LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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November

Launches 49 Lives rescued 31 NOVEMBER 2ND. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE.

At 8.33 in the morning the Hoylake coastguard reported that the naval authorities wanted a life-boat to go out and stand by a vessel high and dry on the Burbo Bank, half a mile south-west of the Crosby Light-vessel.

A light easterly wind was blowing and the sea was smooth, but the weather was foggy.

The No. 2 motor life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson was launched at 9.13, in charge of seventy-year-old ex-coxswain W. H. .Jones, in the absence of the other coxswains, and found the Norwegian steamer Olev, under the Ministry of War Transport, bound with coal from Barry to Liverpool. After standing by for a time the life-boat was informed that the steamer was not damaged and was expected to get off on the rising tide. She arrived back at New Brighton at 12.30 P.M.

- Rewards, £5 5s.

NOVEMBER 2ND. - BLYTH, AND TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 9.45 in the morning, the Blyth coastguard reported a ship ashore half a mile south of St. Mary’s Lighthouse. The sea was slight, with a light north-east wind blowing, but there was a very thick fog and it was very cold. The crew of the nearest life-boat, the Cullercoats boat, were out fishing, and the coastguard could not get into communication with the next nearest station, Tynemouth, so the Blyth life-boat Joseph Adlam, was launched at 10.30. At eleven o’clock she found H.M.

Submarine Tuna ashore on the rocks with H.M. Examination Vessel Sedulous aground just ahead of her. The Sedulous had been leading the Tuna in from the sea through the fog when they went ashore. The life-boat went close in. As she did so the submarine, which was rolling heavily, suddenly fell over on her beam ends, throwing one of her men into the water. The life-boat rescued him.

As the tide was falling the submarine commander asked the life-boat to take off his crew, and she took aboard about sixty men.

The commander himself and several of the men remained in the submarine.

Meanwhile, at 11.35, the district officer of coastguard had succeeded in getting into communication with the Tynemouth station, and the motor life-boat Henry Frederick Swan, was launched at 11.45. She reached the scene of the wrecks at 12.40, and found the Blyth life-boat engaged in taking the men off the submarine. She stood by.

The Blyth life-boat now returned to Blyth and landed the rescued men of the submarine at the naval base. There she was asked totake them back to the Tuna again about three in the afternoon, when the tide would have turned.

The Tynemouth life-boat was still standing by, and at one in the afternoon a tug arrived.

The life-boat took a wire hawser from her to the submarine and by means of this the tug kept the submarine’s stern on to the swell and the on-coming tide. At 1.45 another tug came up and this also, with the life-boat’s help, was connected with the submarine.

The life-boat then remained alongside until the tide was flowing and the submarine came up on a more even keel.

At 2.50 the Blyth life-boat left harbour again with the sixty men from the submarine, which she reached at 3.25. She then stood by until the submarine refloated at 4.15 and put the men back on board her.

So far the life-boats had not been able to do anything to help the examination vessel, which was further inshore than the submarine, and when the Tynemouth life-boat went close to her at 3.45 she found her still fast aground. Her crew had put out a kedge anchor, but had not succeeded in refloating her. The life-boat now took a rope from her and by keeping this taut was able to haul the vessel stern on to the swell, and prevent her from swinging broadside on to the rocks.

The Blyth life-boat, having put the submarine’s crew on board her again, now came up, and she too took a rope to help in keeping the examination vessel stern on to the swell.

The thrust-shaft bearing of the Tynemouth life-boat was now found to be over-heated, and the life-boat returned to her station, which she reached at 6.30 in the evening.

The Blyth life-boat, from 5 until 5.30, held the examination vessel stern on to the sea.

Tugs then arrived, and the life-boat connected her to them with wire ropes. The tugs succeeded in towing her off and both the Tuna and the Sedulous made for Blyth harbour.

The Blyth life-boat herself arrived back at her station at 7.30 in the evening. The fog had been dense the whole time. - Rewards, Blyth and Tynemouth. Property salvage cases.

NOVEMBER 3RD. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

At eight in the morning the life-boat station received a message from the Fairlight coastguard that a steamer was sinking one mile south of Hastings. A moderate south-byeast wind was blowing, with a moderate sea.

The motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian Bishop was launched at 8.30, but it was 8.50 before she got away as, owing to the low tide, she had to be dragged over a sand bank by the crew and launchers, all of whom got wet from head to foot. Commander W. Highfield, O.B.E.

