JANUARY 31ST. - BLYTH, NORTH-UMBERLAND. At about 12.25 P.M. the coastguard telephoned that a vessel had capsized outside the piers. She was H.M. Minesweeper Unicity, with a crew of fifteen.

A light N.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate swell, and it was very cold. The motor life-boat Joseph Adlam was launched at 12.35 P.M., and 500 yards south of Blyth West Pier found a pilot cutter and an R.A.F.

speed boat already on the scene. She went inshore and found one of the minesweeper’s crew in the sea. He was very much exhausted and the life-boat put straight back to port with him. There she took on board a naval officer and returned at once to the scene of the accident. There she found a second man, an officer, and with difficulty got him on board. He was not only exhausted but seemed to have had a blow on the head. She hurried back to harbour with him, but he died later. The life-boat went out again, but found no more survivors, and returned to her station at 2.15 P.M. Meanwhile the R.A.F. speed boat rescued four men and the pilot cutter one, but eight had been lost. A letter of appreciation was received from the naval authorities. - Rewards, £6 7s. 6d.