JANUARY 13TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. About three in the afternoon the coastguard reported a minesweeper aground three to four miles off Clacton, but in no immediate danger. At 3.30 the motor lifeboat Edward Z. Dresden was called out to the help of the American airman whose rescue has been described and returned to her station at five o’clock. As she was being hauled up, a naval launch arrived, and from this the small boat used in rehousing the life-boat landed the captain and one seaman belonging to the stranded minesweeper, which was on the Gunfleet Sands. After the life-boat had been rehoused the naval authorities asked her to go out and stand by the minesweeper. This was at 5.25, but owing to the low water the life-boat could not get away until 8.40. She took with her the minesweeper’s captain and seaman and reached the minesweeper, 1078, at 9.20. She was aground, one mile east-by-south of the Wallet Spitway Buoy.

There was a strong east-north-east wind, with a rough sea. A strong flood tide was running, and the minesweeper was labouring. She had two wires out to anchors and had already lost two anchors. She was making water badly.

Soundings gave only a fathom and a quarter of water. The life-boat made two attempts to put the captain on board, but failed. At ten o’clock she was able to go alongside and, with difficulty, was secured. Seas were now breaking over the minesweeper. The eleven men on board threw their belongings into the life-boat and then jumped aboard. At 10.25 the lifeboat cast off, reaching Clacton pier at 11.14.

It was only with considerable difficulty that she landed the men, owing to the surge of the sea. She could not be put in her house in that sea, and, with her crew on board, remained at anchor until nine o’clock next morning. She was rehoused at 11.15. An increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was made to each member of he crew. - Standard rewards to crew and helpers, £23 14s. ; additional rewards to crew, £8 ; total rewards, £31 14s..