JANUARY Launches 35 Lives rescued 39 JANUARY 1ST. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE.

Shortly after one in the afternoon, the flag-officer-in-charge, Liverpool, requested the services of a life-boat to land a soldier who was dangerously ill in one of the forts near the Burbo Bank. The fort was one of a group built on massive concrete piles, connected by bridges. On it was mounted heavy anti-aircraft artillery. The piles, which incline inwards, were without fenders and dangerous to approach in bad weather.

The case was urgent and owing to the very rough sea, with a strong west-south-west wind, no other boat could make the passage with any degree of safety. At 1.45 the motor life-boat William and Kate Johnston was launched, and arrived at the fort at 3.15.

The bridges were 70 feet long - some ten feet longer than the life-boat - and about 40 feet above sea level. The sick man was lashed in a stretcher and lowered by ropes from one of the bridges. It was a very slow and difficult operation, for the soldiers were not accustomed to the work, and one moment the life-boat would be in position and the next swept away or lifted 15 feet by the seas. The greatest skill in manoeuvring, and the greatest patience, were required, and the man was embarked safely, with only trifling damage to the life-boat. She landed him at Woodside Pier, Birkenhead, and reached her moorings again at 6.30 that evening.

It had been a very difficult and dangerous piece of work, carried out with the greatest skill and determination. The A.A. Battery made two donations, one to the crew, the other to the Institution, in appreciation of “ the valiant show,” and as a contribution to a worthy cause. The Institution made an increased award to the coxswain and each member of his crew. - Standard rewards to the crew and helpers, £10 9s. 6d. ; additional rewards to the crew, £16 Total rewards, £26 9s. 6d.

JANUARY 4TH. - LYTHAM-ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. At 9.50 in the morning, a Preston Corporation lightman at Lytham telephoned that a tanker was aground. The St. Annes coastguard were informed and the naval-officer-in-charge at Fleetwood authorised a launch. A strong north-north-west breeze was blowing with a moderate sea. At 10.30 the motor life-boat Dunleary was launched, and at 11.30 found the tanker Loma Novia aground on a bank some two miles south of the Wallend Buoy and awash midships.

She had a crew of twenty-six aboard and her compass, engine and steering gear were defective. The coxswain boarded her and was given a letter for the ship’s agent by the captain. The life-boat then returned to Lytham-St. Annes, arriving at 1.45, and it was arranged that she should go out again at three o’clock to stand by until the arrival of a tug, which was to leave Preston Dock at 4.45. She left at 3.25 and arrived alongside the Loma Novia at 4.30. The tide was rising and the tanker was able to get off under her own power and to follow the life-boat up the estuary. The life-boat got back to her moorings at 6.30 that evening. Valuable help had been given by the police in getting the life-boat crew together and passing signals. - Rewards, £18 4s. 6d.

JANUARY 6TH - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

At 5.25 in the morning the resident naval officer at Penzance reported that a convoy had been attacked about five miles south of Treen coastguard hut. A moderate southwest wind was blowing and the sea was rough. The motor life-boat W. and S. was launched at 5.50 and reached the position given to find two rafts. One had two men on it, and the other ten men and two women.

They were survivors from the Swedish steamer Solstad, bound with coal from Swansea to London. The life-boat took them on board, made a further search, but found nothing, and set out for Newlyn. On her way she sent a wireless message to Land’s End for ambulances and medical aid to be ready, and arrived at Newlyn at nine o’clock. After landing the rescued people she put out again and made a further search. She found only wreckage, and reached her station again at three in the afternoon. - Rewards, £14 0s. 6d.

JANUARY 6TH. - CAISTER, NORFOLK.

At 1.5 in the afternoon, the Great Yarmouth coastguard reported two barges aground on Scroby Sands. A fresh westerly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat Jose' Neville was launched at 1.25, and thirty-five minutes later found the government barges L.C.M. 1144 and L.C.M.

1229 one mile east from Scroby Elbow.

They were lashed together, and at anchor outside the Sands, having been knocked off them by the seas. One barge had broken down and been taken in tow by the other.

The life-boat stood by while they got under way and then escorted them to the roads, returning to her station at 3.30 P.M. - Rewards, £11 8s.

