Launches 61 Lives rescued 72

FEBRUARY 1ST. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 12.24 in the morning the coastguard telephoned that red flares had been seen four miles south-west-by-west of Clacton pier, and half an hour later the motor lifeboat Edward Z. Dresden was launched. A strong south-south-west wind was blowing, with a rather rough sea. The life-boat found the auxiliary yacht Puffin, of Rochester, half a mile off Jaywick Beach, with a crew of three. Her engine had broken down, herpumps had failed, and her anchors had dragged. The life-boat rescued the crewone of the men falling into the sea, but being quickly pulled aboard - returned to Clacton and remained alongside the pier until day - light. She left again at 7.15, picked up the Puffin, towed her to Brightlingsea, and returned to her station at 3.45 that afternoon.

- Property salvage case.

FEBRUARY 1ST. - LERWICK, SHETLANDS.

At 3.7 in the morning the coastguard reported a vessel ashore on Holm of Cruester, Lerwick Harbour, and signalling by siren. She was asking for a pilot and the lifeboat.

She was the motor ship Edina, of Leith. At four o’clock the motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched in a strong south-by-east wind, with a moderate sea. She took a pilot with her and put him on board the Edina, and he asked the life-boat to try to refloat her. She made two attempts, without success, but later the ship refloated herself, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 6.56 that morning.

A donation to the funds of the Institution was made by the owners. - Rewards, £13 2s.

6d.

FEBRUARY 1ST. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM.

Just before mid-day the coastguard reported a fishing boat three miles northnorth- east of Ramore Head, lying broadside on to the seas and apparently in difficulties.

The motor life-boat T.B.B.H. was launched at 12.15. A moderate south-westerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. On her way the life-boat met the Portrush fishing boat No. 95, with a crew of four, making for home.

Her engine had been flooded by a heavy sea, but her crew had been able to start it again.

The life-boat escorted her into harbour, which they reached at 1.55 that afternoon. - Rewards, £7 11s.

FEBRUARY 1ST - 3RD. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. About 6.40 in the evening the coastguard reported an SOS from a vessel which was sinking about two miles north-west of the Sunk Lightvessel.

The motor life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched at 7.5. The south-westerly wind was moderate, but the sea was very rough. The sinking vessel was the S.S. Fort Massac, of London. She had been in collision with the British steamer Thornaby, while bound, laden, from Middlesbrough to South Africa. She had a crew of thirty-eight. While on her way to the steamer the life-boat received another message that the steamer had been abandoned, and she was told to search for survivors. This she did, and found two ship’s boats and a raft, but no one on board them. She then made for the steamer, arriving at 9.40, and spoke the Trinity House vessel Patricia. The Patricia and other vessels had taken off thirty-four of the steamer’s crew, but there were three missing and the captain was still on board the steamer. He refused to leave, so the life-boat stood by throughout the night.

At daybreak she took him off and returned to her station, arriving at nine o’clock in themorning of the 2nd. She had been out for fourteen hours.

On the morning of the 3rd of February she was launched again at nine o’clock and took out some of the ship’s officers to recover the ship’s papers. She found the steamer with her bow submerged and the captain’s cabin under water. The papers could not be recovered. She landed the officers at Harwich and arrived back at her station at four that afternoon. - Rewards : first service, £33 10s. 6d. ; second service, £9 15s.

FEBRUARY 3RD. - RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN. At 2.45 in the morning the coastguard reported vessels in collision three miles east-by-north of Queen’s Pier. The motor life-boat Lady Harrison was launched at 3.40. The south-westerly wind was moderate, but the sea rough. The life-boat found that the Dutch motor vessel Rian, of Groningen, laden with coal and bound from Maryport to Par, had been sunk in collision with the Dutch minesweeper Jan Van Gelder, while anchored in Ramsey Bay. Her crew of six had taken to their boat and, with their dog, were picked up by the minesweeper.

The life-boat took them off the minesweeper and landed them at Ramsey at 5.30 that morning. - Rewards, £28 11s.

