Launches 50 Lives rescued 23

DECEMBER 5TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 3.43 in the morning the coastguard reported a wireless message from the S.S. Elizabeth Lysaght, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, that she was aground on Corton Sands and in need of immediate help. The motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 4.15 in a fresh north-westerly wind, with a heavy sea running. She found the steamer on the north end of Holme Sand, bumping heavily.

At the request of the master the life-boat stood by for a time. Then she took soundings, found deep water, and the master went fullsteam ahead and refloated. Accompanied by the life-boat the Elizabeth Lysaght went to Yarmouth Roads and anchored. The master thanked the coxswain, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at eight that morning. - Rewards, £14 13s.

DECEMBER 7TH. - BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At daybreak five motor fishing cobles put out lobster fishing. They had not been away very long when the southerly wind increased and the seas became heavy. Two of the cobles got back safely.

Two made for the shelter of Boulmer Head.

The fifth, the Brighter Dawn, attempted to get in, but so heavy was the broken water that she stood out to sea again, and at 10.20 in the morning the motor life-boat Clarissa Langdon was launched. She escorted the Brighter Dawn to Amble Harbour, arriving there just before noon, and reached her station again at one o’clock. - Rewards, £9 16s.

DECEMBER 8TH. - WALMER, KENT. The master of the American steamer Kyle V.

Johnson was seriously ill with a heart attack, and in need of medical help. A northeasterly wind was blowing, with snow squalls.

The sea was so rough that no ordinary shoreboat could put off, and at the request of the naval authorities the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched at 7.10 at night, with a doctor. She put him on board the Kyle V. Johnson, waited to bring him home, and reached her station again at 9.15. - Rewards, £28 14s. 6d.

DECEMBER 9TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

About eight at night some of the life-boatmen saw a ship signal SOS by morse and fire a rocket, and at the same time the coastguard reported a vessel in distress about six miles north-west of Cromer. The motor life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched at 8.15 in a light westerly wind, with a slight swell. She found the ship to be the M.V.

Lady Sophia, bound from Scapa Flow to Rochester, with a crew of five. Her engine had broken down. The life-boat signalled for a tug, but as the Lady Sophia was driftinghelplessly towards the shoals off Cromer she took her in tow to keep her in deep water, and made for Great Yarmouth. The tug Richard Lee Barber met them off Haisborough, took the Lady Sophia in tow, and, with the lifeboat in attendance, reached Great Yarmouth just before eight in thee morning. After the life-boatmen had had breakfast the life-boat left Great Yarmouth at 10.45 and got back t o Sheringham at 3.30 that afternoon. - Property salvage case.

DECEMBER 10TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

At two in the afternoon a fisherman reported a fishing boat in distress about one mile southsouth- west of Dungeness Lighthouse. She was seen to have a flag flying and had burned a flare. The motor life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson was launched at 2.15 in a moderate sea with a north-westerly wind blowing, and found the fishing boat Minnie, of Rye, with two men on board. Her engine had broken down. She had been drifting for some considerable time and the men were exhausted by their unsuccessful efforts to re-start the engine. The life-boat towed the Minnie to moorings in Rye harbour, and reached her station again at six in the evening. - Rewards, £23 13s. 6d.

DECEMBER 10TH. - SWANAGE, DORSET, AND BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT.

About ten at night the coastguard reported to the Swanage life-boat station that a steamer was ashore off Egmont Point, west of St. Albans Head. The motor life-boat Thomas Markby was launched at 10.30. The northerly wind was light and the sea smooth, but there were some patches of fog. The life-boat found the American Liberty ship T. A. Johnston, of Pensecola, and her master asked the life-boat to stand by. This she did all through the night. At nine o’clock next morning two tugs and a salvage vessel arrived. Towing began two hours later, but one tug grounded. The life-boat tried to refloat her, but the tide was ebbing and she failed. As she could do no more until high water she returned to her station at 4.30 that afternoon to re-fuel and to enable her crew to get a meal. At ten o’clock she left again, but found that the tug had refloated.

