Launches 40 Lives rescued 24

JULY 6TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 12.35 in the morning the coastguard reported a vessel aground on South Scroby Sands, and a few minutes later another message came that a second vessel had grounded on South Scroby Sands. A light breeze was. blowing and the sea was smooth. At 1.50 the motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched and found the Greek steamer Aighai half a mile south-east of St. Nicholas Buoy and the steamer Mistley about half a mile east-north-east of St.

Nicholas Buoy. The life-boat stood by.

Later both steamers refloated and the lifeboat escorted them in turn into Hewetts Channel. Then they went on their way.

The life-boat returned to her station at 6.25. - Rewards, £9 2s. 3d.

JULY 6TH. - LERWICK, SHETLANDS.

At 1.55 in the afternoon a doctor at Unst asked that the life-boat might he sent to Baltasound to take a sick boy, who was in need of urgent medical attention, to Lerwick ; no other boat was available. There was a south-west breeze and the sea was choppy.

At 2.30 the motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched and arrived at Baltasound at 6.55. Owing to an attack of vomiting the boy could not he moved at once.

When it had abated, the boy, with his parents and a nurse, went on board the life-boat and she arrived at Lerwick at 1.17 next morning, Thanks largely to the help of the life-boat the boy’s life was saved. - Rewards, £7 10s.

Repaid to the Institution.

JULY 15TH. - CULLERCOATS, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 4.5 in the afternoon a message was received from the Tynemouth coastguard that bathers were in difficulties at Sharpness Point, Tynemouth. A fresh north-east wind was blowing, and the sea was choppy. At 4.15 the motor life-boat Westmorland was launched and found that the police had rescued two of the bathers. She cruised round among the rocks without finding anyone and returned to her station at 5.40. At 6.10 the life-boat was again launched, in response to a further message, and found the body of a young girl. All attempts to revive her failed. The life-boat took the body to Cullercoats, put out again and made a further, but fruitless, search. She returned to her station at 9.30. The Chief Constable of Tynemouth sent his thanks for the life-boat’s help. - Rewards, £42 18s. 6d.

JULY 1 5 T H . - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. At ten at night the Bangor coastguard telephoned that five men on board a yacht in Ballyholme Bay were unable to get ashore. A strong northerly wind was blowing, with a heavy sea and rain. The motor life-boat Civil Service No. 5 left her moorings at 10.20 and reached the sailing yacht Dolphin, of Belfast, at 11.30. She took the five men to Donaghadee, arriving at 12.30 the next morning. - Rewards, £8 18s. 6d.

BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT ANGLE JULY 16TH. - ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.

At 11.10 in the morning the Tenby coastguard telephoned that the naval authorities at Milford Haven had reported a vessel ashore on Grassholm Island and in need of help. It had been blowing hard all night from the west-northwest, and rough seas were running, with a dangerous ground swell. The motor life-boat Elizabeth Elson was launched at 12.20. She found the ex- German steamer Walter L. M. Russ, manned by seventeen men from South Shields, about fifty yards from the western extremity of Grassholm Island.

The heavy seas were making a clean sweep over her and only her bridge, the upper part of the funnel and the two masts could be seen above the sea. The life-boat could also see two men clinging to the funnel ladder and another in the main top. Damaged rigging and gear hanging loose made approach very difficult, but the coxswain succeeded in anchoring to seaward of the wreck and in dropping down close enough to fire a line. He fired a line first to the two men on the funnel ladder, for the funnel might have been washed away at any moment.

Exhausted though they were, they were able to fix the tackle of the breeches buoy to the funnel and were hauled to the life-boat in the buoy. Several times a line was fired to the man in the main top before he was able to seize it. Then he, too, was hauled to the life-boat. The rescue of the three men had taken two hours.

From them the coxswain learnt that other men of the steamer’s crew were on Grassholm Island. There he searched and saw six clinging to rocks, where the seas were breaking heavily.

It was too risky to anchor near that rocky shore and drop down on his cable, so he took the life-boat as near as he could six times, threw a line and each time hauled a man on board.

The rescue of these six men took another hour. Eight other men of the steamer’s crew were still unaccounted for and the life-boat searched, but could not find them. The nine rescued men were in much need of attention, and the life-boat took them to Milford Haven. She then returned to her station, at 10.30 that night. It was a difficult service, very skilfully carried out, and the life-boat was at sea for over ten hours.

The Institution made the following awards : To COXSWAIN JAMES WATKINS, a clasp to the bronze medal for gallantry which he already held, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each member of the crew a special reward of £1 in addition to the usual reward, on the standard scale of £1 17s. 6d.

Standard rewards to crew and helpers, £18 ; additional rewards to crew, £8 ; total rewards, £26.

JULY 16TH. - WHITEHILLS, BANFFSHIRE.

At 12.25 in the afternoon the Banff coastguard telephoned that a small rowing and sailing boat appeared to be in difficulties about one mile north-north-east of Banff. A fresh south-east wind was blowing, with a slight sea. The motor lifeboat Civil Service No. 4 was launched at 12.45 and found the boat three-quarters of an hour later. She was near the Banff gas works.

