MARCH 25TH - 26TH. - BARMOUTH, MERIONETHSHIRE, AND PWLLHELI, CAERNARVONSHIRE. SOS flashes had been seen by the coastguard about six miles east of Cilan Head on the evening of March 25th, and at 9.45 the Pwllheli motor life-boat Ministre Anseele, on temporary duty at the station, put out and searched for a long time, but found nothing. The wind was slight and the sea smooth. She then approached the Abersoch coastguard station and signalled for further information. She was told that news had just been received that an aeroplane had come down in the sea off Mochras Point, and she went at once to her help. Meanwhile at 2.10 next morning the Barmouth motor life-boat Lawrence Ardern, Stockport had been launched in answer to a message from the coastguard that a Stirling bomber had crashed in the sea. She reached the aeroplane at 3.45, and shortly afterwards the Pwllheli life-boat also arrived. They found the aeroplane’s hatches open and the crew gone. The life-boats cruised about until daylight, and as they could see a rubber dinghy on shore, they presumed that the airmen had landed safely, and returned to their stations, the Pwllheli life-boat arriving at nine o’clock and the Barmouth life-boat at 9.30. On the way back the Barmouth lifeboat saw a mine floating near St. Patrick’s Causeway and reported it to the coastguard.

At four o’clock in the afternoon the life-boat was again launched, with the mine disposal officer on board. The mine was found again and sunk, and the life-boat returned to her station at ten o’clock that night. Rewards : Barmouth, £25 17s. for the first launch ; the cost of the second launch was paid by the Admiralty ; Pwllheli, £14 13s. 3d..