DECEMBER 22ND. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. The No. 2 life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson was launched at 5.40 P.M. as information had been received that a vessel was in distress near C.11 Black Buoy.

A light easterly breeze was blowing, with a smooth sea. The life-boat found the tanker Elax. She had been mined, but she was in such a position that she would he left high and dry as the tide ebbed, and did not need the lifeboat.

On returning to moorings at 6.25 PM. the life-boat learned that a few minutes earlier a tug had blown up off Canada Dock.

She put out again to find that the tug was the Polgarth, with a crew of seven, but there was no hope for them.

She reached the New Brighton stage again at 6.55 P.M. and made for her moorings. A heavy air raid was in progress and a heavy bomb fell between the life-boat and the stage, about thirty yards away. Splinters hit the life-boat. The crew came ashore, but while they were on New Brighton pier another bomb fell close by.

In view of the danger they had run, an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was granted to each member of the crew. - Standard rewards to crew and helpers, £13 12s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £7. Total rewards, £20 12s. 6d..