LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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September

Launches 64. Lives rescued 62.

SEPTEMBER 1ST. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

At 5.45 A.M. the  naval author-ities at Cromer asked for the life-boat to go out, as an aeroplane was in the sea between Sheringham and Blakeney. A light westerly wind was blowing, the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched at 6 A.M., and found, off Salthouse, a patch of oil and part of an aeroplane. The crew of four had got ashore in their rubber boat. The life-boat picked up some wreckage and gear and returned to her station again at 7.30 A.M. - Rewards, £16 6s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 2ND. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

At 11.10 P.M. the coastguard reported two vessels on fire, one five miles S.E. of Rattray Head and the other about ten miles E.S.E. from Peterhead. They belonged to a convoy which had been attacked by enemy aeroplanes. A light N.W. wind was blowing, with a calm sea. The motor life-boat JuliaPark Barry of Glasgow was launched at 11.20 P.M., and found the S.S. Lagosian, of Liverpool, burning fiercely. There was no response to the life-boat’s hail. The crew had taken to their boats, and thirty-two of them had been picked up by a naval vessel.

She went in search of a raft from the Lagosian and met the S.S.. Ashly, of West Hartlepool.

She had been attacked and damaged, but had been able to carry out temporary repairs and was on her way to Leith. The life-boat continued her search and picked up three boats and a raft, but all were empty. She returned to her station at 10 A.M. - Rewards, £13 3s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 3RD. - MARGATE, KENT.

At 10.15 A.M. the coastguard reported that a man had dropped by parachute into the sea seven miles N.E. of Reculver. The sea was smooth, with a light N.W. wind. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 10.20 A.M., and at 11.45 A.M. found an airman. He was badly burned and was on the point of collapse, after being over an hour in the sea.

He was taken into the life-boat, and Mr.

A. C. Robinson, the honorary secretary of the station, who was on board, bandaged him and gave him stimulants. Another boat was asked to wireless for medical help to be in readiness ashore, and after a journey at full speed the life-boat landed the airman at 1 P.M. and he was taken to Margate Hospital. The rescued man was Pilot Officer R. H. Hillary, of the family of Lieut.-Col.

Sir William Hillary, Bt., the founder of the Institution. His parents sent a letter of thanks. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

(See Herne Bay, " Services by Shore-boats”, page 150.) SEPTEMBER 4TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE. At 6.55 A.M. the Portpatrick coastguard telephoned that the S.S.. Laird’s Castle, of Glasgow, had been in collision. Her position was given as about one mile west of Sanda Island. A moderate S. breeze was blowing. The sea was calm.

There was thick fog. The motor life-boat City of Glasgow was launched at 7.30 A.M., and going to the west of Sanda Island found the trawler Iago and the Dutch motor ship Mr. Linthorst Homan ashore on a reef. With the help of a kedge anchor which the lifeboat ran out the trawler was refloated. The Dutch vessel declined aid, and later she refloated. At 10.5 A.M. information came from Portpatrick by wireless that the position of the Laird’s Castle was not a mile west of Sanda Island, but seven miles S.S.E. The lifeboat went there, but found only wreckage.

The crew of the steamer had already been rescued. The life-boat returned to her station at 4 P.M. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. ; and property salvage case.

SEPTEMBER 4TH.-TOBERMORY , ARGYLLSHIRE. During the evening a request was received for the use of the lifeboat to convey a sick person to hospital at Oban. No other boat would be available until the following day, and it was imperative to get the patient to hospital without delay.

A S.W. wind was blowing. The sea was calm.

The motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was launched at 8.15 P.M. and reached Oban at 11.30 P.M. An ambulance was waiting. The lifeboat arrived back at Tobermory at 3.5 A.M.

Some days later the patient was reported to be making a good recovery. - No expense to the Institution.

