MARCH 13TH - 16TH. - CROMER, AND GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At about 2.35 P.M. information came to Cromer from the coastguard that a vessel, which seemed to be sinking, was about two and a half miles N.W. of Cromer, and was being towed towards the beach. A moderate E.S.E. breeze was blowing, with a slight ground swell, and the weather was fine.

The No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 2.50 P.M. and reached the vessel twenty minutes later. By this time she had been beached. She was the S.S. Essex Lance, of London, of 9,000 tons, laden with wheat and flour, and bound from Hull to London.

The coxswain went on board the steamer, and found that she had been badly damaged by a near miss from an enemy bomber at 8.30 in the evening of 12th March, and that her crew of forty-four had taken to the boats and spent the night on H.M.T. Coventry City.

Some of them had returned to her, and when the Cromer life-boat arrived there were nineteen on board. Tugs, which had been sent out early in the morning to attempt to salve the vessel, were standing by. At about 4.35 P.M. H.M.T. Strathranrock hailed the steamer and told her master that the Essex Lance was to be abandoned and that she would take the crew to Yarmouth. The lifeboat transferred the nineteen men and their personal belongings from the steamer to the trawler, and then returned to her station and was re-housed at 5.45 P.M.

The trawler made for Yarmouth andanchored in the roads, and at 6.20 P.M. the police asked the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boat to bring men ashore from her. A moderate E. by S. wind was blowing, and the sea was rough. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 6.45 P.M., and brought ashore two stretcher cases at 8.15 P.M.

On the following day the Admiralty salvage officer asked for the co-operation of the Cromer life-boat in attempting to salve the Essex Lance. She left at 11.45 A.M. with a party to examine the steamer, and returned at 2 P.M. Leaving again at 3.15 P.M., she put an armed military guard on board the steamer, and returned again at 7 P.M., bringing with her a salvage officer. Next day, the 15th March, she put out at 12.35 P.M., with various officials, and returned at 5 P.M. At 6.15 she went off again with a salvage officer and officers of the Essex Lance, and returned at 8.30 P.M. She again took officials to the steamer on the following morning, the 16th, putting out at 10.10 A.M. and returning at 1 P.M. Further trips were made between 5.30 P.M. and 7.30 P.M., and between 10.15 P.M. and 12.30 A.M. on the 17th.

Shortly after the last journey the Essex Lance was towed away by tugs. - Rewards : Cromer, first service, 13th March, £19 18s. 6d. ; for services, 14th-16th March, expenses met by the Admiralty; Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, £14 4s.