R.N., the honorary secretary of the station was on board. When the life-boat reached the vessel she found her to be the S.S. Foam Queen, with no one on board, apparently damaged by a bomb on her stern. On the arrival of the Dover tug Lady Duncannon the life-boat put men on the wreck to make fast the towing hawser. In the meantime a wireless message reported a small boat adrift about a mile south of Hastings. The life-boat went in search, but found nothing, and returned tothe wreck, where the tug was trying to get into wireless communication with Dover.

The life-boat returned to her station at 11.10.

- Rewards, £31 17s.

NOVEMBER 5TH. - NEWCASTLE, CO. DOWN. A message was received from the coastguard at 10.40 in the morning that an aeroplane was down in the sea near Ardglass.

A fresh southerly breeze was blowing with a strong swell. The motor life-boat L. P. and St. Helen was launched at 11.10. Valuable help was given by U.S.A. troops who were marching by. Their help was enlisted as it was low water and the boat had to be dragged across the harbour. The life-boat searched, but without success, and at 1.10 she put into Ardglass. Here further information was obtained, a further search was made and the life-boat found wreckage and a dead body, supported by a partially inflated Mae West.

She brought the body to Ardglass at 2.45, returned to her station and was rehoused at 6 that evening. - Rewards, £26 4s.

NOVEMBER 9TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. About 4.15 in the morning information was received from the Mablethorpe coastguard, through the Royal Naval Shore Signal Station, that the Saltfleet coastguard had seen distress rockets. A light variable wind was blowing, with a slight sea.

The motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched at 4.53 and found the S.S. Broughty, of Dundee, one mile north of Saltfleet. She had gone ashore in fog, while bound laden from Dundee to Hull, with a crew of sixteen on board. Life-boatmen were put aboard the steamer and then the life-boat took the ground. She remained until the tide made.

In the meantime an anchor was laid out from the Broughty on the flood tide. She refloated and went on up the Humber. The life-boat reached her station again at six that evening.

- Property salvage case.

NOVEMBER 10TH. - PORT ASKAIG, ARGYLLSHIRE. At 12.40 in the afternoon the Bowmore Police reported that a rubber dinghy with men aboard had been seen eight miles south-west of Oversea Island off the west coast of Islay. A gale was blowing from the south-west, with a very rough sea. Putting out at 1.15 the motor life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth went to the position given, only to learn by radio telephony that the men had been picked up. While she was returning she received a further message by morse from Rhu Vaal Liqhthouse that a Walrus aeroplane had been forced down near the lighthouse. The life-boat found her, but there was no sign of the crew. The life-boat took the aeroplane in tow, transferring her to R.M.S. Lochiel, and continued to search for the crew until told that they were safe.

She reached her station again at 8.30 that evening. - Rewards, £20 15s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 13TH. - TOBERMORY, ARGYLLSHIRE.

At 10.15 in the morning it was learned from the local doctor that a woman suffering from severe gastric trouble must be taken at once to hospital. As no steamer would run for two days the motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose left at 11.5 with the patient and a nurse on board. She reached Oban at two o’clock and the woman was taken to hospital by motor ambulance. The nurse returned with the life-boat which left Oban at 3.10 and reached Tobermory at 6.5. The patient had been operated on by the time the life-boat got back, and no doubt her life was saved by the promptitude with which she was conveyed to hospital. She made a donation to the funds of the Institution. - Rewards, £5 14s.

NOVEMBER 14TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO.

DOWN. At 2.50 in the afternoon, the Admiralty salvage officer at Bangor reported, through the coastguard, that two salvage lighters, with crews on board, were drifting ashore in Belfast Lough, near Bangor. A strong northerly wind was blowing, with a rough sea and hail showers. The motor lifeboat Civil Service No. 5 left her moorings at 3.15 and reached the lighters at 4.15. She stood by until tugs arrived, passed ropes from the lighters to the tugs, and then helped in getting the lighters to safety. She returned to her moorings at seven that evening.

- Rewards, £10 13s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 14TH. - ST. MARY’S, SCILLY ISLES. At 8.15 at night the life-boat coxswain was informed by the officer of Naval Motor Launch 535 that a landing craft had run ashore at Newford Island Point. A fresh north-by-east wind was blowing, with a rough sea. With the officer the coxswain went to the pier and sent a morse signal asking if help was needed. The vessel replied that she would like a boat to stand by in case she capsized. The motor life-boat Cunard was launched at 9.5, and when she reached the vessel, which was homeward bound from Gibraltar, found all hands ready to leave.

