NOVEMBER Launches 71. Lives rescued 91.

NOVEMBER 1ST. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. Wind and sea had got up in the morning while several fishing boats were out, and by eleven o’clock a strong easterly gale was blowing, with a rough sea.

The motor life-boat Herbert Joy II put out, and two miles to the E.N.E. she found the keel boat Thankful, and escorted her back to harbour. She went out again and met the coble Evelyn Margaret, handed life-belts to her crew and escorted her in. During this trip she saw a floating mine and reported it to the coastguard. She put out again and escorted the fishing boat Sceptre past the mine and then, putting out again, she escorted in the fishing boat Dahlia. Putting out for the fifth time she warned a steam trawler of the mine and guided her past it, and on her sixth, and last, trip she met the keel boat Alex, handed life-belts to her crew, and escorted her in. She returned to her station at three in the afternoon. - Rewards, £20.

NOVEMBER 2ND. - HARTLEPOOL, DURHAM. An aeroplane was reported down in Tees Bay, and at 2.5 in the morning the motor life-boat The Princess Royal (Civil Service No. 7) put out to search for her.

She found nothing, but as she was returning at about 9.45 a morse message came from the coastguard saying that H.M. Trawler Loch Hope was aground on the west bank of the entrance channel to Hartlepool. A fresh wind was blowing from the N.E., a rough sea was running, and a rising tide was washing the trawler inshore. Two tugs had gone to her help, but there was not sufficient water for the tugs to get anywhere near her, and only a life-boat could stand up to the heavy seas and broken water. The master of one of the tugs asked the life-boat to take a wire to the trawler, and the life-boat went alongside the Loch Hope and passed her about 200 fathoms of wire. She then put back to harbour with the other tug, to consult the dock master. The first tug attempted to tow the trawler out, but the wire parted. The life-boat returned to the trawler, taking with her a naval officer of the auxiliary patrol.

She then took 200 fathoms of manilla rope from the tug to the Loch Hope, and this time the tug succeeded in refloating the trawler.

It was then about 1.30 in the afternoon, and the life-boat was back at her station at 2 P.M.

A letter of thanks was received from the naval authorities. - Rewards, £25 6s., also 19s. and property salvage case.

NOVEMBER 4TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

The local fishing cobles Joan and Mary, Dorothy Rose, and Matthew and Edward had gone out in bad weather, and by 11.45 A.M. it had got so much worse, with a fresh N.E. wind blowing and a breaking sea, that it was

NOVEMBER 6TH. - BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY. At about 11A.M the coastguard telephoned that the resident naval officer at Holyhead wanted the lifeboat to take out a doctor to the ex-Dutch motor vessel Sumatra, near Puffin Island, as she had an injured man on board, and the motor life-boat Frederick Kitchen was launched at 11.45 A.M. A S.W. wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The lifeboat found the vessel off Dunmore Point, put the doctor on board, and then escorted the vessel to Beaumaris pier, where the injured man was put ashore. He was a gunner who had been wounded in action against an enemy aeroplane on the previous evening.

The life-boat returned to her station at 1.35 P.M. - Rewards, £6 13s.

decided to launch the motor life-boat and at 12.2 P.M. The Cuttle put out. She remained in attendance on the boats until they reached safety, and gave one coble, the Matthew and Edward, a short tow when her engine failed.

The life-boat returned to her station at 3.30 P.M. - Rewards, £11 16s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 4TH - 6TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

Both of the Cromer life-boats were launched to the S.S. Teddington, which had stranded after enemy attack in September.

For details see September 17th, page 69.

NOVEMBER 6TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. At 12.15 in the afternoon the police reported that a parachute had come down in the sea off The Commons, Donaghadee, and at 12.45 the Belgian motor life-boat Ministre Anseele, on temporary duty at the station, was launched. She took with her, in tow, a small boat. Mr. David McKibbin, the honorary secretary of the station, went out as a member of the crew. A strong N.W. wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The life-boat found part of a parachute with a mine attached. This the life-boatmen put into the small boat, brought it back, and handed over to an armourer of the R.A.F.- Rewards, £4 19s.

NOVEMBER 6TH. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

At about 9.15 in the evening the naval officer in charge asked, through the coastguard, for the life-boat to be ready to launch to the help of H.M. Trawler Flotta.

The trawler was being towed in by a tug from the strand at Rattray Head, and appeared to be sinking. At 9.20 another message came to say that the trawler was two miles east of Peterhead, and at 9.30 a third message said that she was off Buchan Ness., and that the life-boat should go out immediately. The motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched at 9.35, and on her way out met the tug going towards the harbour. When she got to the position given off Buchan Ness she saw H.M. Trawler Filey Bay, who told her that the Flotta had sunk, that she herself had two members of the crew and one dead man on board, and that the remainder of the crew were on the tug.

The life-boat overtook the tug, took on board the nine men of the Flotta’s crew and landed them at Peterhead at midnight. - Rewards, £13 3s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 9TH. - POOLBEG, CO . DUBLIN. At about 12.15 P.M. information was received from the skipper of a tug that the S.S. Rosehill, of Cardiff, outward bound in ballast for Cardiff, had run aground on a sandbank N.W. of the Bull Lighthouse.

