.W. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat found the S.S.

Linwood, of Middlesbrough, of 500 tons.

She was bound from Ipswich to Hartlepool, in ballast, with a crew of twelve. She had been in collision and had been beached to prevent her sinking. The life-boat took off her crew and arrived back at her station at 1 A.M. - Rewards. £29 12s.

the forward post of the life-boat to the starboard after bollard and then steamed in under the lee side of the barge. By this manoeuvre, which brought his cable tight round the barge’s bow, he drew the stern of the life-boat against the barge. Lines were thrown from the life-boat to the barge, fore and aft, and by keeping the boat still steaming ahead, the coxswain held her long enough alongside for the master, his wife, the mate and the dog to jump aboard her.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT WALTON AND FRINTON OCT. 14TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. The barges Esterel and Yampa, of London, were on their map from London to Norwich with cargoes of maize, When nearly opposite Orfordness they were caught by an easterly gale. Both barges turned back. They struck the Cork Sands. The Esterel succeeded in getting off. with her sprit carried away.

She was out of control ; the heavy seas stove in her hatches ; she was driven ashore east of Walton Pier.

It was then nine in the morning, and the tide was at half flood.

A DANGEROUS MOMENT Now came the most dangerous moment. The life-boat was not more than fifty yards from the rocks, and the water was so shallow that she struck the bottom several times. The coxswain dared not risk going any nearer the shore and, with so small a space in which to manoeuvre, it was most difficult and hazardous to get away from the barge. He moved the life-boat carefully astern, hauling on his cable at the same time, and thus brought her clear of the bows of the barge. Heavy seas were breaking over her the whole time. The slightest mistake would have put her ashore.

When the life-boat, going astern, was far enough from the shore, the coxswain shifted the cable again from the after bollard to the forward post, went ahead on his engines, and picked up his anchor.

The life-boat arrived back at her station at 11.30, an hour and forty minutes after putting out. As soon as she had landed the rescued she put out again for, fifty minutes before, the coastguard had received from the Cork Light-vessel a signal that a vessel was in distress. The honorary secretary of the station, Captain William J. Oxley, went out with her. There was a very big swell running, with a confused sea, and the gale was blowing fresh from the north-east.

A LONG SEARCH The coxswain made straight for the Cork Sands, as he could see a barge ashore there. He reached her in an hour and twenty minutes and found her completely submerged. She was the Yampa, the sister barge to the Esterel, which had been with her when she put back off Orfordness. Nothing could be seen of her crew. Very heavy seas were running on the sands, and to make certain that no one was in the rigging, the life-boat made two complete circles of the barge. Then she made a call on the light-vessel, spoke a mine-sweeper, and searched the Wallet, the channel between the mainland and Gunfleet Sound, for six miles, but she could neither learn nor find anything of the men. Finally, the coxswain spoke the Walton coastguard, but they had no information to give. It was clear that the men were drowned, and the life-boat returned to Walton arriving at three in the afternoon.

The rescue of the crew of the Esterel was a very fine service, carried out under very difficult conditions, and it was only through the great skill and fine seamanship of Coxswain T. H. Bloom that the crew were rescued and the life-boat brought out again from her perilous position practically undamaged. The coxswain’s manoeuvre in shifting his cable was a clever idea very skilfully carried out. The assistant motor mechanic, F. Bacon, who was in charge of the engines in the absence of the motor mechanic, managed them very skilfully, and the signalman, F. Williams, kept in touch with the coastguard throughout the rescue by means of the searchlight, a very difficult thing to do in the heavy seas.

The Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN T. H. BLOOM, the silver medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; 'I'o SECOND COXSWAIN WALTER J.

OXLEY, the bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To F. BACON, the assistant motormechanic, the bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To F. WILLIAMS, the boat signalman, the bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To each of the other five members of the crew, E. OXLEY, A. HALLS, G. ALDRICH, A. E. COOK, and G. SHARMAN, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each of the eight members of his crew a reward of £3 for the service to the Esterel, in addition to the ordinary scale reward of 19s. Standard rewards, £10 16s. ; additional rewards, £27 ; total rewards, £37 16s. ; rewards for the launch to the Yampa, £10 16s.