They were taken into the life-boat, with their baggage, and landed on the pier at ten o’clock. - Rewards, £16 2s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 14TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. During the darkness of the early hours a heavy north-north-east gale, with squalls and a rough sea, broke the moorings of the fishing fleet in Balaclava Harbour. One drifter was driven on to the south breakwater and severely damaged. At daybreak her position was seen to be serious but she sank before help could reach her.

The motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched at 10.30 A.M. to go to the aid of a tug and other drifters which had broken adrift.

The tug and the drifters Pittendrum and Barbara Cowie, which had no crews on board, were safely moored, and the life-boat returned at 1.50 in the afternoon. - Rewards, £8 11s.

NOVEMBER 15TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

At 1.19 in the afternoon the St. Ives coastguard telephoned that a motor vessel was making for St. Ives Bay and required a pilot. A strong north wind was blowing, with a heavy sea, and the tide waslow. The motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched at 1.45, with a pilot on board, and, six miles in a northerly direction from St. Ives Head, found the motor vessel Teasel, of Cardiff, at anchor. She was bound, laden, for Cardiff from Truro. Her engine was giving trouble and her master would not risk running for St. Ives. The pilot went on board her and the life-boat stood by. During the afternoon H.M. Corvette Cambridgeshire arrived, and the life-boat took a towline from her to the Teasel, but the Teasel lost her end and it was with difficulty that the line was again passed. The corvette took the strain, and the pilot returned to the life-boat, which arrived back at her station at 7.30 that evening. The Teasel was able to go on her way the following day. - Rewards, £35 6s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 18TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

Just after noon the coastguard reported a vessel not under control one and a half miles east of Filey Brig. A fresh northerly wind was blowing, with a rather rough sea. Both coxswains, with other life-boatmen, were out fishing, but ex-Coxswain R. C. Jenkinson took charge, and at 12.38 in the afternoon the motor life-boat The Cuttle was launched.

Twenty minutes later she reached tank landing craft 898, with a crew of twelve on board, riding to an anchor out astern. A mine unseen by the men on the landing craft was floating only two yards from her. The life-boat men shouted instructions, and the men of the landing craft heaved on her cable and cleared the mine. The landing craft was having difficulty with her engines, but after a life-boatman had been put on board to act as pilot she got under way. The life-boat passed a towing rope from her to the minesweeper Ann Vera, but the rope broke. The minesweeper then fired a line to her by rocket, but this also broke. As the landing craft was now drifting towards rocks off Gristhorpe and in great danger, and as the minesweeper could not follow her the lifeboat went in again and again. She succeeded in passing a rope aboard her, hung on, headed eastwards, pulled her clear of the rocks and towed her right into Scarborough.

The officer-in-charge congratulated the lifeboat crew. He said the landing craft would have been wrecked but for their help. The life-boat returned to her station at 6.15 that evening. - Property salvage case.

NOVEMBER 22ND. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY. At 1.15 in the afternoon the Holyhead coastguard reported that an R.A.F.

aeroplane had crashed between the breakwater and the Skerries. A strong northwest wind was blowing, with a moderately rough sea, and hail showers. The motor lifeboat A.E.D. was launched at 1.30 and, with two small naval vessels, searched, but without success. She reported by radio telephone to the naval base, which asked her to continue the search. This she did, and about the centre of Church Bay found two dead bodies.

She got back at 5.10. - Rewards, £5 14s.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT NEWHAVEN NOVEMBER 23RD. - NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX. At 8.40 in the evening a message came from the naval officerin- charge at Newhaven, through the coastguard, asking that the life-boat should stand by. The crew were assembled and at nine o’clock the honorary secretary reported the boat fully manned and ready for service.

A further message was received from the naval officer-in-charge at 9.42, asking the life-boat to launch and stand by. No other information had been given to the life-boat station, so, before launching, the honorary secretary asked the position to which the life-boat was to go and what service was expected of her. He was then given a position two miles from Newhaven, and the motor life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott was launched at 9.45.

A gale was blowing, with a very rough sea, the night was dark with continuous heavy rain, and visibility was very bad. The coxswain went to the position given, but found nothing.

