Launches 96. Lives rescued 231.

OCTOBER 2ND. - FRASERBURGH. ABERDEENSHIRE The life-boat was launched twice to the help of the steam trawler Northward, from which she had previously rescued the crew of ten. For details see September 24th, page 103.

OCTOBER 3RD. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

At about 6.55 A.M. the coxswain heard through the coastguard that a small boat was making signals of distress about two miles S.E. by E. of Cromer. A moderate easterly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 7.5 A.M. and came up with the boat at 7.30 A.M. She had on board the crew of eight of the motor vessel Actuosity, of London, which had sunk, with her cargo of wheat, five minutes after striking a sunken wreck. The men had been in the boat for three hours. The life-boat took them on board, and returned to her station at 8.15 A.M. - Rewards, £13 6s. 6d.

OCTOBER 5TH. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. At 10.20 A.M. the Mersey Dock Board reported that the coasting steamer Aquilla, of Liverpool, was flying distress signals in Formby Channel off Q3 Red Buoy. A moderate westerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The No. 2 motor life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson was launched at 10.40 A.M. She found that the Aquilla’s engine had broken down, that she had lost her anchors and that she was drifting on to the Askew Spit. A tug was helping her, and the life-boat escorted them until the steamer was safe in the Gladstone Dock.

She returned to her station at 2.30 P.M.- Rewards, £6 9s.

OCTOBER 6TH. - HARTLEPOOL, DURHAM.

At about 1.50 A.M. the naval authorities telephoned that the auxiliary patrolmotor boat Noel II, with four men on board, was having trouble with her engine and was adrift off the Heugh. A moderate S.W.

gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat The Princess Royal (Civil Service No. 7) put out at 2.19 A.M., picked up the disabled boat, and brought her in shortly after 5 A.M. She was rehoused at 11.30 A.M.

- Expenses paid by Admiralty.

OCTOBER 6TH. - FALMOUTH, CORNWALL.

At 7.15 P .M. the coastguard at St. Anthony reported that distress signals had been seen about two and a half miles off the Point. A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing, with a very rough sea. At 7.30 P.M.

the motor life-boat Crawford and Constance Conybeare was launched. She searched, but could not find anything. At 8.45 P.M. she spoke the examination vessel and found that she had on board ten survivors of the crew of twelve of the S.S Jersey Queen, of London, which had been sunk by a mine while bound from Blyth to Plymouth with coal. The life-boat took them on board and landed them at 8.45 P.M. - Rewards, £11 14s.

OCTOBER 7TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

At 2.10 P.M. information was received by telephone that a fighter aeroplane had crashed in the sea. A few minutes later one of the life-boatmen reported that he could see a small object on the water. A light westerly breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea.

The motor life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson was launched at 2.25 P.M. and three miles to the N.E. by E. of the lifeboat station found a German pilot in a small rubber boat. He was taken into the life-boat, disarmed, his head injuries dressed, and landed at the station at 3.25 P.M. where a military escort awaited him. - Rewards, £15 15s.

OCTOBER 8TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. DONEGAL. At about 2.45 A.M. a report was received that a fishing boat of Burtonport was missing. A very strong N.W. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor lifeboat K.T.J.S. was launched at 3 A.M. and found the boat in a creek. She had a crew of eight. The life-boat towed her to Burtonport and returned to her station at 9 A.M.

Rewards, £19 11s.

OCTOBER 8TH. - GOURDON, KINCARDINESHIRE.

At 8.8 P.M. the London fish carrier Bellona II , bound from Hull to Iceland, was bombed by a German aeroplane and set on fire when about four and a half miles E.S.E. of Gourdon. A fresh southerly breeze was blowing, with a swell running.

The motor life-boat Margaret Dawson was launched at 8.15 P.M., and reached the blazing steamer thirty-five minutes later. She took ten men off the burning ship, and eight from a Dutch vessel, which had picked them up from a small boat. Ten were lost. Of the crew of twenty-eight, nine were British, of whom five were rescued, and the other nineteen men were Danes. The life-boat returned to Gourdon at 9.45 P.M. - Rewards, £31 6s.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT MARYPORT OCTOBER 9TH. - MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND. During the afternoon a strong southerly wind was blowing. Towards the end of the afternoon it veered to west-north-west, growing rapidly stronger, and just before dark it was blowing a full gale, with fierce squalls and blinding rain.

The herring drifters were fishing in the Solway Firth, and, as the wind increased, they hauled in their nets and made for port. All the Maryport boats got back safely, but the weather grew worse so quickly that one drifter, which took five minutes longer than another to haul its nets on board, was over an hour later in reaching port.

