Launches 113. Lives rescued 119.

AUGUST 1ST. - BARRA ISLAND , HEBRIDES. At 2.30 A.M. a telegram was received from the coastguard at Kyle that a ship’s boat under sail with men on board had been seen at 9.30 P.M. the night before, five miles from Barra Head. A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing, with a heavy swell.

The motor life-boat Lloyd’s was launched at 3.15 A.M., and found nineteen men in a ship’sboat. They were part of the crew of fiftyseven of the S.S. Jamaica Progress, of Kingston, Jamaica, a vessel of over 5,000 tons, laden with fruit, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine. The men were taken into the life-boat which, with the ship’s boat in tow, arrived back at her station at 9 A.M. During the day the crew stood by in case they were needed, as another ship’s boat was known to be at sea, but this boat was found by a trawler. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d.

AUGUST 1ST. - ABERYSTWYTH, CARDIGANSHIRE. At 6.30 A.M. t h e coastguard reported Very’s lights several miles to the S.W. by W. An easterly breeze was blowing, with a smooth sea. Police helped in getting the life-boat crew assembled, and with the help of soldiers the motor life-boat Frederick Angus was launched at 7.20 A.M. Before the life-boat got away it was learned that an aeroplane - a Hampden bomber - was down. Aeroplanes and motor boats from Aberystwyth and New Quay took part in the search. The life-boat picked up one body and returned ashore at 12.15 P.M. Two of the aeroplane’s crew were rescued by another boat. Two had lost their lives. - Rewards, £9 3s.

(See Aberystwyth and New Quay, “Services by Shore-boats”, pages 148 and 147.) AUGUST 1ST. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

At 2 P.M. a message was received from the chief naval officer, Portland, that it was necessary to evacuate the crew of the Shambles Lightship, and that the naval vessels which were available were unable to get alongside her. A strong S.E. wind was blowing. At 3 P . M . the motor life-boat Queen Victoria, on temporary duty at Weymouth, was launched. She took off the crew of seven men of the lightship, their baggage, stores and gear, and landed them at Weymouth, returning to her station at 5.30 P.M.

- Expenses paid by Trinity House.

AUGUST 3RD. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At 10.2 A.M. the coastguard reported a trawler under the cliffs at Skirza Head sounding an S.O.S. There was thick fog and a gentle S.S.W. breeze was blowing with a slight sea. The motor life-boat John Russell, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 10.20 A.M. Then came another message that the trawler, the Rowsley, of Grimsby, had refloated. When the life-boat reached Freswick Pier she found one of the trawler’s crew in the ship’s boat. He had been lost in the fog when the trawler refloated.

The life-boat took him on board, and after a search found the Rowsley herself leaking, and escorted her to Wick Harbour. The trawler had a crew of eleven and was bound for the Faroes. - Rewards, £3 15s.

AUGUST 8TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. At 3.20 P . M . information was received from the Beach Manager at Brighton, through the coastguard, that a number of men were marooned on the sea end of the Palace Pier at Brighton. They were unable to get to the shore as the centre part of the pier had been demolished by the military authorities as part of the defence of the coast against invasion. The motor life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched at 4.5 P.M. Captain C. T. Keigwin, R.N.R., the honorary secretary, and an armed guard were on board. A west-south-west breeze was blowing, and the sea was rough. The life-boat found 29 men on the pier, and with considerable difficulty and at some risk, in the heavy swell, she took them all off and landed them at Shoreham Harbour at 5.50 in the evening. Earlier in the morning of the same day, at 3.40 A.M., the crew had been assembled, as flares had been seen and gunfire had been heard at sea, and during the morning there had been two air-raid warnings.

- A donation was received from the Brighton Corporation. Rewards, £2 4s. and £5 2s. 6d.

AUGUST 8TH. - BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT. At about 5.15 P.M. an aeroplane was reported by the coastguard down in the sea ten miles S.S.W. from Bembridge Point.

A strong south-westerly wind was blowing, with a very rough sea. The motor life-boat Jesse Lumb was launched at 5.45 P.M. and went to the position given. Here an aeroplane circled over the life-boat, went off, returned and repeated the operation to show the life-boat the direction she should take.

There was no sign of any aeroplane, but she found the R.A.F. No. 116 motor boat, disabled and flying a distress signal. She had gone out to stand by while an air battle was going on and had been machine-gunned.

One of the nine men aboard had been killed and another severely wounded. A rope had fouled her propeller. The life-boat took her in tow and brought her to Haslar Hospital, sending a wireless message while on her way for an ambulance to be ready. The life-boat returned to her station next morning, arriving at 7.15 A.M. - Rewards, £8 8s. 9d.

AUGUST 9TH. - PWLLHELI, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

At about 4 P.M. information was received that a steamer making for St. Tudwald’s Road was in need of help.

A S.W. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat C & S, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 4.50 P.M. and found the S.S. Kingfisher, an American vessel now under the Ministry of Shipping. She was bound light from Falmouth to the Clyde and had sprung a leak.

Her master had beached her in Abersoch Bay in a sinking condition. At his request the life-boat stood by while the flood tide was making, and then, as help was no longer needed , s he returned to her station at 4.30 A.M. the following morning. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d.