JANUARY 7TH. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

At 9.30 in the evening of the 6th of January the honorary secretary of the life-boat station was asked by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for the services of the life-boat to take food to the Western Lightship, fifteen miles north-by-west of Great Orme’s Head, as the board’s boat had been prevented by heavy seas from going out.Next morning a west-south-west wind was blowing with a heavy sea. The rations arrived at ten o’clock and half an hour later the motor life-boat Thomas and Annie Wade Richards was launched. She delivered the rations to the lightship. They were badly needed. The crew had been without food for three days. The life-boat reached her station again at six that evening. T h e board expressed their thanks and made a donation of £21 to cover the expenses.

JANUARY 10TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. About 2.15 in the afternoon the coastguard reported that a fishing boat was flying a distress signal two miles south-south-east of Gorleston pier.

A light northerly wind war. blowing, with a moderate sea. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 2.30 and found the fishing boat Water Lily, of Great Yarmouth, with her engine broken down. She had a crew of three brothers. The life-boat took her in tow and brought her into harbour at four o’clock - Rewards, £7 14s.

JANUARY 10TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK.

Shortly after six in the evening the coastguard reported a vessel firing lights and signalling SOS at the entrance to Wells harbour. A strong north-by-west wind was blowing with a heavy swell. The motor life-boat Royal Silver Jubilee 1910-1935 was launched at 6.35.

She found the Admiralty Drifter No. 634, with a crew of five aboard. The drifter’s engine had broken down and she was dragging her anchor just clear of the bar. A member of the life-boat crew was put aboard her to act as a pilot, and with the life-boat’s help she reached Wells harbour at 7.30. - Rewards, £22 4s. 3d.

JANUARY 11TH. - DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. At 7.10 in the morning, information was received from the coastguard that an R.A.F. aeroplane had crashed in Douglas Bay about two hundred yards off the Crescent Hotel. The weather was stormy, with a south-east wind and a rough sea. At 7.30 the motor life-boat Manchester and Salford was launched. She picked up one dead body and returned at 10.10. Four other bodies were washed ashore. - Rewards, £9 2s.

at 4.45. - Rewards, £5 18s. 6d.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT WALMER JANUARY 18TH. - WALMER, KENT. A quarter of an hour after JANUARY 16TH. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT. At 11.15 on the night of the 15th of January the Isle of Whithorn coastguard reported a vessel ashore at Steenhead. She was the Dutch tanker Barendrecht, a vessel of several thousand tons, bound for the Clyde. A strong south wind was blowing, with a heavy sea, and there was fog. Half an hour after midnight it was decided that the motor lifeboat Morison Watson should go, and she left at one o’clock. She found the tanker aground with her bows badly damaged and a tug standing by. At 6.30 another tug arrived. The life-boat gave the tugs some help in navigation, and after part of the cargo of oil had been discharged, they succeeded in towing the tanker off at halftide.

It was then half an hour after noon.

As the tugs were in attendance and the coastguard life-saving apparatus was also ready, the life-boat left at 2.30 and reached her station again at 4.30. - Rewards, £20 15s.

JANUARY 16TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

At 6.30 in the morning a message was received from the flag officer, Humber, through the coastguard, that there had been an explosion on a landing craft four and a half miles east of Skegness. There was a thick fog, but no wind, and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Anne Allen was launched at 7.22. She found that the landing craft had sunk, but that three injured survivors were aboard H.M.S. Gadfly.

She brought them ashore, arriving at 9.45.

Nine other men were reported as missing from the landing craft. She had probably hit a floating mine. - Rewards, £10 7s.

JANUARY 17TH. - SALCOMBE, DEVON.

At 2.45 in the afternoon the Hope Cove coastguard reported two American landing craft ashore on Thurleston Rock. A southsouth- east wind was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. The motor life-boat Samuel and Marie Parkhouse was launched at three o’clock, but the naval station signalled, cancelling the call, and asked the lifeboat to standby. Shortly afterwards information came that another American landing craft had gone on the Wolf Rock.

The life-boat put out, found the landing craft on the rock, and she got a rope aboard, but failed to pull her off. Two larger American vessels then succeeded in pulling her off.

