FEBRUARY Launches 88. Lives rescued 248.

FEBRUARY 1ST. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

At 4.6 P.M. the naval authorities at Penzance sent a message through the coastguard asking for the life-boat to go out with a doctor and bring in from a steamer shipwrecked men whom she had picked up. A fresh N.E.

breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. With doctor and ambulance men on board, the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched at 4.30 P.M., and in the bay found the S.S. Isleman with ten men on board belonging to the S.S. Kia, of Gloucester, formerly of Estonia, whom she had rescued from the ship’s boat. The Kia had been attacked and left sinking, and her crew had abandoned her. The life-boat landed ten men and then went out and brought in a ship’s boat with a dead seaman aboard, returning to her station at 6.15 P.M.

Rewards, £16 3s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 2ND. - SENNEN COVE, AND PENLEE, CORNWALL. At 5.17 P.M. the coastguard reported a vessel was in distress, and the motor life-boat The Newbons was launched at 6 P.M. A strong N.E. gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The lifeboat found the S.S. Heire, of Oslo, three miles W.N.W. of The Brisons. She had lost her propeller, was waiting for a tug, and did not need the life-boat’s help. The life-boat returned to her station at eight in the evening and stood by. At 11.4 P.M. a message came that the steamer had fired a red rocket, and was thought to be ashore on the Shark’s Fin, near the Longships. The weather had now got worse. The Sennen Cove life-boat could not be launched, and the Penlee lifeboat station was informed. Penlee also received the news through the coastguard, at about 11.30 P.M., and the motor life-boat W. and S. left at midnight. She found the Heire in a very dangerous position, still waiting for a tug, and stood by her until next morning when the tug arrived. The life-boat continued to stand by until the Heire was safely in tow, and then returned to her station, arriving at noon. She had been out over twelve hours. It was a long and arduous service in bitter weather and the Penlee crew were thanked by the resident naval officer at Penzance. A gift of £16 was madeto them by the master and crew of the Heire.

- Rewards, Sennen Cove, £20 15s. ; Penlee, £26 19s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 5TH and 6TH . - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. At 9 A.M. information was received through the coastguard that a vessel was ashore south of Barra Island, and the motor life-boat Lloyd’s was launched at 10 A.M. Half a gale was blowing from the south-west, with a rough sea. The life-boat found the S.S. Politician, of Liverpool, in Barra Sound on the east aide of Eriskay. She was a 10,000-ton steamer, bound laden to Jamaica from Liverpool.

The life-boat rescued her crew of fifty and took them to Castlebay, arriving at 8.0 in the evening. At nine the following morning the life-boat took the captain and crew out again to see what hope there was of refloating the ship, but it was found that she was likely to become a total wreck, and the life-boat returned at 7.30 P.M. - Rewards, £21 5s., and £24 1s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 6TH and 12TH, and MARCH 7TH.

- AMBLE, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 11.45 P.M. on the 5th February the coastguard reported a vessel ashore at Druridge Bay, and the motor life-boat Frederick and Emma was launched 35 minutes later. A moderate breeze was blowing, but the sea was rough. The life-boat found the S.S.

Empire Breeze, of Sunderland, ashore on Bondicar Rocks, south of Hauxley. She was a vessel of 9,500 tons, with a crew of 42, laden with coke for America from Scotland, and on her maiden voyage. She was badly holed and the life-boat rescued and brought ashore 34 men. Going off again, the life-boat rescued the remainder of the crew, except the captain who still refused to abandon ship.

A third trip was made at 11.30 A.M. and after much persuasion the captain consented to leave and was brought ashore at 4.25 P.M.

The life-boat also brought with her some of the rescued crew’s belongings. Salvage operations were started, and on the 12th February, when a S.E. gale was blowing, with a rough sea, the naval salvage officer asked the lifeboat to go out and bring ashore the salvage party on board the Empire Breeze. At 3.30 P.M. the motor life-boat Elizabeth Newton, on temporary duty at the station, was launched, but the salvage party refused to leave the steamer and the life-boat returned at 4.50 P.M.

On the 7th March the steamer caught fire, and the life-boat went to her at 11 P.M., but the salvage party on board had got the fire under control, and the life-boat returned to her station at 12.45 A.M. - Rewards : first launch, £22 12s. ; second launch, no expense to the Institution ; third launch, £15.

(See “ Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” Cresswell, page 36.)

FEBRUARY 6TH . - TOBERMORY , ARGYLLSHIRE. At 11.50 A.M. information was received from a resident of Ulva, through the police, that an unknown vessel had been seen drifting towards the Island of Little Colonsay, and at 12.55 P.M. the motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was launched.

A fresh S.W. wind was blowing, with a heavy ground swell. After the life-boat had left, it was learned that the S.S. Dunara Castle had the vessel in tow, and that they were off the Inch Kenneth Island. A naval corvette also went out and reached the scene at the same time as the life-boat. They found that the vessel was the S.S. Baron Renfrew, of Ardrossan, of about 3,000 tons. She had a heavy list to port, appeared to have been heavily shelled, and had been abandoned by her crew.

The lifeboat transferred a naval officer from the corvette to the Baron Renfrew, and then, escorted by the corvette, the Dunara Castle towed the Baron Renfrew to Bunessan. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.30 P.M.