AUG. 10TH. - MARGATE, KENT. Just after midnight the officer in charge of troops on the jetty informed the coxswain that he could hear calls for help from the water.

The night was very dark. An air raid was in progress and bombs were falling. The coxswain at once mustered his crew and the motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 12.25 A.M. Half a mile off shore the life-boat found a British pilot who was nearing collapse, but was kept afloat by his life-belt.

She picked him up, and he was given rum and every attention. The life-boat landed him at 12.45 A.M. and put out for a further search. She found nothing and was rehoused at 1.30 A.M. - Rewards, £11 5s.

AUGUST 11TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY.

At 1.55 A.M. the coastguard reported a boat in difficulties off Black Rocks, Salt Island. She was flashing a torch. A W.N.W.

gale was blowing, with a nasty, choppy sea, and the boat was in a dangerous position.

At 2.20 A.M. the motor life-boat A.E.D. was launched. She found six men in the boat.

They had managed to hang on to a boat at anchor and so had saved themselves from being driven on to the outlying rocks. The life-boat took them on board, took their boat in tow and brought them safely back to their ship, the Admiralty drifter Ocean Vine. She returned to her station at 3.20 A.M.

- Rewards, £5.

AUGUST 1 1TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK. At 11.56 A.M. the coastguard reported that enemy aircraft were attacking shipping some seven miles S.E. of Aldeburgh.

A strong N.W. breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. A few minutes later a vessel was seen to be on fire. The No. 2 motor life-boat Lucy Lavers was launched at 12.30 P.M., and found the S.S. Oil Trader, a tanker. Her captain requested the life-boat to get fire hoses from a trawler, and after this had been done the life-boat stood by the Oil Trader until a tug arrived at 3.30 P.M. She then returned to her station, arriving at 6 P.M.- Rewards, £11 4s.

AUGUST 11TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 1.30 P.M. a destroyer lying off Margate and two minesweepers were being attacked by German aeroplanes. A fresh westerly breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 2 P.M. and went to the help of the minesweepers which were putting up a great fight about three miles E. by N. of the Long Nose Buoy, but appeared to be in trouble. She found that one of them, the Edwardian, had had three men killed and four wounded, but that the wounded had by then been put on board the other minesweeper Peter Carey. They were transferred to the life-boat, which took them to Ramsgate, the nearest port. In the meantime the Peter Carey took the Edwardian in tow and beached her under the North Foreland.

The life-boat returned to her station at 5 P.M. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 11TH. - NEWQUAY, CORNWALL.

At 7.30 P.M. the coastguard reported a ship’s boat drifting about six miles N.W. by W. of Towan Head. A N.W. by W. wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat Richard Silver Oliver was launched at 8.40 P.M. and found a derelict ship’s boat belonging to the Janna, of Drammen, Norway. All gear, except rowlocks, was missing, and there was no one on board.

The life-boat took the boat in tow and brought her into Newquay Harbour at 11 P.M. - Property salvage case.

AUGUST 12TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 11 A.M. the life-boat crew were at the Town Hall, where a picture of the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk was being presented to them, when an an-raid alarm was sounded.

The crew made for the station at once and arrived just as the Admiralty trawlers Pyrope and Tamarisk were bombed and sunk about five miles to the N.E. A westerly breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. At 11.15 A.M. the motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched. She found survivors of the crews of both trawlers clinging to wreckage, and rescued twenty-seven men. Many of them were badly wounded, and one died soon after the life-boat reached shore at 1 P.M. The fishing boat Golden Spray had picked up one man, and the life-boat went out to her and brought the man ashore, finally returning to her station at 1.50 P.M. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

(See Margate, “ Services by Shore-boats,” page 151.)

AUGUST 12TH. - MARGATE, KENT At 5.50 P.M. during an air-raid the police telephoned the life-boat coxswain that a man had come down in the sea by parachute two miles off Epple Bay. A S.W. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched, and found that a tender from the pilot-cutter Prudence had picked up a badly injured British pilot. His injuries were dressed by those on the cutter and he was then landed by the life-boat, which arrived at 7.10 P.M. A doctor and ambulance were waiting for him. A few minutes later the Air Command reported another man down by parachute one mile N.E. of Margate, but though the life-boat searched until dark she found nothing. She returned at 9.15 P.M. - Rewards, £14 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 13TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

At 7 A.M. warning was received from the coastguard of an impending air fight. The wind was N.W. and moderate, with a smooth to moderate sea. At 12.15 P.M. an aeroplane was reported down off Whitenose, Weymouth Bay. A few minutes later the motor lifeboat Queen Victoria, on temporary duty at the station, was launched. Half an hour later she was recalled and arrived back at 1.42 P.M. Two minutes previously the coastguard had reported an airman swimming two miles off Osmington, so the life-boat put out again at once. She found nothing, and was recalled, as the airman had been picked up by another vessel. She returned to her station for the second time at 3 P.M. At 4.15 P.M.

two aeroplanes were reported down in West Bay, Portland. Ten minutes later the lifeboat was off again. She found large quantities of wreckage from German aeroplanes, and picked up some of it for identification.

