APRIL Launches 77. Lives rescued 131.

APRIL 1ST. - TORBAY, DEVON. At 11.53 P.M. on 31st March, a message was received from the resident naval officer at Brixham that a boat from H.M.S. Pomerol with men on board was adrift outside the harbour. A fresh S.S.E. gale was blowing, with a rough sea and heavy swell. At 12.30 A.M. the motor life-boat George Shee was launched, and the naval examination ketch Flag Jackals put out. H.M.S. Pomerol picked up the boat in the rays of her searchlight when it was 3,000 yards north of Brixham breakwater, and the Flag Jack got to the boat and rescued it when half-way across Torbay. The life-boat stood by and guided the Flag Jack back to harbour, as navigation was difficult. Enemy aeroplanes were about and no shore lights could be shown. The officer commanding H.M.S. Pomerol thanked the life-boat crew for their help. - Rewards, £5 12s.

APRIL 1ST. - CROMER, NORFOLK. At 6.25 P.M. the coxswain was told by a private of the 23rd Royal Fusiilers that a vessel about two miles N.E. of Cromer wanted a doctor.

This was confirmed by the coastguards, and at 6.50 P.M. the No. 2 motor life-boat Harriot Dixon was launched with a doctor on board.

A strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat found that the vessel was H.M. Trawler Valesca, which had been attacked by enemy aeroplanes. She had been slightly damaged, and one of her crew had been severely wounded. The life-boat put the doctor on board to attend to the injured man, and later took doctor and patient on board, and brought them ashore, returning to her station at 8 P . M . The wounded man was taken to hospital and had to have both legs amputated below the knees. - Rewards, £13 12s. 6d.

APRIL 2ND. - EYEMOUTH AND ST. ABBS, BERWICKSHIRE. At 2.20 in the afternoon a message was received at Eyemouth that a patrol vessel had been attacked and sunk by enemy aeroplanes about three miles out, and at 2.35 the motor life-boat Frank and William Oates was launched. The fishing boat Good Hope also put out to help in the search for survivors. A strong E.S.E.

wind was blowing, and the sea was heavy and confused. At St. Abbs the attack had been seen by a number of fishermen, including the coxswain of the life-boat, and the St. Abbs motor life-boat Annie Ronald and Isabella Forrest was launched at 2.40 The patrol vessel was the Cramond Island.

She had a crew of fifteen men. The aeroplanes had made a direct hit on her, killing one of her crew, and another was drowned.

The other thirteen men got away, eleven of them in the ship’s boat and two on a raft.

The ship’s boat was making for the shore, but though she could now be seen from Eyemouth she was invisible to the Eyemouth life-boat.

The St. Abbs life-boat, however, found her at 3.10 in the afternoon. She was waterlogged.

The life-boat took on board the eleven men, two of whom were badly burned, and as one of them was clambering into the life-boat, he unfastened and pulled overboard the breeches buoy on the port side. Unfortunately this was not noticed by any of the crew, and when the life-boat was on her way to pick up the two men on the raft the line fouled the propeller and her engine stopped. She got out her oars, and then made sail and hoisted a red flag. Her signal was seen from St. Abbs by the honorary secretary, who telephoned to Eyemouth asking that a fishing boat should be sent to her help, and the S p e s B o n a put out and towed her into Eyemouth. There the rescued men were landed and the life-boat’s propeller was cleared.

The Spes Bona put out again at once to search for the two men on the raft. Another boat, the Milky Way, had put out shortly before, and the two boats searched Coldingham Bay. A government trawler was also searching. In the end the Milky Way found the raft, rescued the two men and brought them to Eyemouth.

APRIL 3RD - 4TH. - BROUGHTY FERRY, ANGUS. At 11.34 at night a message was received from the Carnoustie coastguard that a vessel was believed to be ashore on Bell Rock, and at midnight the motor life-boat Mona was launched. A strong N.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea, and the night was very dark. The naval officer commanding at Dundee was asked to inform the coastal batteries that the life-boat was launching, and also to ask that the lights at Buddon Ness might be shown to help the lifeboat over the bar.

she went down the unlit channel and picked up these lights as she came abreast of them, but the visibility was only about half a mile and she lost the lights before she could get them in line, so that she had to cross the bar without their help, steering by compass only.