- Rewards, £17 19s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 7TH. - MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND.

Shortly after 9 in the evening information was received through the coastguard that a vessel had struck a mine off Workington, and the motor life-boat Joseph Braithwaite was launched at 9.40 P.M. There was a light breeze and the sea was choppy.

The life-boat found the motor vessel Scottish Co-operator, of Leith, afloat, but badly damaged by the mine. She was laden with ammunition and was bound for Ireland. A dredger had had her in tow, but the hawser had parted. The life-boat and an examination vessel, which had also come to their help, now took her in tow, and she was safely docked at Workington. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.50 A.M. The naval officer in charge at Workington congratulated the life-boat’s crew on their “ miraculous escape ” and thanked them. - Rewards, £21 17s.

FEBRUARY 8 T H . - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. At 5 A.M. a telegram was received from the Stornoway coastguard that S.S. Thala, of London, was ashore on the S.E.

corner of the Island of South Uist. She was a vessel of 4,399 tons, laden, and bound from Oban for Middlesbrough. She had a crew of 37. A strong westerly wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Lloyd’s was launched at 6 A.M. and two hours later she found the Thala. By then some of her crew had taken to the boats, but they returned to their ship, and on the arrival of a destroyer and a tug an effort was made to refloat her. It was unsuccessful, and the lifeboat kept in touch with the Thala and the destroyer throughout the day. About 5 in the afternoon she took off the crew and transferred them to the destroyer, except for two officers who stayed on board the life-boat.

She also picked up three of the steamer’s boats and handed them over to the destroyer.

The life-boat then took the two officers to Lochboisdale, on South Uist, where she stayed the night. At mid-day on the following day the life-boat, with the two officers on board, returned to the Thala, and found that she was likely to become a total wreck.

After standing by for a time, she returned to Castlebay, Barra Island, at 7 P.M. on the 9th February. - Rewards, £43 10s.

FEBRUARY 8TH . - PORT ASKAIG , ARGYLLSHIRE. At 4.35 A.M. the Southend coastguard informed the life-boat station that a vessel was in distress south of Colonsay.

A strong southerly wind was blowing, and it was dark and foggy. The motor life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth was launched at 6.40 A.M., and with the help of her radio telephone found the vessel two miles west of Ardskenish Point.

She was the S.S. G. MacLaren., of Cardiff, of about 7,000 tons, disabled by the loss of her rudder and propeller. She was at anchor.

The life-boat stood by until a tug arrived, and took the steamer in tow, and she piloted them into deep water, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 8.15 P.M.

- Rewards, £10 12s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 8 T H . - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. The fishing boat Thankful, of Scarborough, with four men on board, did not return during the afternoon, as expected, and another fishing boat went out to look for her, but failed to find her. At 6.30 P.M.

the Burniston coastguard reported distress flares, and the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II went out at 7.50 P.M. A light S.S.W. wind was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The life-boat found the Thankful four miles N.E.

of Scarborough. She was leaking badly and in danger of sinking. The life-boat took her in tow and reached harbour at 9.30 P.M.

The crew of the Thankful had to keep baling and pumping all the way home. - Property salvage case.

FEBRUARY 9TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At 3.50 P . M . the coastguard reported a British aeroplane in difficulties, and a few minutes later the news came that the aeroplane was down in the sea. Her position was given at sixteen miles east of Wick.

A S.W. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 4.10 P.M., and found an exhausted airman floating on a rubber dinghy.

The life-boat took him on board and then made a thorough search for the two other members of the crew, but could not find them. She arrived back at her station at 8 P.M. - Rewards, £16 9s.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE . At 10.35 in the evening the coastguard at Kinnaird Head reported that a vessel at sea was signalling by morse lamp, and a few minutes later that the signal was for a doctor. The life-boat John and Charles Kennedy put out at 11.12 P.M., with a doctor on board, and Captain A. Stephen, the honorary secretary of the station. A light southerly wind was blowing, and the sea was calm. The life-boat found the vessel about a mile east of Fraserburgh.

She was the S.S. Cantick Head, of Leith. The doctor and Captain Stephen went on board and found that the steamer had been attacked by enemy aeroplanes when thirty miles north of Fraserburgh and that her captain had been badly wounded by bullets. The steamer came into Fraserburgh, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 12.50 next morning.- Rewards, £14 9s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 12TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At 5.45 A.M. information was received that a British aeroplane, some twenty miles due east, was making for Wick.

A few minutes later it was reported that she was down in the sea two miles S.E. of Sarclet Head. A fresh S.E. breeze was blowing, with a short swell. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 6.20 A.M. and searched without success until, about 11 A.M., she found the body of an airman floating close to the cliffs at Whaligoe. The life-boat returned with the body at 1 P.M. - Rewards, £8 11s.

FEBRUARY 13TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

At 3.5 in the afternoon the coastguard telephoned that German aeroplanes had dropped bombs and later that a vessel was reported to be firing red flares. At 3.50 the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. A light north-east wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The lifeboat found that the vessel which had been firing the red flares was the S.S. Westcliffe Hall, of Montreal. Her steering gear had been put out of order, and she had a large hole in her side and an unexploded bomb on board. What she wanted was a tow, so the life-boat fetched a patrol ship. A destroyer also came up. The life-boat got a hawser fixed between the steamer and the patrol ship and then returned to her station , arriving at 6.45 in the evening. The patrol ship later towed the Westcliffe Hall into Hartlepool. - Rewards, £10 11s. 3d.

