AUGUST Launches 41. Lives rescued 92.

AUGUST 1ST. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. At about 1. 8 A.M. the Royal Naval shore signal station reported that a large steamer had run aground near the Chequer Shoal Buoy. The night was dark, but lit by lightning flashes, and there was a moderate southerly wind with a ground sea.

At 1.40 A.M. the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched and found the S.S. Lee S. Overman, of Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.A. which, while bound for Hull, had struck the sunken wreck of the Gothic.

A government examination vessel got a rope aboard, and the steamer was pulled off the wreck on the flood tide. The life-boat escorted her to a safe anchorage, and then, as she was able to go on her way, returned to her station at 5.20 A.M. - Paid permanent crew.

AUGUST 5TH. - BERWICK - ON - TWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 11.10 A.M. information was received from the resident naval officer at Berwick that an aeroplane was down in the sea off Berwick high lighthouse.

She was an American Flying Fortress on passage from America. A strong E.S.E.

wind was blowing, with a confused cross sea, and visibility was poor. A second message from the R.N.O. cancelled the call for the lifeboat, but seeing the position of the aeroplane from the shore the honorary secretary decided to send out the motor life-boat J. and W. to help in the search for survivors, and she left at 11.50 A.M. She picked up a box, two flying jackets and some papers, but there was no sign of any of the crew, and the life-boat returned at 1.30 P.M. - Rewards, £4 4s.

AUGUST 6TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. At 1.15 in the morning the Bangor coastguard telephoned that they had learned from the Ballyholme Hotel that a yacht was in distress in Ballyholme Bay. She was the Kingfisher of Bangor, with two people on board. The night was dark with heavy rain, and a moderate N.E. wind was blowing with a very heavy sea. The motor life-boat Civil Service No. 5 put out at 1.35, reached the Kingfisher at 2.35 A.M., rescued the two people on board, and arrived back at her station at 4 A.M. - Rewards, £9 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 9 T H . - NEWQUAY, CORNWALL.

At 12.29 in the afternoon a message was received from the coastguard that a Hawker Hendley target-towing aeroplane had crashed into the sea. A light northerly wind was blowing, with a moderately heavy sea. The motor life-boat Richard Silver Oliver was launched at 12.53 P.M. and off Carters Rock, about half a mile north of Penhale Point, she found a large patch of oil and wreckage. She picked up some of the wreckage and returned to her station, arriving at 3.5 P.M. Two motor boats also put out. - Rewards, £12 5s. 6d.

(See Newquay, Cornwall, “ Services by Shore-boats,’ ‘page 63.)

AUGUST 11TH. - EASTBOURNE , SUSSEX. At 5.24 in the morning the coastguard telephoned that an aeroplane had come down in Pevensey Bay and asked that the life-boat crew should stand by. A light westerly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. Twenty minutes after the first message the life-boat was asked to go to the aeroplane, which was a quarter of a mile off Pevensey Sluice. The motor life-boat Jane Holland was launched a t 6 . 5 A.M. She picked up a rubber dinghy and some of the crew of the aeroplane were rescued by an R.A.F. launch. The life-boat returned to her station at 8.10 A.M. - Rewards, £8 14s.

AUGUST 11TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. At 5.45 in the morning the coastguard telephoned that an aeroplane was down half a mile from the coastguard station, and that the crew had baled out. She was a Halifax.

Twenty-five minutes later, authority to launch the life-boat to search for men was received, and the motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched at 6.18 A.M. A moderate westerly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. Other boats and aeroplanes took part in the search, and five of the crew were picked up by a rescue launch. The life-boat picked up two parachutes and returned to her station at 11.50 A.M. - Rewards, £5 11s.

AUGUST 11TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

At 9 in the morning the coxswain was told that two boats were out fishing. A strong N.W. wind was then blowing, with a rough sea, and after consultation with the coastguard, it was decided to send out the motor life-boat The Cuttle. She was launched at 9.45 A.M. and escorted into harbour the two boats Matthew and Edward and Jean and Barbara, returning to her station at 11.45 A.M.

- Rewards, £9 6s. 6d.

AUGUST 11TH. - FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. At about 9.30 in the morning a message was sent to the coxswain that the weather was very bad and that several fishing cobles were out. He went to the station and found that most of the fishing boats had cut their gear and had already come ashore, but that two were still out.