OCT. 14TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

At 9.20 P.M. the coastguard reported that the Shambles Lightship had fired guns and rockets. A strong E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea and rain. At 10 P.M.

the motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched, and learnt from the lightship that an aeroplane had come down two miles to the north-east. The lightship’s boat had already put off to the rescue, manned by four men. The life-boat found this boat two miles away. She had already succeeded in rescuing the crew of four of the aeroplanea very fine piece of work in the darkness and rain with a strong wind blowing-and was putting them aboard a destroyer. She was herself waterlogged, so the life-boat took on board the four men and brought them back to the lightship, returning to her station at 2.15 A.M.. - Rewards, £13 2s. 6d.

OCT. 14TH. - MARGATE, KENT. -During the morning a sailing barge was seen dragging her anchor off Margate Jetty. A northerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea, and it was decided to send out the motor life-boatThe Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1).

She was launched at 11.25 A.M. Mr. P. E. W.

Gellatey, the honorary secretary of the station, went with her. She reached the barge five minutes later. The barge was the Celtic, of London, with a crew of two, bound, laden, from London to Newport, Isle of Wight. She was dragging into a very perilous position, and her master asked for help.

With great difficulty four life-boatmen boarded the Celtic got a tow rope aboard, and hove up the anchor The life-boat then took the barge in tow to Ramsgate. Off Broadstairs the tow rope parted. Another rope was made fast. As the two boats were nearing Ramsgate this also parted. Yet.

another rope was put aboard the barge ; and the life-boat got her into Ramsgate Harbour without further mishap arriving at about 4.30 P.M. As the weather and tide would make it impossible to house the life-boat at Margate it was decided to leave her moored in Ramsgate Harbour. The crew returned to Margate by road. The Institution sent, a letter to the branch expressing appreciation of the way in which the life-boat saved the Celtic. - Property salvage case OCT. 14TH. - BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE.

The coastguard reported that a steam trawler was ashore on the Smithic Sands. A fresh N.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. At 2.15 P.M. the motor life-boat Stanhope Smart was launched and found the trawler Erillus, of Grimsby. labouring in the heavy seas, which were breaking over her stern. Her rudder and propeller were damaged. The life-boat took her in tow, with the help of a motor fishing vessel. The water in the trawler’s cabin was two feet deep and all available pumps had to be kept working. The life-boat towed her to Bridlington and returned to her station at 5.30 P.M. - Property salvage case.

OCT. 15TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At.

2.15 A.M. the coastguard telephoned the coxswain that he believed a vessel was burning flares. The coxswain went to the coastguard look-out and was satisfied that they were distress signals. An answering rocket was fired by the coastguard, and the crew went by car to Ramsgate, where they had left the life-boat the night before after the service to the Celtic. At 3.20 A.M. they set out. A N.E. breeze was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. It was not until daylight that the life-boat found the sailing barge Yarana. of London, with two men on board. They had not been able to make more signals as they had burnt everything on board that would burn. The barge was rolling very heavily, and the men, who expected the mast and sprit to go overboard at any moment, were about to abandon her.

Four life-boatmen were put aboard the barge and the life-boat towed her to Whitstable, arriving at 11.0 A.M. She then returned to her station at two in the afternoon.

The Institution sent a letter to the branch expressing appreciation of the promptitude with which the life-boat got away to the help of the Yarana from Ramsgate Harbour. - Property salvage case.

OCT. 17TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

- At about 1 A.M. the life-boat watchman reported that a vessel was standing into danger near the Middle Binks. A light, variable wind was blowing. The sea was smooth. At 1.15 A.M. the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched, and found the steam trawler Dane, of Hull, aground.

She laid out an anchor and with the help of it the trawler refloated later and went. on her way to Hull. The life-boat returned to her station at 6.30 A.M. - Property salvage case.

OCT. 18TH . - WALMER, KENT. At 6.30 P.M. a message was received from a doctor that he had been requested by the senior naval officer at Ramsgate to go to the Dutch steamer Mirza. A gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. As no motor boat would take the doctor, the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 6.55 P.M. She got from the guard-ship the position of the Mirza, but in the very heavy rain she was unable to find the steamer, although she searched for over four hours. She returned at midnight and waited for daylight. At 8.30 the following morning she put out again ; found the steamer; put the doctor on board; stood by, and brought him ashore again, at 10 A.M.

She had been out altogether for nearly seven hours. A donation of £45 was received in appreciation of this service. - Rewards : first launch, £29 0S. 6d. ; second launch, £14 12s. 6d.