A whole S.E. gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Helen Blake was launched at 12.45 P.M., and stood by the steamer until 2.15 P.M., when a tug refloated her and towed her into port. The life-boat got back to her station at 2.30P.M Rewards, £6 9s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 10TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. A t 5.20 A.M. the Great Yarmouth coastguard telephoned that rockets had been seen, and later it was learned that the British steamer Winona was aground five miles N.E. 1/2 E.

from Gorleston pier. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 6.15 A.M.

A strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The life-boat made a wide search, but found nothing and returned to her station at 11.30 A.M. At 5 P.M. on the same day the flag officer in charge at Great Yarmouth asked, through the coastguard, that the lifeboat might land wounded men from H.M.

Trawler Commander Holbrook, and she left at 5.20 P.M., picking up a doctor and a sickbay attendant at the naval base. It was now pitch dark, and it was only with great difficulty that the life-boat found the trawler in Yarmouth Roads and put the doctor on board. One of the men was so seriously hurt that the doctor wanted to get him ashore at once, and in spite of the heavy seas he was transferred to the life-boat. A wireless message was sent ashore for lights to be switched on, and at 7.45 P.M. the life-boat landed the wounded man and the doctor at the naval base. Here the life-boat was asked to wait for further instructions.

At 8.10 in the evening the life-boat was asked to go out again to the Winona, taking a salvage officer with her. The Winona was reported now to be ashore east of North Denes, but when the salvage officer arrived he said that the latest message was that the Winona had lost both her anchors and was drifting. He asked if the coxswain thought he could find her, and the coxswain said that he would try. The night was very dark, and it was not possible to see more than five yards.

The seas were very heavy. The life-boat went northwards, and after a long search found the steamer in Cockle Gat at about ten at night.

With difficulty the life-boat put the salvage officer on board her, and the coxswain advised him to keep the ship heading S.S.W.

This was done, and after some time the salvage officer came on board the life-boat again, and asked the coxswain to send a wireless message ashore for a light to be shone at frequent intervals. The Winona was now nearing the Scroby Elbow Buoy, and the coxswain advised the salvage officer to keep her heading S.W. The Winona was now in deep water and the moon was rising.

It was possible to pick up the land, and the steamer was got into a safe position. As the salvage officer now reported that he was all right, the life-boat returned to harbour and informed Operations of the steamer’s position.

The life-boat then returned to her station and was moored in the river. It was now 12.45 in the morning of November 11th.

The Flag Officer-in-Charge in Great Yarmouth sent  his thanks to the life-boat for her services both to the Commander Holbrook and the Winona. - Rewards : first service, £9 5s. 6d. ; second service, £12 6s. 6d. ; third service, £15 11s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 10TH. - THURSO, CAITHNESS- SHIRE. A gale from the east had been blowing all through November 9th, and on the 10th it rose to hurricane force, with a very heavy sea running and the air thick with spindrift. Many ships had taken shelter in the bay, and the honorary secretary of the life-boat station was keeping watch on them.

One of them was the fishing smack Langness, from the Faroes, which was anchored in Scrabster roadstead. She was bound for Aberdeen with sixty tons of fish, and had a crew of seven. She had two anchors down, but at, 2.30 in the afternoon the honorary secretary saw her port cable part. Two minutes later he saw a distress flare burning on the smack and called out the life-boat crew. At 2.45 P.M. the motor life-boat H.C.J. was launched and found the Langness riding very heavily to her remaining anchor.

The seas were so heavy that the life-boat had great difficulty in getting alongside. One sea nearly threw her right aboard the smack, and the next threw her against it, damaging her fender. In spite of this she succeeded in taking off the seven men and landed them at 3.15 P.M. Next day the Langness drove ashore. - Rewards, £8 7s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 10TH. - FALMOUTH, CORNWALL.

Just before seven in the evening a message was received from the representative of a salvage company which was engaged in breaking up the wreck of the S.S. Marie Chandris, off Amsterdam Point, St. Anthony, saying that five of his men who were working on the ship could not get away in their boat as a gale was blowing from the south, with a rough sea. At 7.20 the motor life-boat Crawford and Constance Conybeare was launched, took off the men and brought them ashore at 9 P.M. A gift, in thanks for this help was received from the salvage company.- Rewards, £11 14s.

NOVEMBER 11TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY. At 2.5 A.M. a steamer east of Salt Island was heard blowing on her siren, and a flare was seen, and at 2.55 A.M. the French motor life-boat Jean Charcot, on temporary duty at this station, was launched.

A strong S.W. gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat found that the steamer Penhale had drifted on to the Norwegian steamer Jan, spoke the vessels, directed one to another anchorage, stood by for an hour, and then returned to her station, arriving at 4.30 A.M. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 12TH. - DUNMORE EAST, CO. WATERFORD. A small cargo steamer, bound from Cork to Glasgow, the S.S. Monmouth Coast, of Liverpool, was attacked by two German aeroplanes at the entrance to Waterford Harbour. The weather was fine, and the coast watchers above Dunmore saw the aeroplanes drop bombs close to the steamer, and machine-gun her. The aeroplanes then made off, and the watchers believed that one of them had been hit by the steamer’s answering fire. They sent a message to the life-boat station at 6..20 and 15 minutes later the motor life-boat Annie Blanche Smith was launched. She found that two of the steamer’s crew had been wounded, and brought them ashore, landing them at 7.30 They were sent to the Waterford hospital, and there one of them died. The steamer waited until the following day and then went on her way. - Rewards, £11 5s.