SEPTEMBER 5TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

At 3.38 P.M. a Spitfire aeroplane was seen chasing a German aeroplane out to sea. The German came down several miles S. by W.

of the life-boat station. A S.W. breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. The motor lifeboat Cyril and Lilian Bishop was away in a few minutes. She had on board the honorary secretary, Commander W. Highfield, O.B.E., R.N., and the district inspector, Commander E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R. She picked up a German airman, and arrived back at Hastings at 5 P.M. - Rewards, £13 14s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 5TH. - MARGATE, KENT.

At about 3.30 P.M. a telephone message was received from the coastguard that an aeroplane had crashed into the sea about two hundred yards west of the Hook Beacon. A light S.S.E. wind was blowing, with a smooth sea. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, left at 3.35 P.M. The honorary secretary, Mr. A. C.

Robinson, was on board. She found the wreckage of a German aeroplane, and brought it ashore for identification. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

(See Herne Bay, “Services by Shore-boats”, page 150.)

SEPTEMBER 6TH. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

At 9.50 P.M. the coastguard reported a vessel sinking to the east of Peterhead, but other vessels put out, and the life-boat was not launched. At 2.45 next morning the coastguard reported that a vessel had sunk. A fresh N.W. wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor lifeboat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched at 3 A.M. She cruised about for over two hours, and at 5.20 A.M. found a boat with twenty-four men on board. They belonged to the S.S. Gannet, of London, which had been bombed from the air, and they had abandoned her. The life-boat took them on board and landed them at 6.30 A.M. Later the life-boat took the captain and some of his crew back to their ship and then stood by while tugs towed her to Peterhead Bay.

She returned to her station at 11 A.MRewards, £14 8s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 7TH. - MARGATE, KENT.

At 5.25 P.M. a telephone message was received from the coastguard that an aeroplane had crashed into the sea near the East Last Buoy.

A S.W. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at this station, was launched at 5.30 P.M. The honorary secretary, Mr.

A. C. Robinson, was on board. After a short search she found a German airman. He hada wound in his head which was dressed by Mr. A. C. Robinson. The life-boat reached her station again at 7.25 P.M. - Rewards, £8 11s.

(See Herne Bay, “ Services by Shore-boats”, page 150.) SEPTEMBER 12TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE, AND LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS.

Early in the morning news was received at both stations through the coastguard, from the naval authorities, that the naval salvage vessel Salvage King was ashore near Duncansby Head. A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. The Wick motor life-boat, City of Edinburgh, was launched at 3.55 A.M., and twenty-five minutes later the Longhope motor life-boat Thomas McCunn. They found the Salvage King with other vessels in attendance. The vessel was in a dangerous position and it was decided to take off her crew. Wick boat took nine of them to a tug and the Longhope boat thirty-five. Wick then helped in running out ropes in an unsuccessful attempt to refloat the vessel. Their services being no longer needed, both boats returned to their stations, Wick arriving at 10 A.M. and Longhope at 1 P.M. - Rewards : Wick, £13 11s. 6d. ; Longhope £7 9s.

SEPTEMBER 16TH.- FLEETWOOD LANCASHIRE. At 9 P.M. the naval authorities asked that the life-boat should go out to stand by the Dutch trawler Knikker - working from Fleetwood - which had on board survivors of the S.S. City of Bengal.

She herself was ashore on the east side of the harbour channel. A fresh S.W. breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor lifeboat Ann Letitia Russell was launched at 9.30 P.M. and found the trawler crunching on the bottom. As the skipper declined to allow the lascars on board to leave for fear of panic, the life-boat stood by. On a rising tide the trawler refloated, and was directed into the channel and port by the life-boat, which reached her station again at 11P.M . - Rewards, £12 7s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 17TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. During the night information was received from the postmaster of Northbay that a small rowing boat, with two men aboard, had been caught in a storm in Barra Sound. A strong N.W. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The motor life-boat Lloyd’s was launched at 9 P.M., went to Northbay, where she took on board a pilot, and found that the two men had landed on an island. She took them off and brought them back. She reached her station again at 2.30 A.M. - Rewards, £10 19s.