Again the life-boat was recalled and got homefor the third time at 7.30 P.M. - Rewards £4 7s. 6d. and £6 13s.

(See Portland, “ Services by Shore-boats, page 148.) AUGUST 13TH. - MOELFRE, ANGLESEY At 8.5 P.M. information was received that a small boat was out of control and drifting out to sea. A strong S.W. wind was blowing with a moderate sea, and darkness was approaching. The motor life-boat G.W. was launched at 8.15 P.M. and found three visitors in a small rowing boat from Benllech. She towed them in and returned to her station at 9 P.M. - Rewards, £10 11s.

AUGUST 14TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. At noon information was received from a resident of Millisle and the coastguard, that a small yacht, with two boys aboard.

had broken from her moorings and was two miles off Ballywhiskin, drifting swiftly out to sea. A strong south-westerly breeze was blowing, with squalls, and the sea was choppy.

The motor life-boat. Civil Service No. 5 was launched at 12.15 P.M., Mr. D. McKibbin going out as a member of the crew. Two men in a rowing boat had also put out to the rescue. The life-boat found the yacht Penguin and the small boat. Both were in danger She took all four people aboard, and the yacht and the rowing boat in tow, and landed them at a bay in Mill isle. She returned to her station at 1.45 P.M. - Rewards, £3 17s. 6d AUGUST 14TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 12.15 P.M., during an air-raid, a British aeroplane was seen from the life-boathouse to crash about three miles to the northward.

A westerly breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The crew were ready at the station and the motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at Margate, was launched at 12.20 P.M The second coxswain was in charge, as the coxswain was out in his own boat. When she reached the position where the aeroplane had come down, the coxswain hailed her from his boat. He had picked up the pilot, injured and suffering from shock.

The pilot was transferred to the life-boat, that he might be got ashore as quickly as possible, He was landed at 12.50 P.M., and ambulance was waiting for him. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 14TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

At 5.30 A.M. news was received from the observer post and the coastguard that a British bomber had come down in the sea between Hythe and Dymchurch. A light westerly wind was blowing, with a smooth sea.

The motor life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson was launched at 6.5 A.M., and found that a motor fishing boat had picked up two survivors and was returning to Hythe. The life-boat towed the boat to Hythe, where the men were placed in an ambulance, and returned to her station at 8.50. Another survivor was saved by Miss Peggy Prince in a small canoe and she was awarded the medal of the Order of the British Empire.

The other two members of the aeroplane’s crew were lost. - Rewards, £10 15s. 6d.

AUGUST 15TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 3.30 P.M., during an air raid, an aeroplane was seen from the boathouse to crash into the sea some three miles N. by W. of the station. The sea was smooth, with a N.W.

wind. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 3.35 P.M. She found the tail of a machine above water and an airman three hundred yards away. She took him on board and found him to be German. This information was semaphored to the shore and when the life-boat arrived ashore at 4.15 P.M. the airman was handed over to the authorities.

- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 16TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. At 1 P.M. information was received from the coastguard that several aeroplanes had crashed four miles west of Selsey Bill. A light S.W. breeze was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched at 1.10 P.M. and arrived on the scene two minutes after a naval launch had rescued two German airmen. She searched, but found nothing else. While she was returning, a seaplane, on the water about three miles to the eastward, signalled for help, and she went. to her to find that there was a naval speed boat, with her, disabled with a rope round her propeller. She also found two dead German airmen and put them on board the seaplane, which then took flight.

The life-boat took the speed boat in tow and returned to her station at 3.30 P.M.- Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 16TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

Shortly after 7 P.M. information was received from the coastguard and the military authorities that an aeroplane had crashed.

The coxswain, who had seen a British fighter crash during an air battle, had already taken steps to launch the motor life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson, and she got away at 7.7. P.M. A light W.S.W. breeze was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The life-boat found an airman with his parachute. He was dead and appeared to have been killed by hitting the water. The life-boat brought his body ashore and returned to her station at 8.15 P.M.

- Rewards, £21 19s.

AUGUST 16TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY.

At 7.40 A.M. the coastguard reported that an explosion had occurred on the S.S. Meath, of Dublin, which was entering the harbour for examination. The weather was fine, with a light N.W. breeze and a smooth sea.

The motor life-boat Ethel Day Cardwell, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 7.45 A.M., but the crew of the Meath had already taken to their own boats and been picked up by another vessel before the lifeboat arrived. A drifter then called the lifeboat alongside and transferred to her an injured man belonging to the Meath and seven of the crew of the Admiralty examinaion vessel Manx Lad,. which had been damaged by the explosion. The life-boat returned ashore, landed the men at 8.25 A.M.

and then put back to the scene of the explosion to search for more survivors. By this time the Manx Lad had disappeared, and the remainder of her crew had been picked up by another ship. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.25A.M . - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d.

AUGUST 17TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. At 4.45 P.M. the naval authorities asked that the life-boat should be launched, as a body had been seen floating in the Cudd Channel.

A moderate N.W. breeze was blowing, but the see was smooth. At 4.50 P.M. the motor lifeboat Prudential was launched and found the body of an airman floating amidst the wreckage of an aeroplane. A parachute fouled the life-boat’s propeller but her crew were able to clear it away. The body and wreckage were brought to Ramsgate, and the life-boat returned to her station at 6.45 P.M. - Rewards, £5 3s.