NOVEMBER 13TH . - ILFRACOMBE, DEVON. At about 7 P.M. a local fisherman reported to the pier watchman that R.A.F. rescue boat No. 244, with a crew of four, had fouled the nets of a fishing boat off Lee Bay.

Information was at once given to the lifeboat station, and on learning that the other R.A.F. boat stationed at Ilfracombe was not available the honorary secretary sent out the motor life-boat Rosabella. She left at 7 P.M. A slight westerly wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The lifeboat found the rescue boat off Capstone Point, drifting up channel, with the fishing boat standing by. She towed her back to Ilfracombe, arriving at 8.15 P.M. - Rewards, £21 12s.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT SHOREHAM HARBOUR NOVEMBER 16TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. Just after one in the morning the motor lifeboat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn went out to the help of the minesweeper President Briand. A strong south wind was blowing, with a heavy swell, and the minesweeper, which was having trouble with her engine, was in danger of being carried ashore. The life-boat went alongside and, at the captain’s request, stood by until about 9.30 in the morning. By that time the tide had flowed, there now seemed no danger of the minesweeper going aground, and a tug was on her way out.

The life-boat returned to her station.

About 9.40 the coxswain of the life-boat was asked to go out in the pilot cutter and pilot in the minesweeper.

The pilot cutter took him out and put him on board her. About the same time the S.S. Goole, a blockship, was ordered out to help with the tow. The wind had now increased to a gale from the south-east, with a very heavy sea which was breaking at least three-quarters of a mile off the shore. The Goole got into difficulties and narrowly escaped being wrecked in the harbour mouth.

At 9.45 a call came for the lifeboat to go out again, as the minesweeper and the tug were both in danger of going ashore. She was launched at once, the second-coxswain taking command. She found the tug trying to haul the minesweeper clear, and took a tow-rope herself, but both ropes parted. The minesweeper was now in very shallow water. She let go her anchor, but struck and lay helpless, rolling heavily, with the seas breaking over her.

The second-coxswain took the lifeboat straight in to the rescue, but he had to go alongside six or seven times before he was able to take off all the 21 men of her crew and the life-boat’s own coxswain. Once the life-boat’s bow was lifted right on to the minesweeper’s rail and her stem was damaged. Shortly after her crew had been rescued the minesweeper heeled over on her beam. The life-boat came back to harbour through a very heavy breaking sea, with the tide running strongly across the harbour mouth. She took several big seas on board. When she arrived at noon, it was just eleven hours since she had first gone out.

The second-coxswain had only taken charge twice before, both times in fine weather, and he handled the life-boat with very fine seamanship. The dangers of the rescue were increased by the fact, known to all the crew, that there had been many fatal casualties at Shoreham Harbour through landmines which had been placed below as well as above high water.

The Institution made the following awards : To ACTING-COXSWAIN JAMES T. UPPERTON, the silver medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To HENRY PHILCOX, motor- mechanic, the bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ;To the other five members of the crew, JOHN E. LAKER, bowman, CECIL, M. AYLING, assistant motormechanic, VICTOR H. PAGE, CHARLES E. LAKER and ALBERT E. UPPERTON, life-boatmen, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To the acting coxswain, motor mechanic, and each of the other five members of the crew, a reward of £1 in addition to the ordinary scale rewards of £3 15s. 6d., for the two services, making a total reward of £4 15s. 6d. to each man. Standard rewards to crew and launchers, £34 13s. ; additional rewards to the crew, £7 ; total rewards, £41 13s.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - COURTMACSHERRY HARBOUR, CO. CORK. At about 8.30 A.M.

a telephone message came from the coast watchers that a ship was firing distress signals about two miles S.E. of Old Head of Kinsale, and the motor life-boat Sarah Ward and William David Crosweller was launched at 8.45 A.M. A whole gale was blowing from the S.S.E., with rain and a very heavy sea.

The life-boat found the steam trawler Dandora, of Aberdeen. Her engines had broken down, and she had been riding to an anchor, but another trawler had just arrived and had taken her in tow. The life-boat escorted the two trawlers into Kinsale Harbour, and returned to her station at 5.30 P.M. - Rewards, £14 3s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 16TH - 17TH. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT, KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE, AND MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND. At 8.45 in the evening of November 16th the Kirkcudbright life-boat Morison Watson was launched to the help of Hopper No. 2, of Preston, which was reported to be ashore three miles west of Ravenshall Point. A moderate S.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea, and the night was very dark, with rain showers. The life-boat searched for half the night but could find no sign of the hopper and, as the weather was improving and the sea was calm, she returned to her station, arriving at 3 in the morning of November 17th.

The Hopper No. 2 refloated, and at 8.20 on the evening of the 17th the naval authorities told the Maryport station that she was driving up the Solway Firth towards Maryport.

A squally W.N.W. wind was now blowing, with a heavy sea. At 9.20 P.M. the Maryport motor life-boat Joseph Braithwaite was launched, and found the hopper one and a half miles north of Maryport piers. She was bound light from Birkenhead to Workington, and had a crew of five. The men were exhausted, and had had no food for two days.