OC T . 1 9 T H . - WALMER, KENT. At 5.50 P.M. a message was received from a doctor that the senior naval officer, Ramsgate, wished him to go out to the Greek steamer Panachrandos A strong N.N.E.

wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The weather was still too rough for ordinary boats, and the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was again launched.

She left at 6.15 P.M. Although the position of the steamer had been given as a mile from the Goodwin Fork Buoy, the life-boat could not find her. She cruised among neighbour-.

ing vessels, and spoke to the guard-ship, but without result. She abandoned the search and returned to her station at 9 P.M. At 8.10 A.M. the following morning the doctor said that he must make another attempt and, as the weather was still rough, the life-boat was again launched at 8.45 A.M. This time she found the steamer. The sick man had acute appendicitis, and the doctor said he must be taken at once to hospital. He was put on board the life-boat and signals were made to the guard-ship to arrange for an ambulance to be ready on shore to receive him. He was landed ; operated on ; and his life saved by a margin of a few hours. The life-boat returned to her station at 10.40 A.M.

She had been out for nearly five hours. A donation of £45 was received in appreciation of this service. - Rewards : first launch, £29 0S. 6d. ; second launch, £14 12s. 6d.OCT. 19TH. - NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

During the morning the second coxswain reported that six fishing cobles had not returned from the night fishing. A gentle N.E. breeze was blowing.

The sea was moderate, but was growing stronger. At 11.55 A.M. the motor life-boat Augustus and Laura was launched, found the cobles, escorted them into harbour, and returned to her station at 1.10P.M. - Rewards, £12 7s.

OCT. 2 0TH. SELSEY, AND SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. At 1.13 A.M.

a message was received from the coastguard that the Bognor police had reported a naval aeroplane down in the sea off Bognor. A northerly breeze was blowing. The sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched at 1.55 A.M. and found the aeroplane close to the beach off Felpham.

Owing to a failure in her engine the life-boat was unable to reverse. She could not reach the aeroplane and went aground herself on a sandy bottom. The crew of four men on the aeroplane swam ashore. The Selsey honorary secretary asked for the help of the Shoreham Harbour motor life-boat, the Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn. She was launched at 4.25 A.M. ; reached the Selsey life-boat at 7.30 A.M. ; found her high and dry; and stood by until high water. She then passed a warp to her and towed her off. The Selsey life-boat arrived back at her station at 6 P.M., and the Shoreham Harbour life-boat at 8.5 P.M. - Rewards : Selsey, £27 18s. 3d. ; Shoreham Harbour, £35 3s.

OCT. 20TH. -GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. - At 2.40 A.M.

the Gorleston coastguard reported that a vessel north of the St. Nicholas Light-vessel had fired distress signals. The light-vessel also fired signals. A strong N.N.W. breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. At 2.54 A.M.

the motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched. She spoke the light-vessel ; was told that the vessel was to the S.E. ; and found her to be the Admiralty trawler Kirkella, disabled near the Scroby Sands: Her anchor and propeller were fouled. Her master asked the life-boat to stand by, which she did. By 6.30 A.M. the trawler had cleared her propeller and the life-boat escorted her towards the St. Nicholas Light-vessel, to a safer position. The life-boat returned to her station at 8.30 A.M. - Rewards, £24 6s.

OCT. 20TH. - LERWICK, SHETLANDS.

At 2.10 P.M. a message was received from the senior naval officer that the S.S. Sea Venture, of London, had been sunk by enemy action fifteen to twenty miles east of Flugga, and that the crew were in the ship’s boat.

A light S.W. wind was blowing. The sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched at 2.35 P.M.

and went to the position given. She flashed her signal lamp and an answering red flare was seen, but no further signal. The lifeboat continued to search until midnight.

She then went into Balta Sound. At daybreak she searched to the north and east of Flugga and when fifteen miles from the lighthouse received a message that the crew of the streamer had landed on the beach at the Island of Skaw. The life-boat went there, took them on board, and landed them at Lerwick.

She found that the men had made no further signals, as they had thought that the life-boat, whose engines they heard, was a submarine.

The life-boat returned to her station at 5.35 A.M. the next morning. She had been away for twenty-seven hours. - Rewards, £30 13s.