The shore signal station was sending out further information, but in that weather it was impossible to read the signals, and the coxswain returned to the mouth of the harbour. He was told to go eastwards to the mouth of the Cuckmere, between four and five miles from Newhaven. There, off Hope Gap, he saw the lights of a vessel.

She was firing rockets, red, green and white, and burning flares. Searchlights from the shore batteries were playing on the water, but their dazzling lights were more of a hindrance than a help to the life-boat.

The coxswain, however, could make out a large trawler. She was, in fact, H.M. Trawler Avanturine, with 25 men on board, in a very dangerous position, for she was only between 200 and 300 yards off a rocky lee shore, and from her position the coxswain realised she was very near a reef which he knew must be just off her port beam.

She was in only three to four fathoms of water, and she drew 15 1/2 feet.

The coxswain decided that the only thing to do was to anchor, drop downon his cable, with the wind and tide, and go under the trawler’s lee side.

This meant dropping down on the cable across her bows. He let go the anchor, and had run out about forty fathoms of cable when suddenly, out of the darkness, the trawler, which he had thought to be at anchor, appeared close to the life-boat coming at full speed towards her.

The coxswain put his engines full astern, but it was too late. The trawler was lifting out of the trough and at the same moment a heavy sea caught the life-boat and flung her against the trawler’s bow. It cut right through the life-boat’s side. The shock broke her mast into three pieces, which went overboard, taking the wireless with them, and felled five of the crew.

The coxswain knew that the boat had been badly damaged. How great the damage was he could not tell, but he at once went astern and gave orders for the anchor to be hove in and stowed, and the mast and rigging to be cleared away. While these things were being done a heavy sea was seen approaching, and the coxswain shouted " hold on ”. After the sea had passed it was found that the bowman and signalman, Benjamin J. Clark, had gone with it.

The position now was that the coxswain, who had been thrown heavily against the wheel, was suffering intense pain in his back ; that he had not only lost one of his crew of seven men, but that three others were injured, how seriously he could not tell ; that he did not know how seriously injured he was himself ; that he had only one uninjured man on deck. The other two uninjured were the two motor-mechanics.

The coxswain was finding the boat increasingly hard to steer, and the petrol tank hatch had gone overboard and had left a large open space on the deck, an added danger to the crew working in the darkness.

In spite of this the coxswain looked for and found the trawler, which had steamed off. He then escorted her to a place of reasonable safety, some two or three miles off the harbour entrance, where she could anchor for the rest of the night. With his wireless out of action and his signalman lost, the coxswain was unable to communicate with the shore, but he stood by for a time to see if there were signs of any other vessels in difficulty, and as there were no other lights to be seen he made for Newhaven. The hole in the boat was on the weatherside, which increased the difficulty of controlling her ; and this, with the pain he was suffering, taxed the skill and strength of the coxswain to the utmost, but he brought the life-boat safely in and berthed her half an hour after midnight.

It was then one and a half hours since the trawler had rammed her.

The injured men were attended to by the naval surgeon and were then sent home by naval transport.

The coxswain had bruised his back. The second coxswain had injuries to the bridge of his nose and both eyes, and bruises on body and legs. One of the crew had lost his false teeth, smashed in his mouth and completely destroyed.

Stitches had to be put in his lower lip by the naval surgeon. He also had injuries to his hands, arms, head and chest, which was heavily bruised. The fourth injured man was suffering from bruises and cuts.

Patrols were sent out along the beaches and at mid-day of the following day the body of the bowman and signalman, Benjamin J. Clark, was found. At the inquest held on November 26th the verdict was accidentally drowned. Benjamin Clark was 49 years of age and had served in the Newhaven life-boats for 25 years.

His father and his brother both had long records of service in the lifeboats, and both had served as coxswain.

At his own wish Benjamin Clark was buried at sea, and the Institution made the arrangements for the funeral and paid all expenses. He left a widow, and the Institution pensioned her, from the day of his death, as if he had been a sailor, soldier or airman killed in action. The Navy collected £40 for the benefit of the widow. The Institution also compensated the injured men for their loss of wages while they were unable to work.

The life-boat herself had been very severely damaged. The trawler’s stemhad driven two feet deep into her, had broken a hole, just abaft the port shoulder, from deck to bilge keel, 5 feet from top to bottom and 2 feet 6 inches across at the top.