The life-boatmen gave them rum and chocolate from the emergency rations, and the coxswain went aboard the hopper, took charge and brought her into Maryport, with the life-boat escorting her. The life-boat returned to her station at 11.15P.M . - Rewards : Kirkcudbright, £16 ; Maryport, £20 10s.

NOVEMBER 18TH. - FILEY, YORK- SHIRE During the afternoon two local motor boats were reported overdue, and at 5 P.M. the motor life-boat The Cuttle was launched to search for them. A light westerly wind was blowing, with a moderate swell. The life-boat found the Peggy II coming in under her own power, and after escorting her part of the way, the life-boat went to look for the other boat, the Sheila.

She found her, with her engine broken down, two miles off Filey Brig. As darkness was approaching she took her in tow and brought her in. - Rewards, £16 19s.

NOVEMBER 17TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. Early in the evening the coastguard reported that red flares had been seen from a sailing barge aground in Spitway, and at 7.32 P.M. the motor life-boat Edward Z.

Dresden was launched. A fresh W.S.W. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat found that the barge had refloated. She was the Saltcote Belle, bound with wheat for Colchester. The life-boat stood by her for half an hour to see if she was damaged, and, as she was not, the barge went on her way and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 1.30 A.M. - Rewards, £15 6s.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT RAMSEY NOVEMBER 20TH. - RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN. About seven in the morning, the steam trawler Strathairlie, of Aberdeen, of 193 tons, on her way from Fleetwood to the fishing grounds, ran ashore at Skellig Bay, about three miles north of Ramsey. The wind was blowing strongly from the south-southeast,, with a heavy on-shore sea, and the night was very dark, with rain. The launch of the life-boat by tractor in the heavy sea and darkness was very difficult, but the motor life-boat Lady Harrison got away at 7.45. She reached the trawler at 8.30 and found her right in the surf on a flat sandy shore. The seas were sweeping clean over her, banging her heavily on the sands, and all the time driving her further in. The life-boat herself was nearly standing on end in the heavy surf. In that shallow water it was very difficult and hazardous for her to go near enough to rescue the trawler’s crew, and the trawler gave no lee on either side, where the life-boat could have found some shelter from the seas.

The coxswain anchored and dropped down on his cable with the engines running. He could not, in the shallow water, go alongside in the ordinary way, but he managed to get two lines to the trawler from the life-boat, one from her bow and one from her stern.

When a sea had passed, the life-boatmen hauled the life-boat near enough to the trawler for one of the trawler’s crew to jump aboard. Then, before the next sea came, they hauled her out again by her cable. Again and again she went in, and again and again she was within a foot of being flung right on the trawler. Those who were watching from the shore expected at any moment to see them crash together. They knew that if they did it would certainly be the end of the trawler, the life-boat and both crews. But the coxswain handled the life-boat very skilfully. Thirteen times he took her without mishap near enough to the trawler for a man to jump aboard, until all the thirteen men of the crew had been rescued. Then he hauled her clear and brought her safely into Ramsey harbour at 9.36.

It was a hazardous rescue, carried out with great skill, and the Institution made the following rewards : To COXSWAIN JOHN COMISH, the bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote on vellum ; To ERNEST STARKEY, acting motormechanic, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain, acting motormechanic and each of the five members of the crew, a reward of £1 1s. in addition to the ordinary scale reward of 19s., making a total reward of £2 to each man, and an additional reward of 10s. to each helper. Standard rewards to the crew and launchers, £11 10s. ; additional rewards to crew and helpers, £16 7s. ; total rewards, £27 17s.

NOVEMBER 21ST. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. At 12.55 in the morning the watchman reported rockets and flares from a ship between South Shear Buoy and Tuskar, and at 1.5 the motor life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson was launched. A southerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. One and a half miles S.E. of the South Shear Buoy the life-boat found the Irish steamer Kerrymore. Her steering gear had broken down, and she was labouring heavily in the seas. The life-boat stood by her until the weather improved and then returned to harbour at 3.15 A.M. She had told the steamer to signal by morse if she needed help, but at 8 A.M. the steamer went on her way. - Partly paid permanent crew.

Rewards, £6 1s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 21ST. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.

At 2.45 P.M. the naval base reported that two small fishing boats were in distress just outside the harbour, and at 3.5 the motor life-boat Michael Stephen s was launched. A strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The weather was very thick, with fog and rain. The life-boat found that one boat, the Shield, had been smashed to pieces against the South Pier, and her crew of three men had been rescued from the pier. She then went in search of the other boat Joy, which had a crew of four, found her near the harbour bar, and escorted her into harbour. Shortly afterwards H.M.

Drifter Rowantree, in attempting to enter harbour, stranded on a newly made sandbank about thirty yards outside the entrance, and the life-boat went to her help. She got a wire rope from her, and attempted to pluck her off, but the wire parted. A tug then came out and took the Rowantree in tow, with the life-boat standing by just inside the harbour entrance, but after a few minutes the Rowantree turned completely over. As she did so her crew of 13 got on to her upturned bottom. The life-boat went alongside at once and rescued ten of the men. She was then carried away by the tide, but again got alongside and rescued the remaining five men.