SEPTEMBER 18TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

The No. 2 motor life-boat Lucy Lavers was launched at 4.20 P.M. to search for a barrage balloon which was adrift some three miles E. by N. of Aldeburgh. A strong N.W. breeze was blowing with a rough sea.

The lifeboat found the balloon, but as she was unable to tow it, the life-boatmen let out the gas and then hauled it on board. The lifeboat arrived back at her station at 7.20 P.M.

- Rewards, £13 9s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 23RD. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At 10.30 P .M. a message was received from the coastguard that the motor fishing boat Glad Tidings, of Lybster, had not returned. A strong N.W. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. At 11.50 P.M . the motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched and found the Glad Tidings about eight miles off the coast, broken down without sails, lights or food. She rescued her crew of four, took their boat in tow and arrived at her station again at 4.50 A.M. the next morning. - Rewards, £9 1s.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT FRASERBURGH SEPTEMBER 2 4TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. Just after two in the morning the coastguard told the life-boat station that a vessel was ashore on the Cairnbulg Briggs, a reef of rocks about two miles away. She was the trawler Northward, of Grimsby, with a crew of ten. At 2.30 the motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched. Coxswain David Hay, who had won the bronze medal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution in February for the rescue of the crew of a Danish motor vessel, had been called up to the Navy the day before, and Captain Andrew Stephen, the honorary secretary of the life-boat station and harbour master of Fraserburgh, took command of the life-boat.

A fresh north-westerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. It was raining hard, and the night was very dark. Twenty minutes after launching, the life-boat reached the reef. The trawler was lying on the reef far inside the broken water, and her stern was to the seas, which were breaking right over it and sweeping all her length. But those on board the life-boat could not see on which side of the reef she lay. They signalled by morse to the coastguard, who were on the shore abreast of the wreck, and the coastguard signalled back that the trawler was on the north-west side.

Captain Stephen anchored to the north-west of the wreck, and dropped down towards her, stern first. In the darkness and the rain, with no lights to guide him, in the shallow water and breaking seas, it was a difficult opera-tion. It was made doubly so by an outlying rock and by the tide, which was at half flood and running very strongly across the seas.

As the life-boat dropped down the tide caught her, swept her past the wreck, and carried her broadside on to the seas. They broke right over her, filling her after-cockpit. She was hauled back to her anchor, the anchor was weighed, and she anchored again, further to the westward. Again she dropped down, again the tide caught her, swept her past the wreck and brought her broadside on to the seas. This time her stern struck the bottom. She hauled out, anchored once more, still further to the westward, and dropped down for the third time. Again she was swept away from the wreck.

WAITING FOR DAY With that tide running, and in the shallow water, it was impossible to get near the wreck, and Captain Stephen decided to wait until daylight when the tide would have risen. He signalled this to the wreck and to the coastguard on shore, and weighing anchor lay off to wait for the day.

At 6.30 in the morning the life-boat again stood in towards the wreck, anchored for the fourth time in the broken water and dropped down. The tide was now slack, and no longer carried the life-boat away from the wreck ; but wind and sea were rising ; it was raining more heavily than before ; and since the last attempt to reach her the trawler had been washed further in over the reef. The life-boat veered out about 100 fathoms of cable, but when she was still fifty feet from the trawler her stern was again striking the bottom. She could go no further.

Captain Stephen decided to use the breeches buoy. By megaphone he told the trawler’s crew to be ready and to pay strict attention to his orders, for the sea was coming in very heavy runs. The line-throwing gun was fired, but the first line broke. The second fell across the wreck. It was then about 6.45 in the morning.

water to the life-boat. The third man to be rescued fell out of the buoy ; but fortunately the next sea flung one of the veering lines across him ; he seized it ; held on tight ; and was hauled into the life-boat. The fifth man was unconscious when he was got aboard, but the motor-mechanic used artificial respiration at once, and in a few minutes had brought him round. In half an hour the ten men had all been rescued, and the life-boat was hauled back to her anchor. Then the anchor was weighed it was found to have been so badly bent under the strain put on it that it was useless.

