DECEMBER 3RD. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. At about 11.20 P.M. on the 2nd December a terrific explosion was heard, followed by a series of small explosions, and then rockets were seen going up from the Tuskar Rock Lighthouse.

The motor life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson was launched at 12.45 on the morning of December 3rd. Mr. W. J. B. Moncas, the secretary of the branch, went with her. A light wind was blowing from the south, and the sea was calm. As the lifeboat travelled towards the lighthouse her crew could see repeated SOS signals in morse. She had taken her boarding boat with her, and Mr. Moncas and two of the crew landed from it on the rock. A mine,which the three keepers of the lighthouse had, for two hours, watched drifting slowly towards them, had struck the base of the lighthouse and exploded. One of the men was on duty in the tower, and the other two were in the kitchen. The explosion had broken the glass in the lantern 100 ft. above the rock, and had put out the light. It had knocked down and dazed the man who was on duty in the tower. It had wrecked the living quarters and seriously injured the two men who were in the kitchen. One of them had multiple injuries, was unconscious and had had all his clothes blown off him. The other was conscious, but severely injured. The uninjured man had dragged them clear of the wreckage of the living rooms and, with great difficulty, they were lifted into the life-boat. Leaving one of her crew to stay with the one uninjured keeper, the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 2.15 in the morning. The injured men were sent to hospital but two hours later one of them died.

The Institution sent a letter of thanks to Mr. Moncas and the crew, and the Institution was warmly thanked by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. At the funeral of the lightkeeper the Institution was represented by the district inspector, Lieut-Commander S. W. Tansley, R.D., R.N.R. - Partly paid permanent crew. Rewards, £4 4s..