Two of the rescued men were injured. The life-boat returned to her station at 4.45 P.M.- An increase of 10s. in the usual money award was made to each man. Standard ‘rewards to crew, £7 9s. ; additional rewards to crew, £4 10s. ; total rewards, £11 19s.

NOVEMBER 22ND. - STORNOWAY, ISLAND OF LEWIS. At 8.5 A.M. a message was received from a naval base that H.M.

Motor Launch No. 219 , with a crew of thirteen, was ashore on the east side of Goat Island, in Stornoway harbour, and was in danger of sinking, and at 8.25 the motor life-boat William and Harriot was launched.

A moderate S.S.E. gale was blowing, with a rough sea and heavy rain. When the life-boat reached the launch she found that five of the crew had got on to the island when the launch struck, two of them badly injured.

The life-boat got a rope to the launch and attempted to tow her off, but the rope broke.

She then got another from the launch to H.M. Trawler Harlech Castle, which was anchored close in shore, and the trawler succeeded in towing the launch off. The life-boat stood by until the launch was safely berthed in the harbour, and then, taking a medical officer on board, returned to Goat Island and brought off the five men. She returned to her station at 11.15A.M. - Rewards, £3 16s.

NOVEMBER 22ND. - WICKLOW. At 10 in the morning distress signals were made by the motor schooner Windermere, of Arklow, a mile N.N.E. of Wicklow pier, and the motor life-boat Lady Kylsant was launched immediately. A strong S.S.E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The life-boat found the Windermere lying to with her only anchor down. She had lost her other anchor the night before in Arklow Bay. The life-boat took off her crew of five, who were exhausted, landed them, and returned to her station at 12 noon. - Rewards, £10 4s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 22ND. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. During the morning the mail steamer Lochearn, of Oban, arrived in Castlebay harbour. A southerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea, and the steamer was unable to make the pier. She had to anchor in the harbour. As the day went on, and there appeared to be no signs of the gale abating, the captain of the Lochearn asked for the life-boat, and at 4.45 P.M. the motor life-boat Lloyd’s put out and brought ashore fifteen passengers, including a sick woman. She returned to her station at 7.15P.M. - Rewards, £10 8s. 9d.

NOVEMBER 22ND. - NEWHAVEN , SUSSEX. At 7.5 in the evening the naval authorities asked for the services of the lifeboat for a patrol boat which was in difficulties near the mouth of the harbour and the motor life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott was launched at 7.30 P.M. A strong southerly wind was blowing and the sea was choppy.

The life-boat found that the vessel was the patrol boat Joseph, of Dover, with a crew of twelve on board. She had run aground in the bight of the breakwater. The strong tide made the work difficult, but the life-boat succeeded in getting the boat afloat, and escorted her into harbour. She returned to her station at 11.45 P.M. The life-boat crew were thanked by the naval officer-in-charge.

- Rewards, £17 17s.

NOVEMBER 23RD. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE. At 10.40 in the morning the Walney coastguard telephoned that a steam trawler was aground about one and a half miles W.S.W. of the coastguard station, and at 10.50 A.M. the motor life-boat N.T. was launched. A fresh southerly wind was blowing, with a rather heavy swell. The life-boat found the steam trawler Nordale, of Scarborough, aground. She had a crew of fifteen, and was laden with fish for Fleetwood. The life-boat towed her off and escorted her as far as the Wyre Light. She then returned to her station, arriving at 2.15 P.M. - Property salvage case.

NOVEMBER 23RD. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT.

At 1.15 P.M. the Portpatrick coastguard reported that fire and smoke had been seen some miles S.S.W. of Ravenshall Point, and fifteen minutes later the Isle of Whithorn coastguard reported that an aeroplane had crashed three miles off Garliestown. The motor life-boat Morison Watson was launched at 2P.M. A moderate S.W. wind was blowing, with a slight sea. An R.A.F. speed boat had already gone out, had found wreckage and had picked up the bodies of two American airmen. When the life-boat arrived she helped in a further search, and found blue prints and four cylinders, which later she handed over to the R.A.F. at Gibbhill. The speed boat had now received an order by wireless to take the bodies to Whithorn. As she did not know the passage the life-boat coxswain went aboard to pilot her, and the two boats made for Whithorn.

After the bodies had been landed they returned to their stations, the life-boat arriving at 6.45 P.M. - Rewards, £12 9s. 3d.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 10.15 In the morning the naval authorities asked that the life-boat should be launched to go to the help of a vessel 15 miles east of Gorleston.

The vessel had been attacked by the enemy and was being towed in by two tugs. A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea.

The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 10.30 and found that the vessel was the steamer Blair Nevis. She was now very low in the water, but her crew wished to remain on board. Her captain, however, asked the life-boat to stand by as he had no boats. The life-boat then helped by taking a salvage officer from one of the tugs to the Blair Nevis and by carrying messages to the tug and to a motor launch. Escorted by the life-boat the Blair Nevis reached Yarmouth Roads at about 3.30 P.M., and after standing by for half an hour the life-boat returned to her station at 5.15. - Rewards, £6 4s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 24TH . - WHITBY, AND RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE. The Whitby fishing boats had gone out about 9 in the morning, and a strong S.W. wind had got up, bringing a rough sea. By three in the afternoon all had returned to harbour except the coble Spray. She had one man and three boys on board. As no news could be got of her, the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 3.50, and found the Spray six miles away to the north-east with her engine broken down and half full of water. The life-boat took her in tow and brought her into harbour. The Runswick motor life-boat had also put out, but she was recalled when it was learned that the Spray had been taken in to Whitby . - Rewards : Whitby, £10 11s. 3d. ; Runswick, £15 12s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 27TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK.