A N.N.E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. He decided to launch, and at 9.45 the motor life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was put out. She met the coble Q u e s t coming in and escorted her. She went out again and found the other coble, Dennis, south of Flamborough Head and three miles from the life-boat station. Owing to the heavy sea, the coxswain advised the coble to run for Bridlington, and this she did.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 11.20 A.M. - Rewards, £10 12s. 6d.

AUGUST 12TH. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. At 6.5 in the evening the coast life-saving service man at Curracloe telephoned that a fishing boat was flying a signal south of Blackwater Head. A fresh south-westerly wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson was launched at 6.35 P.M.and found the smack Mary Kate, of Wexford.

She had a crew of four on board and had anchored after breaking her mainmast.

The life-boat towed her into Rosslare harbour, arriving at 9.30 P.M. - Partly paid permanent Crew. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.

AUGUST 13TH. - PLYMOUTH, DEVON.

At 12.5 in the morning the King’s harbour master reported that men and a boat were marooned on the Rennie Rocks between the breakwater and the Mew Stone. They had been trying to salve a small motor boat which had gone ashore. A S.W. wind was blowing, with a heavy swell. At 12.20 A.M. the motor life-boat Ministre Anseele, a Belgian lifeboat in the Institution’s reserve fleet, on temporary duty, was launched, taking with her a boarding boat. She found three men from War Department vessels Brigadier and Grey Lady, rescued them, and put them aboard their vessels at Barbican. She returned to her station at 3 A.M. A letter of thanks was received from the Commanderin- chief at Devonport. - Rewards, £8 15s.

AUGUST 2 l ST. - ST. DAVID’S, AND ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE. Late on the night of the 20th August, the coastguard reported a vessel ashore inside the south-east rocks of the Smalls off the coast of Pembrokeshire.

She was the tanker Athelduchess, of Liverpool, with a crew of over sixty, which had been in convoy. A fresh wind was blowing and the sea was rough. The news reached the St. David’s life-boat station at 12.20 in the morning and the Angle station at 12.45. The St. David’s motor life-boat, Civil Service No. 6, and the Angle motor life-boat, Elizabeth Elson, were launched.

At 1.30 in the morning the St. David’s life-boat received a wireless message that the crew were abandoning the ship and that her boats were drifting in a north-easterly direction. She set her course accordingly, and at three o’clock she found a drifting boat and rescued four men from it. She then made for the ship, which she reached at 3.30, and found her stranded upright on the rocks near the lighthouse.

Ladders were in position on her sides, but were not being used, and it was evident that the captain had decided that it was not necessary for more members of the crew to leave. Two tugs were standing by and the life-boat was told that another boat had left the ship. As a wireless message was received saying that the Angle lifeboat was on her way to the Smalls the St. David’s boat went in search of the second of the ship’s boats. She found it at 4.30 with five men on board and rescued them.

She stood by until daylight and then returned to her station where she arrived at 9.30. The rescued men were given clothes and food and a transport came from the naval base at Milford Haven to fetch them.

Meanwhile the Angle life-boat had reached the wreck at 4.15 in the morning. She had had 22 miles to travel in a rough sea. The tugs were waiting for high water in order to attempt to get the ship off the rocks, and the life-boat passed hawsers between the tugs and the ship, and then stood by her. At high water the tugs attempted to move the ship, but failed. Her captain then decided to abandon ship, and the life-boat took off the 56 men still on board. She transferred some of them later to a salvage vessel, landed the remainder at Milford Haven and arrived back at her station at seven in the evening.

She had then been out on service for 17 hours.

It had been a long and arduous service for the Angle crew. A reward of £1 was made to each man in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale of £1 17s. 6d. ; a reward of 10s. was made to the launchers in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale of 13s. 6d. Additional rewards to the Angle crew and launchers, £15 10s. ; standard rewards, £21 1s. 6d. ; total rewards to the Angle crew and launchers, £36 11s. 6d. Rewards to the St. David’s crew and launchers, £10 4s. Total rewards for the service, £46 15s. 6d.

AUGUST 22ND. - HOWTH, CO. DUBLIN.

