PORTMUCK, Co. ANTRIM. Just after noon on the 19th of October, 1943, a British aeroplane crashed into the sea about six miles south-east of Muck Island, and the Portmuck coastguard called out a local motor boat, Bl96. The sea was smooth with a light south-west wind. With three men on board the motor boat left at one o’clock, but an R.A.F. rescue launch reached the aeroplane first, rescued the crew from their dinghy, and took the aeroplane in tow. After a time the rescue launch left the aeroplane and made for Larne with the rescued men. The motor boat then took the aeroplane in tow and towed her about 2 1/2 miles. Then a tug came out and the motor boat passed the towing wires to her and made for Larne, where she arrived at five in the afternoon. Half an hour later the tug arrived with the aeroplane. - Rewards, £8, including compensation for loss of fishing and fuel used.

NAIRN. About 10.30 in the morning on the 27th of January, 1943, it was reported that an aeroplane had crashed at sea. It could be seen indistinctly, some distance to the west of Nairn Harbour. Two men put off in a 10-feet rowing boat - the tide was low and only a small rowing boat could get out of harbour. A fresh westerly wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The men searched but found nothing. The airmen reached land in their own rubber dinghy. - Rewards, £1 and 2s 6d. for use of boat.BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT WEST KIRBY WEST KIRBY, HOYLAKE, CHESHIRE.

Just before half-past twelve in the afternoon of the 6th of February, 1943, two men in a 14-feet boat were seen to be making from Hilbre for West Kirby Sailing Club in the River Dee estuary on the flood tide. A strong westerly wind was blowing, with a very rough sea. The boatman of the sailing club realised that she was in danger of being swamped and flung against the sea wall. He rang up the coastguard at Hoylake, who passed on the news to the Hoylake life-boat station. As Hoylake is 2 1/2 miles away from West Kirby, the coxswain decided that it would take too much time to attempt a rescue with the life-boat, so he and the station officer of the coastguard went to West Kirby by car, taking with them the life-saving apparatus. Whenthe dinghy came within hailing distance they advised the two men on board to let go their anchor and wait until a boat could be launched to their help from the sailing club. This they did. The coxswain, the coastguard and the boatman of the club launched a dinghy from the club. To do it in the heavy breaking seas needed great skill, activity and determination, and they took a great risk. They knew that if they were capsized, or if they lost an oar, they would be carried on to the sea wall themselves and that this would mean certain death. No one could have helped them from the wall, for its top was covered with barbed wire, as part of the coast defences against invasion, and only a very strong swimmer could have hoped to swim back to the launching slipway of the club. The three men surmounted all their dangers, reached the anchored dinghy and rescued the two men who, had they not anchored and waited, would certainly have been swamped and dashed to death on the sea wall. It was a skilful and very gallant rescue and the more gallant since the life-boat coxswain was 65 years old.

The Institution awarded its bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, and £2 to each of the three men, COXSWAIN HERBERT JONES, MR. W. G. WIDDUP, the station officer of coastguard, and MR. BEN ARMITAGE, the boatman of the West Kirby Sailing Club. It also sent a letter of appreciation to POLICE CONSTABLE DAVIES, who gave the information.

PORT ISAAC, CORNWALL. At 7 in the evening of the 8th of February, 1943, the open fishing boat Rosalie, of Port Isaac, with only one man on board, was off Varley Point making for harbour when her engine broke down. The man dropped anchor, but the cable parted and the boat drifted across Port Isaac Bay. A strong south-south-west wind was blowing, with a slight sea. Five men in the motor fishing boat Boy Fletch, who had just come ashore, went out again, but the Rosalie had no means of showing where she was and the Boy Fletch missed her in the darkness. She returned to harbour at 8.25; P.M., but twenty minutes later she put out again and searched without success until 10 P.M. Then she had to return owing to increasing wind and sea. The Padstow motor life-boat had also been launched twice,and in the morning she found the Rosalie.

She was bottom up at Pentargon Beach, but the fisherman had got ashore. - Rewards, £5, and 10s. for fuel used.

NEWQUAY, CORNWALL. About 6.45 in the evening of the 7th of March, 1943, the coastguard reported that two persons had been caught under the high cliffs, two miles east of the harbour. They must be rescued at once, for though the weather was fine and the sea moderate, the flood spring tide was nearly at its highest. Rescue from the cliff top by ropes was practically impossible. It must be done by boat and a motor boat and a small boat were considered the best means of doing it. The life-boat’s coxswain and motormechanic put off with a fisherman in his 26- feet motor boat Lady Gwen, taking a punt in tow. After some difficulties and at some risk they rescued the two persons, an army lieutenant and a sergeant of the W.A.A.F.- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d., and 1s. for fuel used..