A t 11.45 P.M. a message came from the coastguard that an aeroplane was down in the sea three miles N.W. from Wells look-out, and at 12.19 the motor life-boat Royal Silver Jubilee, 1910-1935 was launched. A light southerly breeze was blowing, and the sea was smooth. Dr. E. W. Hicks, the honorary secretary of the station, went out with the life-boat. The way down to the sea is by a winding channel full of shoals, which is doubly difficult in a time of war when no lights can be shown, and on the way down the life-boat found an R.A.F. rescue launch,which was also going out, in difficulties. The coxswain of the life-boat put his secondcoxswain on board the launch to pilot her, and Dr. Hicks also went on board her. The launch then went out to sea, followed by the life-boat. When she was near to the position given by the coastguard, the launch flashed her lamp and at once a small answering light appeared. The launch ran down to it and found a rubber dinghy with six airmen on board, the crew of a Wellington bomber.

The launch rescued them and took the dinghy in tow, and the second coxswain of the lifeboat piloted her up the channel again. The life-boat saw her returning, and she turned back, reaching her station again at 3.21 in the morning. - Rewards, £23 6s. 9d.

NOVEMBER 30TH. - BARMOUTH, MERIONETHSHIRE.

During the afternoon several Spitfire aeroplanes were flying near Barmouth, and at 3.40 P.M. the life-boat coxswain saw one of them dive into the sea.

Twenty minutes later the motor life-boat Lawrence Ardern, Stockport was launched.

A moderate east wind was blowing, but the sea was calm. A mile and a half N.W. of Fairbourne beach the life-boat found a large patch of oil, a pilot’s seat, a pair of high boots, an oxygen cylinder, an arm rest and other bits of wreckage. These she brought ashore and handed to the police, to be given later to the R.A.F. She returned to her station at 8.30 P.M. - Rewards, £12 5s. 3d.

NOVEMBER 30TH . - ARKLOW, CO. WICKLOW. At 9.15 P.M. a message was received from the civic guard that a fishing boat was showing distress signals half a mile up the north shore, and at 9.40 P.M. the motor life-boat Inbhear Mor was launched. A S.E. wind was blowing and the sea was rough.

By the light of her searchlight the life-boat found a local herring drifter anchored close in shore in heavy seas, half a mile from the pier head on the north beach. She had no sails or engine, only oars. The life-boat rescued the three men on board and took the boat in tow. She arrived back at Arklow at 10.30 P.M. - Rewards, £13 1s.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given :

NOVEMBER 1 ST. - KILLYBEGS, CO. DONEGAL. Flares had been reported twelve miles off, but nothing was found.

This was the first service call received at, this recently established station, where the life-boat arrived on 24th August, 1941.- Rewards, £13 2s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 2ND. - COURTMACSHERRY HARBOUR, CO. CORK. A trawler had been bombed, but her crew, several of them wounded, were picked up by another trawler.

- Rewards, £14 0S. 6d.

NOVEMBER 2ND. - MINEHEAD, SOMERSET.

An aeroplane was reported to have crashed into the sea. With the help of soldiers the life-boat was launched, but she found nothing, and articles subsequently washed ashore proved the aeroplane to have been a German bomber. - Rewards, £24 3s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 4TH. - FLEETWOOD, AND BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE. Two airmen had baled out of a British Defiant trainer aeroplane when its engine failed, but nothing was found, and it was learnt that the pilot had come down on shore. Later the body of the other airman was washed up.

A letter of thanks was received from the Squadron to which the aeroplane belonged.

- Rewards, Fleetwood £13 9s., Blackpool £15 10s.

NOVEMBER 5TH. - RHYL, FLINTSHIRE.

A British aeroplane was reported to have crashed into the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £23 1s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 7TH. - EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX.

A British aeroplane had been seen to crash into the sea, but a search, in which an Admiralty boat and aeroplanes took part, found nothing. - Rewards, £16 8s. 3d.

NOVEMBER 8TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea thirty-seven miles in a N.E. direction from Kinnaird Head, but nothing was found. The life-boat was out for ten and a half hours. - Rewards, £23 19s.

THREE LIFE-BOATMEN OVERBOARD NOVEMBER 9TH - 10TH. - MONTROSE, AND BROUGHTY FERRY, ANGUS. Shortly after six in the evening an Admiralty tug was bombed from the air. The Montrose coxswain saw the bombs dropping. Thinking that the life-boat would be needed he went to the station, and the crew stood by. At 6.45 a message came that the tug was in no danger of sinking, but the crew was asked to continue standing by. Then a request from the resident naval officer was received that the life-boat should be launched, and at 8.30 the motor life-boat The Good Hope put out.