It had buckled the port petrol tank and had driven it with such violence against a bulkhead that the bulkhead had been fractured and water had got through into the forward and after holds and the cabin. It was this which had made the boat difficult to steer. Although the petrol tank had been moved off its seating and had been badly buckled, it had not been perforated and the engine had continued to work off that tank, without any failure in the petrol supply, right to the end of the service.

A patch was put over the hole, and on November 30th the life-boat went by sea to Shoreham Harbour for repairs. On the same day a life-boat from the reserve fleet took her place at Newhaven. The repairs took four months to carry out, and cost about £650.

In recognition of the gallantry and endurance of the coxswain and crew in carrying on, in spite of their injuries, with a boat which they all knew to be severely damaged, the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN LEONARD A. J. PEDDLESDEN, the silver medal for gallantry with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To SECOND-COXSWAIN FREDERICK A. PARKER; R. W. LOWER, the motor mechanic ; J. EAGER, the acting assistant motor-mechanic ; and S. WINTER, S. HOLDEN and H. MOORE, life-boatmen, bronze medals for gallantry, with copies of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To BENJAMIN J. CLARK, the bowman and signalman, the bronze medal for gallantry, posthumously, and a certificate to his widow recording his devotion to duty and his sacrifice ; To MR. R. K SAYER, the honorary secretary of the station, an inscribed aneroid barometer ; To R. HOLDEN, head launcher, a letter of thanks ; To the naval authorities at Newhaven for the services of the surgeon and their help with the burial at sea, a letter of thanks ; To MR. CARDY, divisional marine manager of the Southern Railway at Newhaven, for his help with the burial at sea, a letter of thanks ; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a special reward of £2, in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale of £1 17s. 6d., making a reward of £3 17s. 6d. to each man ; To seven launchers a reward of 12s. 6d. each, in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale of 12s., making a reward of £1 4s. 6d.

to each man ; Standard rewards to crew and launchers, £18 4s . ; additional rewards to crew and launchers, £20 7s. 6d. ; total rewards, £38 11s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. At 4.50 in the morning a message was received at Shoreham Harbour from the coastguard that H.M. Trawler Avanturine, which had been left at anchor by the Newhaven life-boat off Newhaven, as described above, was dragging her anchor, and at five o’clock the motor life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched. She reached the trawler at 7.15. The trawler’s crew did not wish to be taken off,, but asked the life-boat to stand by. Thus she did.

Then, with a tug, she escorted the trawler into Newhaven harbour, arriving there at 12.28 in the afternoon. She returned to her station at six in the evening, having been out for thirteen hours. - A special reward of £1 was given to the coxswain and each of the seven members of the crew in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale of £1 17s. 6d. Additional rewards, £7 ; standard rewards, £13 15s. ; total rewards, £20 15s.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - BARROW. LANCASHIRE.

At 9.10 in the morning the Port War Signal Station reported to the lifeboat coxswain that a small-vessel appeared to be in need of help about three miles off shore, east-south-east of Walney Light. A westerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea and hail squalls. The motor life-boat N.T. was launched at 9.45 and found the auxiliary sailing vessel Vidar, of London, laden with fish and carrying a crew of four. Her engine had broken down, but the crew had repaired it before the life-boat reached her. They asked to be escorted into harbour, and this the life-boat did, arriving at 12.30. - Rewards, £6 19s.

NOVEMBER 30TH. - TOBERMORY, ARGYLLSHIRE.

At 1.30 in the morning, a telephone message came from Kyle that a vessel was ashore on the Morven Coast opposite Craignure. A strong north-west wind was blowing, with a heavy swell and hail showers. The motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was launched at 2.10, and at 4.30 found the Granton steam trawler River Tay on Inninmore Point. She had struck a largerock, while bound from the fishing grounds with fish for Oban, and her crew of ten had left her and taken refuge on the rock. They were in no immediate danger and the lifeboat stood off to wait until daylight, when conditions would be easier for taking them off. The Northern Lights Commissioners’ vessel Hesperus arrived, offered to help, lowered her motor boat, and at 6.30 took the trawler’s crew off the rock and transferred them to the life-boat. The life-boat made for Oban where they were landed at 7.45 and taken charge of by the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society. The life-boat reached her station again at 11.35. - Rewards, £16 19s.

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

NOVEMBER 2ND. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. CORK. A fishing boat had been delayed by an engine breakdown, but got in, unseen by the life-boat, in a fog. - Rewards, £13 14s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 3RD. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

While bombing aeroplanes were returning from operations the life-boat stood by at sea, but her services were not needed.

