MARCH 7TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 9.45 P.M.

a message was received from the Gorleston coastguard that the South Knoll Light-vessel had reported a ship on fire two miles N.E.

of the light-vessel. The life-boat crew assembled but the naval authorities advised her to wait, and later informed the station that four vessels had been sent to help and that a fifth was standing by. It was decided however to send out the life-boat, and at 10.52 P.M. the reserve motor life-boat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood, on temporary duty at Gorleston, was launched.

A light W.S.W. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The Smith’s Knoll Lightvessel told the life-boat that the Italian steamer Amelia Lauro, of Naples, had been bombed and set on fire, and had last been seen at midnight, two to three miles to the N.E. The life-boat went in this direction, and when about seven miles from the lightvessel found the Italian steamer Titania, of Genoa, at anchor. She went alongside and the second-coxswain went on board and found there survivors from the Amelia Lauro, three of them seriously injured. He was asked to take them ashore. There were no stretchers, and the injured men were lowered into the life-boat in cots, and made as comfortable as possible amidships, wrapped in blankets and covered with the sail. It was a difficult operation in the swell that was running and took over an hour. Several times the lifeboat bumped heavily against the steamer.

The other 26 members of the Amelia Lauro’s crew were then taken on board, and the lifeboat started back at 4 in the morning. On her way she spoke the Cross Sand Light-vessel and asked the master to wireless ashore for an ambulance and conveyances to be ready.

The life-boat arrived at Gorleston at 8 A.M.

An ambulance was waiting. The injured were taken to hospital, and the other rnen to the Sailors’ Home. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.15 A.M. on 8th March.Later the steamer was towed into Yarmouth Roads and part of her crew were put aboard her again. - Rewards, £35 16s. 0d..