A gale was blowing from the S.E. No leading lights could be shown, and the coxswain had to take her down stream trusting to his own knowledge. He knew that to cross the bar in that weather would be a hazardous business. A very heavy sea was rolling in. He reduced speed until he met the breakers and then went full speed ahead to clear them. The life-boat shipped some very heavy seas, but she came safely through and headed to the N.E. The tug had been reported two miles away, and the life-boat saw a light flashing which she took to be the tug. If it was in fact her light the coxswain saw she must be so close inshore that it would be impossible for the life-boat to reach her, and he tried to get in touch with the shore by wireless, as, in the heavy seas, it was impossible to make out the shore signals which were being flashed to the life-boat.

He could get no reply.

All attempts to get in touch with the shore failed, and to attempt to enter harbour again in the heavy sea and in the darkness with no leading lights being shown, would have been too great a risk. The coxswain decided to remain outside, steaming slowly into the teeth of the gale in order to keep his position. With no shore navigation lights to guide him he had lost the entrance to the harbour, and at one time during the night he was surprised to find that the life-boat was near rocks in heavy broken water. He put her at full speed ahead for fifteen minutes to get her off the land. and then. reducing speed again to little less ‘than half,’ he kept her at that through the hours of the night. The coxswain was at the wheel until about three in the morning. Then the second-coxswain took his place until six, still keeping the boat’s head to the wind. Then the bowman took the wheel until dawn, which began about a quarter to eight.

The coxswain then headed towards the land, but could not see it. Until ten in the morning he steered to the north-west. He now had a man on each side keeping a sharp look-out for breakers, for though the land could still not be seen, he knew that it must be close as the sea had begun to break very heavily. At last he caught sight of Gourdon Hill about three miles away, and knew he was off Johnshaven. He altered course and arrived off Montrose harbour about noon.

He again tried to get in touch with the shore by wireless, but failed. He could see nothing of the Admiralty tug, and thought that, if she had gone ashore, she must now be a complete wreck. He could see that the sea at the entrance to the harbour was so heavy that it would be dangerous to attempt to enter. The alternative was to try to make the Firth of Forth, but in that course there was the danger of running out of fuel and being left to drift outside the firth through another night. He decided to take the risk of entering Montrose harbour. The gale was still blowing from the S.E. and a mountainous sea was running. He put out the drogue and headed for the harbour. When he was about a mile off the bar the seas began to break with terrific force, but the life-boat continued her course without trouble until she was about 100 yards from the Annat Buoy.

Then a terrific sea struck her, and the next thing the coxswain knew he was being drawn under water. When he came up he could see two members of the crew (the bowman and his son) floating about twenty yards nearer the shore, and the life-boat herself floating still further inshore, among the breakers, but he could not see if anyone was on board.

The life-boat had been struck twice. The first sea had lifted her out of the water. The second, crashing down on the deck, had carried away the coxswain’s safety straps, and washed him and two others out of the boat. Though it did not capsize her, it submerged her. The second-coxswain, who had been standing by the coxswain, was thrown heavily into the bottom of the boat, and was right under water. As the boat’s stern came up he found that he was hanging on to the steering rod with the right hand and the gunwale with his left. He had been cut about the head and face, but he had not lost his senses. He thought that the life-boat’s stern had been under water for about fifteen seconds. The engines were still running and, as the water cleared off, the life-boat gathered headway. The second-coxswain could see the men in the water about two lengths astern, but in that heavy sea, and with the drogue out, it was impossible to turn to pick them up, and the life-boat was now so close to the shore that she twice touched bottom while the second-coxswain was bringing her back into the channel. He continued his way up harbour, and as he approached the pier shouted to the honorary secretary, who was waiting there, that three men had been swept overboard, that they might be washed ashore and that he must get a doctor. It was then 12.45 P.M. on November 10th, and the lifeboat had been at sea for sixteen hours.

The crew landed, bruised and all suffering from shock.

Meanwhile the three men in the water had been so buffeted by the seas - as the coxswain said, “ churned over and over “ - that, when they saw the life-boat go on her way, they gave up hope of being saved, but the tide carried them nearer the shore, their life-belts kept them afloat, and all three reached land, still conscious, but exhausted and dazed.

The coxswain was the last of the three. He had been in the water fully an hour, and had been carried a mile by the tide. He just managed to crawl up the beach, saw two men who were searching for him, and then lost consciousness. Dr. Alexander Stephen was waiting ready on the beach when they were washed up, and after he had attended to them, they were taken to hospital, where they remained for a few days.

BROUGHTY FERRY At 4.37 in the morning of November 10th, that is, just over eight hours after the Montrose life-boat had gone out, the Broughty Ferry station was informed that the Montrose life-boat had gone to the help of an Admiralty tug ashore near North Esk, but that she had not kept touch with the shore. The Broughty Ferry crew were asked to stand by. Another message came asking them to go out to search for the Montrose life-boat, and saying that the coastguard life-saving apparatus was standing by near the wreck of the tug.

At 6.55 the motor life-boat Mona put out.

She saw the wreck of the tug near North Esk, and realized that the rescue of its crew could only be done by the life-saving apparatus.

She could not get within two miles of her. She searched Montrose bay, but could find no sign of the Montrose life-boat. Her coxswain assumed that she must have made for her station and he himself made for the Tay.