In the darkness and the heavy sea the crossing was difficult and dangerous, and the lifeboat had to reduce speed, but after twenty minutes on compass course she got clear and made for the Bell Rock. At quarter to two the life-boat spoke to the Bell Rock by radio telephone and asked the lightkeeper to show a light so that the life-boat might get her position. He replied that he had turned it on, but the visibility was so poor that the life-boat could not see it. The lightkeeper also said that there was no vessel ashore on the Rock. The life-boat passed on this information to the naval officer at Dundee, who told her to return to her station, but to keep a constant listening watch on her wireless as he believed that a vessel had been in difficulties on the Rock and had got clear, but might still be in the neighbourhood and in need of help. The coxswain decided to remain at sea until daybreak and anchored in twelve fathoms at 2.40 in the morning.

Visibility was still less than one mile, but began to improve.

The Eyemouth life-boat returned to her station at 6.30. The St. Abbs life-boat had already left Eyemouth and she too arrived back at her station at 5.30. - Rewards : Eyemouth, £10 10s. 6d. ; St. Abbs, £7 6s. 6d.

The crews of the three fishing boats did not wish to be rewarded.

(See Eyemouth, ” Services by Shore-boats,” page 95).

APRIL 3RD. - ABERDEEN. At 8.33 P.M.

the steamer Cairnie, of Methil, was sounding distress signals and showing white flares on Aberdeen Bar. A moderate E.S.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. At 8.51 P.M. the No. 1 motor life-boat Emma Constance was launched, and found the Cairnie being continually swept by heavy breaking seas, and drifting towards the shore. Her crew of seven men were exhausted and helpless. The life-boat rescued them, and returned to her station at 9.55 P.M. - Rewards, £12 7s.

At 5.30 A.M. the life-boat got under weigh again, and half an hour later saw a large steamer lying with two anchors out. She was in a very dangerous position on the south face of the Abertay Bank, S.S.W. from No. 3 Black Buoy. The life-boat went in and spoke the steamer. She found that she was the Emile Francqui, of Antwerp. It was she who hadbeen aground on the Bell Rock. She had got clear with a damaged bottom, and for two hours had been pounding on the bank at low water. She was making water in her fore and after holds, and the captain asked the life-boat to take off eight passengers. This was done, but only with great difficulty, and it took three-quarters of an hour, for with the high, sharp swell the securing ropes broke three times. The captain asked if any tugs could come to his help, but the coxswain told him that no tug could cross the bar, and advised him to attempt to make the Firth of Forth. The steamer got under weigh, with the life-boat standing by, but after she had gone about 24 miles her rudder became useless, and the anchors were again let go.

The coxswain reported this to the naval officer at Dundee and to the harbour master, saying that the need for tugs was very urgent.

The captain then asked the life-boat to land the eight passengers and be ready to come out to his help again if he needed it. The life-boat left the steamer at eight in the morning, arrived at her station at 9.15 and stood by ready to go out again at a moment’s notice.

At five that evening, April 4th, the naval officer at Dundee asked the life-boat to go out and take off the steamer’s crew as there was danger that she would break up and founder during the night. The life-boat left at 5.25. There was still a strong northeasterly wind blowing, and a heavy ground swell. The life-boat reached the steamer about seven in the evening and found a destroyer standing by. At the request of her commander she put two of his officers on board the steamer and then set about rescuing the crew. It was very difficult in the heavy swell. The three-inch manilla securing rope broke again and again as the life-boat rose and fell, until it was completely destroyed. Then the life-boat used her heavy towing hawsers and they parted twice. The life-boat was continually flung against the steamer, and twelve feet of her port wale were completely destroyed. In spite of these difficulties the coxswain kept the life-boat alongside the steamer for an hour and a quarter while the 37 men of her crew, waiting their opportunity, jumped one by one from the steamer’s rail with the life-boatmen waiting below to seize them as they dropped.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at ten minutes past ten that night.

- Rewards, £25 11s. 0d.

APRIL 4TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

Several fishing boats were out, and as rough seas were breaking across the harbour entrance, the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 11.15 A.M. She escorted into harbour a pulling boat with two men on board, and then put out again and escorted in six small fishing cobles.- Rewards, £4 16s. 6d.

APRIL 5TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

During the morning, four of the crew of the minesweeper Port Rose, which was anchored two or three miles to the north of Sheringham, came ashore in a rowing boat. The weather was fine with a westerly wind. At noon the men put off to return to their ship, but within a little while the wind veered to the north, increasing in force, and the sea became very choppy. Mist also came on. After an hour the Port Rose could see that the men in the boat were unable to make headway and that they were exhausted, so she weighed anchor and went towards them, but owing to the coast defences she could not get to the boat.