FEBRUARY 3RD. - COVERACK, CORNWALL. At 6.5 in the morning a man reported a steamer in distress near Lowland Point, and the motor life-boat The Three Sisters was launched at 6.20. A strong westsouth- westerly wind was blowing, with a rough sea. She found the motor vessel Fauvette, of London, aground one mile east-by-north of the life-boat station. She had a crew of nineteen and was bound for Falmouth, laden with ammunition. The life-boat stood by for a time, but as the tide was falling, and the crew would be able to get ashore at low water, she returned to her station at 9.15. - Rewards, £12 12s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 3RD. - PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE.

At four in the afternoon the coxswain saw a vessel putting up distress rockets about two miles east-south-east of Peterhead, and at 4.25 the motor life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was launched.

The southerly wind was light, but there was a heavy swell. The life-boat found the motor vessel Peterborough Trader, of London, bound from Glasgow to the Tyne. Her captain wanted to get into the bay for shelter, but was afraid that his cargo of zinc plates might shift should he come broadside on to the heavy swell. The life-boat escorted her into the bay, and reached her station again at 5.10. - Rewards, £10 9s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 4TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. At six in the evening the harbour master reported to the life-boat station a wireless message from the S.S. Wicklow Head, of Belfast, that she was making for Torbay to land a badly injured man. A local shipping agent also telephoned asking for the services of the lifeboat, as the weather was too bad for other boats. With a doctor on board, the motor life-boat George Shee was launched at 8.50 in a strong, squally westerly wind, with a heavy swell. She found that the man had died, and brought the body ashore, arriving at 11.10 that night. A donation was received to cover the expenses. - Rewards, £12 9s.

FEBRUARY 4TH - 6TH. - ST. DAVID’S AND FISHGUARD, PEMBROKESHIRE, AND NEW QUAY, AND ABERYSTWYTH, CARDIGANSHIRE.

H.M. submarine Universal was on her way to the breaker’s yard. Late on the night of the 3rd of February her engines broke down, off the Welsh coast, and she sent out a distress call. A moderate gale was blowing from the west, and the sea was rough. Her call for help was passed by the coastguard to the St. David’s life-boat station at 11.30 and, at 12.15 in the morning of the 4th of February, the motor life-boat Civil Service No. 6 was launched. She found the submarine nine miles west of the South Bishop Lighthouse with the Irish steamer Lanahrone standing by. By means of her line-throwing gun the life-boat connected the Universal with the Lanahrone, and the steamer started to tow, but the submarine broke away. Another rope was then connected.

This also broke. At 8.45 H.M. destroyer Southdown arrived. The Lanahrone was no longer needed, and went on her way.

A third attempt was made, and this time, with the life-boat’s help, the destroyer was able to get the submarine in tow. The life-boat then left, sheltered for a time in the lee of Ramsey Island, and reached her station at 4.15 that afternoon.

In the afternoon of the same day, the 4th of February, a message reached Fishguard from the destroyer that the submarine was in need of immediate help. She was now off the Fishguard station, twenty-five miles northwest of the point where the St. David’s lifeboat had found her. The Fishguard motor life-boat White Star was launched at 2.45, reached the submarine at 3.30, and stood by her until 10.46 that night, when she left to refuel, taking with her one seaman who had been washed overboard from the Universal and whom she had rescued. She reached her station again at 1.45 in the morning of the 5th of February, and after refuelling left again at four o’clock, and reached the Universal at 8.50. All this time the submarine had been drifting up Cardigan Bay. At 5.20 that morning, the 5th of February, the lights of both the destroyer and submarine were seen from New Quay, and at 6.20 the pulling and sailing life-boat William Cantrell Ashley was launched and she was standing by when the Fishguard life-boat arrived.

Aberystwyth heard from the coastguard, just before midnight on the 4th of February, that the Universal was approaching, and at 8.25 in the morning of the 5th the life-boat Frederick Angus was launched. All three life-boats were now standing by.

It was now the third day. All this time the gale had been blowing and heavy seas running, and the submarine, now off Aberystwyth, was sixty miles from where the St.