The master of the T. A. Johnston again asked the life-boat to stand by and this she did through the night and until 3.30 in the afternoon of the 12th. Then she arranged with the salvage officer to return if needed, and left for Swanage, where she arrived at 5.30 that afternoon. At Bembridge the report was received that the steamer was aground on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, and the motor life-boat Jesse Lumb was launched at 10.37 on the night of the 10th, but when the correct position of the T. A. Johnston was reported she was recalled and arrived back at 1.46 next morning. - Rewards : Swanage, £56 16s. ; Bembridge, £16 14s. 6d.

DECEMBER 11TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

A crew from Whitby had gone to Bridlington to fetch the motor fishing boat Gem. As the seas were heavy the life-boat coxswain kept a look-out for her. At 6.40 in the evening the coastguard reported a vessel, believed to be the Gem, two miles to the east. Seas were then breaking very heavily, both inside and outside the harbour entrance, and a north-easterly wind was blowing, with showers of sleet. At 6.55 the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched to await the arrival of the Gem, and escorted her into harbour. She got in safely, but had a very bad passage. The life-boat was back at her station again at eight o’clock. - Rewards, £15 18s. 6d.

DECEMBER 13TH. - FLAMBOROUGH, AND FILEY, YORKSHIRE. During a northwesterly gale, with a very rough sea, the S.S. Empire Tigaven and the S.S. Cormoat came into collision about four miles off Flamborough.

A message for immediate help was sent to the Flamborough Head signal station, and at three in the morning the Flamborough motor life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was launched. She found the vessels five miles north-north-east of Flamborough. The Cormoat had on board fifteen of the crew of eighteen of the Empire Tigaven. These she transferred to the life-boat as she wished to go to the Tyne, and she went, leaving the life-boat to stand by the Empire Tigaven.

After about two hours her master, still on board her, asked the life-boat to return his engineers, but it was only with much difficulty that one was put on board. The lifeboat was damaged in doing it, and drifting ropes fouled her propeller and stopped her engine. By this time the Filey motor lifeboat, The Cuttle, which had been launched at 3.30, arrived. She towed the Flamborough life-boat to Filey, although the tow-rope twice parted. There the fourteen men from the Empire Tigaven were landed, and the Flamborough life-boat was hauled out of the water by the Filey helpers and her propeller cleared. Both life-boats then returned to stand by the Empire Tigaven, the Flamborough boat taking with her the steamer’s chief engineer and boatswain. The master wanted both these men, and with difficulty the chief engineer was put on board, but the boatswain stayed in the life-boat. A tug arrived about two in the afternoon and the life-boats were able to leave, but there was too much sea for the Flamborough life-boat to return to her own station, so both boats made for Filey, where they arrived about 3.45, over twelve hours after they first put out.

It was a long and arduous service both for the two life-boat crews and for the helpers at Filey, and an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale was made to each member of both crews and each of the Filey helpers. Standard rewards to the Flamborough crew and launchers, £46 6s., additional rewards to the Flamborough crew, £9 ; total rewards to Flamborough, £55 6s.

Standard rewards to the Filey crew and launchers, £39 1s. 6d. ; additional rewards to the Filey crew and launchers, £27 ; total rewards to Filey, £66 1s. 6d.

DECEMBER 15TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 4.50 in the afternoon thecoastguard reported that a motor fishing vessel near the Wallet Spit Buoy was flashing signals and might be in need of help, and the motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched to investigate. She left at 5.50 in a light south-westerly wind, with a slight sea, and found the M.F.V.125, with her engine broken down. At the request of the naval authorities at Harwich, the lifeboat towed her to Brightlingsea. It was eleven o’clock before she was anchored there, and the life-boat remained at Brightlingsea for the night, returning to her station next morning. - Property salvage case.

DECEMBER 17TH. - ARBROATH, ANGUS.