Visibility was very bad, but at 6.30 a drifter could just be seen as she rose on the biggest seas about 2 1/2 miles out from Maryport pier. She appeared to be in distress, and the gale was so violent that it seemed unlikely that she would be able to ride it out. The runner was sent to collect the crew, and at 7.47 the motor life-boat Joseph Braithwaite was launched. With the seas from westnorth- west meeting the southerly swell, a very heavy sea was breaking right in the harbour entrance. In that sea, and in the darkness, with no guiding lights, it was a very daring and skilful feat to take the life-boat through the narrow harbour mouth between the piers - at high tide it is only 100 yards wide - but it was successfully accomplished.

At 8.30 the life-boat reached the drifter. She was the Mourne Lass, of Workington, with a crew of four. Her nets had fouled her propeller, and when her crew attempted to sail her home, the wind split the mizzen sail into shreds. She had anchored, but when darkness set in her crew had given up all hope, in that wind and sea, of being rescued, and when the lifeboat arrived they were completely exhausted. With great difficulty the life-boat took the four men on board.

She made for home, and in less than half an hour she had reached the harbour entrance. While still some way off, the coxswain had flashed hismorse lamp, and this was answered by the harbour-master flashing his electric torch. That was all the light that the coxswain had to guide the boat into the dark and narrow entrance in the blinding rain, but again he brought her safely through the heavy, confused seas between the two piers.

The coxswain’s own summary of the rescue was, “ It was a bad night and I had an anxious time.” It was a dangerous service very skilfully carried out, and the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN THOMAS B. REAY, a clasp to his bronze medal for gallantry and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To HERBERT ROOK, the motormechanic, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum ; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a reward of £1 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £1 17s. 6d.; standard rewards to crew and helpers, £21 5s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £7 ; total rewards, £28 5s. 6d.

OCTOBER 9TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

During the morning several fishing cobles had to cut, their lines and make for harbour, as a S.E. wind of almost gale force was blowing, and the sea was heavy. Three other cobles. Rosamond, Royal Empire and Brittania, were sixty miles to the south, off Robin Hood’s Bay. Anxiety was felt for their safety, and at 10.45 A.M. the No. 1 motor. life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. She met the cobles, got on their weather side. and escorted them safely to Whitby Harbour, which was reached at 1.15 P.M. - Rewards, £6 7s. 6d.

OCTOBER 10TH. - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

About 5 A.M. red flares were seen N.W. of Skokholm Island and reported to the life-boat authorities by the naval officer at Milford Haven. A W.S.W. wind was blowing, with a rough se The motor lifeboat Elizabeth Elson was launched at 5.45 A.M. and found four members of the crew of the motor vessel Alderney Queen, of London, which had been sunk by enemy action, in a ship’s boat three miles N.W. of St. Anns.

She took them on board, landed them at Milford Haven, and returned to her station at 11 A.M. It was thought that the remaining six members of the Alderney Queen’s crew had been picked up by another vessel.- Rewards, £11 11s. 9d.

OCTOBER 13TH . - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. At 11.16 A.M. the coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Mount Taygetus of Piraeus, of over 3,000 tons, had stranded about a mile S.E. of The Mumbles Head. A strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The motor life-boat Edward Prince of Wales was launched at 11.30 A.M.

and found the steamer aground and being pounded by the seas. At the request of her master, the life-boat went to Swansea to get tugs and they towed the Mount Taygetus to Swansea. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.30 P.M. - Rewards, £9 12s.

OCTOBER 14TH. - THE HUMBER , YORKSHIRE. About 12.30 P.M. a very loud explosion was heard. It came from the Trinity House vessel Reculver. She had struck a mine. An easterly breeze was blowing. The sea was smooth. The motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched at 1.27 P.M. and found that the Reculver had been taken in tow by another vessel. A doctor was needed and the life-boat went.

back to her station and brought out a military doctor. Four injured men were then put on board the life-boat, and she took them to Grimsby. In the meantime the Reculver had broken from her tow, and had sunk in deep water before the help of a tug could be obtained. Her crew were able to get away in the ship’s boats and were picked up by a tug. The lifeboat returned to her station at 4.15 P.M. - Paid permanent crew, Rewards, 4s. 6d.

OCTOBER 17TH. - SEAHAM, DURHAM, AND CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.

During the morning the coastguard reported that two vessels were ashore off Whitburn.

A moderate breeze was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. At 6 A.M. the Seaham motor life-boat Elizabeth Wills Allen was launched, followed a quarter of an hour later by the Cullercoats motor life-boat Westmorland. They found the vessels to be H.M. Destroyers G51 and H78. Four tugs had come out to their help and the life-boats stood by. The Seaham life-boat returned to her station at 11.30 A.M. and the Cullercoats boat put into North Shields to wait there for the tide to rise. The life-boat was then asked, at 12.30 P.M., to return to the destroyers. This she did, and helped by running out a kedge and tow lines to the tugs. She then stood by until 5.45 P.M. and returned to her station st 6.30 P.M. - Rewards : Seaham, £11 6s. 6d. ; Cullercoats, £22 14s.

