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.