During the morning a number of fishing boats put to sea. They were overtaken by a southerly gale, with a very rough sea. Several of the boats returned, but as six were still out at one o’clock the motor life-boat John and William Mudie was launched and stood by the harbour bar. As the boats approached she escorted them in and finally returned to her station at 2.30 that afternoon. - Rewards, £8 1s.

DECEMBER 17TH. - NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 10.30 in the morning the coastguard reported that the sea was rising and that the coble Provider was still at sea. At 11.15 the motor life-boat Augustus and Laura was launched. A strong southsouth- easterly wind was then blowing and the sea was rough. The life-boat found the coble four miles north-north-east of Church Point, and escorted her in, arriving at one o’clock. - Rewards, £26 3s.

DECEMBER 18TH. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

About 11.30 in the morning messages were received from the coastguard and the R.A.F. that a yacht off Newlyn was dragging her anchors in a dangerous position and in need of immediate help. The motor life-boat W. and S. was launched at 12.5. A south-south-westerly gale was blowing and the sea was rough. The life-boat found the auxiliary yacht Diane, bound from Cowes to the Mediterranean, with a crew of seven. They declined to leave her. She had one anchor down. The other had been lost. The lifeboat passed her a rope, and towed her to Newlyn, where they arrived at 1.50 that afternoon.

- Property salvage case.

DECEMBER 19TH. - FALMOUTH, CORNWALL.

Information was received from the coastguard at 12.10 in the morning that a ship in the harbour was showing signals of distress and at 12.25 the motor life-boat Crawford and Constance Conybeare was launched. A southerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The life-boat found that the S.S. Dunkery Beacon, of London, had dragged her anchors. She had a crew of forty-five and had come, in ballast, from Cardiff to Falmouth for repairs. The captain said he wanted a pilot. This message the life-boat took to the pilot boat and then returned to stand by the steamer. Later she was told that she was no longer needed, and returned to her station at two o’clock.- Rewards, £13 14s. 6d.

DECEMBER 19TH. - FALMOUTH, CORNWALL.

At 4.50 in the morning the coastguard reported distress signals from a tug in Cross Channel in Falmouth Harbour, and the motor life-boat Crawford and Constance Conybeare, which had returned from standing by the S.S. Dunkery Beacon three hours before, was launched again at 5.10. A southerly gale was still blowing and the sea was heavy.

She found that the distress signals came from the tug Empire Aid. Earlier in the morning the tug had been preparing to go to the help of the Dunkery Beacon, but the heavy seas had washed her towing hawser overboard and it had fouled the propeller. She had dropped anchor and this had fouled the hawser. It was high water and she was near Mylor Point, drifting towards the shore. The life-boat took a message to the tug Empire Polly, which towed the Empire Aid to Falmouth docks. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 8.45 that morning. - Rewards, £10 8s. 6d.

DECEMBER 19TH. ~ ABERDEEN. At 1.54 in the morning information was received from the coastguard that the steam trawler T. L.

Devlin, of Granton, had sprung a leak and needed help. A southerly gale was blowing, with heavy seas. The No. 1 motor life-boat Emma Constance was launched at 2.35, and set out to find the trawler, which was making for Aberdeen, but was many miles away in a south-easterly direction. Radio communication was maintained between the life-boat, the trawler, and the shore, and at 7.30 the lifeboat found the trawler approximately twenty-two miles to the south-east of Aberdeen.

Her fish hold was flooded and her pumps choked, but, escorted by the life-boat, she reached Aberdeen about 9.20 that morning. - Rewards, £21 13s. 6d.

DECEMBER 19TH. - AITH, SHETLANDS.

At 3.45 in the afternoon the postmaster at Sandness telephoned that a woman was seriously ill on the island of Papa-Stour and that a doctor was urgently needed. A full gale had been blowing from the south-east, with a very rough sea, for three days, and no ordinary boat could make the passage. The motor life-boat The Rankin was launched at 4.30, with a doctor. She reached the island at six o’clock. The doctor found the patient too ill to be moved to the mainland in that weather. He did all that was possible, and the life-boat took him back to Aith, arriving at 10.20 that night. - Rewards, £16 15s.