She anchored again and sounded the distress signal on her siren. At 1.55 P.M. the motor life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched, in charge of the second-coxswain, the coxswain being at sea, fishing. The mist had now begun to clear, and it could be seen that the men in the small boat had been able to get farther out to sea. They were now where the Port Rose could reach them, so she weighed anchor again and picked them up about two minutes before the life-boat arrived. As she was not wanted, she went in search of Coxswain Dumble and his two partners, who had gone out fishing in a rowing boat earlier in the day. They could not be found; it was concluded that they had gone ashore, and the life-boat returned to her station. Shortly afterwards news came that Coxswain Dumble’s boat, was off Cromer, heading for home. It had a strong tide against it, and as the weather was rapidly getting worse, the life-boat again went to sea at 3.25 P.M. She found the boat about two miles off Runton. Just before the lifeboat arrived a big sea had struck and nearly capsized it, and had broken two of the four oars. The life-boat took the boat in tow, and returned to her station a t 4 . 1 0 P .M. - Rewards : first service, £16 6s. 6d. ; second service, £10 6s. 6d.

APRIL 10TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 11.45 A.M. a message was received from the naval authorities that a naval patrol boat had picked up a barge, which had been abandoned, and asked that the life-boat should bring it in. A light easterly breeze was blowing and there was a slight sea. At 11.50 A.M. the motor life-boat Greater London (Civil Service No. 3) was launched and took over the barge, Rowland, of London. She was waterlogged and all her pumps were choked. The life-boatmen baled her out with buckets, and towed her inshore.

The life-boat returned to her station at 2.30 P.M. - Property salvage case.

APRIL 10TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 5.34 P.M. the Margate coastguard telephoned that an unidentified aeroplane had made a forced landing on Margate Sands some three miles from the shore, and the motor life-boat The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was launched at 5.45 P.M., taking with her a small dinghy, lashed to the after air box. A moderate N.E. wind was blowing, with a smooth sea. The life-boat found that the aeroplane was a Blenheim bomber. In the shallow water on the sands, the life-boat herself could not get within a quarter of a mile, but the crew of three airmen were rescued with the dinghy, and much valuable gear was salved before failing light compelledthe life-boat to return to her station, which was reached at 7.45 P.M. - Rewards, £8 11s.

APRIL 13TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. At 2.51 in the afternoon a message was received from the Torquay coastguard that a small rowing boat was waterlogged 100 yards S.W. of Orestone and that men were swimming in the water. The boat belonged to the R.A.F.

Another rowing boat was not far off. A slight S.S.W. wind was blowing and the sea was moderate. The motor life-boat George Shee was launched at three o’clock, and shortly afterwards another message reached her station to say that the men in the water had been picked up and had been landed at Torquay, but the life-boat went on as the signals made to her to return were not understood.

She found the boat half a mile east of Orestone and took her in tow. The lifeboat then made for Torquay Daddyhole coastguard station, and as she got near found another boat with three men on board. This boat also belonged to the R.A.F., and had helped to rescue the men from the water.

The three men were exhausted, so the lifeboat took them on board and towed the two boats in to Torquay harbour. There the rescued men boarded their own boat again and took her to her moorings, and the lifeboat returned to her station, arriving at 4.40 P.M. - Rewards, £2 16s.

APRIL 13TH. - BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY.

At 9.15 P.M. a message was received from the commander of the Menai Straits yacht patrol that a tug, which had stranded near Puffin Island, was sinking rapidly. A light S.W. breeze was blowing, with rain, and the sea was choppy. At 9.35 P.M. the motor life-boat Frederick Kitchen was launched, and found the Admiralty tug St. Oliver. Her crew of thirty-one were already in the ship’s boats ready to leave.

The life-boat rescued the crew and decided to tow the St. Oliver inshore, to prevent her sinking. This was successfully done, the St. Oliver being put aground on the mudflats in Fryars Bay, with her decks submerged.

The life-boat then landed the crew at Beaumaris Pier, arriving back at her station at 1.30 A.M. - Rewards, £10.