The life-boat stood by in case of accident and then returned, reaching her station again midnight a message came from Dover that two motor boats were aground near the East Goodwins, 2 1/4 miles from the No. 2 Buoy. The motor lifeboat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) got away at 1.25, great help being given in the launching by an A.A. searchlight near the boathouse. The coxswain took the life-boat at full speed right across the Goodwins. It was a hazardous thing to do. A fresh south-west wind was blowing ; the sea was rough ; the night very dark with mist and rain ; the tide was low ; at times there was only a foot and a half of water under the boat. The crossing was made more dangerous by old wrecks, but by using his searchlight, and guiding himself by old wrecks, which he recognised, the coxswain brought the boat safely across.Her searchlight was seen by one of the stranded boats. She fired red flares and tracer bullets, and the lifeboat found her on the east side of the Sands, on the outer edge, about two miles north-west of the charted position of the East Goodwin Lightvessel.

She was H.M. motor anti-submarine boat No. 25. She had been travelling at 23 knots when she struck the Sands.

The shock had driven both propeller shafts through the boat’s bottom and her engine-room had caught fire, but it was put out by the incoming water.

When the life-boat arrived she found her with her bow sticking up, and all her after part under water. It was then about 2.15 in the morning. The way in which she lay, the broken water, and the swirling tide combined to make it impossible for the life-boat to get alongside her, but a rope was passed between the two boats and then, watching his opportunity, the coxswain ran the life-boat’s bow on to the bow of the motor boat, and the men of the motor boat jumped aboard her. He had to do this four times before all thirteen men of the crew, and a box of confidential books, had been rescued. It was then three in the morning. The life-boat had arrived in the nick of time, for the tide was flowing and in a very little while the motor boat would have been submerged.

The life-boat then went in search of the other boat which had been reported stranded, but, although she looked for an hour and a half, she found nothing. It was learned later that the boat had managed to get off the Sands, and had been taken in tow by a tug. The life-boat returned to her station and was beached at 5.15 that morning.

The rescued crew were wet through and exhausted, and Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Myall, the honorary secretary of the life-boat station and his wife, took them in, dried their clothes and gave them hot food and drink, until naval ambulances came for them two hours later.

It was a difficult service, carried out with skilful and daring seamanship, and the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN J. MERCER, the

JANUARY 19TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

During the afternoon the coastguard reported that a drifter had broken down south-east of Duncansby Head, and that the naval authorities were sending out a vessel to help her. A light west-south-west wind was blowing, with a slight sea, and the weather was clear. Later the vessel, which was the Admiralty drifter Lord Dunwich, with a crew of seven on board, was reported four miles east-by-north of Skirza Head, making distress signals. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh was launched at 5.15, and nearly three hours later found the drifter seven miles east from Skirza Head. She was then in touch with the Admiralty vessel Scrutator.

Later, the Scrutator took her in tow and, escorted by the life-boat, both vessels reached Wick Harbour at 9.30 that evening.- Rewards, £13 2s. 6d.

bronze medal for gallantry and a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each of the eight members of the crew, a special reward of £1 in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale of £1 17s. 6d. ; rewards on the standard scale to crew and helpers, £32 1s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £9 ; total rewards, ; £41 1s. 6d.

JANUARY 21ST. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

As the local motor fishing coble Shiela was long overdue, and could not be seen, the motor life-boat The Cuttle was launched at 5.55 in the evening, as night was coming on, to look for her. A moderate south-west wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. It was known that the Shiela had been fishing off Flamborough Head. She was not found there, but eventually the life-boat found her nearly five miles east of Filey Brig. A rope had fouled her propeller and she had been trying to get home since 12.30. After handing lifebelts to her crew of three the life-boat took her in tow and brought her home, arriving at ten that night. - Rewards, £24 16s. 6d.

JANUARY 23RD. - EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX.

Just before five in the afternoon the naval authorities at Newhaven telephoned through the coastguard asking for the lifeboat to go out and investigate a rubber dinghy one mile south-east-by-east from Eastbourne coastguard look-out hut. A west-south-west gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Jane Holland was launched at 5.25 and found the dinghy off Pevensey Bay, being blown rapidly along by the gale. It was empty. The life-boat brought it back, arriving at 6.30, and handed it over to the police. - Rewards, £22 14s.

JANUARY 24TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. About 2.30 in the afternoon the naval authorities asked, through the coastguard, for the life-boat to go to the help of two landing craft about a mile south of Shoreham. A strong southerly wind wasblowing, with a rough sea. The motor lifeboat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched at 2.40. In the meantime one of the vessels, the L.B.V.33, had got into harbour, but the other, the L.B.V.42, fouled the east pier, and went ashore on the east side of the pier. The life-boat passed a rope to her, towed her off, and brought her into harbour at 3.40. - Rewards, £7 17s.