Repaid to the Institution.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT WALTON AND FRINTON DECEMBER 2lST. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. At 5.30 in the afternoon the coastguard reported distress signals east-south-east of Walton.The night was very dark, with rain. A strong east-south-east wind was blowing and the sea was very rough.

It was nearly low water. At 6.15 the motor life-boat E.M.E.D . was launched and found the naval motor fishing vessels 96 and 611 stranded on the North East Gunfleet Sands, about five miles from Walton. They were about a hundred yards apart. There was just enough water for the coxswain to take his boat alongside one of the vessels on the inside of the sands.

Heavy seas were breaking over her, but the senior seaman on board refused to leave. He asked the life-boat to stand by, but she was bumping heavily on the sands and the coxswain had to cast off and move to deeper water.

Soon both fishing vessels again made distress signals but now the water was too shallow fort he life-boat to approach them from inside the sands, so the coxswain took her round the end of the sands to try from the outside, but here there was no more water and the seas were heavier, so he returned to the inside. By this time the tide had started to flow, and he drove his boat over the sands and brought her alongside the first fishing vessel. At the same moment a sea lifted the fishing vessel’s bow and brought it down on the life-boat’s stern, smashing the rudder quadrant and putting the rudder out of action.

Undaunted by this mishap the coxswain went astern and found himself near the second fishing vessel. He went alongside her, steering with his engines. He secured the life-boat alongside and the fishing vessel’s crew of six jumped aboard her. The ropes were cut away and the life-boat moved clear. Still steering her by her engines, the coxswain then returned to the first fishing vessel, went alongside and rescued her crew of five. The rescue was complete. It had taken four hours. The coxswain again moved clear of the sands and into deeper water. There, with ropes, he got his rudder working again and made for Brightlingsea. He arrived about two in the morning and put the rescued men on board a naval vessel. The life-boat did not return to her station.

She was sent straight to Rowhedge for repairs.

The coxswain, a man of sixty-five - ably supported by his motormechanics and crew - carried out this difficult service with skill, endurance and determination, and the Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN THOMAS H. BLOOM a clasp to the bronze medal for gallantry which he already held, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To GILBERT BARRS, motor-mechanic, and FRASER T. BACON, assistant motormechanic, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a special reward of £2 in addition to the reward of £2 16s. 6d.

on the standard scale. Standard rewards to crew and helpers, £38 2s. 5d. ; additional rewards to crew, £20; total rewards, £58 2s. 5d.

DECEMBER 22ND. - SELSEY, SUSSEX.

At 9.40 at night the coastguard reported distress signals from a vessel off Middleton, and at ten o’clock the motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched in a strong, northerly wind with a moderate sea running.

She searched for over two hours, and it was not until half an hour after midnight that she saw red rockets and eventually found the vessel ashore one mile east of Middleton. She was the S.S. Kaida, of Leith, with a crew of eleven, bound, laden with maize, from London to Southampton. As it was nearly high water the life-boat was able to go alongside. She took off eight of the crew and landed them at Littlehampton at three in the morning. At low tide the remaining three members of the Kaida's crew waded ashore. The steamer looked like becoming a total wreck. The life-boat reached Selsey again at seven that morning.

- Rewards, £22 9s.

DECEMBER 25TH. - GALWAY BAY. A British soldier coming to his wife in Aran on short leave from Italy arrived at Casla, Connemara, on Christmas Eve, but was unable to find any boat in Connemara to take him to Aran or in Aran to come and fetch him.

His wife was very much distressed, and in these very special circumstances the Galway Bay motor life-boat K.E.C.F., on Aran Island, was launched at mid-day to fetch the soldier from the mainland. A strong southwesterly wind was blowing, with a heavy sea.

The life-boat arrived back with him at 2.35 that afternoon. - No expense to the Institution.

DECEMBER 28TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK.

At 11.13 in the morning, the coastguard reported that North Foreland Radio had received an SOS call from the S.S.