Four people were on board. They had got hold of one of the poles fixed for the salmon nets, and so had kept their boat from going on the rocks. Approaching as near as possible the life-boat threw them a rope and towed the boat into Banff harbour, arriving at 2.30. - Rewards, £5 7s. 9d.

JULY 18TH. - FENIT,. CO. KERRY. On the 13th of July the sailing yacht Penta, of Glasgow, had anchored about 500 yards eastsouth- east of the pier at Fenit. She had on board her owner, his wife and their maid.

On the 18th a very strong south-east gale began to blow, raising a short steep sea.

The yacht began to drag towards the shore, and at eleven in the morning the motor lifeboat Peter and Sarah Blake was launched.

She went alongside the Penta, but the owner waved her off, as both the life-boat and the Penta were pitching heavily. The life-boat then went ahead, and fired her line-throwing gun. In this way a tow rope was passed on board, but the Penta was unable to cast off her moorings and the life-boat drifted to lee-ward and had to let go the tow rope. She recovered it and anchored 50 to 60 yards ahead of the Penta, awaiting a signal. When this was made the life-boat steamed slowly ahead, but the owner on the fore-deck seemed to collapse, and he did not cast off the moorings. The next minute the maid was thrown over the side by the tow-rope, and the owner dived into the sea to her help.

The life-boat cut its rope to be free to pick them up if they were carried clear of the yacht. But both held on to the Penta’s bowsprit bob-stay. Then the maid climbedaboard, but the owner let go his hold and drifted away. The life-boat came round at once, and put three men in her boarding boat, which was moored close by. They picked up the owner, unconscious, and pulled ashore, but all attempts to revive him failed.

Meanwhile the second-coxswain had caught his thumb between a stanchion of the lifeboat and the towing-rope and they had severed it at the first joint. The life-boat at once put him ashore at the pier. She then returned to the Penta, rescued the two women, and brought them ashore at three o’clock. During the evening the life-boat towed the Penta to the pier. - Rewards : first service, £4 12s. ; second service, £8 19s. 6d.

Compensation was made to the secondcoxswain.

JULY 20TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. The life-boat crew had assembled to take the life-boat to Dartmouth for the life-boat flag day there, when, at 12.56 in the afternoon, Brixham coastguard reported a small boat in Babbacombe Bay in need of help, and at 1.5 the motor life-boat George Shee was launched.

A fresh west-by-south wind was blowing, with a short, choppy sea. The life-boat found four rowing boats with eight people in them, from two to three miles off shore, in danger of drifting out to sea. They were helpless in the steep seas, and the rowers were completely exhausted. The life-boat went alongside each boat in turn, took the people on board and took the boat in tow.

All the boats had shipped water, and all the people were suffering from shock and exposure.

Rum was served out to them, and the life-boat took them and the boats to Babbacombe.

She returned to her station at 3.15.

- Rewards, £3 19s. 6d.

JULY 2 4 T H . - TOBERMORY, HEBRIDES.

After the last boat of the day had left for Oban, a local doctor asked the life-boat to take an urgent surgical case to Oban. He thought that the man would not live until the following day. There was little wind and the sea smooth. At 1.10 in the afternoon the motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was launched, embarked the patient and a nurse and reached Oban at five o’clock. The patient was landed and taken to hospital.

The life-boat waited for the nurse, left Oban at 6.35 and reached Tobermory at 10.30 that night. The patient did not recover. A relative made a donation to the Institution.- Rewards, £5 12s. 6d.

JULY 26TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 1.56 in the afternoon a message came from the coastguard that a vessel was aground on South Scroby Sands, two and a half miles from Yarmouth. The north-north-east wind was light, but the sea rough. At 2.15 the motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched and found the Swedish steamer Hugin. The coxswain went on board her and advised the captain to stop her engines and let her lie until flood tide. A wireless message was then sent asking for a pilot to take the steamer to Tynemouth, and an hour later a salvage officer and a pilot arrived. The weather was getting worse and the life-boat anchored a short distance away to avoid the danger of colliding with the Hugin. A wireless message came from the naval base asking if a tug were needed, but this the Hugin captain declined. About 7.45 the Hugin refloated and the life-boat escorted her into Yarmouth Roads, returning to her station at 8.45 that evening. - Rewards, £4 10s. 9d.

JULY 27TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL.

At 2.41 in the afternoon the St. Ives coastguard reported that a vessel four miles west of the Longships had a case of appendicitis on board in urgent need of attention. There was a light northerly wind and the sea was smooth. At 3.15 the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched with a doctor and an ambulance man on board. Meanwhile the vessel had been directed to St. Ives Bay, but visibility was so poor that it was not until 5.15 that the life-boat found her. She was the American steamer David L. Swain, and it was her captain who was ill. The doctor was put on board and then the captain was taken into the lifeboat, brought ashore, and sent to hospital. The David L. Swain continued on her way and the life-boat returned to her station at 6.35.

- Rewards, £8 4s. 6d.

