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 s k i l l i n m a n o e u v r i n g , a n d t h e g r e a t e s t 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..