Empire Gatehouse, formerly the German steamer Jutland. She had a fire in herbunkers and was carrying ammunition in her No. 2 hold. Her position was given as near the Shipwash Light-vessel. At 11.33 the No. 1 motor life-boat Abdy Beauclerk was launched in a strong north-north-easterly wind, with a choppy sea. In the meantime the steamer was making for Hollesley Bay and it was here that the life-boat found her about 12.30 in the afternoon. She stood by until the steamer’s crew had got the fire under control and then left, taking with her, at the captain’s request, six men of the crew of 26.

She landed them at Harwich, and returned to her station next day. - Rewards, £52 19s. 6d.

DECEMBER 28TH. - WHITEHILLS, BANFFSHIRE. At 4.50 in the evening the coastguard reported signals from a vessel about five miles north-east of Whitehills, but the signals could not be understood. A northerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea, and at 5.20 the motor life-boat Civil Service No. 4 was launched. She found the Admiralty drifter Nairnside. The drifter was on passage from Ireland to Buckie, had run past Buckie, and wanted a pilot to take her back.

One of the crew of the life-boat went on board her, and the life-boat then piloted her to Macduff harbour. She returned to her station at 7.40 that night. - Rewards, £17 0s. 6d.

DECEMBER 29TH. - SEAHAM, DURHAM.

About three in the afternoon a motor fishing coble was seen to be in distress to the southeast of Seaham, and at 3.43 the motor life-boat Elizabeth Wills Allen was launched, in a moderate north-north-westerly wind, with a moderate sea. She found the coble Three Brothers, of Sunderland, with her engine broken down, and no sail. There were three men on board. The life-boat towed her into Seaham harbour at 4.20 that afternoon.- Rewards, £7 11s.

DECEMBER 31ST. - BALTIMORE, CO.

CORK. At 2.25 in the afternoon the civic guards at Goleen reported that a boat was sending up flares off Alderman Rock, and the motor life-boat Shamrock was launched at three o’clock. A moderate southerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The life-boat found the fishing boat Fineen, of Crookhaven, with five men on board, at 5.30.

Her engine had broken down and she was anchored in a perilous position on a lee shore, off Rock Island Lighthouse. The lifeboat towed her to Crookhaven harbour, and reached her station again at ten o’clock that night. - Rewards, £22 18s. 6d.

The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given : DECEMBER 6TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM.

A naval launch had gone ashore at Warren Point, but the life-boat was recalled as a destroyer had gone to the launch’s help.

- Rewards, £16 16s.

DECEMBER 8TH. - STORNOWAY, HEBRIDES.

A trawler had been reported ashore near Sheshader, but of her crew of thirteen, two got to land in the trawler’s boat and the remainder were saved by a boat from the shore. - Rewards, £10 3s. (See Sheshader, “Services by Shore-boats,” 1946, page 71.)

DECEMBER 12TH. - ANSTRUTHER, FIFESHIRE. A trawler had gone aground near Fifeness, but did not need the life-boat, as a tug came to tow her off. - Rewards, £9 4s.

DECEMBER 12TH. - BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE.

A lady passenger on a tram asked the driver to report that she had seen an aeroplane crash in the sea, but the lifeboat found nothing. - Rewards, £13 13s. 6d.

DECEMBER 12TH. - PENLEE, CORNWALL.

Red flares had been seen from a trawler, but she was taken in tow by one of H.M. ships. - Rewards, £21 7s. 6d.

DECEMBER 13TH. - PORTPATRICK, WIGTOWNSHIRE. An SOS had been received from a motor vessel on fire off Corsewall Point, but the fire was got under control, the injured members of the crew were taken off by a motor launch, and tugs arrived to help the vessel. - Rewards, £13 2s.

6d.

DECEMBER 16TH. - PLYMOUTH, DEVON.

A naval motor boat had foundered while going ashore from minesweeper H.M.S. Tenby in a gale, but the life-boat, which made a long search, found nothing. Of the eight men in the boat, seven were drowned. - Rewards, £13 2s. 6d.

