MARCH 26TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 7.17 A.M. a message was received from the Gorleston coastguard that distress signals were being made by a vessel off Caister. A fresh N.E. breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea, At 7.38 A.M. the motor life-boat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood, on temporary service at Gorleston, was launched.

When she was north of Yarmouth she found a ship’s raft. but no one was on it. When she got abreast of Caister she saw the motor vessel Ryal with a crew of eleven, including two gunners, ashore on Cockle Shoal but, just before she reached her, the Ryal swung round and refloated The life-boat went alongside,and the captain said that the Ryal’s rudder was badly damaged, his small boat stove in and his life-raft had washed away. On the advice of the life-boat coxswain he allowed the Ryal to drive up through Cockle Gap, and when he was under the lee of Scroby Sand he anchored. The life-boat again went alongside, and after making certain that the Ryal was in no immediate danger, she returned to Britannia Pier and signalled the coastguard to send a tug. She then returned to the Ryal and put some of her own crew on board to help the Ryal’s crew, who were all exhausted, in getting up the anchor. The tug R. Lee Barber now arrived, and after the tug’s hawser had been made fast, Ryal’s anchor was heaved up. This took about two hours, as the motor winch had broken down. The tug then tried to tow her, but could not do it. The Ryal was unmanageable as her rudder was fixed across the stern. The life-boat once more put back to harbour and arranged for another tug to be sent out to help. She returned to the Ryal and stood by until later.

With the help of the two tugs the Ryal was brought into harbour. The life-boat then returned to her station at 2.40 P.M. - Property salvage case.