OCTOBER 19TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 2.15 P . M . information was received from the Walton coastguard that a vessel had been mined and was sinking near the East Oaze Light-vessel. A fresh easterly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat Greater London (Civil Service No. 3) put out at 2.35 P.M. and three miles S.E. of Nore light-vessel found that a small trading ship had already taken off the crew of the sinking vessel which was the motor ship Aridity of London. The life-boat stood by until she sunk and then returned to her station, arriving at 7.15 P.M. - Rewards, £15 7s.

OCTOBER 20TH. - REDCAR, YORK-SHIRE. At 9.30 P.M. the S.S. Cranby, of Montreal, a 2,000-ton steamer, with a crew of twenty-one, bound laden with coal from Newcastle to London, ran ashore on West Scar Rocks. The weather was hazy, with a light easterly wind and a slight sea. She made no signals, but at 11 P.M. the motor life-boat Louisa Polden was launched. She arranged with the steamer to get tugs as soon as possible, and returned to her station at 12.30 A.M. At 2 A.M. she took out Lloyd’s agent and salvage officers as the weather was too bad for other boats. Tugs tried to tow the steamer off, with the life-boat standing by, but they were unsuccessful and the life-boat, returned to her station at 8.30 A.M.

She went out for the third time at 11.20 A.M., taking out a party of men to help in lightening the steamer. After bringing them ashore again she stood by while another effort was made, but without success, to tow the steamer off.

The life-boat then brought the salvage officers ashore at 8.30 P.M. On the afternoon of the following day, the 22nd, the life-boat was launched again at 3.30 P.M. By this time the weather had become worse and salvage work had to be abandoned temporarily. The life-boat took off the crew of 21 men and brought them ashore at 5 P.M. On the 30th October she put out at 3 P.M. to take out pumps and bring ashore a salvage party. A strong S.E. breeze was blowing with a rough sea, and no other suitable boats were available.

The life-boat returned at 4.30 P.M.

Her sixth service to the Granby took place on the following day when she again put out as on the previous day, to help in the salvage work. She was on service from 2 P.M. until 3 . 3 0 P . M . Eventually the steamer was refloated, and her cargo saved, at 4 P.M. on the 1st November. - Rewards : 1st launch, £19 14s. 6d. ; 2nd launch, Property salvage case ; 3rd launch, Property salvage case ; 4th launch, £9 17s. ; 5th launch, Property salvage case ; 6th launch, Property salvage case.

OCTOBER 20TH . - ABERDEEN . At 8.15 P.M. the Gregness coastguard reported that a steamer had been torpedoed nine miles off. An E.S.E. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The No. 1 motor life-boat Emma Constance was launched at 8.50 P.M.

and met a destroyer which had on board twenty-nine survivors of the steamer’s crew.

The steamer was the Conakrian, of Freetown.

The destroyer asked the life-boat to stand by, while a tug was on its way from Peterhead.

This she did, and about 1.30 A.M. in the morning the tug arrived and took the Conakrian in tow. Guided by the life-boat she reached harbour at 3.55 A.M. on the 21st.

On the following day, at 4.30 in the morning, the life-boat was asked by the naval authorities to go out to the Conakrian as she lay at anchor and bring ashore a naval officer and a signalman as the weather was too heavy for ordinary boats. This the life-boat did.- Rewards : 1st launch, £16 9s. ; 2nd launch, £11 14s. 9d.

OCTOBER 21ST. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

At 5.54 A.M. a message was received from the coastguard at Skeldon Hill that an aeroplane had come down in the sea off Blakeney Point. A light west breeze was blowing ; the sea was smooth ; there was a thick mist. At 6.20 A.M. the motor life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched and found five men in a rubber boat. They were the crew of a British bomber, and were uninjured, although very wet. They were taken on board the life-boat, and given brandy and chocolate. They were landed at 9.30 A.M.

and were given baths and dry clothing by the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society. They were then given a meal and rested at the house of the local honorary secretary of the life-boat, station. Mr. H. R. Johnson, until a tender from their aerodrome at Lynton-on- Ouse called for them. - Rewards, £24 1s. 9d.

H.M. tug Watermeyer had now arrived and the life-boat, with great difficulty in the heavy seas, got tow ropes from the tug to the steamer, but again it was impossible to haul her off, and later in the evening she broke her back. The captain now decided to abandon ship, and thinking that the risk of attempting to board the life-boat in the heavy seas would be too great, he asked that a rocket line should he fired from the coastguard life-saving apparatus on shore. This was done and the crew of forty-nine were landed by breeches buoy. The life-boat returned to her station at 10.15P.M . - Rewards, £27 3s.

OCTOBER 22ND. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. Shortly before noon the sea became heavy, with an easterly wind blowing.

