SEPTEMBER 15TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE.

At 8.53 at night the coastguard reported that the R.A.F. high speed launch 170 was ashore on the rocks under Buckie coastguard station. A strong squally W.N.W. wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The tide was one hour from low water, and the night was dark but clear. The motor lifeboat K.B.M. was launched at 9.30 P.M. and reached the launch ten minutes later. The life-boatmen could see her by the light of the coastguard’s Aldis lamp from the shore, with the seas breaking over her stern and her crew crowded into the bow. The coastguard life-saving apparatus was on the shore, and was attempting to take off the crew. It had got a line aboard the launch, so the life-boat held off. The apparatus rescued one man by hauling him through the heavy seas and over sharp rocks, at great risk to himself, and the rest of the crew then called for the life-boat to come to their help. The launch was now well up on the rocks, and pounding heavily as each sea came over her. The lifeboat made for her stern, but wind, sea and tide carried her away. She made a second attempt to go alongside, but, as she was getting near the launch, a heavy sea struck her and lifted her towards the rocks. As it receded she crashed heavily on them and one of her crew was thrown overboard by the shock. The coxswain went full speed astern and picked him up. The man was little the worse, but a line which the lifesaving apparatus had fired got round the life-boat’s propeller and the engine stopped.

It was started again and the line was snapped. The coxswain then took the life-boat to windward of the launch, and this time he anchored and dropped down towards her on his cable. The life-boat again struck heavily on the rocks, and the coxswain took her out into deeper water. He transferred the cable to the stern, and again dropped down on it, this time bow first, and came near enough to the launch to throw his grappling iron to her.

The life-boat was now right over the rocks and as each wave receded she crashed on them, but, in spite of the risk of smashing her up, the coxswain gradually worked her close to the launch, and the nine waiting menjumped aboard. Then, hauling on his cable and working his engine, the coxswain brought the life-boat off the rocks again. The coxswain was standing in water, and he knew that her bottom was holed, but she was still seaworthy, and came safely back to harbour with the rescued men at 10.38. It was then found that her bottom had been badly smashed. The whole boat was flooded except for the engine-room and petrol compartments, and she was kept afloat only by her air cases.

It was a service carried out with great skill and courage, and the Institution awarded its thanks on vellum to COXSWAIN FRANCIS MAIR. It also awarded £1 to the coxswain and each member of the crew, in addition to the ordinary award on the standard scale of £1 5s. - Rewards on the standard scale, £10 6s. ; additional rewards to crew, £8 ; total rewards, £18 6s.