David’s life-boat had first gone to her help.The New Quay life-boat returned to her station at eleven that morning, the 5th, leaving the other two life-boats and the destroyer with the submarine. She arrived back at 2.30 in the afternoon. In the meantime the Fishguard and Aberystwyth life-boats advised the submarine commander to abandon ship, but another attempt was first made by the destroyer to take her in tow. When this failed the crew were taken off, sixteen by the Fishguard life-boat and the remaining eleven by the Aberystwyth life-boat. The Fishguard life-boat put one officer on board the destroyer and brought the other rescued men into Fishguard at 5.15 that afternoon. The Aberystwyth life-boat got back to her station at 12.15. But still the work was not ended. On the morning of the 6th, the naval authorities at Plymouth asked the Aberystwyth life-boat to go out again, and she left at 6.40. She reached the Universal at 7.55, took seventeen men to her from the destroyer and two from a tug, and passed lines to her from the tug.

When the tug had the submarine in tow she left for her station, arriving at 11.30 that morning, the 6th of February, sixty hours after the first life-boat had been called out.

The commander-in-chief, Plymouth, wrote sending his thanks. Letters were also received from the officers of the Universal and the district officer of coastguard. The Town Clerk of Fishguard wrote a special letter of appreciation to each member of the Fishguard crew. The Institution made the following awards : An increase in the usual money award on the standard scale to each member of the crew of the New Quay pulling and sailing life-boat.

Standard rewards to crew and helpers, £32 3s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £15 ; total rewards to crew and helpers, £47 3s. 6d. ; An increase in the standard reward to the crew of the Aberystwyth life-boat for the second service. Standard rewards to crew and helpers for the first service, £17 3s. ; standard rewards to crew and helpers for the second service, £27 4s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew, £8 ; total rewards to crew and helpers for second service, £35 4s. 6d. ; Standard rewards to the Fishguard crew and helpers for the first service, £20 11s., and for the second service, £24 ; special rewards to the full-time coxswain and mechanic, £12 5s. ; total rewards to crew and helpers for the two services, £56 16s. ; Standard rewards to the St. David’s crew and helpers, £19 2s. 6d. ; Total rewards for the six services by the four life-boats, £175 9s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 6TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. At eleven in the morning a message from a doctor, through a local shipping agent, asked for the services of the life-boat to land a man who had been seriously injured on board the Swedish steamer Eriksborg, of Landskrona, which was anchored in Torbay. As no other suitable boat was available, and the weather was threatening, the motor life-boat George Shee was launched at 2.25 that afternoon, in a westerly wind, with a heavy swell. She put the doctor on board the steamer, took off the injured man on a stretcher and landed him.

He was then sent by ambulance to the Royal Naval Hospital at Newton Abbot. The lifeboat arrived back at her station at 3.48. A donation was received to cover the expenses.

- Rewards, £4 2s.

FEBRUARY 6TH and 9TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL. At 8.40 at night the coastguard telephoned that red rockets had been fired by a vessel three miles north-west of St.

Agnes Head, and the motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and William Maine was launched at 9.8. A strong west-north-westerly wind was blowing. The sea was very rough. The life-boat found the Liverpool steamer Jellicoe Rose bound, laden, from Garston to Dartmouth, with a crew of twelve. She had a serious defect in her boiler, and a Swedish vessel had already attempted to take her in tow, but the tow rope had parted and the Swedish vessel had gone on her way. The master of the Jellicoe Rose wished to abandon ship, and the life-boat took off the whole crew.

She left the Jellicoe Rose with her anchors down, and reached her station again at two o’clock next morning.

Three days later, on the 9th, the weather was moderating and the captain was very anxious to get back to his ship. A light north-north-west breeze was now blowing, but the sea was still heavy. It was too heavy for an ordinary boat, and the captain’s appeal for the use of the life-boat was granted. She left at 5.45 in the afternoon, with the captain and three of his crew on board. After three attempts the life-boat got alongside the Jellicoe Rose and the captain and two of his men got aboard her. The third man failed and returned in the life-boat, which got back to her station at 11.30 that night. Next day a tug took the steamer in tow. Thanks and a donation were received from the owners.- Rewards : first service, £23 16s. 6d. ; second service, £22 6s.