APRIL 14TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. At 6 P.M. a message was received from the coastguard that a trawler would arrive shortly, with injured men on board to be landed, and at 6.50 P.M. two appeared, H.M. Trawlers Madden and Tamora. A moderate N.W. wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The No. 2 motor life-boat Harriot Dixon was launched immediately with a doctor on board. She went alongside the Madden, and the doctor went on board, and gave medical attention to four men who had been wounded by enemy action. The life-boat then took the doctor to the Tamora, who also had a man slightly wounded, but he was able, after attention, to remain on board his ship. The four men on the Madden were taken on board the life-boat and landed, when they were taken to Cromer Hospital. The life-boat At 3.13 A.M. a message was received from the coastguard that a vessel was on fire, and at 4.20 A.M. the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched. The wind was light and the sea smooth. All that the life-boat found was a large quantity of wreckage. The ship had disappeared, but the life-boat found another steamer, the Amiens, of Swansea, which had been attacked and disabled. A naval escort vessel was standing by. The life-boat took off two slightly injured men and landed them. Afterwards the Amiens sank, and her crew were landed by the naval vessel. The life-boat returned to her station at 10.30 A.M. - Rewards, £11 5s. 6d.

returned to her station at 8.5 P.M. - Rewards, £13 12s. 6d.

APRIL. 15TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. At midnight on the 14th April, the Donaghadee coastguard asked the life-boat to stand by at the harbour ready to take on board an armed guard. A west wind was blowing, with squalls, and the sea was moderate.

At 12.30 A.M. the motor life-boat Civil Service No. 5 was launched and the armed guard of twelve men was taken on board.

The life-boat then went, under the direction of the officer-in-charge, to Mew Island where she landed the guard to investigate a report about Mew Island Light, and to search the coastal defences. The life-boat took the guard on board again and returned to her station, arriving at 3.15 A.M. - Rewards, £7 19s. 6d APRIL 16TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

APRIL 17TH. - DOUGLAS, AND RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN. At 5 P.M.. a message was received at Ramsey from the coastguard that an aeroplane had sighted a vessel showing distress signals about five miles to the southeast of Ramsey, and at 5.40 the motor lifeboat Lady Harrison was launched. A moderate southerly wind was blowing, with a slight sea, and there was drizzle and rain. At about 7 P.M. the life-boat found the vessel, the motor vessel Carita. Her engines had broken down, and just before the life-boat arrived she had been taken in tow by a coaster. She needed no further help, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 8.30 P.M., while the coaster towed the Carita to Douglas. Meanwhile messages from the Castletown and Ramsey coastguards had been received at Douglas, and at the request of the chief naval officer the Douglas motor life-boat Manchester and Salford was launched at 6.30 P.M. She found the Carita in tow, and reported this by wireless to the chief naval officer, and was asked by him to stand by the Carita until she reached Douglas Bay. This the life-boat did, and returned to her station at 9 P.M.- Rewards : Douglas, £7 15s. 6d. ; Ramsey, £12 5s. 6d.

APRIL 18TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE.

At 1.45 in the morning it was reported that a vessel of an outward-bound convoy had gone ashore on the Binks. She appeared to be on her beam ends and was sounding distress signals on her siren. At eight minutes past two the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched. A freshS.S.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea.

The life-boat found the steam trawler Donalda, of Grimsby, and her crew all ready to leave her, but the coxswain advised them to stay on board their own vessel, and promised to stand by them until they were in safety. The trawler’s skipper said that all his lights had failed and asked what the coxswain could do to help him, so at daybreak the life-boat returned ashore, and saw the military officer-in-charge. He sent an electrician out in the life-boat, who soon put the matter right. The life-boat then stood by until the vessel refloated at 9.15 in the morning and returned to her station, arriving a quarter of an hour later. - Property salvage case.

APRIL 20TH. - APPLEDORE, AND ILFRACOMBE, DEVON. At about 1 P.M. a message was received at Appledore from the Croyde coastguard that an aeroplane had crashed in the sea on the south side of Morte Bay, and at 1.10 P.M. the Appledore motor life-boat Violet Armstrong was launched. A fresh S.W. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat went to a point off Woolacombe, N.W. of Morte Point, and, directed by a look-out man on Baggy Point, found and rescued four airmen in a dinghy. All four were injured, one seriously. The lifeboat took them to Ilfracombe, where they were placed in the charge of an R.A.F. doctor.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 6.15 P.M.

News that an aeroplane had come down in the sea was received at Ilfracombe, a few minutes before 1 o’clock, from a resident at Woolacombe, and from the Ilfracombe coastguard at 1.10. At 1.15 the motor life-boat Rosabella was launched. She met very heavy breaking seas off Morte Point, and a strong headwind and tide. The coxswain was thrown against an after bollard by a heavy sea and he and one of the crew were slightly hurt. On reaching Woolacombe Bay the life-boat saw the Appledore boat rescuing the airmen, and as her help was not needed she returned to her station, arriving at 3.40 P.M. - Rewards : Appledore, £5 6s. ; Ilfracombe, £6 11s. 6d.