FEBRUARY 14TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

At l.6 P.M. the coastguard reported the S.S. Dromara, of Belfast, in difficulties off Wick Bay, and the motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 1.30 P.M., taking a pilot with her. A moderate S.E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy swell. She found the Dromara listing heavily, and as it seemed impossible for her to make harbour, the lifeboat escorted her while she steamed south, hoping to reach more sheltered waters. When off Hillman Head, however, she took a heavier list, her engines stopped, and she began to drive ashore. Going alongside the life-boat took off two elderly members of the crew by breeches buoy. Then she came under the ship’s quarter, and rescued the remaining eleven members of the crew. She herself was damaged by being flung against the steamer.

She arrived back at Wick at 3.30 P.M. - Rewards, £7 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 14TH . - ABERDEEN . A t 9.35 P.M. the naval authorities asked for the assembly of the life-boat crew, as H.M. tug Attentif was reported three miles S.E. of Girdleness, with her stokehold flooded. A strong E.S.E. wind was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The No. 1 motor life-boat Emma Constance was launched at 10.5 P.M., but it was not until 1.45 A.M. that she found the tug, which was then five miles N.E. of Girdleness. The Attentif asked the life-boat to return to Aberdeen with an urgent message for a tug. This she did, arriving at 2.40 A.M., and later the Attentif was towed in . - Rewards, £14 11s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 15TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE . At 6.45A.M . the coastguard reported a vessel in distress at Robin Hood’s Bay, and at 7.30 A.M. the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. A light S.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat found the S.S. Paris, of London, hard aground off Stoupe Beck, with a cargo of coal for London and a crew of twenty-two. She had been in collision some hours earlier and had been run aground. She was damaged below the water line and her fore deck was awash. The lifeboat rescued seventeen of the crew, and landed them at Whitby at 10 A.M. She put out again at 10.20 taking with her Lloyd’s agent. The captain eventually decided to abandon the Paris, and the life-boat rescued him and the remaining five members of his crew, landing them at Whitby at 3.45 P.M.

- Rewards, £9 9s.

FEBRUARY 15TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

At 10.50 A.M. information was received from the Chapel St. Leonard’s coastguard that an aeroplane was down in the sea two miles east of the look-out. A light S.W. wind was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Anne Allen was launched at 11.20 A.M., and after a long search was guided by a British aeroplane to a spot where she found some articles of clothing, some wreckage, and some fragments of an airman. The life-boat returned at 3.35 P.M., taking with her some of the clothing and wreckage, and handed them over to the Royal Air Force to be identified. Later it was learnt that the aeroplane belonged to the American Eagle Squadron and that the pilot was their famous Ace. Both going and returning the life-boat came under fire from troops who were practising with an automatic gun and the crew had to lie down on the deck.- Rewards, £9 2s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 16TH. - NORTH SUNDERLAND, AND HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 8.10 in the morning the coastguard reported to the North Sunderland life-boat station that a ship was ashore on the Farne Islands. She was the S.S. Coryton, of Cardiff, of nearly 3,000 tons, and she was loaded with grain. She was bound for Hull from New Brunswick, and carried a crew of forty. The North Sunderland life-boat W.R.A. was launched at 8.30.

A light southerly wind was blowing, but the sea was heavy. The life-boat went to the Longstone lighthouse, on the Farne Islands, but did not find the steamer there. Then, at nine o’clock, a message came to the Holy Island life-boat station that a ship was ashore in Budle Bay on the mainland, and at 9.30 the motor life-boat Milburn put out.

She found the Coryton, which came ashore after striking a rock. The Milburn brought her captain ashore so that he could communicate with his owners, and when she took him out to the Coryton again found the North Sunderland life-boat standing by. The two life-boats then laid out an anchor, and as the steamer’s crew did not wish to abandon her, and as the weather was moderate, both life- FEBRUARY 17TH. - HARTLEPOOL, AND SEAHAM, DURHAM, AND REDCAR, AND WHITBY, YORKSHIRE. Shortly after midnight a message came to the Hartlepool honorary secretary’s house from the coastguard that the life-boat was wanted. The honorary secretary was on duty with the Observer Corps, and the coastguard at once repeated the message to him there. The coxswain was on duty in an examination vessel and the second-coxswain and crew were called out. Ten minutes later the call was cancelled. At 5 A.M. the call was repeated, and the motor life-boat The Princess Royal {Civil Service No. 7) was launched at 6.35, but a wire snapped, the starboard engine lost power, and it was found that the broken wire had got round the propeller and boss. An easterly gale was blowing, with exceptionally heavy seas on the bar, and it was thought not safe for the life-boat to go out on one engine.

Attempts to put the trouble right failed, and at daylight it was decided to put the boat back on her slipway. The engine was reversed, the wire cleared and at 10.40 she was ready again for service. The naval officer in charge was informed, and he told the life-boat to stand by for instructions.

At 11.55 she was asked to go out to the help of a vessel ashore on the Hummersea Sands.