JULY 27TH. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

The fishing boat May Lily was overdue No news about her could be obtained and at three in the afternoon a request was made for aeroplanes to search.

They returned at 4.15. They had seen the May Lily showing distress signals, and gave her position. A fresh northerly wind was blowing, with a heavy swell. The life-boat crew had been standing ready, and at 4.25 the motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched. Unfortunately, a wrong position had been given and she spent the night in a fruitless search. At dawn the aircraft again went out and eventually guided the life-boat to the May Lily. She was then 24 miles south-east-by-east of Peterhead. Her engines had broken down and her nets could not be pulled in, but just as the life-boat had passed ropes aboard her, her engineer started her engines again, and to help save as much of her gear as possible, some of the life-boat’s crew went on board her. The life-boat then returned to her station, the May Lily following under her own power. They arrived at ten o’clock next morning. - Rewards, £17 8s.

JULY 27TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. At 4.6 in the afternoon the Selsey coastguard reported an aeroplane down in the sea a mile south of Bognor. There was a light northwest breeze and the sea was smooth. At 4.25 the motor life-boat Canadian Pacific was launched and searched, but found nothing. She was recalled by wireless and on her way back was hailed by a fishing boat when two and a half miles south of Bognor Pier. The boat’s engines had broken down.

The life-boat towed her to Bognor, and re-turned to her station at 7.30 that evening.

- Rewards, £9 7s.

JULY 31ST. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL. At 5.45 in the afternoon a message was received from the coastguard that a minesweeper was approaching, and needed a doctor for a case of suspected appendicitis. A light northeast wind was blowing, and the sea moderate.

At 6.15 the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched with a doctor on board, and found H.M. Minesweeper Grenadier. The sick man was put on board the life-boat, brought ashore, and taken by ambulance to hospital. The lifeboat returned to her station at 8.45. - Rewards, £8 4s. 6d.

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

JULY 3RD. - WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET. An aeroplane had crashed in flames in the sea, but only a body was found.

- Rewards, £4 0s. 6d.

JULY 4TH. - HELVICK HEAD, CO. WATERFORD. A punt with two people on board was missing, but came ashore without help. - Rewards, £11 14s.

JULY 7TH. - WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET. An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but the pilot reached the shore unaided.

- Rewards, £8 4s.

J ULY 8 T H . - WALMER, KENT. The French naval trawler La Nantaise had been sunk in collision with the British steamer Helen Crest, but a tug rescued fourteen of her crew. The remaining eleven were lost.

- Rewards, £16 13s.

JULY 9TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. A small boat had capsized off Shellness Point, but the two people aboard reached the shore. - Rewards, £5 9s. 9d.

JULY 9TH. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE.

An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but only oil was found. - Rewards, £11 5s. 6d.

JULY 10TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. A small sailing dinghy was overdue, but reached shore unaided. - Rewards, £8 13s.

JULY 13TH. - ST. ABBS, BERWICKSHIRE.

An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but all its crew were lost and six bodies were picked up by fishing boats. - Rewards, £6 18s. (See St. Abbs, “Services by Shoreboats,” page 61.) JULY 13TH. - CROMARTY. Three soldiers had gone out in an old flying-boat float, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £7 10s.

JULY 13TH. - NORTH SUNDERLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND. A vessel had been reported ashore in thick fog, but apparentlyshe refloated and went on her way. - Rewards, £12 19s. 9d.

JULY 14TH. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE.

An aeroplane had come down in the sea, but the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, £5 1s.

JULY 15TH. - CLOGHER HEAD, CO.

LOUTH. Flares had been reported, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £20 4s. 6d.

JULY 17TH. - CLOGHER HEAD, CO.

LOUTH. Three young men had put to sea in a canvas canoe, but lost their lives before the life-boat could reach them. - Rewards, £10 12s. 6d.

JULY 19TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT.

White Very lights had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £25 15s.

JULY 23RD. - DUN LAOGHAIRE, CO.

DUBLIN, AND WICKLOW, CO. WICKLOW.

Flares had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards : Dun Laoghaire, £11 14s. ; Wicklow, £15 1s. 3d.

JULY 2 3RD. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.

Three men in a rowing boat had been reported in need of help, but it was a false alarm. - Rewards, £17 0s. 6d.

JULY 24TH. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE.

An aeroplane had fallen into the sea, but her crew of two were rescued by a flying-boat.

- Rewards, £13 5s. 6d.

JULY 26TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE.

An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £13 l6s.

JULY 27TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. A yacht had been reported in distress, but she was taken in tow by a trawler. - Rewards, £8 10s.

JULY 27TH. - BALLYCOTTON, AND COURTMACSHERRY, CO. CORK. A fishing boat had been reported overdue, but she was picked up by another fishing boat.- Rewards : Ballycotton, £4 12s. ; Courtmacsherry, £8 5s. 6d.

JULY 29TH. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. A fishing boat returning from a pleasure trip had trouble with her engine, but she was able to repair it. - Rewards, £3 10s.

JULY 30TH. - ABERDEEN. An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but only wreckage and oil were found. - Rewards, £5 17s.