Launches 16 Lives rescued 11 INISHBOFIN, CO. GALWAY. During the morning of the 4th of January, 1943, the Valentia radio received a message that the Barrister, of Liverpool, was ashore off Skird Rocks. Later the position was given Inishshark Head. The news reached the auxiliary rescue station just before noon and motor rescue-boat put out, manned by a crew of five. A moderate south-west wind was blowing. The sea was rough. She reached the steamer as her crew were abandoning her ; stood by ; and then, with another motor boat, towed the ship’s life-boats ashore.

this way the steamer’s crew of 73 reached re . The rescue-boat got back to her station at 7.30 that evening. - Rewards, £14 6d. and £4 8s. 2d. for fuel and other expenses.

The Galway Bay life-boat received the news and was launched at 1.30 P.M., but when found the steamer her crew were already ashore. (See Galway Bay, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 14.) LLANERCHYMOR, NEAR HOLYWELL, FLINTSHIRE.

About 3.30 in the afternoon of the of March, 1943, a Tiger Moth aeroplane reported to have crashed into the River some three miles from the air observer corps post at Mostyn, in the direction of Caldy, the Cheshire coast. Visibility was poor, with a smooth sea and light east-south-east wind. The auxiliary rescue-boat put out to search the Welsh side of the channel and the Hoylake life-boat launched to search the English side. No sign of the aeroplane was, seen by the rescue-boat in a search extending from Greenfield to Mostyn, nor by the lifeboat, and with the coastguard’s approval the search was abandoned at seven in the evening.

Rewards, £7 1s., with 4s. 3d. for fuel used and for telephone calls. (See Hoylake, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 21.) ARDFERN, ARGYLLSHIRE. During the afternoon of the 3rd of April, 1943, an aeroplane, obviously in difficulties, was seen circling low round the sea and hills, and at o’clock next morning a message was received by telephone that an aeroplane was down in the Sound of Jura and her crew near Island of Gigha, at the entrance to West Loch Tarbet, thirty-seven miles away, within twenty miles of the Port Askaig life-boat station, and the life-boat was launched. The auxiliary rescue-boat was also launched at 1.45 in the morning and reached Danna Point, off Eilean Mor, at 4.30. Neither boat found anything, and the rescue-boat returned, arriving at 7.25. - Rewards, £3 3s., with 4s. for telephone calls and 8s. for fuel used.

See Port Askaig, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 25.) DINGLE, Co. KERRY. At midnight on the 14th of April, 1943, the coast watchers at Sybil Head reported that one of the mackerel boats was in distress in the Blasket Sound.

A strong south-west wind was blowing and the sea was rough. The auxiliary rescue-boat Mary Bernadotte put out and found the fishing boat Mary, of Dingle, with a crew of five. Her engine had broken down. She was then about a mile from the rocks. The rescue-boat took her in tow. On the way home the tow rope parted, and while it was being replaced part of the after rail of the Mary and a stanchion was carried away, but the rescue-boat brought her safely in. The service had taken six hours. - Rewards, £6 5s. and £1 4s. for fuel and oil.

VALENTIA, Co. KERRY. When at sea about midnight on the 16th - 17th of April, 1943, the crew of the auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard saw signals of distress from a fishing boat some four miles north of the Skilligs Rock and eight miles south-west of Bray Head. The night was clear, with a light southerly wind, but a heavy sea was running. The rescue-boat found the motor fishing boat Tigileen, of Portmagee, with a crew of four. Her engine had broken down.

The rescue-boat, took her in tow, but the rope broke several times and it was not until it had been trebled that it would hold. The rescue-boat then towed the Tigileen to a point two miles west of Bray Head, where she was able to re-start her engine. The rescue-boat had been engaged for four hours.

- Rewards, £5, and 11s. 9d. for fuel.

BLACKSOD, CO. MAYO. About four in the morning of the 25th of May, 1943, information was received through the coastwatchers that a Sunderland flying boat had fallen into the sea west of Clare Island in Clew Bay.

The auxiliary rescue-boat put out at five o’clock and searched for several hours, but found nothing. She returned to her station at three in the afternoon. She then learned that a boat which had put out from Currane had picked up some bodies. - Rewards, £3 16s. and £2 1s. 9d. for fuel.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 3.20 in the afternoon of the 2nd of July, 1943, the coastguard saw an object fall into the sea about four and a half miles north-north-east from Stein Head. A light north-north-west wind was blowing, with a slight swell. The Whithorn auxiliary rescue-boat put out at four o’clock and searched, but returned at 7.30 without having seen anything. The object was also seen by the Garlieston police. It was thought to be a parachute, but as nothing was found it may have been a drogue target which sunk on striking the water. - Rewards, £2 17s. and 3s. for fuel.