OCT. 20TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET. At 8.18 A.M. the Swanage coastguard reported that the Greek steamer S.S. Turkia had grounded one mile and a half N.W. by W.

of St. Albans Head, but was not flying distress signals. About 9.25 A.M. a tug was sent from Portland, and a trawler also went out to stand by. The naval authorities had given orders to the tug to take off the crew, but they refused to leave. A moderate breeze was blowing with a heavy swell. At 7.11 P.M. the motor life-boat Thomas Markby was launched, permission having been obtained from the naval authorities. It had been the intention of the coxswain to return when help reached the steamer, but the Naval Salvage Officer asked him to remain during the salvage operations.

On reaching the Turkia the life-boat found her bumping heavily, and stood by until 4 P.M. the following day when she returned to refuel and enable her crew to get food.

At 6 P.M. she put out again and stood by until 11 A.M. on the morning of the 22nd, when a tug arrived from Portland with a working party. As the tug was unable to yet alongside, the life-boat put the party on board. A signal was then made for the lifeboat to pick up Lloyd’s agent at Kimmeridge and take him to the steamer. This was done, and later the life-boat put the working party back on the tug. She again returned to her station between 6 and 7 P.M., and put back to the steamer at 11P.M. On the 23rd October the tug arrived at 9.30 A.M., and the life-boat again put the working party on board the steamer, and continued to stand by.

At 6 P.M. she took the working party back to the tug and then went alongside the steamer and took off her crew of twenty-six with their personal belongings. She finally returned to her station at 8.30 P.M., after being on service seventy-four hours, a fine example of the determination of the crew. - Rewards, £87 6s.

OCT. 21ST. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. Just after four in the afternoon a police inspector and ambulance men arrived at the life-boat station, and shortly afterwards a message was received from the coastguard that the S.S.. Gwynwood had entered the roadstead and was flying signals for a doctor and two stretchers to be taken out. A moderate N.W. breeze was blowing. The sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 4.20 P.M., taking with her a doctor, ambulance men and stretchers. Three injured men, two of them on stretchers, and nine other men, all survivors of the Norwegian steamer S.S.Deodata, which had been sunk by enemy action at 7.45 in the morning, were taken into the life-boat and brought ashore. The injured men were sent to hospital and the others to the sailors’ home. The life-boat was ready for service again at 6.20 P.MRewards, £14 8s.

OCT. 22ND. - RAMSGATE, KENT. At 2.35 A.M. the Deal coastguard reported by telephone that the Dutch steamer S.S. Alphald, of Rotterdam, was aground near the N.W.

Goodwins Buoy, close to the wrecked S.S.

Mahratta. A moderate N.E. breeze was blowing. The sea was smooth. After consultation with the senior naval officer at Ramsgate the motor life-boat Prudential was launched at 3.33 A.M. She found that the steamer had refloated with the rising tide, but was in need of a pilot. The life-boat arranged this with the pilot cutter, and then returned to her station at 8.15 A.M. - Rewards, £19 7s. 3d.

OCT. 23RD. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 1.45 P.M. the signal station reported that a vessel was ashore on the Shoebury Sands. The weather was calm, and the sea smooth. At 2 P.M. the motor life-boat Greater London (Civil Service No. 3) was launched, and found the S.S. Copeland, of Glasgow, a vessel of 1,500 tons, aground.

The life-boat stood by until she refloated, and then returned to her station at 9.30 P.M.- Rewards, £28.

OCT. 24TH. - CLOVELLY, DEVONSHIRE. At 3.45 A.M. a message was received from the Croyde Coastguard station that a vessel was in distress fifteen miles S.W. of Lundy Island. A strong W.N.W. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. At 4 A.M. the motor life-boat City of Nottingham was launched and found the S.S. Argos Hill, bound for Swansea, with her engine broken down The life-boat stood by at the master’s request until a tug arrived and took the steamer in tow for Swansea. The life-boat returned to her station at 12.15 P.M. - Rewards £34 13s. 6d.

OCT. 24TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. - At, 12.28 P.M a message was received from the senior naval officer through the Gorleston coastguard that H.M.S. Wanderer expected to arrive in Yarmouth Roads at 1.30 P.M. and that a doctor and stretchers might be needed. A moderate W.N.W. wind was blowing. The sea was smooth. At 1.30 P.M. the motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched, met H.M.S.

Wanderer abreast the Britannia Pier, and took off sixteen survivors of the Greek steamer S.S. Konstantinos Hadjipateras, of Chios, which had been sunk by enemy action.