She was the French steamer Casamance. The life-boat found her at 3.10 in the afternoon, under the cliffs at Redcliff, with heavy seas going over her. The life-boat hailed her and sounded her klaxon horn, but no reply came from the steamer. She had evidently been abandoned, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 5.30 P.M.

boats left at 1.30 P.M. and put into Holy Island. Before they left, however, the captain asked them to take any orders which might have come for him from his owners and, in any case, to come out again to the steamer at five in the afternoon. The sea was making and he was afraid that he would have to abandon ship. Both life-boats put out again at 4.45, and reached the Coryton half an hour later. By this time a heavy sea was running, and the life-boats took off her whole crew, 27 being rescued by the Holy Island boat and 12 by the North Sunderland boat. The captain himself would not leave his ship, although the Holy Island coxswain strongly advised him to do so and told him he was in a very dangerous position. As he could not be persuaded the life-boats returned to Holy Island without him, arriving at 6.30 that evening. The next day the body of the Coryton’s captain was found on Ross Sands.

He had evidently been washed overboard in the night. Owing to the heavy weather the North Sunderland life-boat remained at Holy Island for two days and then returned to her own station on February 18th. - Rewards : North Sunderland, £25 8s. 3d. ; Holy Island, £13 1s. 9d.

The news that the steamer was ashore was sent also to Whitby, Seaham, Redcar and Runswick and Staithes. At Whitby, Seaham and Redcar the crews were assembled, but the life-boats did not launch. The lifeboat at Runswick was off service, but it wasknown there that the Hartlepool life-boat had launched, but about eleven in the morning nine fishermen of Staithes were taken to the point on the cliffs nearest to the wreck in a coal waggon, and immediately they were seen the crew of the Casamance launched one of the ship’s life-boats. It had on board 37 men and the wife of the mate. There was a tremendous current sweeping past the steamer, and it looked as if the men would be unable to manage their boat but, encouraged by the shouts, and guided by the signals, of the fishermen on shore, they succeeded in bringing her safely to the beach, and everyone on board was rescued. Another small boat was then launched from the steamer, with the captain and the remaining eight members of the crew on board, but the boat capsized and all nine were drowned.

The officers and men of the Casamance had left their things on board, ready packed, and next day they asked if these might be brought ashore. Confidential papers had also been left on board which the officers were anxious to have. The sea was still rough and only a life-boat could get to the steamer. The naval authorities decided to ask the Redcar life-boat to go out, and at three in the afternoon the motor life-boat Louisa Polden was launched. All the personal baggage, the ship’s papers, navigational instruments and charts were collected and brought ashore, and the lifeboat returned to her station at 6.30 P.M. - Rewards : Hartlepool, £17 14s. ; Redcar, assembly on the 17th, £6 15s,, service on the l8th, £14 12s. 3d. ; Whitby, assembly, £3 ; Seaham, assembly, £1 4s. 6d. ; the nine fishermen of Staithes were rewarded by the Ministry of Shipping.

FEBRUARY 18TH . - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. During the afternoon the naval authorities asked for the services of the life-boat to destroy a floating mine, and the motor life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched at 3.35 P.M. A coastguard and a naval rating were on board with a gun. The sea was moderate with a light S.S.E. breeze.

After they had sunk the mine the life-boat returned to her station at 5.20 P.M. - Expenses paid by the Admiralty.

FEBRUARY 19TH . - TYNEMOUTH , NORTHUMBERLAND. At 11.30 A.M. the life-boat station received a telephone call from the Port War Signal Station that a vessel had been mined east of the North Pier, and the motor life-boat John Pyemont was launched at 12.10 P.M. A strong N.N.E.

wind was blowing with a rough sea. The life-boat found the S.S. Fulham II, of London, a vessel of 2,000 tons, with a crew of twentyone men. After striking the mine she had drifted on to the Trow Rocks at Marsden.

The life-boat went under her lee side, where a heavy sea flung her against the steamer and she was damaged, but she got alongside and took off twenty men. The twenty-first man, the chief engineer, had been killed by the explosion of the mine. The lifeboat returned to Tynemouth with the rescued men at 2.30 P.M. - Rewards, £10 4s.

FEBRUARY 2 0TH. - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. At 6.57 A.M. the coastguard telephoned that a vessel had been mined one and a quarter miles S.E. of Mumbles Head. The motor life-boat Edward Prince of Wales was launched at 7.15 A.M.

A light northerly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The life-boat found that the vessel was the S.S. Fort Medine, of Swansea, formerly a French vessel, of over 5,000 tons.

There was much wreckage about, but the life-boat saw no survivors. Some, it was known, had been picked up by other boats.

She found two empty ship’s boats of the Fort Medine and towed them in, arriving at her station at 9.30 A.M. - Property salvage case.

FEBRUARY 20TH . - TENBY PEMBROKESHIRE.

At about 8 P.M. information was received, through the coastguard, from the Naval Base at Milford Haven, that a soldier had fallen over the cliff at Cork Bay, near St. Govans Head. The motor life-boat John R. Webb was launched at 8.40 P.M., taking a small boat in tow. A light N.N.W.

wind was blowing, with a ground swell.