MILLOM, CUMBERLAND. At 2.40 in the morning of the 18th of July, 1943, the skipper of the auxiliary rescue-boat, an auxiliary coastguard, while on patrol, saw a fire on the sea about five miles west of Haverigg Point and thought it must be that an aeroplane had crashed. A light easterly wind was blowing, with a westerly swell. He put out with two other men in the rescue-boat Hearts of Oak at three o’clock and searched, in company with aeroplanes, for some hours, but without result. The boat returned at noon.

- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d. and 14s. 6d. for fuel.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSIIIRE. At one in the afternoon of the 16th of August, 1943, the auxiliary rescue-boat, while out fishing with a crew of four, saw a small rowing boat in difficulties three-quarters of a mile from Stein Head Look-out. A light easterly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. She went to the boat ; found on board three engineers from Cairn Head military camp, who were exhausted ; took the boat in tow and brought her to the Isle of Whithorn at 2.50 P.M. But for the timely help given, the rowing boat would have been carried away by the strong tide. - Rewards, £2 10s. and 4s. 2d. for fuel.

MILLOM, CUMBERLAND. At 1.30 in the morning of the 22nd of September, 1943, information was received through the resident naval officer at Barrow and the Millom coastguard that an Anson aeroplane had crashed west of Silecroft. A light north-easterly wind was blowing, with a westerly swell. As the auxiliary rescue-boat was not available her skipper went to Silecroft by car and there, with another man, launched an R.A.F.

12-feet dinghy, with only one oar and no rowlocks or scull hole. They found the aeroplane but no sign of life, and at three o’clock came ashore. Later the Barrow life-boat arrived and at 5.30 the body of the wireless operator of the aeroplane was found on the shore. - Rewards, £2 10s. and 7s. 6d. for car hire. (See Barrow, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 39.) MALIN HEAD, CO. DONEGAL. At 12.55 in the afternoon of the 30th of October, 1943, the coast life-saving service, Dublin, telephoned that a British aeroplane had been reported down between Malin Head and Inishaven Head. A strong south-easterly wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The auxiliary rescue-boat Jane put out at 1.30 and made a thorough search, but found nothing. Two aeroplanes were patrolling overhead and when they left the boat returned, arriving at 5.30.

- Rewards, £5 14s. and 17s. 11d. for fuel used.

TORY ISLAND, CO. DONEGAL. During the afternoon of the 26th of November, 1943, an aeroplane dropped a flare about three miles south of Tory Island. The weather was good, with a southerly wind. A convoy had passed earlier, and it was thought that the aeroplane might belong to one of her aircraft carriers. At three o’clock the auxiliary rescue-boat put out, but her search was without result, and she returned at 8.30 that evening. - No rewards desired, but £2 0s. 8d. allowed for fuel used and other expenses.

MALIN HEAD, CO. DONEGAL. At 6.25 in the evening of the 5th of December, 1943, a message was received from the Malin Head Lookout post that a fishing boat was in difficulties five miles to the westward. A west-by-south wind was blowing and the sea was calm. The auxiliary rescue-boat was not available, as her engine had been dismantled for cleaning, but a 33-feet fishing boat, with a crew of four, happened to come to the pier.

The skipper of the rescue-boat boarded her and, with her crew of four, put out. After an unsuccessful search the fishing boat returned and learned that the boat which had been in difficulty had taken shelter in a creek on the west side of the headland, but was in a very dangerous position. She put out again, found the fishing boat Pride of Inisfree, with a crew of three, and towed her in, arriving after midnight. - Rewards, £9 7s. 6d. and £1 1s. 6d. for fuel.

VALENTIA, CO. KERRY. While returning from fishing at 10.30 on the night of the 9th of December, 1943, the motor fishing boat Naomh Sean was disabled by the breakdown of her engine, when five miles north-west of Valentia Radio Point. A strong south-east wind was blowing, with a fairly rough sea.

The auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard, which was also at sea, went to her help, and towed her into harbour. She had been engaged for two hours. - Rewards, £7 10s. and 10s. for fuel used.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 11.35 in the morning of the 28th of December, 1943, the police reported that a seaman from the Dutch tug Ebro attached to Cairn Head military camp had fallen from the pier about 10.30 the previous night. Late though the report was, it was decided to send out the auxiliary rescue-boat as it was possible that the tide had washed the man on to the rocks.

She searched from noon until 5.30 in the evening, but without result. - Rewards, £5 14s. and 6s. 6d. for fuel.

GOLA ISLAND, CO. DONEGAL. On the morning of the 30th of December, 1943, a raft was sighted off the west coast of Gola Island.

A strong north-west wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The auxiliary rescue-boat Green Isle was launched at ten o’clock, found the raft, towed it in, arriving at four o’clock that afternoon, and reported to the civic guard. - Rewards, £3 16s. and £1 13s. 8d. for fuel..