BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT ARBROATH by east of Arbroath, and the motor life- FEBRUARY 9TH. -ARBROATH, ANGUS. At 10.35 in the morning boat John and William Mudie was distress signals were heard south-east launched at once. It was very hazy. A moderate sea was running. When she had travelled about six miles the life- boat found two minesweepers, and about half-a-mile away a hopper-barge.

The barge had stopped, and the lifeboat made for her to see if she was in distress. When she was about a quarter-of-a-mile away from her, two German bombing aeroplanes appeared out of the mist and attacked the barge with bombs and machine-guns. Both of them passed only 8 few feet above the life-boat. The minesweepers at once opened fire on the bombers. The life-boat was now under fire both from the German aeroplanes and from the minesweepers, but she held straight on for the barge. Ten bombs from the aeroplanes dropped close to her. Their explosion, the men said afterwards, “ seemed to lift the life-boat out of the water and made all the air-cases inside her rattle “, but she still held on.

Then an English fighter aeroplane appeared and drove the bombers off.

Neither the hopper-barge nor the lifeboat had been hit.

The life-boat went alongside and found that the barge was the Foremost, of Aberdeen. She had had a crew of nine men on board, but she had previously been bombed and two of the men had been killed. The lifeboat rescued the other seven men and brought them ashore.A letter of congratulation from H.M. the Queen was sent to the coxswain and crew : “ The Queen has heard with great interest of the fortitude displayed by the crew of the Arbroath life-boat who put out recently, undeterred by their lack of defence, to the aid of a dredger which was being attacked by a German bomber.

“ Her Majesty well remembers launching the life-boat at Arbroath, and whilst it is no surprise to learn of the gallantry of her fellow-countrymen, she would be glad if you would convey to Mr. William Swankie and all his crew her congratulations on their gallant performance.” For this courageous rescue the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN WILLIAM SWANKIE, the bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To each of the six members of his crew, DAVID BRUCE, second-coxswain, ROBERT CARGILL, bowman, HARRY SWANKIE, motor-mechanic, WILLIAM SCOTT, JOSEPH CARGILL and CHARLES SMITH, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a reward of £3 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of 19s.

Standard rewards to crew and launchers, £8 ; additional rewards to crew, £21 ; total rewards, £29. Coxswain Swankie was also awarded the British Empire Medal..