The life-boat arrived off the bar about two in the afternoon, but in that heavy sea it was hopeless to attempt to go in. The coxswain then headed for May Island where he arrived at 5 P.M. He could get no answer to his signals, so he decided to take shelter in the Firth of Forth, and a naval vessel sent him to anchorage off Methil at 8.45 in the evening. There the life-boat remained until nine next morning when she put into Methil harbour. She had then been 26 hours at sea. She stayed there until 10.25 A.M. the following day, when she returned to her station , arriving at 4.30 in the afternoon.

For both life-boats it had been a long and very arduous service and the Institution made the following rewards : MONTROSE To t he coxswain and the two other members of the crew who were washed overboard, a reward of £2 16s. 6d. in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £2 16s. 6d., making a reward of £5 13s. to each man ; To each of the other five members of the crew, a reward of £2 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £2 16s. 6d., making £4 16s. 6d. to each man ; To the launchers additional rewards amounting to £1 10s. ; To the coxswain and six other members of the crew, excluding the full-time motormechanic, compensation for loss of earnings, amounting to £64 19s. 8d. ; To the coxswain and each of the seven members of the crew, each of whom lost clothing and other belongings, compensation amounting to £58 4s. ; Standard rewards to crew and launchers, £25 14s. ; additional rewards to crew and launchers, £l9 19s. 6d. ; compensation for loss of earnings, £64 19s. 8d. ; compensation for loss of belongings, £58 4s.. Total rewards and compensation to crew and launchers.

£168 17s. 2d.

The Institution sent special letters of thanks to Mr. David Wyllie, the honorary secretary of the station, Dr. Alexander Stephen, to whose care the three men washed ashore owed their lives, and who refused to take any fee for his services, Provost Andrew Todd, the chairman of the branch, the naval officer-in-charge, and the police.

BROUGHTY FERRY To the coxswain and each of the other seven members of the crew a reward of £2 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £3 15s. 6d., making a reward of £5 15s. 6d.

to each man. Standard rewards to crew and launchers, £25 7s. ; additional rewards to crew, £16 ; other expenses, £12 14s. ; total rewards to crew and launchers, and expenses, £54 1s.

Total rewards and expenses for the two life-boats, £222 18s. 2d.

NOVEMBER 9TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. A vessel had been reported in distress, but no trace of her could be found.

- Rewards, £14 7s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 10TH. - TENBY, PEM-BROKESHIRE. A signal and a red light had been reported, but nothing was found.- Rewards, £15 19s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 11TH. - STROMNESS, ORKNEYS. Distress signals had been reported two to three miles S.E. of Burgh Head, Stronsay, but on calling in at Kirkwall, the life-boat found that her services were not needed, as no trace of any vessel could be seen. - Rewards, £23 12s.

NOVEMBER 14TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY.

Two red flares had been seen, but the life-boat found nothing. - Rewards, £2 17s.

NOVEMBER 15TH . - RHYL , FLINT-SHIRE, AND HOYLAKE, CHESHIRE.

A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but the life-boats found nothing, and it was learned later that no aeroplane was missing. - Rewards : Rhyl, £13 2s. ; Hoylake, £30 4s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 6TH. - SUNDERLAND, DURHAM. A ship had been reported drifting, but the only vessel found had her anchor down and did not need help . - Rewards, £15 7s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £6 3s.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - RUNSWICK, SCARBOROUGH, AND WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

A British bomber aeroplane had been reported down some miles out at sea, and later it was reported that another bomber was down, but nothing was found by the lifeboats, although the Runswick crew saw a German raider brought down. Scarborough life-boat saw and reported several floating mines. Three Whitby fishing boats also joined in the search. - Rewards : Whitby, £7 6s 6d. ; Runswick, £14 18s. ; Scarborough, £20 13s. 6d.

(See Whitby, “ Services by Shore-boats,” page 104.) NOVEMBER 1 7TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

A British airman was reported to have baled out into the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £28 0s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 19TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. Red lights, apparently dropped from an aeroplane, had been reported, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £21 13s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 21ST. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. A fishing boat had been reported overdue, but she was found ashore above high water mark with her crew safe. - Partly paid permanent crew.

Rewards, £3 1s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 22ND. - PETERHEAD ABERDEENSHIRE. A workman from a shipbuilding yard had reported that a boat had capsized off North Head, Peterhead, but nothing was found, and it was thought that what had been seen was the Broughty Ferry life-boat making for Fraserburgh. - Rewards, £6 14s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 23 RD. - STORNOWAY, ISLAND OF LEWIS. The Norwegian steamer Ledual had gone ashore, but was refloated. - Rewards, £11 5s.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - KILMORE, CO. WEXFORD. A steamer was reported to have been attacked by enemy aeroplanes, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £40 5s.

NOVEMBER 26 TH. - STORNOWAY, ISLAND OF LEWIS. A naval tug had gone ashore, but refloated . - Rewards , £6 13s.

NOVEMBER 26 TH . - ST. DAVID’ S , PEMBROKESHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £12 6s.

NOVEMBER 27TH. - NEWCASTLE, CO. DOWN. Red flares had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £42 8s.

NOVEMBER 28TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the Sea, but the life-boat was recalled by wireless, as the wrong position had been given. - Rewards, £13 6s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 29TH. - PEEL ISLE OF MAN. It had been reported that an aeroplane was missing and that a body with a life-jacket was floating in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £17 6s. 3d.