A number of fishing boats were making for harbour and the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was launched at noon. She was in charge of the second-coxswain, as the coxswain was at sea, fishing. She made a number of trips, and escorted in seven open motor boats and three keel boats, life-belts being handed to all the men in the open boats before they were brought in. The lifeboat returned to her station at 2.50 P.M.- Rewards, £17 7s. 6d.

OCTOBER 22ND.- TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 6.57 A . M . a message was received from the port war signal station that a vessel was ashore off the Tyne, north of Souter Point. A strong easterly wind was blowing, and there was a moderate swell. At 7.30 A.M. the motor lifeboat John Pyemont was launched and found the S.S. Cairnglen, of 9,000 tons, ashore.

The life-boat was asked to stand by until the arrival of tugs. When the tug George V arrived the life-boat passed a rope from her to the steamer, but attempts to refloat the steamer failed. As the tug was remaining with her, and the tide was ebbing, the lifeboat returned to her station. It was arranged that the life-boat should put out again and stand by the Cairnglen at the next flood tide, when further attempts would he made to float her, but at 3.30 P.M. a message came asking for the immediate help of the lifeboat.

She found the Cairnglen still fast aground and with waves breaking over her.

OCTOBER 22ND. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

At 2.57 P.M. a message was received from thecoastguard that an aeroplane had come down in the sea S.E. of the Fairlight Coastguard Station A light E.S.E. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. At 3.15 P.M. the motor life-host Cyril and Lilian Bishop was launched, with an armed guard on board; Commander Highfield, the honorary secretary of the station, also went in the life-boat.

A German airman was found in a rubber dinghy. His aeroplane, a Messerschmidt 109 had been hit in the petrol tank when he was flying near London. He was taken on board the life-boat During the work of rescue an air battle was going on to the eastward, and a patrol boat escorted the life-boat part of the way on her return journey. The lifeboat returned to her station at  5 . 2 0 P .M. - Rewards, £31 6s. 2d.

OCTOBER 22ND. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At 12.5 P.M. the coastguard reported that a Norwegian fishing vessel was shewing signals of distress and apparently had broken down. A strong easterly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 12.30 P.M. and found the smack Havlynd, of Brimness, Norway, with a crew of four. She was on passage from Lerwick to Buckie, having previously escaped from Norway. The lifeboat took her in tow and brought her safely into harbour at 3 P.M. - Rewards, £6 17s. 6d.

OCTOBER 23RD. - ABERDEEN. As previously reported the No. 1 life-boat Emma Constance had been out on service to the S.S.

Conakrian, of Freetown, on the 20th October, and again on the 22nd. Early in the morning of the 23rd the naval officer in charge again asked the life-boat to go out, as the steamer had a heavy list, and she went at 3.30 in the morning A moderate easterly gale was blowing, with heavy broken water. The life-boat rescued the twenty-three men on board, including a pilot, and returned to her station at 4.42 A.M. Later, the steamer stranded.- Rewards, £17 6s. 6d.

OCTOBER 23RD. - RAMSGATE, KENT.

At about 8.20 A.M. information was received through the coastguard from the naval authorities that H.M. trawler Hero was aground north of the South Goodwin Lightvessel.

A strong easterly breeze was blowing, with a rough sea . The motor life-boat Prudential put out at 8.51 A.M., found the trawler and told her master that a tug would be sent. She put her second-coxswain on board, and remained alongside. The tide was rising, and about midday, the trawler, by using her engines, managed to shift a little, but her cable parted and she continued to knock in over the sand with the tide and sea.

About 12.45 P.M the Dover tug Lady Curzon arrived, but she could not get close enough to do anything until the tide rose higher. The trawler then started her engines again, but stopped when she found that her propeller had gone. Then, as the tide rose, she floated off and the tug towed her to Dover. The life-boat returned to her station at 3.25 P.M.

The naval officer in charge at Ramsgate expressed appreciation of the services rendered, saying : “ The dangers of the sea normally met with in life-saving operations are nowadays complicated by the risk from enemy planes overhead as you and your crew well know after your experience at Dunkirk.” - Rewards, £6 17s. 6d.

OCTOBER 25TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

The motor life-boat The Cuttle was launched at 11.40 A.M. as a strong north-easterly wind was blowing, with a rough sea, and a number of local fishing boats were at sea. She escorted the boats to shore from various parts of Filey Bay and returned to her station at 1.25 P.M. - Rewards, £11 14s.

OCTOBER 28TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

At about 2 A.M. the coastguard telephoned that a British bomber had crashed near Skegness Pier. A light , variable northerly wind was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Anne Allen was launched at 2.50 A.M. She picked up the body of a dead airman, and brought it ashore. Then she continued the search, but no trace of the other three airmen could be found. She returned ashore at 8.5 A.M. - Rewards, £21 9s. 6d.

