JANUARY 1 8TH. - LERWICK, SHETLANDS.

At 10.25 A.M. the naval officer in charge at Lerwick asked for the services of the life-boat to bring three wounded German airmen from Fair Isle, where their Heinkel bomber had been shot down. The day before an R.A.F. launch had gone to Fair Isle, but had been unable to return owing to bad weather. A moderate E.S.E. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea and snow showers.

The motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched at 11.10 A.M. and reached Fair Isle at 4.45 P.M., to find that the launch had made a second attempt to leave, had had to put back and had been wrecked.

The life-boat took on board the three German airmen, a naval master-at-arms and guard, one army officer, one sick-bay petty officer, two sick-bay attendants and four bags of mail. Leaving at 5.30 P.M. she reached her station again at 11.20 P.M. When she was south-east of Noness Head she saw a floating mine and reported it by wireless. - Rewards, £22 16s..