The life-boat found the man, badly injured, got him aboard, and brought him to Tenby at 12.50 A.M. A donation was received from the 4th County of London Yeomanry to which the man belonged. - Rewards, £18 18s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 21ST . - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. At 10.40 A.M. t h e coastguard reported a light E. by S. of Peterhead, and later reported that it was still to be seen, drifting northward. A fresh N.E. breeze was blowing with a moderate sea.

The motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched at 1.45 AM. and found the smack Merite. She was rolling in the swell about a mile off the coast, and had lost her bearings . The light which the coastguard had seen was on deck and was not a signal for help. The life-boat gave the Merite her position, and she made for Aberdeen, while the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 4.30 A.M - Rewards, £13 3s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 2 2ND. - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. At 11.18 A.M. information was received from the coastguard that the minesweeper Erimo had struck a mine about one and a half miles off the Mumbles, and was flying distress signals. A fresh S.E.

breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth.

The motor life-boat Edward Prince of Wales was launched at 11.35 A.M. and found that the Erimo’s engine had been disabled by the explosion. At the master’s request the lifeboat stood by, and then escorted her when another vessel towed her to Swansea. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.30 P.M., and later made an unsuccessful search for a ship’s boat reported adrift. - Rewards, £8 10s.

FEBRUARY 26TH. - HOWTH CO .DUBLIN. At 4 P.M. it was reported that the open motor boat Little Flower, a local fishing boat, with three men on board, had not returned from fishing, and at 4.30 P.M. themotor life-boat R.P.L. was launched. A southerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea.

The life-boat searched the fishing grounds, from Lambay Island for twelve miles towards the Skerries, but could find nothing and returned to Lambay Island. There she saw three lights on the shore, a signal that the three men were safe on the island, so she returned to her station, arriving at 9.30 P.M.

The next day she went out again at noon, took the men off the island, and towed in the Little Flower, arriving at her station at 2.30 P.M.. - Rewards, first service, £17 11s. 6d. ; second service, no expense to Institution.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT THE HUMBER FEBRUARY 27TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. About three in the morning the Royal Naval Shore Signal Station on the Humber reported that a mine had exploded in the convoy anchorage north of one of the two gate vessels, which formed part of the boom defence at the mouth of the Humber. The signal station asked the life-boat crew to stand by. Ten minutes later another message came that a vessel had been sunk a quarter of a mile north of the gate vessel.

The life-boat was launched at once.

A full gale was blowing from the southsouth- east, with a heavy sea. The night was very dark, and it was snowing.

The life-boat made for a steamer which had red lights in her rigging, and found her to be the S.S. Venus, of Rotterdam, which had fouled the boom defence. Her master asked for tugs, so the coxswain took the life-boat to the gate vessel and asked it to telephone for tugs. He also asked for the position of the vessel that had been reported sunk. It was given as about half a mile to the north. The life-boat went there, but could find nothing, and as she was searching she saw rockets going up a little way off to the north-eastward.

The coxswain knew that many mines had been dropped in this part of the river by enemy aeroplanes only a day or two before. He knew the risk he was running, but he took the risk and made at once for the rockets. They had been fired by the air raid balloon ship Thora, which had gone aground on the edge of the Trinity Sands, just inside the mouth of the Humber off the north bank. Like the life-boat she had been looking for the vessel reported sunk, but her anchor cable had got round her propeller, had damaged her steering gear and had also fouled her balloon cable. Out of control, she had struck the sands and lay there with the seas breaking over her full length from astern. It was now about 4.45 in the morning.

The coxswain took the life-boat through the surf past the Thora’s weather side, round her bows, where the water was so shallow that the lifeboat touched bottom, and under her lee side. A rope was thrown to the Thora, and by means of this rope, and by working his engines, the coxswain was able to hold the life-boat - with seas breaking over her - close to the Thora long enough for the eight men of her crew to jump aboard.

The actual rescue took only a few minutes. Then the life-boat made for Grimsby to land the men, asking by radio telephone for the pier lights to be shown to guide her in. She arrived there shortly before seven that morning and returned to her station at 9.30.

It was not only a skilful, but a very courageous rescue, in circumstances of great danger, and the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN ROBERT CROSS, a clasp to his bronze medal for gallantry with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each of the seven members of his crew a special reward of £2. Permanent paid crew, rewards, 13s 6d. ; additional rewards, £16 ; total rewards, £16 13s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 27TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

Shortly after 5 A.M. the coastguard reported a vessel making a distress signal two and a half miles S.S.W. of Orfordness, and the No. 2 motor life-boat Lucy Lavers was launched at 6.30 A.M., after a way had been cleared through the barbed wire and other defences. A S.S.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy swell. The life-boat found the barge Martinet, of Poole, laden with cement for Norwich from London with the seas washing over her, went alongside and rescued the crew of three. Not long afterwards the Martinet sank. - Rewards, £25 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 27TH . - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. At 7.30 A.M. a message was received from the Naval Base,through the coastguard, that H.M.T. Monimia was ashore in South Bay, Peterhead. A S. by E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea.