Half an hour after weighing anchor the life-boat reached her station again.

It was then 8.20 in the morning, six hours after she had put out. When she was housed it was found that her stern had been damaged by the severe bumping.

THE REWARDS It was a very difficult service; carried out with courage, determination and splendid seamanship, and the Institution made the following awards : To CAPTAIN ANDREW STEPHEN, acting-coxswain, the Institution’s silver medal for gallantry and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To GEORGE F. DUTHIE, motormechanic, who worked his engines while at times nearly up to his waist in water, acted as signaller, and revived the unconscious man, the bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy, of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To JOHN DOWNIE MAY, a member of the crew, who was in charge of the “ upper deck “, tended the anchor cable and worked the breeches buoy, the bronze medal ior gallantry and : copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To each of the other five members of the crew, ROBERT STRACHAN, assistant motor-mechanic, JOHN BUCHAN, ANDREW RITCHIE, JAMES MAY and WILLIAM NOBLE, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; to the acting-coxswain and each of the seven members of the crew, a reward The breeches buoy was rigged, and of £3 in addition to the ordinary scale one by one the trawler’s crew were reward of £1 17s. 6d. Standard hauled through fifty feet of broken rewards to crew and launchers,£14 9s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £24 ; total rewards, £38 9s. 6d.

On the 2nd of October the life-boat was launched at noon to stand by while an attempt to refloat the Northward was made. This was unsuccessful, and the life-boat returned at 2.45 On the following day the life-boat again put out at two in the morning. This time the trawler was refloated. Guided by the life-boat she came into harbour. The life-boat returned to her station at four in the afternoon. Both launches were in fair weather. - Property salvage cases.

SEPTEMBER 26TH.- PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. At 8.10 P.M. the coastguard reported a vessel on fire some eight miles north east from their station. A S.W. gale, veering to N.W., was blowing.

There was a moderate swell. The motor lifeboat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched at 8.25 P.M. She found that the vessel was the 8,000 ton steamer Port Denison, of London. She had been bombed by enemy aeroplanes and sunk. Admiralty vessels had picked up a number of survivors.

The life-boat joined in the search and found two more on a raft. It was then 10 P.M.

She continued to search and at two o’clock next morning a destroyer hailed her, and transferred to her eight of the rescued men.

The life-boat took them ashore, arriving at 3 A.M. An hour later she resumed the search as a number of men were still missing, but she found none and finally returned to her station at 10.15 A.M. - Rewards, £13 3s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 27TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

At 5.25 P.M. the coastguard reported that a German aeroplane was in the sea a quarter of a mile S.W. of the bathing pool at St.

Leonards, and that another had crashed in flames six miles to the southward. A S.W.

breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. The motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian Bishop was launched at 5.37 P.M., the honorary secretary, Commander W. Highfield, O.B.E., R.N., going out with her. She rescued one German airman, badly injured. He said that. two others were lost. The life-boat returned to her station at 6 P.M. - Rewards, £11 13s.

SEPTEMBER 28TH. - BEMBRIDGE ISLE OF WIGHT. The life-boat, crew had assembled for an exercise, but this was cancelled when the air raid siren sounded. Before the men left the station they saw a British aeroplane come down in the sea two miles south of the boathouse, and launched the motor life-boat Jesse Lumb at 2.47 P.M. A northerly wind was blowing, with a slight sea.

The life-boat found the aeroplane and rescued the pilot from the wreckage. He was shaken, but uninjured. The life-boat brought him ashore and returned to her station at 4 P.M. - Rewards, £3 11s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 28TH . - FILEY, YORK-SHIRE. The fishing fleet, had put to sea as usual. The northerly wind was increasing; the sea was getting rough ; three of the boats turned back ; and at 9.20 in the morning the motor life-boat The Cuttle put out to the help of the others. She escorted the boats Windsor Lad, Kathleen and John and Nancy to safety, and returned to her station at 11 A.M. - Rewards, £8 12s.