FEBRUARY 8TH and 9TH. - TENBY, AND ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE. Just before noon the Trinity House at Swansea telephoned to the life-boat station at Tenby, asking if the life-boat could be sent to the St.

Govans Light-vessel as the head keeper was seriously ill and provisions were urgently needed. At 12.35 that afternoon the motor life-boat John R. Webb was launched. A south-westerly gale was blowing and the sea was heavy. She had eighteen miles to go.

When she was out of the shelter of Caldy Island, and within two or three miles of the light-vessel, a particularly big sea broke aboard her. It wrecked the steering wheel and bent the steering shaft. Almost at once the life-boat was nearly overwhelmed by another sea. The coxswain, the second-coxswain and the motor-mechanic were all injured, and the acting assistant motormechanic was seriously injured. He had his pelvis and ribs fractured. He was F. Hooper, aged 71. In spite of the injuries the crew temporarily repaired the steering gear, and the life-boat was able to get back to her station, arriving about five that afternoon.

At 5.40 the Tenby coastguard telephonedto the Angle life-boat station, asking, on behalf of Trinity House, if the Angle lifeboat would go to the light-vessel as soon as the weather moderated. At seven o’clock next morning the 9th of February, the motor life-boat Elizabeth Elson, with the second coxswain in command, was launched. The gale was now blowing from the north-west, and the sea was still rough. The life-boat was able not only to put the provisions on the light-vessel, but to take off the sick man and a workman who had been weather-bound there for two weeks. She landed the men at Milford Haven and reached her station again at one that afternoon.

Trinity House expressed “their best thanks for the assistance rendered by the life-boats.” In view of the arduous services of the Tenby life-boat the Institution made an increase in the usual money award on the standard scale to each member of the crew. Standard rewards to crew and helpers, £28 ; additional rewards to crew, £9 ; total rewards to Tenby crew and helpers, £37. Rewards to Angle crew and helpers, £16 3s. A permanent allowance was made to F. Hooper.

FEBRUARY 8TH - 9TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE.

At nine at night the coastguard telephoned that a vessel with her engine broken down was lying to the north-west of Buckie, and at 9.30 the motor life-boat K.B.M. was launched. A north-north-westerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea.

The life-boat found the naval motor fishing vessel No. 1067, which asked for a tug. She returned to her station and on the way sent a message to the coastguard saying that a tug was wanted. The life-boat arrived at 12.35 next morning, and remained in harbour.

Later a destroyer came to the motor fishing vessel and asked that the life-boat should go out again. This she did at 4.30 and was asked to stand by until dawn. While she was standing by her propeller was fouled by a rope which the destroyer was passing to the motor fishing vessel, but she was able to clear it. Shortly afterwards another destroyer arrived. As the weather was moderating and the crew of the motor fishing vessel were in no immediate danger, and as there appeared to be something wrong with her own propeller shaft the life-boat returned to have it examined and arrived in harbour at 10.30 that morning. Later it was learned that a destroyer had taken the motor fishing vessel in tow. - Rewards, £23 4s.

FEBRUARY 9TH. - BARRY DOCK, GLAMORGANSHIRE.

At 4.44 in the morning the Royal Naval Shore Signal Station at Nells Point telephoned that Burnham Radio had picked up a message from the S.S. Coulgorm, of Glasgow, that she was aground on the south-west corner of the Cardiff Grounds and wanted a tug. At 5.30 a message from the staff officer at Plymouth, asked for the lifeboat to go out and stand by, and the motor life-boat Rachel and Mary Evans was launched at 6.38. A moderate north-westerly wind was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The life-boat reached the vessel, about nine miles away, at 7.10, and stood by. At eight o’clock the Coulgorm refloated under her own power and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at nine o’clock. - Rewards, £11 6s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 10TH. - BLYTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.

About 10.45 in the morning the coastguard telephoned that a fishing boat was in difficulties half a mile east of Blyth pier, and at eleven o’clock the motor life-boat Joseph Adlam was launched. A strong squally westerly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. She found the motor boat Tiger Lily, of Blyth, with a crew of six.

Her engine had failed, and, although her anchor was down, she was driving rapidly out to sea. The life-boat took her in tow and brought her into Blyth at noon. - Rewards, £7 11s.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND.

