APRIL MEETING SCOURIE, SUTHERLAND. On the afternoon of the 26th February, 1941, a motor boat, with a crew of four, went out line-fishing near Handa Island. On the following morning the boat had not returned, and enquiries were made, without result.

About 10.45 a bonfire was seen on Handa Island and a motor boat, manned by two men, put off from Scourie. They found the four missing men on the island, and brought them back to Scourie. - Rewards, £1 5s. and 14s. 6d. for fuel used.

CRUDEN BAY, ABERDEENSHIRE. At about 9 in the morning of the 7th March, 1941, information was received that an aeroplane had crashed in the sea off Whinnyfold, and the coastguard sent out a motor boat. She found nothing. A destroyer picked up one airman. Three others were missing. The Peterhead motor life-boat also searched, but without success. - Rewards, £3.

(See Peterhead, “ Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 40.) ST. ANDREWS, FIFESHIRE. On the evening of the 17th March, 1941, three Polish soldiers, who were out in a small rowing boat, were seen to be in difficulties. The tide was ebbing, and an increasing light S.S.E. wind was blowing, with a slight swell. A coastguard and three other men put out in a pulling boat, found the soldiers completely exhausted, and brought them and their boat into St. Andrews.

- Rewards, £2.

PORT ISAAC, CORNWALL. At about 4.50 in the afternoon of the 19th March, 1941, a Gladiator aeroplane fell into the sea about one and a half miles W.N.W. of Kelland Head. The sea was smooth and the weather fine, with a light N.W. wind. The Padstow No. 1 motor life-boat put out, but in the meantime the pilot had been picked up, uninjured, by a fisherman and landed at Port Isaac at about 6 o’clock. - Rewards, 10s.(See Padstow, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 41.) CRAIL, FIFESHIRE. At 9.41 P.M. on the 19th March, 1941, the Elie coastguard reported to Anstruther life-boat station that a small fishing boat was ashore under the look-out at Crail, and that a boat from Crail was needed. The weather was foggy, with a light westerly wind and a calm sea. A small boat, manned by four men, put out from Crail and brought ashore the fishing boat’s crew of seven men. - Rewards, £3 and 2s. for fuel used.

NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. At 5 in the afternoon of the 21st March, 1941, a rocket was fired in the Mersey off Egremont Stage.

A light S.E. wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The Institution’s motor boarding boat, manned bv the coxswain, bowman and motor mechanic put out to investigate, and found the S.S. British Commodore at anchor. She had fired a rocket, but it was a mistake and she did not need hel . - Rewards, 10s.

EYEMOUTH, BERWICKSHIRE. On the afternoon of the 2nd April, 1941, the Admiralty patrol vessel Crammond Isle was attacked and sunk by enemy aeroplanes about three miles east of Eyemouth. A moderately strong S.E.

wind was blowing, with a rough, confused sea.

Eleven of the ship’s crew got away in a boat and two on a raft. The remaining two were lost.

Five boats went out to their help, the life-boats from St. Abbs and Eyemouth and three fishing boats from Eyemouth. The St. Abbs lifeboat picked up the boat with the eleven survivors, but a rope fouled her propeller.

The Eyemouth life-boat found nothing. One of the fishing boats towed in the St. Abbs life-boat and then put out again to help in the search for the raft. Another fishing boat found and rescued the men on the raft. The crews of the three fishing boats did not desire any rewards, but £11 3s. 6d. was paid by the Institution in compensation for damage caused to another boat by one of the three fishing boats. Thanks were received from the naval authorities at Leith.

(See Eyemouth and St. Abbs, “ Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 42.) LYTHAM - ST. ANNE’s, LANCASHIRE. At 12.14 in the morning of the 8th April, 1941, the honorary secretary of the life-boat station was informed by the police that an enemy aeroplane had been shot down, and that cries for help had been heard from the beach. The sea was smooth, with a moderate E. breeze. Low water prevented the lifeboat going out, so a large punt was manned by the honorary secretary, Mr. F. Dearden, five life-boatmen and two Home Guards.

They found that the German airman had scrambled ashore and was in charge of the police. The aeroplane was burning on the banks on the other side of the river, about one and a half miles to the south, so the honorary secretary took the life-boat’s boarding boat and a small punt across the river and launched the punt over the South Training Wall, manned by two of the life-boat’s crew and the two Home Guards. They landed and searched for about two hours, but found no trace of enemy airmen.

At 9.45 A.M. Squires Gate R.A.F. reported that one of their aeroplanes on patrol had seen a parachute on the bank near the 8th Mile Light. The honorary secretary sent out three life-boatmen in a fishing boat.

They found a parachute, with harness and a wireless set, but no airmen. - Rewards, a letter of thanks to Mr. F. Dearden, £5 to the men who went out in the night, £1 10s. to the men who went out in the day and 5s. to a helper on shore. Total rewards, £6 15s.