APRIL 20TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 2 P.M. a message was received from the coastguard that two aeroplanes were in the sea, and that one airman had come down by parachute, and at 2.10 P.M. the motor life-boat The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was launched. A light S.S.W. breeze was blowing and the sea was choppy. An RAF.

launch from Ramsgate arrived first and, the life-boatmen thought, rescued two airmen.

The life-boat picked up a rubber boat which had been dropped from another aeroplane, and returned to her station, arriving at 4.20 P.M. The rubber boat was handed over to the R.A.F. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

APRIL 22ND. - FERRYSIDE, CARMARTHENSHIRE.

At 7.32 A.M. the coxswain received a telephone message from the St.

Ismael’s coastguard that the Royal Observer Corps at Carmarthen had reported through the Ferryside Police that a ship’s boat was adrift in Carmarthen Bay. T h e pulling and sailing life-boat Richard Ashley was launched at 8.40 A.M. A light N.E. wind was blowing and the sea was calm. The life-boat found, near No. 2 Buoy in Carmarthen Bay, an empty twenty-feet ship’s boat.

The vessel to which the boat belonged was unknown, but it was assumed that she had been sunk by enemy action. Taking the boat in tow, the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 3.25 P.M. The boat was handed over to H.M. Customs Officer.- Rewards, £12 13s. 6d.

APRIL 23RD. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

At 6.41 A.M. a message was received from the St. Agnes coastguard that a Hurricane aeroplane had crashed into the sea one and a half miles N.E. by N. from Portreath, and at 7.38 A.M. the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched. A light S.E. breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The life-boat found nothing, and returned to her station at 11.27 A.M., but shortly afterwards she went out again as another message had come that the airman had again been seen. An aeroplane helped in the search, and the airman was found, but he was dead. The life-boat, brought his body ashore, and returned to her station at 2.40 P.M. - Rewards, £7 14s.

APRIL 23RD. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

At about 12.50 P.M. the coastguard reported that a vessel about three miles south of Portland Bill was showing distress signals, and the motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched at 12.55 P.M. A fresh easterly wind was blowing and the sea was rough. The life-boat found the motor drifter Dol-Fyn, on Admiralty service, five miles West of Portland Bill. Her engine had broken down. The life-boat took her in tow, but after about an hour of towing the Government tug Pilot arrived and took over the tow.

After standing by for a time, the life-boat left the Dol-Fyn in charge of the tug and returned to her station, arriving at 4.30 P.M. Mr. K. H.nMooring Aldridge, the honorary secretary, went out with the crew on this service.- Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.

APRIL 24TH. - MARGATE, KENT. At 6.30 P.M. a message was received from the coastguard that an aeroplane had crashed into the sea one and a half miles north-east from the look-out, and at 6.40 P.M. the motor life-boat The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was launched. A strong easterly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. With the help of a Lysander aeroplane the life-boat found and rescued a young Rhodesian pilot.

He was uninjured, but delirious from cold and shock. Because of the very heavy sea running and because there would not be sufficient water to enter Margate Harbour until 9 o’clock, the life-boat made for Ramsgate.

On the way she sent, a message by daylight signal lamp to Foreness Signal Station, asking that medical help should be ready. She landed the pilot at 8 P.M. and stayed at Ramsgate for the night. A t9.45 A.M. the next morning, 25th April, she left for Margate, arriving there at 11 A.M., but owing to the bad weather she could not be rehoused until the 28th. Thanks were received from the naval authorities and the R.A.F. - Rewards, £10 18s.

APRIL 26TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 12.30 P.M.

an officer of the Great Yarmouth naval base asked the life-boat coxswain if the life-boat could take some men off a vessel. She was the S.S. Ethel Radcliffe, of London, and had foundered in shallow water in Yarmouth Roads after being attacked. There were 20 servicemen on board, on guard. The life-boat was also asked to take out food to the S.S Corrie, of Belfast, anchored in the roads. The sea on the bar and in the roads was very rough and tugs could not get alongside either of the vessels. The motor lifeboat Louise Stephens was launched at 12.45 P.M., took food to the S.S. Corrie, and then brought ashore the men from the Ethel Radcliffe, returning to her station at 3 P.M.

- Rewards, £4 13s.