As it was low water it was impossible for the life-boat to get near the wreck, so the coastguard rocket life-saving apparatus was sent to her help, and rescued five of the crew of twenty men. At 12.45 P.M., by which time it was half flood, the motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched and reached the Monimia ten minutes later. Very heavy seas were breaking over the trawler. The life-boat anchored and dropped down on her cable, but the anchor dragged and she nearly came into collision with the wreck. The life-boat was severely buffeted in the broken water ; her crew were flung about ; and two of them were cut in the face and hands. The life-boat anchored again, and this time got a rope to the trawler with her line-throwing gun and rigged a breeches buoy, but the officer in charge of the trawler decided to remain aboard until low water. The life-boat stood by for a time, and returned to her station at 2.45 P.M. At low water the remainder of the Monimia’s crew were rescued by the lifesaving apparatus. - Rewards, £6 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 27TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. A t 4.30 P.M. a message came from the Yarmouth coastguard asking for the services of the lifeboat to bring ashore an injured man from H.M.T. Francolin, off Wellington Pier. It was low water, and as other vessels could not get out of harbour the motor life-boat Louise Stephens left her moorings at 4.45 P.M. A strong S. by W. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat landed the sick man at the naval sick bay, and returned to her station at 6.15 P.M. - Rewards, £8 13s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 27TH  and 28TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK.

At 9.30 in the morning the Gorleston coastguard telephoned to the life-boat station that the S.S. Dynamo, of Hull, was aground on North Bank. She was laden with coals for Yarmouth and had a crew of 15 on board.

Another message came that a tug was going to her help, and at 10 A.M. the motor life-boat Louise Stephens put out. A southerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat found the steamer in a dangerous position, with seas breaking over her. She anchored and veered down, but in the heavy seas it was impossible for her to get alongside the steamer, so she hauled out again and fired her line-throwing gun. By this means she got a wire rope from the steamer, but it was not long enough to take to the tug.

The life-boat herself was driving ashore, and by this time the tide was falling. No further attempt could be made to get the steamer in tow until the tide flowed again. The life-boat continued to stand by, while the tide fell.

As the crew were then in no danger, she returned to her station again at 12.30 P.M.

On the following morning the life-boat was out again at six, and got lines from the Dynamo to two tugs. They succeeded in shifting her about one length on this tide, and then, when the tide began to fall and further efforts had to be suspended, the lifeboat remained with the Dynamo until low water, and went back to her station at 12.30 P.M. At 6.30 in the evening she was out again for the third time, and again she got lines from the Dynamo t o t h e tugs. One of the tugs pulled the bollards out of the Dynamo, but by this time the tugs’ efforts were successful and the Dynamo came afloat at 9.35 that night. When she had made certain that no further help was needed, the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at eleven. - Rewards: first service, £4 17s. 6d; second and third services, property salvage cases.

FEBRUARY 28TH. - NEWCASTLE, CO. DOWN. At 4.15 in the morning the coastguard telephoned that a steamer was ashore, and the motor life-boat L. P. and St. Helen was launched at five minutes past five. A southerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea and snow showers. The life-boat found the S.S. Margaret Lockington, of Dundalk, bound for Newry with a cargo of coal and a crew of nine. She had gone ashore at “ Wrek Port “. The tide was ebbing, and when the life-boat arrived it had gone down sufficiently for the coastguard life-saving rocket apparatus to rescue the crew from the shore. The life-boat stood by, however, until daylight, as the seas were so heavy that it was impossible to signal to the shore by lamp.

When day came the life-boat learned that all the men had been rescued, and returned to her station, arriving at ten that morning.- Rewards, £36 14s. 8d.

FEBRUARY 28TH. - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. At 10.56 in the morning the coastguard reported that the motor vessel Cubenda, of London, with a crew of twelve, had struck a mine about two and a half miles east of Mumbles Head, and the motor life-boat Edward Prince of Wales was launched at 11.20 A.M. A very strong westerly wind was blowing, with a heavy sea.

The life-boat found that eleven of the Cubenda’s crew had been picked up by H.M. minesweeper Perdant. The chief engineer had been killed, and his body was recovered by a patrol boat. At the request of the master of the minesweeper, the life-boat went alongside and took off the eleven men. Owing to the heavy seas it was not possible to land them at the slipway so they were taken to Swansea and put ashore at 1 P.M. The life-boat returned to her station an hour later. - Rewards, £6 15s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 28TH . - POOLBEG , C O .DUBLIN. At 5.30 P.M. a resident of Ringsend reported that a small open boat was adrift in the fairway of the River Liffey, east of Pigeon House Fort. A strong S.W.

wind was blowing, with a rough sea and an ebbing tide. The motor life-boat Helen Blake was launched at 5.50 P.M. and found a boy in a sixteen-foot rowing punt. Both boy and boat were brought in by the life-boat, which returned to her station at 7.45 P.M.- Rewards, £10 2s.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT DUNMORE EAST FEBRUARY 28TH and MARCH 1ST.- DUNMORE EAST, CO. WATERFORD.

At 11.15 in the morning of the 28th the motor life-boat C. & S., of Dunmore East, was launched to the help of the Belgian motor trawler Ibis.

A gale from the south-south-west had been blowing the night before, with a very heavy sea. When the lifeboat put out, the gale had dropped to a strong breeze, but a heavy ground sea was running. There was a sea mist.

The Ibis had been caught by the gale on a lee shore, and had dropped three anchors, but they had dragged, and she had been carried upwards of seven miles, with her anchors down.

When the life-boat reached her at one o’clock she was only two hundred yards from the rocky shore, and the seas were breaking right over her.

