SEPTEMBER 10TH. - PORT ASKAIG, ARGYLLSHIRE. At 10.30 in the morning a message was received from the police at Bowmore that an aeroplane had been reported down in the sea near the entrance to Loch Killisport, Knapdale. This was confirmed by the coastguard a few minutes later, and at 12.15 the motor life-boat the Duke of Connnaught, on temporary duty at the station, was launched. A squally N.W. wind was blowing and the sea was rough. The lifeboat spoke a small rowing boat and learned from her that a naval drifter had foundered in the Sound of Jura. She had a crew of fifteen. An aeroplane had seen men struggling in the water and others getting ashore by raft. The airman had then flown over Ormsary and had dropped messages. Two rowing boats had at once put out to the rescue. Of the drifter’s crew ten were safe.

The other five had been drowned, and three of the bodies had been picked up. This was the position when the life-boat arrived. She searched and found the two remaining bodies, which she put on board an R.A.F. pinnace.

She also found the drifter’s boat, with no one on board, took it in tow, and handed it over to H.M. Trawler Wolves. She then returned to her station, arriving at 8.10 in the evening. - Rewards, £7 13s.

(See Ormsary, “ Services by Shore-boats,” page 102.).