APRIL 28TH. - BOULMER, AND AMBLE, NORTHUMBERLAND. On the night of Sunday, 27th April, it was learned at Boulmer that a German aeroplane had attacked a naval vessel and that the aeroplane had been brought down in flames. The coxswain and second-coxswain stood by, and twenty minutes later, at 11 P.M., the coastguard at Blyth and Boulmer reported distress signals some eight miles N.E. of Seaton Point. It was decided to launch the motor life-boat Clarissa Langdon to search, and the honorary secretary rang up the military authority to get an armed guard. The life-boat had to be taken by her tractor through a narrow gap in the coastal defences of concrete and barbed wire. The night was dark and no lights could be used. The driver of the tractor was guided to the gap and through it by the glow of cigarettes. The life-boat was taken down to low water mark, and as soon as the military guard arrived she was launched off her carriage. It was then just after midnight..

When the life-boat had set out, the honorary secretary of the station feared that a ship had been sunk or damaged, as well as an aeroplane brought down, so he telephoned the commandant of the Red Cross at Alnwick at one in the morning, asking him to be on the alert, and two hours later two ambulances arrived at Boulmer with their staffs of men and women nurses. They were accommodated in the boat-house. In fact, it, was learned later that the aeroplane had attacked H.M.S.. Patia, a naval auxiliary vessel of 5,500 tons, and had hit her with an aerial torpedo. The Patia had replied and shot the aeroplane down, but she herself had sunk.

The coxswain steered for the spot given, eight miles N.E. of Seaton Point, and on his way found himself among great quantities of floating wreckage, such as oil drums, bags and wood. In the dark they were difficult to identify, and great care had to be taken, as the life-boat was now in an area which had As from the wreckage it appeared that a ship had been sunk as well as an aeroplane lost, the coxswain continued his search among the wreckage, saw and examined several rafts, and found a naval whaler bottom up, but there was no sign of any men.

At daybreak the coastguard reported to the station a raft off Cullernose Point, with three men on it, and after arranging for this news to be signalled to the life-boat, the honorary secretary, Mr. William S. Stanton, put out with three other men in the motor fishing boat Primrose to find the raft. The coastguard also sent the news to Amble, and the motor life-boat Frederick and Emma was launched at 5.15. Just as the Primrose was leaving, the news came that this raft had landed at Howick Burn, that another had landed in Embleton Bay, and that a third raft, crowded with men, was three miles east of Boulmer station. The Primrose met the Amble life-boat, and Mr. Stanton went aboard the life-boat, which then went to meet the third raft and found that it was the Boulmer life-boat. The two life-boats made for a patrol vessel, two miles to the east, and on their way passed a motor fishing boat, which had a raft alongside.

There was one man in the raft, lying in the bottom, under water. He was dead, and the Boulmer life-boat took his body on board.

When the two life-boats came up with the Patrol vessel, the Lord Darling, they learnt what they had suspected must have happened, that not only had the aeroplane been shot down, but that the vessel which had shot her down, an armed merchant cruiser, had been sunk. Two patrol vessels had gone to the Tyne with survivors, but the skipper of the Lord Darling thought that all the crew had not been accounted for. The two life-boats continued their search over a wide area looking for survivors on rafts or wreckage.

Above them an R.A.F. aeroplane was circling.

The Boulmer life-boat found four bodies and took them on board, among them the captain of the armed cruiser, and the Amble life-boat found ten. But they found no men alive.

They continued their search until eight in the morning and then returned to their stations, Boulmer arriving at 9.15 and been closed because of mines, and the day before, when the life-boat was out on exercise, the naval authorities would not allow her to go more than half a mile from the shore.

The life-boat then hailed a patrol vessel.

The patrol vessel replied with the challenge signal, for the life-boat, by arrangement with the naval authorities, was under full navigation lights. The coxswain told the vessel who he was and asked for information, but the patrol vessel had nothing to tell him, and the life-boat continued her search among the wreckage. There she found at last the rubber raft, belonging to the enemy aeroplane which had been shot down. In it she found a wristlet watch, stopped at 11.5, and an airman’s helmet, but there was no trace of the airman. The life-boat took the raft on board.

Amble at 9.45.

Meanwhile the other two rafts, which had been reported, had proved to be ship’s boats.The one which had come ashore at Howick Burn, a mile north of Boulmer, had 41 men on board. The Red Cross ambulance workers had met them and taken charge of the injured. The uninjured were looked after by the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, and the villagers gave them dry clothing and food, and put to bed those who were exhausted.

The other boat, which had come ashore in Embleton Bay, had about 40 men on board. Both boats had reached the land about one in the morning, but had waited for daybreak to come ashore. - Rewards : Boulmer, £19 7s. ; Amble, £7 12s.