AUGUST 18TH . - PORTASKAIG, ARGYLLSHIRE. During the morning a ship’s raft was seen being swept down the Sound of Islay. A moderate northerly breeze was blowing with a moderate sea. The motor life-boat Duke of Connaught, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 8 A.M.

She found certain articles but no people on the raft, which was towed in so as not to drift and become a danger to shipping. The life-boat was back at her station again at 10.20 A.M. - Rewards, £3 2s.

AUGUST 18TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. At 2.30 P.M. the coastguard telephoned that two aircraft were down five miles S.W. of the lookout. An air battle was in progress, and a few minutes later the coastguard reported three more machines down. A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea.

The motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched at 2.40 P.M., and found two German airmen in the water. Both were wounded.

The life-boat took them on board and continued her search, but all the aeroplanes had sunk and she found nothing. She returned to her station at 5 P.M., and handed over the two prisoners to the military authorities.- Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 18TH. - TOBERMORY , ARGYLLSHIRE. The trawler Newlands arrived with sixteen survivors of the S.S. Sylvafield, of Newcastle, an oil tanker, which had been torpedoed and sunk off Barra Head on the night of the 15th August. The vessel had a crew of forty who had put off in two boats, and these sixteen men had been picked up after being in their boat for fifty-five hours.

As there were no means of looking after the rescued men at Tobermory, and as no other boat was available, the motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was launched at 5.40 P.M. in a N.W. wind, with a moderate sea, and took them to Oban, where she arrived at 8.50 P.M.

She reached her station again at 12.30 A.M. next morning. - Rewards, £8 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 19TH. - ALDEBURGH,. SUFFOLK.

During the evening a British pilot was seen to bale out from his aeroplane some three miles south of Orfordness. A N.W.

breeze was blowing, with a heavy swell. The No. 2 motor life-boat Lucy Lavers was launched at 7.10 P.M. She picked up the pilot, unconscious. Life-boatmen and a coastguard, who was aboard as an armed guard, used artificial respiration, but were unable to revive him. The life-boat returned at 9 P.M. Dr. Nora Acheson, the only doctor in the town, also put off in a motor boat to the pilot’s help. - Rewards, £21 11s. 6d.

AUGUST 22ND . - DAVID’ S , PEM-BROKESHIRE. At 11.35 A.M. the coastguard reported a vessel in distress two miles westward of the Smalls Lighthouse. Permission to launch, was got from the naval authorities, and the motor life-boat Civil Service No. 6 put out at 12.40 P.M. Dr. Joseph Soar, Mus. Doc., the honorary secretary of the station, went with the boat.

The sea was rough, with a fresh N.W. breeze blowing. The life-boat kept in communication with the Smalls Lighthouse by wireless, and the lighthouse gave her a course, as the vessel in distress, which had sent out an S.O.S., had by now completely disappeared. After going some three miles the life-boat saw a jacket on a pole, and found that it was a signal from survivors on a raft. They were from the S.S. Thorold, of Montreal, a Canadian Lake boat, now owned in Newcastle. She was bound with coal from Cardiff to London, and had been attacked by three German bombers, which, after they had wrecked her, circled round machinegunning her crew. The life-boat made straight for the raft, but before she reached it she found the master of the Thorold clinging to a plank. He was badly hurt and in a state of collapse. Two of the life-boatmen, D. Lewis and G. Davies, went into the sea and helped the master into the life-boat.

Then the life-boat found the second engineer on a piece of wreckage, and finally reached the raft from which the thirteen remaining survivors of the Thorold's crew of 24 were rescued. The life-boat made straight for home and on her way asked by wireless, through the Smalls Lighthouse, that doctors and ambulances should be ready when she arrived. Two of the rescued men, however, had died before the life-boat reached shore.

- Rewards, £8 10s.

AUGUST 23RD. - NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

In the morning a strong N.N.E. wind was blowing, with a very heavy sea outside the bay. Six fishing cobles were at sea, and it was feared that they would be in danger. At 9.55 A.M., permission having been given by the naval authorities, the motor life-boat Augustus and Laura was launched.

with much difficulty owing to the state of the tide and the heavy sea on the beach.

Some of the launchers were women. Meanwhile two of the cobles had returned safely and had been beached. The life-boat put out to meet the others, and escorted two of them in. She then went out again and found the third coble, George and Margaret, with a broken rudder. She had three men on board.

The life-boat towed her in, put out for the third time, and escorted the fourth coblehome, returning to her station at 12.15 P.M.

- Rewards. £10 4s.

AUGUST 23RD. - PORT ERIN, ISLE OF MAN At 11.35 A.M. information was received through the police that a British aeroplane was in the sea off Dalby. A moderate westerly breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. At 12.10 P.M. the motor life-boat Matthew Simpson was launched.

Helped by aircraft, she found an airman from the aeroplane which had actually come down about a mile outside Fleshwick Bay. The airman was unconscious, and as a R.A.F.

boat had now arrived the life-boat made at once for Port Erin, her crew using every effort to revive the airman, but he was dead.

