MARCH MEETING BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE. At 3.15 in the afternoon of the 3rd of February, 1945, an object was seen by the coastguard, about three-quarters of a mile off shore. The weather was fine, with a south-west wind ; the sea was calm. The two life-boat coxswains and the motor-mechanic put out at 3.15 in a rowing boat and found a partly submerged and water-logged pontoon. They were unable to tow it ashore, and returned at 4.50.

Later in the day the naval authorities asked for the life-boat to go out and bring in the pontoon, but she could not find it in the darkness. - Rewards, £1 10s., and 2s. 6d. for a helper on shore. (See Blackpool, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 19.) COLWYN BAY, DENBIGHSHIRE. At 4.15 in the afternoon of the 3rd of February, 1945, the naval authorities informed the Hoylake coastguard that a Mosquito aeroplane had crashed in the sea off Rhos-on-Sea. Theweather was fine, with a light southerly wind and a calm sea. Two rowing boats put out from Colwyn Bay. One was manned by four men, the other by two. The Llandudno lifeboat and an R.A.F. launch also went out.

The four men in one boat picked up two airmen and transferred them to the R.A.F. launch, but both died. As the wind and sea were increasing, the life-boat towed the rowing boat to more sheltered waters. The two men in the other boat found nothing.- Rewards, £6. (See Llandudno, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 19.) New BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. At 1.30 in the afternoon of the 18th of February, 1945, the police reported that a child had been drowned and that other persons were in imminent danger near the New Brighton Bathing Pool. A fresh southerly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The coxswain, second-coxswain and the two motor mechanics put out five minutes later in the life-boat’s boarding boat, and 200 yards west of Perch Rock Lighthouse found an army raft being swept upriver. On board were four children and two adults. Two other adults were hanging on, exhausted.

The life-boatmen rescued them and landed them at New Brighton Stage. Then they put out again, recovered the raft and returned it to the army authorities. - Rewards, £2, and £2 for cleaning of clothes.