OCTOBER 28TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. As the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was returning to her station at about 2.55 P.M. after an unsuccessful search for an aeroplane she heard two loud explosions, and on reaching Spurn Point she saw a vessel sinking to the S.W. She went to her, and found seven men in two very small boats. The were from the motor vessel Sagacity, of London, which had struck a magnetic mine and had sunk. The life-boat took them on board, landed them at Grimsby and returned to her station at 5.25 P.M.- Permanent paid crew ; Rewards, 6s. 9d.

OCTOBER 28TH . - CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 7 P .M. the coxswain was asked by the coastguard to assemble the crew, and at 7.35 P.M. the motor life-boat Westmorland was launched, with instructions to go to a position two and a half miles N.E. of Tynemouth Pier. A light S.S.W. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The life-boat found the S.S. Suffolk Coast, of Liverpool She had been mined.

She was not seriously damaged and was able to reach the Tyne under her own power, escorted by the life-boat. The life-boat returned to her station at 12.35 A.M. - Rewards, £27 10s.

OCTOBER 29TH. - THE HUMBER YORKSHIRE. At about 6 A.M. news was received from the signal station that a British aeroplane had crashed off North Somercoats. A southerly breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched at 6.30 A.M.

She spoke a patrol vessel, but it had seen nothing. Then, just before daybreak, signals from an aeroplane directed her to the wreckage of an aeroplane. She picked up the body of an airman and took it to Grimsby, returning to her station at 2 P.M. - Permanent paid crew. Rewards, 15s. 9d.

OCTOBER 29TH. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT.

At about 10 P.M. a message was received from Ross Lighthouse that a vessel was showing distress flares north of Ross Island  A southerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The motor life-boat Morison Watson was launched at 10.45 P.M. and found a motor vessel, The Pilot, half a mile north of Ross Lighthouse. She had a crew of two, and was bound, light, from Port William to Workington. Her engine had broken down.

The life-boat had great difficulty, in the heavy seas and darkness, in taking off the two men, and she was slightly damaged. She returned to Kirkcudbright, and landed the rescued men at 1.15 A.M. The Pilot broke up next day. - Rewards, £17 18s. 6d.

OCTOBER 29TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

During an air battle the coxswain saw a British aeroplane crash several miles W. by S. from Selsey Bill, and at 3 P.M. launched the motor life-boat Canadian Pacific. A moderate S.E. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. Helped by an aeroplane the life-boat searched until 5 P.M., when the aeroplane spotted the airman in the water and directed the life-boat to him. He was picked up unconscious, and all efforts to revive him failed. The life-boat returned to her station at 6.15 P.M. - Rewards, £14 0S. 6d.

OCTOBER 30TH. - PETERHEAD, AND FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE.

At 6.30 in the morning a message was received at Peterhead from the coastguard that a vessel was ashore on the rocks a mile east of Rattray Head, which is about ten miles north of the station. A southerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. At 6.55 the motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched and at eight o’clock, as the day was breaking, she reached Rattray Head and found the steamer Lisburn, of Liverpool.

Heavy seas were breaking right across the Lisburn, and her deck cargo had already been washed overboard. With a southerly gale blowing, and a flood tide, it was not easy for the life-boat to get near, but the coxswain brought her down from the north and, after some manoeuvring, succeeded in passing a line to the steamer., got alongside and took off the crew of thirty men. The life-boat drew clear and then saw another steamer, the Simonburn, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, ashore half a mile to the north-west. When the life-boat reached her, her captain asked that part of his crew should be taken off, as the steamer was making water, and that, when she had landed them, the lifeboat should return and stand by. She took off 23 of the 30 men of the steamer’s crew. She had now 53 men on board, and as it was impossible with that number, and with the very heavy sea running, to return to Peterhead against the gale, she made for Fraserburgh, some ten miles to the north-west of the scene of the wrecks. She had only gone a mile when she saw another stranded steamer, the Baronminto, of Ardrossan. She told her that when she had landed the rescued men she would return to her help. Then, another mile further on to the north-west, she passed another vessel ashore, with the Fraserburgh life-boat standing by her.

PETERHEAD’S SECOND AND THIRD JOURNEYS The life-boat reached Fraserburgh at ten in the morning, landed the 53 men, and at eleven o’clock left Fraserburgh again to go to the help, as promised. of the Baronminto.

When she arrived back on the scene she saw that the remaining sixteen men of the Simonburn had abandoned their vessel as they thought it was filling with water, and were in the ship’s boat. The life-boat picked them up, returned to the Baronminto, and took off the remaining 24 men of her crew (the other 31 had already been rescued by the Fraserburgh life-boat). While she was rescuing them one of her own crew fell into the sea, with one of the Baronminto’s men, between the life-boat and the steamer, but both were got aboard the life-boat uninjured.