At 5 P.M. the coastwatchers reported a yacht dismasted off the Bailey lighthouse. A strong squally W.S.W. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. A strong tide was running. The motor life-boat R.P.L. was launched, with the honorary secretary, Mr. B. J. Newcombe, on board, but when she reached the yacht in Dublin Bay her help was declined. On her way home the life-boat came up with the yacht Vega, of Ringsend, about a mile N.E. of the Nose of Howth.

Her bowsprit had gone, and her sails were torn. There were three men on board, and at their request the life-boat towed the Vega into Howth harbour. She returned to her station at 6.50 P.M. - Rewards, £5 4s. 6d.

AUGUST 24TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

At about 7.30  P.M . the fishing smack Our Need, of Lowestoft, owned by a salvage firm and bound light from Lowestoft to Oban, with a crew of four, ran aground on the rocks about half a mile N.E. of the life-boat station. The weather was fine with a light S.E. wind and a slight swell. A fishing boat went to the stranded smack and signalled that the life-boat was wanted. At 7.45 P.M. the motor life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched. At the request of the skipper she ran out an anchor and stood by. The tide was then about one hour before low water. From 10 P.M. onwards efforts were made to pull the vessel off the rocks. Fishermen and life-boatmen went on board, and in the end she got off. She then anchored for the night and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 11.40 P.M.

- Property salvage case.

AUGUST 25TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

At 10.35 P.M. a message was received from the resident naval officer, Penzance, through the coastguard, that an Anson aeroplane was down three miles N.W. of Portreath. A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea.

The motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched at 11.20 P.M.

Aeroplanes were also searching. The lifeboat saw a flare and about 1.30 A.M. foundand rescued the whole crew, five in number, from a rubber dinghy. One man was injured. Life-boatmen gave him first-aid, and gave him and the other airmen rum, biscuits and chocolate. They were all wet, cold and exhausted. On her way back to St. Ives, the life-boat signalled for a doctor and ambulance to be waiting. The lifeboat got back to her station at 3.30 A.M.

- Rewards, £13 14s.

AUGUST 28TH. - HOWTH, CO. DUBLIN.

At about 4 in the afternoon, the sailing yachts Mimosa and Oona collided in a heavy westerly squall. They were both dismasted and in danger of being driven ashore on the rocks of The Steer off Ireland’s Eye. Each had three men on board. The motor life-boat R.P.L. was launched, in a choppy sea, at 4.10 P.M. She took the two yachts in tow and reached Howth again at 4.50 P.M. The owner of the Mimosa made a donation to the station. - Rewards, £4 12s.

AUGUST 29TH. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. At 3.50 in the afternoon the military look-out post on Greenore Point reported a sailing boat in distress off the point. A strong westerly wind was blowing with a rough sea, and the coxswain could see that the boat was drifting to leeward and would soon be in great danger. The motor life-boat, Mabel Marion Thompson, was launched at 4.5 P.M., the honorary secretary, Mr. W. J. B. Moncas, going with her. Twenty minutes later she reached the boat. There were two young men on board and she was full of camping equipment. She had a sail up, but the two boys on board were rowing in an attempt to make headway against wind, sea and tide, and were exhausted. The lifeboat took them on board and with their boat in tow, returned to Rosslare harbour, arriving at 5.5 P.M. A letter of thanks and £5 were received from the father of one of the boys. - Partly paid permanent crew. - Rewards, £1 3s. 6d.

AUGUST 29TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. At 10.45 P.M. the resident naval officer asked that the life-boat crew should stand by, and at 11.20 P.M. the motor lifeboat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched to take out an officer, who was responsible for the safety of landing craft.

She also had a naval signaller on board. A fresh S.W. wind was blowing with a rather rough sea, and the landing craft were unable to enter harbour and had anchored outside.

Throughout the night the life-boat stood by, or manoeuvred among the landing craft, as she was needed. Next morning the weather had moderated and the life-boat returned to harbour at 8.15. The landing craft went in to harbour a little later. - Rewards, £15 3s.

AUGUST 30TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 9.10 in the morning the naval control reported that an invasion barge was lying near the Blacktail Spit Buoy with her engine broken down and nothing to secure her. A fresh S.W. wind was blowing with a rough sea. The motor life-boat J.B. Proudfoot was launched at 9.20 A.M. and found invasion barge L.C.V.P. 1058 half a mile N.E. of the buoy. With some difficulty she took her in tow, and towed her for seven miles until they were inside the defence boom. The life-boat then signalled a drifter, which towed them both to Southend, arriving at 1 P.M. - Property salvage case.

