WALMER, KENT. On the 18th January, 1939, the motor boat Rose Marie helped the life-boat to save the yacht Leigh Hall. -Rewards, £3 10s., 12s. for fuel used and 12s.

for damage to tow-rope.

(For a full account, see “ Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” Walmer, page 16.)

PURTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. At about 7.30 P.M. on the 4th February, 1939, three motor vessels were swept up the River Severn by a very strong tide. Soon afterwards they were seen drifting helplessly, but no help could be given to them. About 10 P.M. one of them drifted down towards Sharpness on the ebb tide. A tug went, out to her but there was no one on board. The other two grounded on sandbanks - one bottom upwards and the other with a heavy list. A S.W. wind was blowing, and the water was choppy. The vessel with the heavy list was the Severn Traveller and shouts could be heard coming from her. No tug could get alongside as the water was too shallow, and three men put off in a 16-foot rowing boat.

They had first to drag her about 400 feet over the mud. They succeeded in taking two men off the Severn Traveller. These were the only two rescued from the three vessels.

Six others were drowned. The three rescuers ran great risk owing to the state of the river, the darkness, and the danger of grounding on sandbanks. - Rewards, £2 and a framed letter of thanks to each of the men, Mr. L.

Keedwell, Mr. G. Cook, and Mr. E. Robins, and £10 10s. sickness allowance to one of the rescuers who, as a result of the service, was taken ill with pneumonia.

THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. On the morning of the 11th February, 1939, some men working at Haile Fort went to the Lincolnshire coast in a small rowing boat. One man tried to row the boat back to the Fort but failed to make it, and was driven by wind and tide towards Spurn Head. He was reported by the signal station and, as he was then too close in for the life-boat to go to him, Coxswain Cross and his men directed him where to land. He was, however, too exhausted and as he neared the beach a sea swamped the boat and threw him into the water. Coxswain Cross and his crew went into the sea and pulled him to safety. - Reward, a letter of thanks to Coxswain Cross and his crew.