At 1.15 in the afternoon the coastguard telephoned that a fishing coble was showing a signal of distress three miles east of Holy Island. The motor life-boat Milburn was launched at 1.40, in a light north-westerly wind, with a swell. She found the coble Ocean Maid, of Holy Island, with her engine broken down. The life-boat towed her to Holy Island, arriving at 3.10.- Rewards, £8 3s.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - LYTHAM-ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. About mid-day the police reported that a drifting mine had grounded on the south side of the Ribble estuary by the six-and-a-half-mile light. If the mine were not secured the port would have to remain closed and several ships were waiting to come in on the evening tide. No other boat was available, so the Port of Preston harbour master asked if the life-boat could be used, and at 2.30 the motor life-boat John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood, on temporary duty at the station, was launched. A strong south-south-west breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea.

The life-boat secured the mine and reached her station again at five o’clock. A donation to cover the expenses was received. - Rewards, £7 5s.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.

During the morning the fishing boats went to sea. The sea got up and made it very dangerous for the boats to cross the bar on their return. At 2.45 in the afternoon the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched in a north-northwest wind, with a rough sea. She escorted into harbour the motor fishing boats Easter Morn, Gem, Pilot Me, Jessie Ann, and Mona, and returned to her station at five o’clock.- Rewards, £8 10s.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - PLYMOUTH, DEVON.

At 9.30 at night the King’s harbour master telephoned that Portwrinkle coastguard had reported flashes. Further reports were received from other coastguards, but it was uncertain whether they were signals of distress or lights on board fishing boats, so the motor life-boat Ministre Anseele, a Belgian lifeboat, then stationed at Plymouth, was launched at ten o’clock to investigate. Shesaw a light about midnight, and six miles west-south-west of Rame Head found the motor boat Three Brothers, bound from Plymouth to Polruan. The light seen had been a distress signal. It was made by the last match that the crew of two men had on board. Their engine had broken down. The men were exhausted. The life-boat towed them into Plymouth, arriving at 2.50 next morning. - Rewards, £13 2s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 15TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT.

At 3.15 in the morning the coastguard reported a message from the East Goodwin Light-vessel. She asked for the life-boat to be sent as she had on board survivors from a vessel which had been in collision. She also asked that the life-boat should keep a lookout for a missing boat. The motor life-boat Prudential was launched at 3.50. The westerly wind was light, the sea smooth, but there was dense fog. The life-boat found that the Dutch motor vessel Tyger had sunk after having been in collision with the American steamer Edward R. Squibb. The American steamer had launched two boats, and one had picked up the Tyger’s crew of seven and put them aboard the light-vessel, but the other boat had disappeared. The life-boat took on board the seven men of the Tyger, and the crew of seven of the ship’s boat which had rescued them. She then returned to Ramsgate, towing the ship’s boat, and arrived at 8.15 that morning. Lloyds’ agent at Dover telephoned at 3.25 in the afternoon that the Edward R. Squibb had been found at anchor in the South Downs, and that her missing boat had been picked up by a cross-channel steamer and taken to Dover. He asked that the life-boat should take the men of the Edward R. Squibb and their boat back to their ship. The life-boat Prudential put out again at 4.15 with the seven men and their boat, but she could not find the steamer. She searched for a long time and decided to go to Dover. Just then she saw a light through a break in the fog. It was the Edward R.

Squibb, at anchor, six miles east-north-east of the South Goodwin Light-vessel. She handed over to her the men and the boat at nine o’clock, and got back to Ramsgate at 11.30 that night. - Rewards : first service £19 11s. ; second service, no expense to the Institution.

FEBRUARY 15TH. - THURSO, CAITHNESS- SHIRE. At 4.5 in the afternoon the Wick coastguard reported that the S.S.

Empire Conleith, of London, bound with coal for Iceland, had broken down three miles north of Dunnet Head and was in need of help. Ten minutes later the motor life-boat H.C.J. was launched. A westerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat found that the steamer did not need her help.

