AUGUST 19TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

At 11.30 in the morning a message came from the Fairlight coastguard that what he thought was a rubber dinghy had been dropped from an aeroplane flying from west to east, and that he was trying to get into touch with patrol boats. Half an hour later another message came asking that the life-boat should put out, and at 12.22 in the afternoon the motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian Bishop was launched. There was a shortage of launchers and 25 soldiers from one of the shore batteries helped. The honorary secretary of the station, Commander W. Highfield, O.B.E., R.N., was on board. A S.W. breeze was blowing, with a slight swell. The life-boat went to the position which had been given her, 1 1/4 miles to the S.S.W. from Hastings, and when she had travelled just over a mile picked up a petrol tank. The life-boat then made a sweep round, saw another object to the westward, found that it was a paravane, picked it up and returned to her station, arriving at 1.15 in the afternoon.- Rewards, £13 13s.