OCTOBER 11TH. - SUNDERLAND, DURHAM. At 9.57 A.M. the coastguard reported that the after part of the tanker Pontfield, in tow of a tug, was making heavy weather off the port. On 15th September the Pontfield had struck a mine off Cromer and been broken in two. The fore part had sunk and the after part had been towed to Yarmouth. The tug Empire Henchman was now taking her to the Tyne for repairs.

The vessels had already been seen to be in difficulties, and the life-boat crew was standing by, and at 10.45 A.M. the motor life-boat Edward and Isabella Irwin put out.

A strong and squally N.E. breeze was blowing and the sea was rough. The life-boat rescued twenty-two men from the Pontfield, and returned at 11.40 A.M. In the afternoon the tug fired rockets, and, at 5.40 P.M., the lifeboat put out a second time. She found that the Empire Henchman wanted her to take off a pilot and put him on board the Pontfield.

She took him off but found it impossible to put him on the Pontfield, so she brought him ashore, arriving at 7.30 P.M. - Rewards, £7 15s. 6d. and £15 7s. 6d.

(See Cromer “ Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 69.).