Then the life-boat made once more for Fraserburgh and at 2.15 in the afternoon landed the forty rescued men.

She had now rescued 93 men during the day, but her work was not yet finished. The Fraserburgh life-boat had not yet returned, and half an hour after the Peterhead lifeboat had landed the men, the senior naval officer asked the coxswain if he would go north-west from Kinnairds Head to the S.S. Patia, of Liverpool, to take off the Commodore and staff, and bring them back to Fraserburgh. The life-boat found the Patia three miles away and returned with the Commodore and staff to Fraserburgh at four in the afternoon. She had now been out for 9 1/2 hours. As she could not get back the twenty miles to Peterhead before nightfall, and as the information from there was that the entrance to the bay was dangerous, it was decided to moor the life-boat at Fraserburgh for the night, and the crew returned to Peterhead by car. The following morning they went back to Fraserburgh to bring home the life-boat and, at the request of the senior naval officer at Fraserburgh, took with them in the life-boat an officer to survey the stranded steamers. The life-boat left Fraserburgh at eleven in the morning and reached Peterhead at 12.35 P.M. on October 31st.

FRASERBURGH’S TWO JOURNEYS The Fraserburgh motor life-boat, John and Charles Kennedy, had also had a very busy day on October 30th. At 6.47 in the morning news had been received from the coastguard that a vessel was showing a red flare from 4 to 5 miles north-west of Rattray Head. At 7.25 the life-boat put out. She reached Rattray Head at ten past eight and found four or five vessels ashore, with a patrol vessel standing by. She made first for the S.S. Clumber Hall, of West Hartlepool, but her captain advised the life-boat to go first to the S.S. Alcora, of Glasgow, which he thought was in immediate danger. The captain of the Alcora asked the life-boat to stand by, which she did for two hours, mooredto the stern of the steamer by a rope. Then the S.S. Baronminto, of Ardrossan, to which the Peterhead life-boat had promised to return when she came back from Fraserburgh, sent out an S.O.S. call. She was ashore a mile to the south of the Alcora, and the Fraserburgh life-boat went at once to her help, took off 31 of her crew of 55, and made for Fraserburgh where she arrived at ten minutes to twelve. Half an hour later she put out again, and again went to the Alcora to ask her captain if he wished to abandon ship, but he said he still intended to remain aboard her. It was now one in the afternoon, the tide was ebbing, the sea was rising. The patrol vessel had left, and the life-boat stood by. Meanwhile, as already described, the Peterhead life-boat had returned from Fraserburgh, rescued the remaining sixteen men of the Simonburn and the remaining 24 of the Baronminto and had put back to Fraserburgh again. The Fraserburgh life-boat continued to stand by, and at three in the afternoon she again signalled the Alcora saying that her position was getting more dangerous and that the life-boat would come and take off her crew if the captain wished. He replied that he was waiting for a tug, and he asked the life-boat still to stand by him. Half an hour later the coastguard life-saving apparatus from Rattray Head was able, with the falling tide, to get a line to the Alcora and the whole of her crew were rescued from the shore by breeches buoy. The wind and sea had considerably increased, and the life-boat continued to stand by. When the rescue was finished she made again for Fraserburgh and arrived there at 4.20 in the afternoon. She had then been out for nine hours and had rescued 31 lives. - Rewards : Peterhead, £23 19s. 6d. ; Fraserburgh, £20 10s. 1d.

OCTOBER 30TH. - ABERDEEN . At 6.40 A.M. a message was received that the S.S. Lisbon had been torpedoed, and the lifeboat crew was asked to stand by. At 7.42 the No. 1 motor life-boat Emma Constance put out at 7.42 A.M., but she was asked to wait. A moderate to strong S.E. by S. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. Then at 8.20 A.M. the naval officer in charge asked the life-boat to go in search of H.M.S.

Advance, the examination steamer. She found her at 9.5 A.M., and then was given instructions to intercept the tug Abeille.

The life-boat tried, but without success owing to the severe weather and the tug’s speed.

She then went back to the Advance and was asked by her to return to Aberdeen with the message that the Advance was in a perilous position, that one cable had parted, that she was now riding on one anchor, and that though her engines were going full speed ahead, she could make no headway, and that she wanted a tug sent out to her immediately.

This message the life-boat took and reached Aberdeen at 10.37 A.M. - Rewards, £7 16s.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons OCTOBER 1ST. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, and the life-boat made a long and extensive search, but without result. - Rewards, £33 12s.

OCTOBER 1ST. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but no trace of it could be found. - Rewards, £16 1s. 6d.

OCTOBER 2ND. - FENIT, CO. KERRY.

A steamer had been bombed and set on fire by a German aeroplane, but the Irish patrol steamer Fort Rannock rescued the crew.- Rewards, £17 0s. 3d.