What she wanted was a tug. The tug arrived and took her in tow, intending to make for Lyness, but she got into difficulties near Swona. Her master consulted the lifeboat coxswain, who advised him to go to Sinclair’s Bay and anchor there. He did not know the way, so the lift-boat guided him and brought the tug and the steamer, which only just managed to keep clear of the Skerries, safely to anchorage in Sinclair’s Bay at 11.5 that night. She got back to her station at 2.40 next morning. - Rewards, £21 8s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 19TH. - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE.

At 2.30 in the afternoon the life-boat coxswain saw a fishing boat heading for the harbour from the south. A gale was blowing from the north-west and the seas were very heavy on the harbour bar, so he launched the motor life-boat Lily Glen - Glasgow at once and went outside the harbour. Here he met the Fraserburgh motor fishing boat Violet, with a crew of six and a load of herrings, and stood by until she was safely in harbour.

The life-boat returned to her station at 3.10.

- Rewards, £6 19s.

FEBRUARY 20TH. - FLEETWOOD, AND BARROW, LANCASHIRE. At 12.20 in the morning news was received at Fleetwood lifeboat station from the harbour staff that a trawler was showing distress signals. A north-westerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The life-boat was unable to launch owing to gravel piled by the seas on the slipway. The message was passed on to Barrow, and the Barrow motor life-boat N.T. was launched at 1.15. She found the trawler Kunishi aground on the Pilling Sands, east of the Wyre Lighthouse. She had a crew of ten on board and was returning from service with the Navy, to be converted into a trawler again. The water was so shallow that the life-boat could not get within a mile of the trawler, so she went to Fleetwood to report and returned to her station, arriving at 9.30 that morning. At Fleetwood five men of the National Fire Service and of the London Midland and Scottish Railway were called out. They succeeded in clearing the slipway with hoses and the Fleetwood motor life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched at 11.20. She was able to reach the Kunishi and rescued the crew, returning to her station at 12.50 in the afternoon. - Rewards : Fleetwood, £20 0s. 8d. ; Barrow, £14.

FEBRUARY 20TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At five in the evening the life-boat coxswain received a message from the piermaster that a barge with all her sails blown away was driving towards the pier. A westnorth- west gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Greater London (Civil Service No. 3) was launched at 5.15 and a quarter of an hour later met the sailing barge Bassildon, of London, half a mile west of the pier. With great difficulty she went alongside her, but found no one in her.

Three life-boatmen then boarded the barge and the life-boat towed her to a safe anchorage.

She reached her station again at 6.45. - Property salvage case.

FEBRUARY 23RD. - WALMER, KENT. A strong west-south-west gale was blowing and the sea was very rough. In the early morning a ship was seen to be in difficulties. She tried to move to a safe anchorage and grounded onthe Goodwin Fork Sands. At 9.10 the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) was launched, and found the ship to be the American steamer Fort Frederica, of Portland, of 10,480 tons, loaded with petrol. She was bound from Trinidad for Hull and had a crew of 46, and three passengers. She was lying with a big list and the seas were breaking right over her. The life-boat went alongside and put her second-coxswain and three lifeboatmen on board, but it was impossible for her to remain alongside. She lay off until, as the tide rose, the steamer righted herself and refloated. The life-boat then escorted her clear of the sands, and the second-coxwain piloted her to an anchorage in the Downs. The life-boat went alongside, took off her second-coxswain and three life-boatmen, and returned to her station, where she arrived at 1.20 that afternoon. - Property salvage case.

SILVER MEDAL SERVICE AT WHITBY FEBRUARY 23RD. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE. The records of the life-boat service are full of stories of gallantry, but it is nearly always gallantry of coxswains and crews working together. The opportunities for personal gallantry by single men are much rarer, but there was one on this day, at Whitby, and the opportunity was taken at once. In the morning the fishing fleet had gone out.