SEPTEMBER 28TH. - NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND. A very strong N.N.E. wind was blowing, with a very heavy and rough sea, and as six local fishing cobles were out, the life-boat Augustus and Laura was launched at 10.40 A.M. She met five of the cobles, escorted them to safety, and went, out again to search for the sixth. Aeroplanes joined in the search and it continued until 3 P.M. The life-boat returned to refuel. She put out again, but found nothing, and returned at 5.25 P.M. Before she could be put on her carriage news came that something resembling a small boat had been seen off Cresswell. For the third time the life-boat went out, but again found nothing. The coble and her crew of three were lost. It was 7.35 P.M. before she finally returned. It had been a long and arduous service for the lifeboatmen and for the women launchers.- Rewards, £26 16s.

SEPTEMBER 28TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. At 8.20 P.M. information was received from the Kinnaird Head coastguard that flares and flashes had been seen several miles away in a north westerly direction from Fraserburgh. A s t r o n g northerly wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched at 10 P.M., and after going about eighteen miles found a steamer which had been bombed. She was the S.S.

Queen City, of Bideford, of nearly 3,000 tons, bound, laden with steel, from Montreal to Middlesbrough. The life-boat picked up fifteen survivors from a ship’s boat. An Admiralty vessel had picked up twenty. Two had been killed on board the Queen City.

That accounted for the whole crew, and the life-boat returned, arriving at her station again at 2.40 A.M. - Rewards, £9 13s.

SEPTEMBER 30TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

At 4.19 P.M. the coastguard telephoned that an aeroplane - probably German - was down in the sea to the S.W. of Selsey Bill. A N.E.

breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched at 4.30 P.M., and found that a seaplane had already landed on the water near the wrecked plane. The life-boat found a dead airman. As the seaplane now took off again and had probably picked up any survivors, the lifeboat returned to her station, where she arrived at 6 P.M. and handed over the body to the police. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

The following life-boats were launched but no services were rendered for the reasons given : SEPTEMBER 1ST. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

A minesweeper had been blown up offPenzance Harbour, but small boats picked up the survivors. - Rewards, £5 11s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 2ND. - MARGATE, KENT.

During an air raid a German aeroplane had been seen to crash into the sea four or five miles N. by W. of the station, but nothing except a patch of oil could be found.

- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 3RD. - LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS.

A ship’s boat had been seen adrift, but she was empty, waterlogged and riddled with machine-gun bullets. - Reward, £4 6s. 6d SEPTEMBER 4TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea and on fire off Worthing Pier, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £4 1s.

SEPTEMBER 4TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

An aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea, but the life-boat found nothing. - Rewards, £31 2s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 5TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. A ship’s boat with seventeen men from a torpedoed steamer had been sighted, but they were picked up by the Barra Head Light-house supply boat which was making her weekly trip to the light-house.

- Rewards, £4 13s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 5TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. A ship’s boat was reported adrift and an aeroplane down in the sea, but the boat was found empty and of the aeroplane only wreckage was found. - Rewards, £7 2s.

SEPTEMBER 5TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but the life-boat was recalled by the naval authorities shortly after launching. - Rewards, £7 18s.

SEPTEMBER 7TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE. A steamer had been reported in collision with a destroyer, but the help of the life-boat was not needed, and she was recalled by wireless. - Rewards, £11 14s.

SEPTEMBER 7TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. Fears had been entertained for the safety of a small yacht, but she made land without aid. - Rewards, £14 3s. 6d.

(See Portaferry, “ Services by Shore-boats”, page 150.) SEPTEMBER 1 0TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane was reported to have crashed, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £26 4s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 1 0TH. - HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND. A naval patrol vessel had stranded, but the crew declined the aid of the life-boat. - Rewards, £10 5s.

SEPTEMBER 10TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

An R.A.F. aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but only wreckage was found.- Rewards, £4 10s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 11TH. - MARGATE, KENT.