DECEMBER 17TH. - WALMER, KENT.

Flares had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £23 12s. 6d.

DECEMBER 19TH. - CLOVELLY, DEVON.

A naval officer had been cut off by the tide, but he decided to wait until it turned. - Rewards, £26 9s.

DECEMBER 19TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM.

Two fighter aeroplanes had crashed in the sea, but though wreckage was picked up by a motor launch, and oil patches were seen, no survivors could be found. - Rewards, £12 15s.

DECEMBER 19TH. - WALMER, KENT.

The S.S. Terborsch, of Amsterdam, had run aground on the Goodwin Sands, but refloated on the rising tide without help. - Rewards, £31 17s. 6d.

DECEMBER 20TH. - CAISTER, NORFOLK.

Signals by siren from a vessel believed to be on fire had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £12 13s.

DECEMBER 20TH. - WALMER, KENT. A boat had been reported capsized off Dover harbour, but nothing could be found.- Rewards, £32 9s. 6d.DECEMBER 20TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. A small steamer had been reported to have disappeared in a cloud of smoke, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £20 4s.

DECEMBER 21ST. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. A lighter, with one man in her, had broken away from a tug which had her in tow, but when she struck the beach he got safely ashore.- Rewards, £11 14s.

DECEMBER 21ST. - ABERDEEN. A fishing boat had been disabled by a net fouling her propeller, but she was able to clear it and went on her way. - Rewards, £14 14s. 6d.

DECEMBER 24TH. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL, AND APPLEDORE, DEVON.

During the afternoon information was received from the coastguard that a vessel appeared to be in difficulties about five miles west-north-west of Hartland Point. A westnorth- west gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The Padstow No. 1 motor life-boat Princess Mary was launched at 4.45 and spoke a vessel. She was probably the one she was looking for, but she did not need any help.

The life-boat returned to her station at 7.30 on Christmas morning. She had been out for fifteen hours. The Appledore motor life-boat J. B. Proudfoot, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 5.30 and searched, but found nothing. She put into Clovelly Roads for shelter during the night and reached her station at 10.30 on Christmas morning. She had been out for seventeen hours. For these long and arduous trips an increase in the usual money awards on the standard scale was made to each member of the crews of both life-boats. Padstow : standard rewards to crew and helpers, £18 3s. ; additional rewards to crew, £6 1s. 6d. : total rewards, £24 4s. 6d. Appledore: standard rewards to crew and helpers, £26 19s. ; additional rewards to crew, £6 1s. 6d. ; total rewards, £33 0s. 6d.

DECEMBER 2 6TH. - PORTPATRICK, WIGTOWNSHIRE. A steamer had gone aground, but later it was reported that help was not needed and the life-boat was recalled.

- Rewards, £13 14s. 6d.

DECEMBER 27TH. - WICK, CAITHNESSSHIRE.

An object having the appearance of a ship’s boat had been reported, but it was found to be a large Admiralty buoy adrift. - Rewards, £6 13s.

DECEMBER 28TH. - NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.

A landing craft had drifted ashore in shallow water, but the life-boat, which went alongside, found no one on board. - Rewards, £13 13s.

DECEMBER 28TH. - SALCOMBE, AND TORBAY, DEVON. Two Admiralty trawlers had been reported in difficulties about fifteen miles in an easterly direction from Start Point, but one took the other in tow and the life-boats were recalled. - Rewards, Salcombe, £10 8s. 6d. ; Torbay, £10 17s. 6d.

DECEMBER 29TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. A motor boat had been seen drifting, but the life-boat was recalled, and the steamer which had first reported it said later that there was no sign of life on the drifting boat. - Rewards, £4 2s.

DECEMBER 30TH. - WALMER, KENT. A vessel had been reported aground on the Goodwin Sands, but nothing could be seen, and it was assumed that she had got off on the rising tide. - Rewards, £31 17s. 6d.