(See Boulmer, “ Services by Shore-boats,” page 96.) APRIL 2 9TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO.

CORK. At 10.50 A.M. the lighthouse reported a partly submerged ship’s boat about one and a half miles to the south-west, and the motor life-boat Mary Stanford was launched at 11 A.M. An easterly breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. On her way the lifeboat passed two floating mines. She found the boat in the fairway of traffic and towed her back, reaching her station again at noon.

The boat appeared to have been in the water a long time. It had some gear aboard and a log entered up to the 17th December, 1940, but there was nothing by which it could be identified. It was handed over to the military authorities. - Rewards, £4 10s. 6d.

APRIL 29TH. - NEWQUAY, CORNWALL.

At 3.15 P.M. the coastguard reported distress signals from a fishing boat which was rapidly drifting out to sea before a strong E.S.E. wind. The sea was choppy. The motor life-boat Richard Silver Oliver was launched, with the help of R.A.F. men, at 3.50 P.M. She came up with the fishing boat, the P.W. 125, of Newquay, with a crew of three, about two miles N.W. of Towan Head, took her in tow and brought her into harbour at 4.45 P.M. - Rewards, £9 4s. 6d.

APRIL 30TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE.

At 10.22 P.M. a message was received from the Fraserburgh coastguard that H.M. Destroyer Erne had been bombed when ten and a half miles from Kinnaird Head, and at 11 P.M. the motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched. A light easterly breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The life-boat reached the Erne at midnight, and found that she had been taken in tow by another destroyer. They were making for Fraserburgh Harbour. The lifeboat put one of her crew on board the Erne and stood by to give help if it were needed. When they were one and a half miles off Fraserburgh a tug came up and took H.M.S. Erne in tow for Peterhead. The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 1.50 A.M.

- Rewards, £9 13s.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given : APRIL 1ST. - KILMORE, CO. WEXFORD.

Fires at sea had been reported, but after the life-boat had gone some miles out it became evident that they were right across the channel near the Welsh coast. - Rewards, £19 13s. 6d.

AP R I L 2 ND. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. A steamer had gone ashore, but her crew of six were rescued from the shore by the coastguard life-saving apparatus.- Rewards, £6 16s. 6d.

APRIL 2ND. - THURSO, CAITHNESSSHIRE. An aeroplane had crashed a t Whiten Head, but her crew had been rescued.

- Rewards, £15 13s.

APRIL 3RD. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. An unknown vessel had reported that she was being attacked, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, partly paid permanent crew, £2 3s. 6d.

APRIL 3RD. - BALLYCOTTON, CO.

CORK. A collier was reported to have been machine-gunned by German aeroplanes, but could not be found. News was received later that a collier had passed, going west, without lights, and the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, £9 1S.

APRIL 4TH. - FLEETWOOD LANCASHIRE.

A Bristol Hampden aircraft had been reported missing but nothing was found.

- Rewards, £12 9s. 9d.

APRIL 5TH. - COURTMACSHERRY HARBOUR, CO. CORK. A trawler’s engines had broken down, but she repaired them and she was able to go on her way.- Rewards, £4 13s. 6d.

APRIL 5TH. - BARRA ISLAND , HEBRIDES. A ship’s boat, with sails up, had been reported some miles off the coast, but could not be found, and it was learnt later that she was a small fishing boat under sail, and not in need of help. - Rewards, £14 13s.

APRIL 5TH. - ANSTRUTHER, FIFESHIRE.

A vessel was reported to be in difficulties, with a sloop standing by, but in the gale which was blowing, with a very heavy sea running, it was impossible for the sloop to pass a rope and get the vessel in tow, and she wanted the life-boat’s help. The lifeboat went to the position given, but found no sign of either vessel. - Rewards, £14 12s. 6d.

APRIL 5TH. - ST. MARY’S, SCILLY ISLANDS. A British aeroplane had crashed in the sea several miles to the N.W. of St.

Agnes, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £12 18s.

APRIL 6TH. - DUNMORE EAST, CO.

WATERFORD. An unknown aeroplane was reported to have crashed into the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £10 6s.

APRIL 7TH. - HARTLEPOOL, AND SEAHAM, DURHAM. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing wasfound. - Rewards : Hartlepool, £4 7s. ; Seaham, £4 19s. 6d.