At 2 P.M. the life-boat, put out again to make another search for survivors. She had a medical officer and Mr. T. C. Coole, the honorary secretary of the station on board.

She picked up another airman, but he too was dead. She continued her search, but found nothing more, and returned to her station at 3.40 P.M. - Rewards, £5 8s. 6d.

AUGUST 23RD. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. CORK. At 8.45 P.M. a message was received that a flare had been seen a mile S.W. of Ballycotton Light. A moderate N. wind was blowing with a slight sea. At 9 P.M. the motor life-boat Mary Stanford was launched and found the motor fishing, boat Point Girl of Ballycotton, with her engine broken down Four persons were on board., and they asked the life-boat to take them in tow, as night was falling and the wind was blowing off the land. The life-boat did so and arrived at her station at 9.45 P.M. - Rewards, £6 18s.

AUGUST 23RD. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At 10.10 P .M. a message was received from the coastguard that gun-fire and an explosion, followed by tracer bullets, had been observed 9 miles S.E. of Wick.

A further message was received that a vessel was on fire about ten miles away in the same direction A moderate N.N.W. wind was blowing, and the sea was choppy, with a cross swell, At 10.50 P.M. the motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched. Two vessels could be seen to be on fire. The life-boat found the nearer vessel to be the S.S. Beacon Grange, of London. She was on fire aft, and the life-boat accompanied her, while she steamed towards the land, until the fire was under control. The captain of the Beacon Grange then told the coxswain that two boats had been lowered from another vessel about twelve miles to the S.E. The life-boat put back on a southerly course so as to intercept these boats, but although she searched until well after daylight, and passed through a lot of wreckage, she found no trace of the boats.

It was thought probable that they had been picked up by other vessels. The life-boat returned to her station at 9 A.M. on the 24th August. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d.

AUGUST 25TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

At 1.32 A.M. the coastguard reported an aeroplane down in the sea. The weather was calm. The motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian Philpott was launched at 2 A.M.

When she was off Ecclesbourne Glen, at 3.20 A.M., her engine was stopped so that her crew might listen and they heard a cry.

It came from a German airman, the only survivor of a machine which had been burnt out. He was picked up and landed at Hastings at 3.45 A.M., where he was handed over to the military authorities. - Rewards, £30 2s. 6d.

AUGUST. 25TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

Shortly after 5 P.M. a fierce air battle took place, several enemy machines being shot down. A S.W. breeze was blowing, with a smooth sea. At 5.36 P.M. the coastguard reported four aeroplanes down five miles S.W. by W. of St. Albans Head, and the motor life-boat Thomas Markby was launched at 5.41 P.M., but all that she found was wreckage, and the remains of a pilot. After picking up pieces of the wreckage and clothing, for identification, the life-boat returned at 9.45 P.M. - Rewards, £10 19s.

AUGUST 2 5TH. - GALWAY BAY, CO. GALWAY. At 10 A.M. a message was received from the military coastguard lookout at Oghil Lighthouse that a boat was drifting four miles to the south-west, but it was not certain if anyone was on board. A westerly breeze was blowing, and the sea was smooth. At 10.15 A.M. the motor life-boat K.E.C.F. was launched, and found that the boat belonged to the S.S. Ville de Gand, of Antwerp, which had been torpedoed and sunk a week previously. No one was on board the boat. The life-boat towed it to Kilronan,. and returned to her station at 1.30 P.M. - Property salvage case.

AUGUST 27TH . - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE . At 11.30P.M. a message was received from the resident naval officer that a vessel eight miles from Kinnaird Head required help. A fresh W.N.W. wind was blowing, and the sea was choppy. At 11.40 P.M. the motor lifeboat John and Charles Kennedy was launched, and found that the British steamer Remura had been struck by an aerial torpedo during an air battle. The life-boat picked up a ship’s boat with 23 survivors and transferred them to a destroyer which was in the vicinity, also engaged in picking up survivors. The lifeboat continued to search but, finding nothing more, returned to her station at 2 A.M. At 4.30 A.M. the coastguard reported flares, resembling a ship on fire, about 8 miles from Kinnaird Head, and the life-boat crew were assembled. A further message was received that a destroyer and other smaller craft were standing by the burning vessel, which had been taken in tow. The help of the life-boat was not required, and later news was received that the vessel had sunk off Rattray Head.- Rewards, £10 18s.

AUGUST 27TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

At about 4.30 P.M. the R.A.F., Chatham, reported an aircraft down in the sea seventeen miles north of Sheringham. A moderate N.N.E. wind was blowing, with a moderatesea. The No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 4.40 P.M. She found some articles and gear belonging to the aeroplane, also a large patch of oil. When a R.A.F. speed boat arrived with the news that the crew were safe on a patrol boat, the life-boat.

returned, arriving at 9 P . M . - Rewards, £13 6s. 6d.

AUGUST 27TH. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. At 8.45 A.M. a message was received from the coast watchers at Greenore Point that a vessel had grounded on the Splaugh Rock. A light westerly breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth.