At 4.24 P.M. an aeroplane had been seen to crash into the sea three miles north of the life-boathouse, but only oil on the water was found, and a bright green patch showing that it was a German aeroplane. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 11TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

During an air battle several aeroplanes, both British and German, crashed into the sea, but the life-boat found nothing but patches of oil. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 12TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

Red stars had been seen ; assumed to have come from an aeroplane’s rubber dinghy, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £21 11s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 15TH. - DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN. The motor vessel HaIland, of Copenhagen, had been bombed by German aeroplanes and sank within three minutes, but a patrol boat picked up the crew.- Rewards, £10 1s.

SEPTEMBER 15TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

A British aeroplane had been reported down, but nothing was found of her. - Rewards, £9 7s.

SEPTEMBER 16TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. News had been received of a steamer sinking, and a later message said that she had sunk, but nothing was found, and a patrol vessel nearby was believed to have rescued the crew. - Rewards, £6 15s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 16TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. A vessel had been reported as being bombed by German aeroplanes, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £11 8s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 16TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported on fire, but it was a false alarm.

- Rewards, £14 4s.

SEPTEMBER 16TH. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. Bombing and machine-gunning had been heard, but nothing was found.

- Rewards, £24 15s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 17TH. - ARRANMORE, CO.

DONEGAL. A ship had been reported ablaze off Tory Island, but she could not be found.

Later she went ashore off Horn Head.- Rewards, £14 12s.

SEPTEMBER 17TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

Two vessels had been reported on the Lemon Bank, but they got off and went on their way. - Rewards, £13 6s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 20TH. - ARRANMORE, CO.

DONEGAL. A trawler had been reported in distress twenty-five miles north-west of Tory Island, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £15 8s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 20TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. An unusual light had been reported, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £9 7s.

SEPTEMBER 21ST. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. A light or flare had been seen which it was thought might come from a drifting boat, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £9 7s.

SEPTEMBER 22ND. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. Flares had been reported about two miles to the S.W. but nothing was found. - Rewards, £8 2s.

SEPTEMBER 23RD. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. A steamer had been reported mined and on fire to the S.E., but nothing was found. - Rewards, £4 1s.

SEPTEMBER 23RD. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. Red star shells had been seen some miles distant, which it was thought might have come from an aeroplane in distress, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £4 3s.

SEPTEMBER 24TH. - BALTIMORE, CO.

CORK. Lights of a reddish tint had been reported but nothing was found. - Rewards, £12 9s.

SEPTEMBER 24TH. - RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE.

A British bomber aeroplane was reported to have crashed into the sea twelve miles north of Runswick, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £9 0S. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 24TH. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. A British bomber aeroplane had been reported approaching land with her petrol nearly exhausted, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £13 9s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 24TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

An aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea, but nothing was found.- Rewards, £3 14s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 25TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

An aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea off Thorney Island, but the life-boat found nothing. As she approached Chichester harbour, she saw oil on the water, and learnt later that two airmen had been picked up by another boat, and that the aeroplane had crashed inside the harbour entrance. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 26TH. - FISHGUARD, PEMBROKESHIRE.

A Dutch aeroplane, based on Pembroke Dock, had crashed nine miles N.N.W. of Strumble Head, but her crew were rescued by a trawler. - Rewards, £4 7s.

SEPTEMBER 27TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

A German bomber aeroplane had been seen to come down in the sea two miles away, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £12 7s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 28TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

A British aeroplane had crashed south ofSelsey Bill during an air battle, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £6 3s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 29TH . - ARKLOW, CO, WICKLOW. An aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea off Cahore Point, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £15 8s. 6d.

SEPTEMBER 30TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £26 17s.

SEPTEMBER 30TH . - SKEGNESS , LINCOLNSHIRE. A British aeroplane was reported at 9.15 PM. to have fallen into the sea off Hunstanton, but though the life-boat cruised for 50 miles, she saw nothing.

About midnight, however, she found herself in the middle of a minefield. It was dead low water and the mines were plainly visible.

The coxswain got her safely out and then anchored until dawn. - Rewards, £26 6s. 9d.