OCTOBER 2ND. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

During an air battle a British aeroplane was reported to have fallen into the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £5 13s.

OCTOBER 2ND. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

A German aeroplane had been brought down off Chapel St. Leonards, but the crew of five swam ashore and were made prisoners. - Rewards, £19 14s. 6d.

OCTOBER 2ND. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

A south-bound convoy had been attacked by German aeroplane; and one of the aeroplanes had been brought down, but a destroyer picked up the survivors of its crew, and there were no casualties in the convoy. - Rewards, £13 12s. 6d.

OCTOBER 2ND. - CLOVELLY, DEVON.

Au aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. Soldiers helped in the launch of the life-boat. - Rewards, £31 5s.

OCTOBER 2ND. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but the life-boat found nothing.- Rewards, £32 16s. 6d.

OCTOBER 4TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

A Spitfire aeroplane had been reported down in the sea and a search was made, during an air raid alarm, but nothing was found. The honorary secretary, Commander W. Highfield, O.B.E., R.N., went out in the life-boat.

- Rewards, £30 5s. 11d.

OCTOBER 4TH. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.

A German aeroplane, a Junkers 88, had been shot down by British fighter aeroplanes east of Southwold, but only oil patches were found. A naval motor vessel which helped in the search was machine-gunned by another German aeroplane, but the life-boat was unharmed. - Rewards, £6 1s.

OCTOBER 4TH. - NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.

A naval patrol boat had been reported overdue and the life-boat searched for her during the night. She found nothing, but the patrol boat returned next day. - Rewards, £18 9S. 9d.

OCTOBER 5TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. A parachute had been reported given:down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £14 9s. 6d.

OCTOBER 6TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA (AT BRIGHTLINGSEA), ESSEX. A British bomber had crashed near Jaywick and the life-boat found her, bottom upwards, but there was no trace of the crew. It was learned later that three of the airmen had swum ashore, and that the body of the fourth man had been washed up. - Rewards , £14 13s. 3d.

OCTOBER 6TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA (AT BRIGHTLINGSEA), ESSEX. A drifter had been reported as apparently in distress, but she could not be found. Later it was reported that she had hit the beach at Frinton, but she was not there when day broke. - Rewards, £17 12s. 6d.

OCTOBER 6TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. A naval patrol drifter had been reported in distress, but a long search in the darkness was without result. - Rewards, £30 19s.

OCTOBER 6TH. - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE.

A steamer had gone ashore north of Ayr, but before the arrival of the life-boat she had managed to get off and had been towed into Ayr harbour. - Rewards, £7.

OCTOBER 6TH. - TENBY, PEMBROKESHIRE.

The Greek steamer Mount Taygetus had been reported in distress, but she was only awaiting permission to go into Milford Haven. Later the life-boat was asked to take a message to her, but she had then changed her position and could not be found, - Rewards, £24 7s. 6d.

OCTOBER 7TH. - DUNMORE EAST, CO, WATERFORD. The life-boat had put out to examine a mysterious object which could be seen from the shore, and found it to be a dan-buoy, such as trawlers use for marking fishing grounds. - Rewards, £9 19s. 6d.

OCTOBER 7TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET A parachute from an aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, and a British flying boat had been attacked by German aeroplanes, but in neither case could any thing be found. - Rewards, £14.

OCTOBER 8TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA (AT BRIGHTLINGSEA), ESSEX. A motor cruiser had been reported aground, but no trace of her was found. - Rewards, £7 2s.

OCTOBER 10TH. - ARRANMORE,. CO DONEGAL. A Norwegian cargo ship had been torpedoed and some survivors had landed in a boat. Search was made for other survivors, in another boat, but without success and it was found later that they had landed on Tory Island. - Rewards, £8 8s.

OCTOBER 10TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR FOLK. A bomber had been reported down in the sea twenty miles off Wells, but no trace of her was found either by the life-boat or by other vessels and aeroplanes which took part in the search. - Rewards, £19 9s. 6d.

OCTOBER 11TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, CAERNARVONSHIRE. Flares had been reported, probably from aeroplanes, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £13 6s.

OCTOBER 11TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY.

Signals of distress had been reported, but later another message came that a tug had picked up three German airmen, and the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, £9 7s. 6d.

OCTOBER 11TH. - BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT . The Admiralty trawler Warwick Deeping had sunk as a result of enemy action, but her crew of twenty-fire were rescued by two men in a motor boat and the life-boat was recalled by wireless.- Rewards, £15 10s. 6d.

(See Bonchurch, “ Services by Shore-boats”, page 152).

OCTOBER 13TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported to have crashed and the airman to have come down by parachute, but it turned out to be only a parachute flare. - Rewards, £12 3s.