At 9 A.M. the motor life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson was launched, and found the motor schooner Invermore, of Dublin, ashore on the west edge of the Rock. With great skill the coxswain manoeuvred the life-boat through a maze of jagged rocks to where the Invermore lay in a dangerous tide race. The master asked the life-boat to stand by until the tide rose, when the Invermore was able to refloat, and went on her way. The lifeboat then returned to her station, arriving a t 1 1 . 4 0 A . M . - Permanent paid crew.

Rewards, £1 13s.

AUGUST 28TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At mid-day, during an air battle over the sea, a German bomber was seen to crash about three miles E.N.E. of the life-boathouse.

The sea was smooth, with a light easterly wind. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 12.5 P.M. The coxswain was out fishing, and the second-coxswain was in charge. Mr. A. C. Robinson, the honorary secretary of the station, went, with the boat.

She found that two fishing boats, the Persevere and the Golden Spray - on board one of which was the life-boat coxswain - had picked up four German airmen, some of them injured. The life-boat took them on board, and her crew attended to the injured men. She arrived back at, her station at 1.40 P.M. - Rewards, £5.

(See Margate, “ Services by Shore-boats “, page 151.) AUGUST 31ST. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

During the afternoon news was received that a rowing boat was showing signals of distress a mile east of Colwyn Bay Pier, and that no motor boat was available there. A strong S.W. wind was blowing with a moderate sea. The motor life-boat Thomas and Annie Wade Richards was launched at 4.30 P.M., and on reaching Colwyn Bay found the rowing boat Shamrock with two men on board unable to make the shore. She was taken in tow and brought, safely to Colwyn Bay Beach. The life-boat returned to her station at 7.30P.M. - Rewards, £11 8s.

The following life-boats were launched, hut no services were rendered for the reasons given : AUGUST 2ND . - GOURDON ,KIN-CARDINESHIRE. A German bomber had been shot down by S.S. Highlander, one of two which she brought down, but no trace of the crew could be found. - Rewards, £20 11s. 6d.

AUGUST 2ND. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. A naval patrol vessel had been bombed by enemy aircraft, but her crew were rescued by another vessel.- Rewards, £17 13s. 6d.

AUGUST 2ND. - FLAMBOROUGH,YORKSHIRE. A British bomber had crashed to the east of Flamborough Head, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £12 13s. 6d.

AUGUST 4TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

An aeroplane had come down in the sea, but the airmen were found and picked up by another vessel. - Rewards, £8 4s. 6d.

AUGUST 5TH . - SUNDERLAND , DURHAM. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but. nothing was found.- Rewards, £10 5s.

AUGUST 7TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

A British bomber had come down in the sea and her crew of three had got into her rubber boat, but they were picked up by a trawler. - Rewards, £26 12s. 6d.

(See Sheringham, boats “, page 148.) “ Services by Shore- AUGUST 8TH. - YARMOUTH, ISLE OF WIGHT. A convoy of ships had been attacked from the air and some of them had been sunk. The life-boat. put out with the honorary secretary of the station, a naval surgeon and a policeman on board, but a British aeroplane, flying low, signalled that the life-boat was not needed. - Rewards, £4 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 8TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

Aircraft had been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found. While the life-boat was out a convoy some miles off was being attacked and an air battle was going on.

Later in the day the life-boat crew assembled while another air battle was in progress.- Rewards, £3 2s. and 15s.

AUGUST 9TH . - DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN. Owing to its engine failing, a R.A.F. Spitfire aeroplane crashed into the sea, but a naval vessel picked up the body of the pilot. - Rewards, £4 10s. 6d.

AUGUST 9TH. - TENBY, PEMBROKESHIRE.

An aeroplane had come down at the east end of Pendine Sands, but the pilot got, ashore unaided and the aeroplane was recovered later. - Rewards, £10 7s.

AUGUST 1 0TH. - MARGATE, KENT.

Distress signals had been seen, but no vessel in distress was found. - Rewards, £8 11s.

AUGUST 11TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

An air battle had taken place during the morning, and the life-boat went out to search for aeroplanes down in Weymouth Bay, but she found nothing and was recalled by wireless. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 11TH . - TORBAY, AND EXMOUTH, DEVON. An aeroplane had been reported down between Exmouth and Teignmouth, but after putting out both lifeboats were recalled. - Rewards : Torbay, £3 17s. 6d. ; Exmouth, £7 0S. 6d.

AUGUST 11TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK, AND LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK. The R.A.F.

reported a Blenheim aircraft down in the sea three miles off the coast between Yarmouth and Lowestoft, but the life-boats found nothing and were recalled, as the aeroplane had not come down in the sea.- Rewards : Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, £4 3s. : Lowestoft, £4 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 11TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. An aeroplane, believed to be a German, had been reported down, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £7 2s.

AUGUST 11TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. A Hurricane aeroplane was reported to have crashed in the sea five miles west of Selsey Bill, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d AUGUST 11TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA (AT BRIGHTLINGSEA*), ESSEX. Information had been received that an airman was in the sea, and the life-boat, working from Brightlingsea as a war measure, put out, but she found nothing, - Rewards, £6 3s.

AUGUST 11TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

During an air battle an aeroplane had come down in flames, and the pilot was seen to drop into the sea by parachute, but he could not be found. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d.