JANUARY 25TH. - TORBAY, DEVONSHIRE.

Shortly after two in the afternoon the resident naval officer reported that owing to the north-north-west gale, which was blowing, small motor boats were unable to maintain communication with a convoy sheltering in Torbay. The motor life-boat George Shee was placed at his disposal, and with a crew which included two naval ratings, left at three o’clock with mails. On her way out she saw a small motor boat off Brixham breakwater, drifting seawards in a fierce squall.

The life-boat towed her to an Admiralty trawler. After delivering the mail to the ships the life-boat returned, took out some stores, and returned again, arriving at six o’clock.

The coxswain and crew were complimented by the resident naval officer. - Rewards, £8 11s.

JANUARY 25TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. DONEGAL. Three children were ill with diphtheria and in danger of dying within a few hours if the medicine needed could not be brought to them. There was none on the island. A strong north-north-west gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea, and no ordinary boat could make the passage to the mainland.

At four o’clock the motor life-boat K.T.J.S. was launched, and she brought the doctor to the mainland. There he got the medicine and the life-boat took him back to Arranmore, arriving at 6.30, in time to save the children’s lives. - Rewards, £12 14s. 6d.

JANUARY 26TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET.

At 2.5 in the morning, information was received from the Bournemouth police, through the coastguard, that an aeroplane had crashed three miles west of Hengistbury Head. A light north-west wind was blowing, with a slight sea. The motor life-boat Thomas Markby was launched at 2.45 with the honorary secretary, Mr. W. Powell, as one of the crew. R.A.F. launches also went out.

A searchlight on Hengistbury Head, as well as the life-boat’s, was used, but all that was found was a flying suit, a blanket and wreckage. The life-boat continued to search until six o’clock, and returned to her station at 7.10. - Rewards, £18 14s.

JANUARY 27TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

A heavy west-by-north wind rose, with a rough sea, while two motor fishing cobles.

Joan and Mary and Jean and Barbara were at sea, and it was decided to send out the motor life-boat The Cuttle. She left at 2.15 in the afternoon. Both coxswain and bowman were ill, but a full crew was obtained and the life-boat found the two boats, which had been fishing to the east of Filey Brigg She escorted them in, and reached her station again at four o’clock. - Rewards, £12 13s.

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

JANUARY 4TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

An American Fortress aeroplane had come down in the sea, but her crew had already been picked up. - Rewards, £40 0s. 6d.

JANUARY 5TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY.

An aeroplane had been reported down, but within a few minutes of launching the life-boat was recalled by the coastguard.

- Rewards, £5 14s.

JANUARY 11TH. - BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY.

An aeroplane had been reported down, but was found to have come down on land.

- Rewards, £12 16s. 6d.

JANUARY 13TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea at night, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £20 15s.

JANUARY 22ND. - FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. An aeroplane had crashed n the sea, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £32 7s. 6d.

JANUARY 23RD. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. A Spitfire aeroplane had crashed in Pagham Harbour, but an R.A.F. boat picked up the body of the pilot. - Rewards, £10 18s. 6d.

JANUARY 24TH. - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

The naval authorities called for the life-boat to stand by a vessel east of Stack Rock, but no vessel in need of help could be found. - Rewards, £18 10s. 6d.

JANUARY 24TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. DONEGAL. Flares had been reported from two look-out posts, and further flares were seen by the life-boat, but she found nothing.

Probably the lights had come from a submarine.

- Rewards, £16 0s. 6d.

JANUARY 25TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. Owing to bad weather conditions the life-boat put in at Great Yarmouth, and returned to her station on the 27th. - Rewards, £39 4s.

JANUARY 26TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK.

An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £22 17s.

JANUARY 26TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

A fishing boat, making for Rye from Hastings, had had trouble with her engine, but her crew beached her east of Rye Harbour.- Rewards, £66 0s. 6d.

JANUARY 29TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

Three airmen had baled out of a Halifax aeroplane which had crashed, but they came down on land. - Rewards, £14 17s.

JANUARY 29TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

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

Rewards, £19 16s. 6d.

JANUARY 30TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

The life-boat was launched and stood by at sea while U.S.A. aeroplanes were returning from the continent, but her services were not needed. - Rewards, £19 16s. 6d.