Three hours later a gale sprang up, the seas were rising fast, and at 10.45 the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched to be ready outside the harbour, to escort the fishing boats in as they returned. It is always a dangerous entrance in heavy weather, for there is a bar outside and the distance between pier and pier is only 80 yards. On this morning, with the gale blowing from the north-north-west, the seas were breaking right into the harbour mouth and were coming over the piers. The life-boat successfully escorted five fishing boats across the bar and between the piers, and then put out again to meet another boat, which was just coming in, the Easter Morn. The coxswain saw a great sea break over her and bury her. When she appeared again he saw men on board waving, saw men on the pier above waving too, and heard the crowd shouting. He knew that it must mean only one thing, that one of the men on the fishing boat had been washed out by that sea. He opened out his engines to full speed, and as the life-boat was lifted on the crest of a wave he could see a man in the water. He had a life-buoy ready with a line attached and it was flung, but the man in the water made no attempt to seize it and the coxswain saw him drifting astern of the life-boat. He shouted that he must be unconscious and, without hesitation, one of his crew, John Robert Harland, jumped overboard in his oilskins and life-belt.

He seized the unconscious man. The crew hauled in the buoy and flung it to him. Both men were pulled on board, and the life-boatmen worked on the unconscious man with artificial respiration until the harbour was reached. There a doctor came to him and he was quickly brought round.

There is no doubt that Robert Harland, by jumping without hesitation into those cold and tumultuous seas pouring between the piers, had saved the man’s life.

The life-boat then put to sea again and escorted in two more fishing boats.

There was one still to come. As she was seen approaching the life-boat again put out, but the fishing boat altered course and made for Scarborough, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at six that evening.

To JOHN ROBERT HARLAND the Institution awarded its silver medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum. It also awarded him the Miss Maud Smith reward for courage, in memory of John, 7th Earl of Hardwicke, for the bravest act of life-saving of the year by a life-boatman.

The King awarded him the silver medal for gallantry in saving life at sea, and the Carnegie Hero Fund an honorary certificate and £15. The Whitby magistrates, and others, presented him with a cheque.

To COXSWAIN HARRY MURFIELD, the Institution awarded its bronze medal for gallantry, with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each member of the crew it made a special money award in addition to the ordinary award on the standard scale, and to J. R. Harland an allowance of £3 for damaged clothing. Standard rewardsadditional rewards to crew, £14 3s. 6d. ; allowance to J. R. Harland, £3 ; total rewards, £30 18s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 23RD. - TEESMOUTH, YORKSHIRE.

At 12.15 in the afternoon the South Gare Lighthouse telephoned that a vessel was in difficulties 200 yards north-east of the lighthouse. A northerly gale was blowing and the sea was rough. The life-boat crew assembled. They learnt that the steamer was the S.S. Blair Devon, of Glasgow, that her engine had broken down, and that she was holding by two anchors. At 2.45 the motor life-boat J. W. Archer was launched and put a pilot on board the steamer. A tug tried to take her in tow, but failed and left. The Blair Devon then got up her anchors and tried to make an offing, but failed. It was evident that she would not clear the Saltscar Rocks.

The life-boat then came to Teesmouth entrance, called for a tug and went back with her to the steamer. The tug towed the steamer to Hartlepool and the life-boat made for Middlesbrough, where she was left until the weather moderated. - Rewards, £15.

FEBRUARY 2 3RD. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. At 5.45 in the evening the coastguard reported that a fishing boat, which had been unable to enter Whitby harbour owing to heavy seas, was making for Scarborough to shelter, and at 6.5 the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was launched. A north-by-west gale was blowing, with heavy seas and snow. Three miles north-northeast of Castle Hill the life-boat found the Whitby fishing boat Provider. One of her crew had been lost overboard. The life-boat gave her the course to steer and escorted her safely through the heavy seas into harbour.

She arrived back at her station at 7.20.- Rewards, £43 15s.

FEBRUARY 26TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 1.32 in the morning the coastguard telephoned that a vessel was aground on the east side of Scroby Sands, but not showing distress signals, and at 2.20 the Gorleston motor lifeboat Louise Stephens was launched, in a light east-north-east wind with a moderate sea.

Before she reached the east side she found the tug Empire Clara aground on the west side of the sands, put a man aboard, and signalled for a tug. When the tug, the Richard Lee Barber, approached, she also grounded, but got clear, and the life-boat passed a rope from her to the Empire Clara.