AUGUST 31ST. - PORTHDINLLAEN, CAERNARVONSHIRE. At 12.5 P.M. the coastguard reported that a small rowing boat was making signals of distress two miles N. by E. from Porthdinllaen Point. A light but increasing S.S.W. wind was blowing, with a slight sea, and the tide was ebbing.

The motor life-boat M.O.Y.E. was launched at 12.16 P.M. and found two ladies in the boat. She took them on board, and with the small boat in tow, arrived back at Porthdinllnen at 12.50 P.M. - Rewards, £4 5s.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given :

AUGUST 3RD. - LYTHAM - ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. It was reported that a man had baled out from an aeroplane, but nothing was found, and it was thought that it must have been a target shot down which was mistaken for a man. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d.

AUGUST 9TH. - WHITEHILLS, BANFFSHIRE.

Two small tugs had broken away from a larger tug which had been towing them, and were driving ashore, but by the time the life-boat arrived they were ashore and the only man aboard had been taken off.

- Rewards, £5 10s.

(See Banff, “ Services by Shore-boats,” page 64.) AUGUST 11TH. - FISHGUARD, PEMBROKESHIRE.

Two women and a child were marooned on rocks between Tresaith and Penbryn Sands by the tide, but they decided to remain until the tide went out, and the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, £7 1s.

AUGUST 13TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

A Boston aeroplane had come down at sea, but her crew were rescued by a minesweeper. - Rewards, £6 15s.

AUGUST 14TH. - FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. Some people had been marooned in the cliffs, but when the lifeboat was launched her propeller was fouled by rubbish, and when she was ready to go she was not needed. - Rewards, £8 11s.

AUGUST 15TH. - BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.

A small motor boat was in difficulties, but reached land without help.

- Rewards, £11 7s.

AUGUST 16TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. An aeroplane, believed to be German, had crashed during an air-raid on Portsmouth, but only oil was found. - Rewards, £13 12s.

AUGUST 20TH. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

A Dutch motor vessel was in difficulties with her engine, but she was able to go on her way without help. - Rewards, £9 0S. 6d.

AUGUST 20TH. - MARYPORT, CUMBERLAND.

A bombing aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but only wreckage and a rubber dinghy were seen. - Rewards, £10 0S. 6d.

AUGUST 22ND. - MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.

A British Wellington aeroplane had come down in the sea, but her crew were rescued by an R.A.F. launch. - Rewards, £11 9s.

AUGUST 22ND. - ST. DAVID’S, PEMBROKESHIRE.

A Wellington aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £8 1s.

AUGUST 23RD. - BALLYCOTTON, CO.

CORK. Rockets, probably from warships, had been reported, but no vessel in need of help could be found. - Rewards, £9 11s.

AUGUST 24TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES.

A small motor launch had been caught in a storm, but was able to make safety without help. - Rewards, £5.

AUGUST 27TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported down, but it was a ship’s balloon and this was picked up by a motor boat.- Rewards, £3 15s.

(See Pennan, “ Services by Shore-boats,” page 64.)

AUGUST 27TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. A Beaufighter aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but the life-boat found only small pieces of wreckage. - Paid permanent crew. - Rewards, 13s. 6d.

AUGUST 2 9TH. - PWLLHELI, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

A small rowing boat which had gone out the previous evening had not returned, but she put in to Abersoch while the life-boat was searching. - Rewards : £5 14s.

AUGUST 29TH. - ABERYSTWYTH, CARDIGANSHIRE, AND PORTHDINLLAEN, CAERNARVONSHIRE. A landing craft had been reported in difficulties with her engine broken down, but she anchored, and the life-boats were not needed. - Rewards : Aberystwyth, £16 2s. ; Porthdinllaen, £8 15s.

AUGUST 31ST . - BALTIMORE, CO. CORK. An explosion had been heard and a flare seen, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £11 16s.

AUGUST 31ST. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £21 8s.

AUGUST 31ST. - EASTBOURNE , SUSSEX. Bombing aeroplanes had collidedin mid-air, but nothing was found by the lifeboat.

A rescue boat rescued one airman and picked up some bodies. - Rewards, £14 1s. 3d.