Not only was she in a place of extreme peril for herself, but in a place where it was most difficult for the life-boat to get near her.

She was close to Green Island, a large rock surrounded by many smaller rocks, and she was sheering wildly on her cables. It was only possible for the life-boat to approach her from the weather side, and as her trawl boards were hanging over her weather quarter, and one of her cables was over her weather bows, the only part of her approachable was amidships.

Among those rocks, in those seas, and with the trawler sheering so violently, the life-boat could not approach her direct. The second-coxswain, who was at the wheel, ran her towards the beach, turned her and came up to the trawler’s weather side from astern of her. He brought the life-boat alongside amidships, held her there for so long as it took a man to jump, and then sheered off to save the life-boat from being caught under the trawler’s cable. Five times altogether he carried out this manoeuvre until all seven of the trawler’s crew had jumped into the life-boat. Then he brought her out again and reached Dunmore East, with the rescued men, at 2.40 in the afternoon.

The second-coxswain, who was at the wheel the whole of the time, handled the life-boat with courage and fine seamanship, and the Institution made the following awards : To SECOND-COXSWAIN PATRICK POWER, the bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain, second-coxswain and each member of the crew, a reward of £1 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of 19 s .

Standard rewards to crew, £6 17s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £8 ; total rewards, £14 17s. 6d.

After the rescued men had been landed the life-boat put out again in an attempt to save the vessel. At the same time it had been arranged for a Waterford dredger to go to the Ibis, but the dredger did not arrive, and the life-boat returned at 8.15 that evening.

Next morning, the 1st of March, she left again at 9.15, and with her help a steam trawler took the Ibis in tow after her anchor chains had been cut. The life-boat returned to her station at 8.45 that evening, and at the same time the trawler towed the Ibis into Dunmore East harbour.- Property salvage case.

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

A government motor vessel’s engine had broken down, but her crew were able to repair it and the vessel made harbour without help. - Rewards, £8 1s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 1ST. - TROON, AYRSHIRE.

The Norwegian steamer John Bakke, of Haugesund, had run aground, but when the life-boat reached her, her fore part was high and dry and help was not needed. - Rewards, £6 17s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 3RD. - LYTHAM - ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. A British aeroplane had been reported down, but later it was found that no aircraft was missing and the life-boat was recalled. A letter of  thanks was received from the R.A.F. Station. - Rewards, £15 19s.

FEBRUARY 3RD. - RAMSGATE, KENT.

An Admiralty trawler had been bombed during an air raid, but she had sunk before the life-boat could reach her, and a naval vessel had picked up three survivors of her crew and the body of her skipper. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d.FEBRUARY 4TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea off Lossiemouth, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £11 5s.

FEBRUARY 4TH . - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. A steamer which had been blown up by a mine was found sunk by the stern, but the survivors of her crew had already been picked up by other vessels which were in the neighbourhood. Throughout this service enemy aeroplanes could be seen and heard, and there was intense gunfire.

- Paid permanent crew. Rewards, 9s.

FEBRUARY 5TH. - PORTPATRICK, WIGTOWNSHIRE.

A motor vessel’s engine had broken down, but the vessel got into the shelter of a headland and did not need help.

- Rewards, £21 2s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 6TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but boats which went out to search were later recalled by order of the commander- in-chief at Portsmouth. - Rewards, £13 13s. 9d.

FEBRUARY 6TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

A steamer had stranded twenty-two miles east from Cromer, but she refloated before the life-boat reached her. - Rewards , £21 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 7TH. - SUNDERLAND, DURHAM. An aeroplane had been reported in the sea, but she had landed safely and the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, £9 6S.

FEBRUARY 8TH . - NEWHAVEN , SUSSEX. Patrol vessels had been reported missing, but nothing was found and, later, all were accounted for. - Rewards, £10.

FEBRUARY 8TH. - CLACTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX. A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £13 8s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 9TH. - THURSO, CAITHNESS- SHIRE. A small boat from a patrol ship had been reported missing, but she was picked up by another patrol ship and taken to Scapa. - Rewards, £7 12s.

FEBRUARY 10TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM. A British aeroplane had been reported down at sea, but it had, in fact, managed to land in a field. - Rewards, £5 8s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 10TH. - ST. DAVID’S, PEMBROKESHIRE.

Red flares had been reported, but nothing was found and it was thought that a flare on land might have been mistaken for a flare at sea. - Rewards, £13 1s.

FEBRUARY 12TH. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £25 15s. 3d.

FEBRUARY 12TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but after an unsuccessful search it was learned that the crew had managed to get ashore near Boston.

- Rewards, £26 12s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 12TH . - ANSTRUTHER, FIFESHIRE. A steamer had stranded off Crail, but when the life-boat coxswain hailed her he was thanked and told that help was not needed. - Rewards, £9.

FEBRUARY 12TH . - FILEY, YORK- SHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £17 10s.