OCTOBER 13TH. - NEW BRIGHTON, AND HOYLAKE, CHESHIRE. A Blenheim aeroplane had been shot down in error by a British fighter, but a search, carried out during an air-raid. was without result.- Rewards : New Brighton, £19 6s. ; Hoylake, £27 9s. 3d.

OCTOBER 16TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

A parachute had been reported coming down, but nothing could be found.

It is possible that it may have been a mine dropped by enemy aeroplanes, as a great number were sown in the district at this time.

- Paid permanent crew. Rewards, 18s.

OCTOBER 18TH. - SALCOMBE, DEVON. A vessel had been reported in distress and showing a red light, but the life-boat was recalled as she was not needed. - Rewards, £15 9s.

OCTOBER 21ST. - CLACTON - ON - SEA (AT BRIGHTLINGSEA), ESSEX, A rubber boat had been reported adrift, but a long and thorough search only resulted in three lifebelts being picked up. - Rewards, £20 2s. 3d.

OCTOBER 21ST. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

A British aeroplane was reported down in the sea, but the life-boat was recalled by wireless as it was learned later that the aeroplane had landed safely. - Rewards, £12 7s. 6d.

OCTOBER 21 ST. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. A British bomber had come down in the sea, and the life-boat found the tail of the machine above water but no sign of the crew of five. Later it was learned that they had been rescued by an examination boat. - Rewards, £10 9s. 6d.

OCTOBER 21ST. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. The Walton coastguard reported a message, from Light-vessel No. 89, that a vessel was ashore three and a half miles to the S.E., but the life-boat found that the vessel was the m.v. Aridity, to which she had been out two days before. The weather had been foggy for three days and the crew of the light-vessel thought that it was a new wreck.

- Rewards, £5 3s.

OCTOBER 22ND. - RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE.

A naval patrol trawler had gone aground on Kettleness Point during fog, but she refloated without help and continued her patrol. - Rewards, £36 16s. 6d.

OCTOBER 22ND. - SALCOMBE, DEVON.

A fishing boat appeared to be in difficulties, but the life-boat was not needed. - Rewards, £5 14s.

OCTOBER 22ND. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

A German aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but only a large patch of oil was found.

- Rewards, £31 17s. 6d.

OCTOBER 22ND. - BALTIMORE, CO.

CORK. A vessel was reported to have been blown up S.E. of Dursey Head, and a ship’s boat to have left the wreck, but nothing could be found. People on shore had seen the vessel sink, and it was thought that they had mistaken a piece of the vessel herself for a boat. - Rewards, £27 13s. 6d.

OCTOBER 25TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLES E Y . A parachute had been reported coming down some miles to the northward, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £11 15s.

OCTOBER 26TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. A Spitfire had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £12 3s.

OCTOBER 26TH . - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. The S.S. Strombus, of Tonsberg, Norway, had struck a mine, but she was beached by tugs. - Rewards, £15 6s.

OCTOBER 28TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

German airmen had been reported down in the sea five miles east of Saltfleet, but nothing could be found. - Paid permanent crew.

OCTOBER 28TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

A British aeroplane had been reported down off the Lincolnshire coast, but neither the lifeboat nor aeroplanes could find anything. - Permanent paid crew. Rewards, 4s. 6d.

OCTOBER 29TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA (AT BRIGHTLINGSEA), ESSEX. An aeroplane had crashed in the sea off Holland Haven, and a man was reported to be in the water, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £14 19s.

OCTOBER 2 9TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. A red flare had been seen south ofthe South Rock Light-ship, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £25 18s.

OCTOBER 2 9TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. A vessel had been reported in distress about ten miles east of Barra Head, but nothing could be found . - Rewards : first launch, £10 13s. ; second launch £21 2s. 6d.

OCTOBER 29TH. - LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS, AND THURSO, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

A British flying boat had crashed as her petrol was exhausted, but two trawlers rescued her crew. - Rewards : Longhope, £24 11s. 6d. ; Thurso, £20 19s.

OCTOBER 30TH. -THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

A naval motor launch, No. 109, had struck a mine and had sunk. Six survivors had been picked up by another launch ; and nothing could be found of the others.- Permanent paid crew. Rewards, 9s.

OCTOBER 30TH. - TOBERMORY, ISLE OF MULL. H.M.S. Sturdy, a patrol vessel, was reported to have gone ashore on the west side of Tiree. The life-boat searched in a very rough sea, with the wind at hurricane force, but she could find nothing, and later it was learnt that the crew had been taken off by another naval vessel with the loss of two seamen. - Rewards, £19 15s. 6d.

OCTOBER 30TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE A steamer had been reported drifting towards the shore near Duncansbay, but no trace of her could be found. - Rewards, £27.

OCTOBER 31ST . - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. A steamer had been in distress off the coast of Tiree, but she was taken in tow by a naval vessel. - Rewards, £20 9s..