The life-boat landed the men, who were uninjured, and returned to her station at 3.38 P.M. The captain of H.M.S. Wanderer told the life-boat coxswain that other survivors were on the S.S. Crossbill, which would seven men from her and returned to her station at 8.15 P.M. - Rewards, £28 11s. 6d.

OCT. 25TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX.

At 2.45 P.M. the coastguard reported having received a message from a resident of Hollandon- Sea, that a small rowing boat with three men on board appeared to be in difficulties about two miles out. A moderate breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. At 3.20 P.M.

the motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched and found the rowing boat Mon Ami. The three men on board were fishing.

They had not noticed that a strong off-shore wind was carrying them out to sea. The life-boat towed the boat to Clacton and returned to her station at 5.15 P.M. A letter of thanks was received from the rescued men.

- Rewards, £13 4s. 9d.

OCT. 25TH . - REDCAR, AND TEESMOUTH, YORKSHIRE. At 6.32 P.M. a message was received from the Saltburn coastguard that a resident at Skinningrove had seen three red flares showing well out to sea. A strong W.N.W. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The report was confirmed, and the motor life-boat Louisa Polden was launched at 7.55 P.M. She went six miles off the coast and then turned southward. At about 9.30 P.M. her engines broke down.

She hoisted sail and continued the search, but found nothing. At 10 P.M. she anchored.

As there seemed no prospect of repairing the engine, she burnt red flares. These were seen at Teesmouth, and at 10.25 P.M. the motor life-boat J. C. Archer was launched.

When she arrived, however, the Redcar boat had got her engines working again. As a precaution, Teesmouth escorted her to Redcar which was reached at 11.30 P.M. The Teesmouth life-boat returned to her own station at 12.30 A.M. - Rewards, £19 3s. 6d. ; Teesmouth, £19 9s. 6d.

OCT. 25TH . - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

Shortly before 9 A.M. the coastguard reported that the trawler Star of Victory, of Aberdeen, was ashore off Keiss, in Sinclair Bay. A light N.N.E. wind was blowing. The sea was smooth. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 9.7 A.M. and found the trawler hard aground, but in no immediate danger. She had a crew of ten. At the skipper’s request the life-boat put out a kedge anchor for her forward. This dragged home. Another anchor was put out, this time aft, and the trawler waited for the next high tide to arrive in the roadstead at about 6 P.M. The life-boat remained afloat and at 6.50 P.M. refloat herself. The life-boat returned to went out to S.S. Crossbill. She brought ashore Wick Harbour at 2 P.M.

At 10.30 A.M. on the morning of the 26th OCT. 25TH. - DOVER, KENT. The motor life-boat Sir William Hillary was launched at 4.50 P.M. at the request of the chief of staff of H.M. Naval Base at Dover. A strong E.N.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. As the service was of a secret nature, no information was given by the naval authorities. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.15 P.M. - Expenses met by naval authorities.October, the coastguard reported that the Star of Victory needed immediate help. Five minutes later the life-boat put off again and found that the crew wished to be taken off.

A fresh E.N.E. gale was blowing, with squalls, the sea was rough and conditions were getting worse. The life-boat rescued the crew of ten and returned to her station at 1 P.M. - Rewards : first service, £6 13s. ; second service, £6 13s.

OCT. 26TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE. In the early morning the fishing fleet put to sea. By 8.10 A.M. several of the boats had returned.

A fresh to strong breeze was blowing, with a rough sea, and some of the boats had had to leave their lines. The weather was getting worse, and at 8.30 A.M. the pulling and sailing life-boat Thomas Masterman Hardy was launched and stood by the other boats as they came in. She returned to her station at 11.25 A.M. - Rewards, £17 7s.

OCT. 26TH. - EYEMOUTH, BERWICKSHIRE.

A whole N.E. by N. gale was blowing, with a very rough sea in Eyemouth Bay. Four local fishing boats were waiting to enter the port. The motor life-boat Frank and William Oates was launched at 11 A.M. and stood by at the harbour entrance until they had got in safely. She returned to her station at 1 P.M. - Rewards, £10 17s.

OCT. 26TH. - NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

- At 10.45 A.M. the coastguard informed the life-boat station that the fishing coble Humility, of Newbiggin, was out.