FEBRUARY 16TH. - NEWQUAY, AND PADSTOW, CORNWALL. A steamer had been mined ten miles N.E. of Trevose Head, and the Padstow life-boat put out in the early morning to search. Other vessels helped, but nothing was found except a barrage balloon floating in the sea. Late at night the Newquay life-boat was sent out to look for a ship’s boat from the same steamer, but did not find her. - Rewards : Newquay, £35 18s. 3d. ; Padstow, partly permanent paid crew, £13 6s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 16TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

During activity in the air in the early morning red lights had been reported some miles out at sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £29 11s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 16TH. - PETERHEAD , ABERDEENSHIRE. A naval trawler had been mined off the Bullars o’ Buchan, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £13 3s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 17TH . - FILEY, YORK-SHIRE. Flashing lights had been seen at irregular intervals, but no sign of any vessel in need of help was found, although the coxswain took the life-boat in right under the cliffs, and among the sea defences, in heavy seas. - Rewards, £29 8s.

FEBRUARY 19TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

Flashes as from an aeroplane down in the sea had been reported, but nothing was found. - Rewards £41 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 19TH. - PWLLHELI, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

A British Whitley aeroplane had crashed in Abersoch Bay, but Royal Air Force speedboats rescued five of the crew and picked up two bodies . - Rewards £5 14s.

FEBRUARY 20TH . - SUNDERLAND, DURHAM. A steamer had been mined east of the Tyne Piers, but she was beached and the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards , £7 15s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 20TH. - TYNEMOUTH, AND CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 8.13 in the morning the honorary secretary at Tynemouth had a telephone call from the Port War Signal Station that one o fH.M. trawlers had struck a mine about half a mile east of the north pier and needed immediate help. She was the Marjory Hastie.

A strong wind was blowing, the sea was rough and it was snowing heavily. The honorary secretary replied to the message that he would launch immediately, but when he tried to telephone to the coxswain he found it was impossible. The storm had brought down the telephone wires. He was also told that the roads between Tynemouth and Cullercoats were impassable, blocked by ice and heavy snow. He passed on this information to the Port War Signal Station and said he would try to collect a crew from North Shields. There he got together a scratch crew. The bowman took command of the motor life-boat John Pyemont, and the honorary secretary, Mr. E. Selby Davidson, went with the boat. She was launched at 9.5, went to the position given and searched in the blinding snow. She found nothing and went down the coast. There she found the trawler ashore and her crew already rescued by the coastguard life-saving apparatus.

She returned to her station at 11 A.M., and was moored, as it was impossible to get her back into the boathouse.

Meanwhile at 8.30 in the morning two army officers from the Tynemouth garrison had arrived at the Cullercoats life-boat station with the same information which had been telephoned to Tynemouth a quarter of an hour before, that a trawler had been mined half a mile east of Tynemouth piers. It had already been arranged with the Cullercoats station and the Tynemouth coastguard that, as the telephone service had been put out of action by the heavy snow fall, signals to launch would be sent by a motor despatch rider. The crew were assembled at once, and a t 8 . 4 5 the life-boat Westmorland was launched. The two army officers who brought the message set a fine example.

They took part in the launch, which was very difficult, going out up to the waist in the breaking seas, and one of them was knocked over. Like the Tynemouth lifeboat, the Cullercoats boat went to the position given, found nothing, searched down the coast, and found the trawler ashore at Marsden. She was in a position where it was impossible for the life-boat to get alongside.

The life-boat made for the Tyne, as it was impossible to return to Cullercoats, arriving at 11.15 A.M. - Rewards : Tynemouth, £12 3s. ; Cullercoats, £18 11s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 22ND. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

A British Wellington aeroplane had come down in the Wash, but nothing was found in the course of a nine hours’ search. - Rewards, £29 11s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 22ND. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

Morse signals thought to be an S.O.S. had been reported, but no vessel in need of help could be found. - Rewards, £11 10s.

FEBRUARY 24TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported in difficulties fifteen miles east of Haisborough, aeroplanes -Haisborough, but although the life-boat and aeroplanes made a search nothing was found.

- Rewards, £18 10s.

FEBRUARY 25TH . - ARKLOW , CO. WICKLOW. Red lights thought to be from an aeroplane had been reported, hut nothing could be found. - Rewards, £21 16s.

FEBRUARY 26TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO.

CORK. An unknown trawler had been reported apparently in difficulties S.E. of Cape1 Island, but nothing could be found.

The life-boat crew were called from the Lenten service in Ballycotton church. While searching they passed a floating mine only a few yards away. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 26TH . - TENBY , PEM-BROKESHIRE. A vessel had been reported sinking after being attacked by a German aeroplane, but a passing merchant vessel picked up the crew. - Rewards, £20 4s.

FEBRUARY 27TH. - ST. ABBS, BERWICKSHIRE.

A Whitley bomber had been reported down in the sea, but actually it had come down close to the shore north of Fife Ness. - Rewards, £8 13s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 27TH. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT.

The S.S. Eldey, of Iceland, had run ashore on the Isle of Whithorn, but the crew were rescued from the shore by the coastguard rocket life-saving appliances. - Rewards, £25 12s.

FEBRUARY 27TH. - MONTROSE, ANGUS.

A steamer was reported to have been attacked by enemy aeroplanes, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £19 9s. 5d.

FEBRUARY 2 8 T H . - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. A bomber aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but another message came that she “ had been accounted for “, and the life-boat was recalled. - Paid permanent crew.

FEBRUARY 28TH. - PWLLHELI, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

A ship had been reported in distress off Penrhos, but no trace of any vessel in need of help was found. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d.