LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Charles Boyes (1)

MAY 25TH. - CAISTER, AND, GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK.

At 12.20 P.M. a heavy explosion was heard at Caister, and later it was learnt that the trawler Charles Boyes, engaged in Admiralty service, had been mined near the North Scroby Buoy. A light S.E. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. At 12.30 P.M. the pulling and sailing life-boat Charles B u r t o n put out. All she found was the wreckage of the trawler and two of her crew, both suffering severely from shock. She brought them ashore, where a doctor and other help were waiting for them, and they were taken to the Yarmouth hospital. The lifeboat arrived back at her station at 2.10 P.M.

At Great Yarmouth and Gorleston also the explosion had been heard and at 12.40 P.M.

the motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched. She spoke the Caister life-boat.

as she was returning with the two men on board, and then went farther north. There she picked up a man, who was floating face downwards, unconscious, and two members of her crew attempted to revive him. She continued her search and another man was found floating on wreckage. He had been wounded in the back of his head. Life-boatmen dressed his wound and the life-boat continued her search, but found no more survivors.

She then sent a wireless message to the naval base at Yarmouth, asking for a doctor to be in readiness at Britannia Pier, and returned to Gorleston. There a doctor was waiting. The unconscious man who had been receiving artificial respiration all the time was found to be dead. The wounded man was landed and the life-boat returned to her station at 3.20 P.M. - Rewards, Caister, £14 12s. 6d. ; Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, £6 13s..