A strong northerly breeze was blowing, with a moderately rough sea, and the weather was getting worse. The motor life-boat Augustus and Laura was launched at 11.5 A.M., and found the coble two miles to the E.S.E. She had left three of her lines and was running for shelter. The life-boat escorted her to the beach and returned to her station at 11.50 A.M.

- Rewards, £8 6s. 6d.

OCT. 26TH. - BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE.

At 1.30 P.M. the coxswain telephoned that he had had a fishing boat under observation since noon. She was trying to beat up from about three miles south of the Central Pier, and seemed to be in difficulties.

A moderate northerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. At 2.15 P.M. the motor lifeboat Sarah Ann Austin was launched, and found the motor boat Albion, of Fleetwood, with a crew of three on board, unable to beat up against the wind. The life-boat towed her to Lune Deeps, and returned to her station at 7.30 P.M. The owner sent a letter of thanks. - Rewards, £16 1s. 6d.

OCT. 27TH - TORBAY, DEVONSHIRE.

It was reported to the senior naval officer, Weymouth, by an observer on a R.A.F.

aeroplane, engaged on reconnaisance over West Bay, that a motor boat was drifting about ten miles north-east of Berry Head.

The information was passed to the life-boat station by the coastguard. A strong north wind was blowing, with a moderate sea.. At 8 A.M. the motor life-boat George Shee was launched and found the motor boat Olive, but she had no one on board. The life-boat returned to her station at 1 P.M., bringing the boat with her. - Rewards, £7 6s. 6d.

OCT. 28TH . - WALMER, KENT. At 7.55 P.M. the Deal coastguard reported that two steamers had been in collision near the Fork Buoy. A strong squally N.N.E. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 8.15 P.M. She found that the Italian steamer Manzoni had been run into by the American steamer Cranford. The Manzoni had been damaged on the starboard side, and her boats had been smashed. The life-boat put one man on board her and stood by until 7.45 A.M., when the captain said that he did not need her help any longer. The Cranford had already gone on her way.

Returning to her station, the life-boat spoke the schooner Katie, which was riding heavily and dragging her anchors, but she needed no help. She reached her station at 8.30 A.M.

The owner of the Manzoni gave £20 to the life-boat crew. - Rewards, £36 6s. 9d.

OCT. 29TH . - W I C K , C A I T H N E S S - SHIRE. The Aberdeen trawler S t a r o f Victory had stranded near Keiss on the 15th October, 1939, and the Wick life-boat City of Edinburgh helped her on that day and rescued her crew of ten on the following day.

At 11.55 A.M. on the 29th October, a boatman at Keiss telephoned that owing to a shift of wind and a rising sea he was unable to get alongside the Star of Victory, and that a salvage crew of seven were marooned on board. A fresh E.S.E. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The life-boat went to the wreck, rescued the seven men and returned to Wick at 2.15 P.M. - Rewards, £6 13s.

OCT. 30TH. - PETERHEAD, AND ABERDEEN.

At 11.15 P.M. a message was received at Peterhead from the coastguard that a vessel was sinking three miles east of Rattray Head, and that two vessels were standing by.

A light easterly breeze was blowing, but there was a heavy ground swell. At 11.30 P.M. the motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched. the found the S.S. Cairnmona, of Newcastle, bound from Montreal to Leith.

The steamer had been sunk by enemy action and had gone down in less than twenty minutes. Three of her crew had been killed and the remainder, forty-two in number, had taken to the boats, and had been picked up by the trawler Strathlossie. They were transferred to the life-boat and landed at Peterhead.

The life-boat returned to her station at 1.15 A.M The Aberdeen station had also been informed.

As it knew that Peterhead had launched, its crew stood by. At 1.30 next morning the No. 1 motor life-boat Emma Constance was launched. She searched bat found nothing, and putting into Peterhead learnt their that the forty-two survivors had been landed. She returned to her station at 10.42 A.M. - Rewards : Peterhead, £12 19s. ; Aberdeen, £23 5s. 6d.

OCT. 31ST. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE.

A strong easterly wind was blowing, with a rough sea. Two local fishing boats Premier and Pride were out, and anxiety was felt for their safety. The lifeboat crew and helpers assembled at 10.30 A.M.