AUGUST 12TH . - NEWHAVEN, AND HASTINGS, SUSSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards : Newhaven, £8 15s ; Hastings, £14 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 12TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT.

The naval authorities had asked. that the life-boat should go to the North Foreland where enemy parachutists had come down in the sea, but they could not be found.- Reward, £4 10s. 6d.

* At the end of May, 1940 the Clacton lifeboat could no longer work from Clacton, as the middle of the pier had been blown up, to make it useless to invading forces, and the life-boathouse was at the end of the pier.

The life-boat was first sent, to Rowhedge, for overhaul, and was then stationed at Brightlingsea, in the river Colne, where she could lie afloat, This was the nearest place to Clacton. from which she could work. The life-boat returned to Clacton on the 13th November, 1940.

AUGUST 12TH . - SELSEY , SUSSEX .

During an air battle an enemy aeroplane had crashed three miles off, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 12TH. - CLOVELLY, DEVON.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea some four miles north of Bude, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £21 14s. 6d.

AUGUST 13TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. A vessel had been attacked by enemy aeroplanes, but the life-boat was not needed.- Rewards, £3 18s.

AUGUST 13TH. - SELSEY SUSSEX .

During an air battle a British aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but the airman was saved by a destroyer. Several enemy aeroplanes had also crashed, and the search was continued , but the life-boat could find nothing. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 13TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

During an air fight over the sea between Swanage and Portland several machines had been reported to be down, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £7 10s.

AUGUST 13TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

A Hurricane aeroplane had come down some fifteen miles east of Orfordness, but the life-boat was recalled a few minutes after launching. - Rewards, £11 4s.

AUGUST 15TH. - NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

An enemy aeroplane had been brought down, and a second had been seen to fall, but an Amble fishing boat rescued five Germans, and nothing else was found but three patches of oil. - Rewards, £8 14s.

AUGUST 15TH. - AMBLE, NORTHUMBERLAND.

A German bomber had come down and the crew of five had taken to their rubber boat, but they were picked up by a fishing boat. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 15TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. A British aeroplane had crashed, and the pilot had been seen descending by parachute, but although wreckage was found nothing more was seen of the man or parachute. - Rewards, £20 12s.

AUGUST 15TH. - SEAHAM, DURHAM.

A German bomber had been shot down off Seaham, but it disappeared in the sea and nothing could be found. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d.

AUGUST 16TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM. Eight survivors of the Swedish vessel Neilsdortan had been reported on a raft over 30 miles away, but nothing was found. An aeroplane and two shore boats also took part in the search. - Rewards, £5 8s. 6d.

(See Portrush, “ Services by Shore-boats “, page 149.) AUGUST 16TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

A vessel of over 5,000 tons hadbeen mined at the mouth of the Humber, but all the survivors were picked up by armed trawlers. - Paid permanent crew.

AUGUST 16TH. - BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT. During an air battle aeroplanes were reported down in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £2 15s. 6d.

AUGUST 18TH. - MARGATE, KENT. An aeroplane had come down in the sea close to the Shingles Patch, but the life-boat was recalled when a mile out from her station.- Rewards, £11 5s.

AUGUST 18TH. - BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT. Aeroplanes had been reported down in the sea after an air battle, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £4 13s.

(See Ventnor, “ Services by Shore-boats “, page 149.) AUGUST 18TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT.

It had been reported that an R.A.F. pilot was in the sea, but nothing was found. On returning to harbour, the life-boat was told that cries for help had been heard off Stone Gap and she put out again, but again found nothing. - Rewards, £7 16s.

AUGUST 19TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. A German aeroplane had come down in the sea, and the men in it had managed to climb on board the near-by wreck of the steamer Harcola, but they were picked up by a naval vessel. - Rewards, £7 16s.

AUGUST 19TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

A British bomber had been reported down in the sea, but the life-boat found nothing, and it was learned later that the pilot had brought her safely home. - Rewards, £13 6s. 6d.

AUGUST 19TH. - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

A rowing boat had got into difficulties, but she was taken in tow by a naval patrol boat. - Rewards, £4 19s.

AUGUST 20TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea five miles N.E. of Winterton. The life-boat was launched at 1.54 P.M. and reached the position given at 3.10. There she saw and spoke to a naval trawler and a drifter. The master of the trawler said that he had seen the aeroplane come straight out of the clouds and dive into the sea where it “ exploded like a depth charge “. It was he who had sent the message which had called out the life-boat. He was on the spot himself in ten minutes, but found no sign of the airmen, and all he picked up was two oxygen bottles.

The master of the drifter said that he had been searching ever since the aeroplane fell, but he had only found small wreckage.

Several trawlers and a sloop arrived, and they too searched but found nothing. The life-boat then went towards Winterton, still keeping a good look out. About six in the evening a German aeroplane came in from the sea, dropped several bombs in Gorleston, and put out to sea again. The life-boat was then just passing Caister, and the aeroplane attacked her with machine-gun fire. The bullets struck the sea just astern, but none hit the boat, and she continued on her way, reaching her station again at 7 in the evening.

A letter of thanks was received from the Royal Air Force. - Rewards, £4 15s. 6d.