- Rewards, £32 8s.

NOVEMBER 5TH. - TOBERMORY, ARGYLLSHIRE.

A steamer went ashore on Lady Rock in the Firth of Lorne, but was helped by tugs. - Rewards, £19 15s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 9TH. - TROON, AYRSHIRE.

A flashing light had been seen, but only a R.A.F. flare was found. - Rewards, £11 17s.

NOVEMBER 10TH. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

A small boat with two boys in it drifted out to sea but nothing could be found. Later the boat came ashore, but there was no sign of the boys. - Rewards, £23 11s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 11TH . - APPLEDORE, DEVON. An aeroplane crashed in the sea at night, but the crew landed in Morte Bay.

The life-boat sheltered at Clovelly until the following morning. - Rewards, £17 0s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 12TH.. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. A barge was seen, apparently in difficulties, but did not need help when the life-boat reached her. - Rewards, £7 13s.

NOVEMBER 12TH. - LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS.

A ship’s engine had broken down, but the crew were able to repair it and go on their way. - Rewards, £11 18s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 12TH. - PORT ERIN, ISLE OF MAN. Five men from an aeroplane were adrift in a rubber dinghy, but they were picked up by a steamer. - Rewards, £35 13s.

NOVEMBER 13TH . - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. An airman baled out from a Lysander aeroplane, but landed on shore.

- Paid permanent crew.

NOVEMBER 13TH. - HOWTH, CO. DUBLIN. Rockets had been reported, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £14 6s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 1 4TH. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

A landing craft had been reported in need of guidance to Falmouth, and was later stated to have made a distress signal, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £31 14s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £8 2s.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. CORK. An overdue fishingboat was thought to be in difficulties, but she had been delayed because she was down to the deck with an exceptionally large catch of herrings and got safely into Kinsale. - Rewards, £20 10s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £25 3s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 16TH. - STORNOWAY, ISLAND OF LEWIS. The American motor vessel Markay, a tanker, of Wilmington, had run aground, but a tug was found to be standing by. - Rewards, £9 8s.

NOVEMBER 18TH. - HOWTH, CO. DUBLIN.

A fishing boat’s engine had broken down, but the boat declined help and drifted to safety. - Rewards, £14 6s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 23RD. - WALMER, KENT. A motor gunboat was reported to have made distress signals, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £46 18s.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

The instruments of a Lancaster bombing aeroplane failed while she was returning from Berlin and the airmen, instead of being at 1,000 feet as they reckoned, found themselves in the sea near Chapel St. Leonards, but they reached the shore in their dinghy. - Rewards, £21 7s.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - ST. MARY’S, SCILLY ISLES. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found.

- Rewards, £14 5s.

NOVEMBER 24TH. - HOWTH, CO. DUBLIN.

A fishing boat was overdue in bad weather, but she was towed to Skerries Harbour by another fishing boat. - Rewards £14 6s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 26TH . - BERWICK-ONTWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but a search, in which a launch and aircraft also took part, was without success.- Rewards, £6 12s.

NOVEMBER 26TH. - APPLEDORE, AND CLOVELLY, DEVON. A rubber dinghyhad been reported firing distress flares, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, Appledore, £9 12s. ; Clovelly, £20 12s.

NOVEMBER 27TH . - ANSTRUTHER, FIFESHIRE. A R.N.A.S. aeroplane had come down in the sea, but only wreckage was found, by another vessel taking part in the search. - Rewards, £18 19s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 29TH. - ABERDEEN, AND NEWBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE . A steamer had foundered after being in collision, but all her crew, fifty-four in number, were saved by their own boats and rafts and by another vessel. - Rewards : Aberdeen, £6 19s. ; Newburgh, £8.

NOVEMBER 29TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK.

An American Fortress aeroplane had been reported down, but the life-boat was recalled by Hunstanton coastguard. While the lifeboat was out, batteries on shore twice fired machine gun s. The fire was not directed at the life-boat. It probably came from troops at exercise who could not be warned that the life-boat was in the neighbourhood.

- Rewards, £25 9s.

NOVEMBER 30TH. - BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. Bodies and wreckage had been washed ashore on Eriskay, but no vessel or survivors could be found. - Rewards, £10 8s. 6d.

NOVEMBER 30TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

An aeroplane had crashed into the sea on fire, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £30 4s.