APRIL 9TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. The Norwegian oil-tanker Beust on and the British steamer Dudley Rose sailing in convoy had been attacked by German aeroplanes, and the tanker had been set on fire. The sea was a mass of flame for 150-500 yards round her. Both vessels sank and the lifeboat carefully examined all wreckage, but found no survivors. - Rewards, £5 18s.

APRIL 1 8TH - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

A vessel was reported to have been bombed and set on fire by enemy aeroplanes, but nothing could be found. - Reward £11 9s.

APRIL 10TH. - PWLLHELI, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

An R.A.F. fighter aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £11 8s.

APRIL 11TH. - DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN.

A British aeroplane had come down in the sea, but a destroyer rescued the pilot.

- Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.

APRIL 11TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. A fishing boat, whose engine had broken down, had gone aground, but she was refloated and able to return to harbour under sail. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d.

APRIL 11TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET. A burning aeroplane was reported to have crashed into the sea, but nothing except a patch of oil was found. - Rewards, £8 8s.

APRIL 11TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. A British bomber was reported to have come down in the sea, but nothing was found, and while the life-boat was searching the news came that the bomber had crashed 45 miles away. - Rewards, £13 6s. 6d.

APRIL 13TH. - SENNEN COVE, CORNWALL.

Red flares had been reported, but nothing could be found. Later it was learned that the flares were Holmes lights of the lifebuoys of the Belgian steamer Arbel, of Antwerp, which were blown off her when she was bombed and sunk. Seventeen survivors of her crew of twenty got ashore at St. Ives.- Rewards, £17 2s.

APRIL 14TH. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

A vessel in convoy was reported to have been bombed, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £7 16s.

APRIL 14TH. - TENBY, PEMBROKESHIRE.

A ship’s boat had been reported adrift, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £12 1s.

APRIL 16TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

Two rafts with men on board had been reported west of Gurnards Head, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £6 18s.

APRIL 18TH. - ILFRACOMBE, DEVON.

A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea between Combe Martin and Lynton, and one of the crew was believed to have baled out, but nothing was found, and it was learnt later that one of the crew was dead and the other five safe. - Rewards.

£6 13s. 6d.

APRIL 18TH. - ANSTRUTHER, FIFESHIRE.

An Admiralty ketch had been damaged while engaged on salvage work, but she was towed into harbour by another vessel. - Rewards, £8 18s.

APRIL 18TH. - BALTIMORE, CO. CORK.

Flares had been reported several miles south of Skilligs, but nothing could be found. The life-boat put out again to a German aeroplane which had crashed in the sea, but the six airmen had been rescued from their rubber boat by a fishing boat which was on the spot. - Rewards, £16 16s.

APRIL 18TH. - PORTPATRICK, WIGTOWNSHIRE.

A small vessel had been reported west of Corsewall Lighthouse, apparently unable to make headway, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £7 10s.

APRIL 21ST. - PORTRUSH, CO. DOWN.

Red rockets had been reported, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £7 3s.

APRIL. 23RD. - CLACTON - ON-SEA, AND WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards : Clacton-on-Sea, £25 3s. ; Walton and Frinton, £13 2s. 6d.

APRIL 24TH. - THE LIZARD, CORNWALL.

An aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea, but nothing was found.

- Rewards, £16 0S. 6d.

APRIL 24TH. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

An aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea, hut nothing was found.- Rewards, £8 11s.

APRIL 26TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX. A rocket was reported to have been fired towards the south, hut nothing was found.- Rewards, £31 15s. 6d.

APRIL 2 6TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON , NORFOLK. A steamer had been attacked and badly damaged, and her crew had abandoned her, but they were picked up by the examination vessel and a tug. - Rewards, £4 15s. 6d.

APRIL 26TH. - PORTPATRICK, WIGTOWNSHIRE.

A British aeroplane was reported to have come down in the sea, but later it was learnt, that other boats were near the place, and the life-boat was recalled by wireless. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d.

APRIL 27TH. - FERRYSIDE, CARMARTHENSHIRE.

A British aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but the body of thepilot had already been picked up. - Rewards, £12 7s. 6d.

APRIL 29TH . - PORTHDINLLAEN, CAERNARVONSHIRE. A British Sunderland aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £10 14s.

(See Bardsey Island, “ Services by Shoreboats,” page 96.) APRIL 29TH. - HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND.

A Spitfire aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but only a large patch of oil was found. - Rewards, £7 15s. 6d.

APRIL 29TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. A Hurricane fighter aeroplane had crashed at the mouth of the Hanford Water, but when she was found she was almost submerged and the pilot was dead. - Rewards, £4 6s.