AUGUST 20TH. - PEEL, ISLE OF MAN.

Men working in a harvest field had reported that they had seen an aeroplane crashing into the sea, but nothing was found and no information of a missing aeroplane could be obtained. - Rewards, £7 13s.

AUGUST 20TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

A barrage balloon had gone adrift, but efforts to capture it were unsuccessful, and it was destroyed by fire from a patrol boat . - Rewards, £14 2s.

AUGUST 21ST. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL.

An enemy aeroplane had been shot down, but the life-boat, aeroplanes and naval vessels which took part in the search could find nothing, although the British pilot who had shot down the aeroplane reported that five men had got into a rubber boat and had sent out green vapour. - Rewards, £6 14s. 6d.

AUGUST 21ST. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

A German bomber had been shot down and had caught fire, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £5 9s. 6d.

AUGUST 23RD. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

A German aeroplane had been reported down in the sea and two men were said to have baled out from it, but nothing could be found of them. - Rewards, £6 12s.

AUGUST 23RD. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, reported a British aeroplane down on the sea, but nothing was found either by the life-boat or naval vessels. - Rewards, £12 7s.

AUGUST 23RD. - THURSO, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

Wick radio had reported a ship on fire six miles west of Thurso, but the crew got ashore in their own boats.- Rewards, £4 11s.

AUGUST 24TH. - MARGATE, KENT. A German airman had come down by parachute, but he was picked up by a motor boat.

- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

(See Herne Bay, “ Services by Shore-boats”, page 140,) AUGUST 2 4TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. An aeroplane on fire had been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £2 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 24TH. - MOELFRE, ANGLESEY, AND LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

Reports had been received that an aeroplane was down in the sea several miles west of Great Orme’s Head, but nothing was found. - Rewards : Moelfre, £8 ; Llandudno, £19 3s. 6d.AUGUST 25TH. -WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

Many German aircraft had been brought down in a terrific fight in the Weymouth and Portland areas, but although the sea was strewn with wreckage nothing worth rescuing was found. - Rewards, £6 13s.

AUGUST 26TH. CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had come down in the sea about 18 miles from Cromer, but the crew were picked up by other vessels. - Rewards, £6 1s. 6d.

AUGUST 26TH. SELSEY, SUSSEX. A British airman had come down by parachute, but he was rescued by a fisherman . - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 26TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. DONEGAL. A Greek steamer which had apparently been torpedoed was drifting about three miles out at sea, but she had been abandoned by her crew and was too large for the life-boat to attempt to bring her in.

- Rewards, £5 16s. 6d.

AUGUST 2 6TH. - MARGATE, KENT Intense machine-gun fire had been heard, an aeroplane on fire was seen falling into the sea, and an airman, and then three more airmen, were seen coming down by parachute, but they were picked up by other boats.- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 27TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had come down in the sea seventeen miles north of Sheringham, and the crew of four had taken to their rubber boat, but they were picked up by a trawler.

- Rewards, £19 9S. 6d.

AUGUST 27TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. A British bomber aeroplane had come down in the sea two miles south of Chichester Harbour, but nothing could be found except oil on the water. - Rewards, £15 10s. 6d.

AUGUST 28TH . - BALTIMORE, CO .CORK. The S.S.. Gothland. of Leith. had been sunk by enemy action, and part, of the crew had landed on Dursey Island. The captain and eighteen men were making for land farther north A search was made for them, but nothing could be found, and it was learned later that they had been picked up by another vessel and landed in Scotland.- Rewards, £16 13s. 6d.

AUGUST 28TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

It had been reported that an airman was descending by parachute eight miles N.E. of Dungeness, but he landed near the beach and was able to swim ashore, although his hands had been badly burned. - Rewards, £9 15s

AUGUST 28TH. - GOURDON, KIN-CARDINESHIRE. A vessel had been reported bombed, but nothing was found.- Rewards. £25 13s.

AUGUST 29TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported in distress 30 miles east of Cromer, but the life-boat was recalled by wireless as news had been received that the aeroplane was safe. - Rewards, £5 16s. 6d.

AUGUST 30TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea eight miles south of Hastings, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £28 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 31ST. - CULLERCOATS , NORTHUMBERLAND. The Dutch motor vessel Marne, of Rotterdam, had struck a mine and sank a quarter of a mile S.E. of Tynemouth Piers, but no survivors were found, and later it was learned that two out of the crew of five had been picked up by a tug. - Rewards, £8 14s.

AUGUST  31ST . - FLAMBOROUGH , YORKSHIRE. An aeroplane had come down in the sea, but nothing was found.

Later it was learned that the crew of four had already been picked up by another vessel. - Rewards, £9 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 31ST. - MARGATE, KENT. A German aeroplane had been seen to crash into the sea, but a fishing boat rescued one of its crew, and of another airman who, he said, was also in the sea nothing was found but his parachute. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 31ST. - MARGATE, KENT. An aeroplane was reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

(See Herne Bay, “Services by Shore-boats”, page 150.) AUGUST 31ST. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. An aeroplane had crashed over the Naze, and the pilot was seen to leave the machine by parachute, but he could not be found, and it was learnt later that he had come down on land. - Rewards, £6 19s.