Later the coastguard reported that the Premier was coming in from the eastward, and at 3.45 P.M. the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was launched. She met the Premier at 4 P.M., passed life-belts to her crew, and escorted her to harbour. Putting out again, and going in a S.E. direction, she picked up the Pride and escorted her to safety. She returned to her station at 5 P.M. - Rewards, £19 9s.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given : OCT. 1ST. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

A small trawler had been reported in a sinking condition fifty miles away, but another vessel took her in tow. The lifeboat returned after being out for over nine hours. - Rewards, £16 2s. 9d.

OCT. 3RD. - ILFRACOMBE, DEVON. A large lighter had been reported broken away from her tow in a heavy sea, with half a gale blowing. After two hours the life-boat came up with her, about twelve miles from Ilfracombe, but found that there was no one on board. - Rewards, £34 3s. 5d.

OCT. 4TII. - BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.

A motor fishing boat had shown distress signals, but was towed in by a tug.

- Reward, £6 7s. 6d.

OCT .4TH  - FLEETWOOD, AND LYTHAM-ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. A motor fishing boat, with two on board, was, long overdue. A strong wind was blowing, and the sea was rough. Both life-boats searched all night, but found nothing, and it was learned later that the boat got in unaided, although her engine had broken down and her sails had been blown away. - Rewards, Fleetwood, £12 16s. ; Lytham, £14 1s. 6d.

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

Distress signals had been reported but nothing could be found. The life-boat was out for fifteen hours.-Rewards, £21 16s.

OCT. 4TH. - ABERDEEN. In the evening the Bridge of Don coastguard reported that the steam trawler Stromness, of Aberdeen, had stranded on the beach, abreast of Broad Hill. The pulling surf life-boat Robert and Ellen Robson was taken by tractor to the scene and launched at 9.45 P.M. A S.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy surf. The coastguard life-saving apparatus had a1so arrived and fired a line across the trawler.

The life-boat had almost reached the trawler when she grounded on a sandbank, and a sea swept her past. Two oars were broken and the rocket line fouled the crew and oars. After getting clear, the crew tried to pull back to the trawler, but without success, and ran the life-boat on the beach.

The coastguard then fired another line across the trawler and landed her crew by breeches buoy. Meanwhile, the life-boat had been replaced on her carriage, stood by until the rescue had been completed, and then returned to her station, arriving at 3 A.M. - Rewards, £32 7s.

OCT. 5TH. - LERWICK, AND AITH, SHETLANDS. In the morning of the 4th October a Royal Air Force aeroplane came down on the sea about twenty-five miles N.E. of the N.E. corner of Unst Island, and a pinnace went out to her help. On the following day at 5.10 P.M. the Air Wing- Commander asked through the Senior Naval Officer that the life-boat should search for the pinnace which had not returned. A whole S.E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The night was cold and very dark. The Aith motor life-boat was asked to keep a wireless watch, and the Lerwick motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched at 5.50P.M. The weather was too bad for aeroplanes to take part in the search. The life-boat searched all the night, without finding the pinnace, and was recalled by wireless from Aith at 8.20 A.M. the following morning, 6th October.

She arrived back at 2.50 P.M. on that day. She had been out for twenty-one hours. Mleanwhile, at 11.45 A.M. on the same day, 6th October, the coastguard had reported to the Aith life-boat station that the pinnace had been seen several miles off Flugga. The North Unst Lighthouse undertook to act as shore radio station, and as efforts to get into touch with the Lerwick boat failed, the Aith motor life-boat The Rankin was launched at 12.5 P.M. After a sixty miles run she began her search, but without result. By arrangement the life-boat was recalled at 8 A.M. on the morning of the 7th October, as Admiralty craft and the Royal Air Force had started an extensive search. The life-boat reached her station at 3.30 P.M. She had been out for over twenty-seven hours. The aeroplane which was the cause of the launches was found and towed to safety, and the pinnace eventually arrived at Lerwick on the 8th October, after having been seen by an aeroplane ninety miles off the land. - Rewards : Lerwick, £20 14s. ; Aith, £27.

OCT. 5TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. An aeroplane was reported to have sent out a distress signal, but nothing could be found. -Rewards, £26 2s.

OCT. 7TH. - STROMNESS, ORKNEYS. Distress signals had been reported, and the life-boat was out for nine hours in a strong gale, with a rough sea, but found nothing. -Rewards, £18 6s. 6d.

OCT. 8TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. A Belgian steamer lying in the Downs was flying a signal for immediate medical aid, and the life-boat went out with two doctors, Before she arrived the steamer had gone on her way, and it was found that she had been.