JAN. 1 8TH. - WALMER, KENT. At 5.18 A.M. a message was received from the Deal coastguard that flares had been seen about six miles south-east from Ramsgate.

A strong S.W. breeze was blowing, with a heavy sea and squalls of rain. The motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 5.50 A.M. and found the ketch yacht Leigh Hall, of London, aground on the Goodwin Sands near South West Buoy, and bumping badly. She was bound from Calais for London with a crew of eight. Her engine had broken down, her sails had been blown away, and she was on fire, having been set alight by her distress flares. The Deal motor fishing boat Rose Marie came on the scene, and at the coxswain’s request she helped.

Three of her crew boarded the burning vessel, put out the fire and helped to bale her. The life-boat then got the Leigh Hall clear of the sands and took her in tow for Ramsgate, aided by the Rose Marie. Ramsgate was reached at 10 A.M., and the life-boat got back to her station at 2.30 P.M.

This was a good service carried out in difficult circumstances without damage to the life-boat. The Committee sent a letter to the branch, commending the coxswain and crew, and an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was granted to each member of the crew. Rewards were also made to the crew of the motor boat.- Standard rewards to the life-boat crew, £l2 16s. 6d. ; £5 ; additional rewards to crew, total rewards to crew and launchers, £27 13s. 9d. ; £3 10s.; to the crew of the Rose Marie, 12s. for fuel used, and 12s. for damage to tow-rope..