It parted, but was reconnected. The Richard Lee Barber started to tow at 4.45, but without success. Fresh efforts were made ; the lifeboat sounded for deep water and gave advice ; and at 2.25 in the afternoon the Richard Lee Barber pulled the Empire Clara off and made for Great Yarmouth with her.

The life-boat arrived back at her station again at 3.30. - Property salvage case.

FEBRUARY 26TH - 27TH. - CAISTER, AND GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, coastguard telephoned to Caister that the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boat had just launched to a vessel on the east side of Scroby Sands, and that there was another vessel aground on the west side. The Caister motor life-boat Jose' Neville was launched at 3.20 in an east-north-east wind, with a choppy sea. She found the Gorleston lifeboat standing by the Empire Clara, which was aground on the west side of the Sands.

She then went to search for the other vessel on the east side, but the vessel was not showing any lights and it was not until 7.15 that the life-boat found her in a very difficult position on the east side of the sand, one mile east of Scroby Elbow Buoy. She was the Dutch motor vessel Caribia, of Delfzyl, with nine people on board, including the skipper’s wife and her two babies. They were only seven and nineteen months old. Although herself bumping heavily on the sands the lifeboat succeeded in reaching the Caribia, bow on, and rescued the skipper’s wife, the two children and the crew of five. The skipper declined to leave, and the life-boat took the rescued people to Great Yarmouth.

She then returned to the Caribia to find her high and dry, and made for her station again, arriving at 11.45 that morning.

At 12.26 in the afternoon of the next day, the 27th, the coastguard telephoned to Gorleston that a doctor was needed by the Caribia, and the life-boat put out at 1.12 with a doctor. She found that some of the Caribia’s crew had already returned to her and that the skipper had broken his collar bone in his efforts to refloat his ship. His men took him in a small boat to the life-boat where he was examined by the doctor, and the life-boat brought him to Yarmouth, arriving at 2.20. - Rewards : Caister, £36 7s. ; Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, £6 11s.

FEBRUARY 2 7TH. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, CO. WEXFORD. At 3.45 in the afternoon information was received that the principal keeper at the Tuskar Rock Lighthouse had asked by wireless for the life-boat to bring ashore a sick keeper. The motor life-boat Agnes Cross, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 3.55 in a light north-easterly wind, with a choppy sea. She brought the sick man ashore and returned to her station at 5.45. - Rewards, £5 3s. 6d.

Partly permanent paid crew. Expenses paid by the Irish Lights Commissioners.

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

FEBRUARY 1ST. - WICKLOW. Flares had been seen, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £l6 16s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 3 RD. - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. Signals from a dinghy had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £16 1s.

FEBRUARY 3RD. - CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE. A small boat had been reported drifting, but she returned without help, although she had lost her rudder and had to be steered by an oar. Flashes had also been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £10 17s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 6TH. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL.

An aeroplane’s crew had been reported seen on a float, but they proved to be twelve men in a ship’s boat who were landed by a motor boat from Port Isaac.- Rewards, £8 10s. (See Port Isaac, “Services by Shore-boats,” page 72.)

FEBRUARY 6TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO.

DOWN. A fire had been seen on Copeland Island, but it was found to have been lit by rabbit trappers to burn rubbish. - Rewards, £13 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 7TH. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE.

A schooner had been reported drifting with all her sails gone, but she was found to be using her auxiliary engine with her masts bare. - Rewards, £9 18s.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - THURSO, CAITHNESS- SHIRE. A steamer’s engine had failed but she was able to go on slowly, and needed not a life-boat, but tugs. - Rewards, £24 16s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 11TH. - LONGHOPE, ORKNEYS.

A vessel had been reported on fire, but the fire was on shore on Eday Island.- Rewards, £14 11s.

FEBRUARY 15TH. - SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.

A steamer had been reported to have struck a bank, or a reef, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £37 14s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 18TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.

Flares had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £13 2s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 18TH and 19TH. - ST. ABBS, AND EYEMOUTH, BERWICKSHIRE. A vessel on fire had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards : St. Abbs, £21 2s.

6d. ; Eyemouth, £26 5s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 20TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

A fishing boat had shown flares when her engine broke down, but she was able to restart it and went on her way. - Rewards, £56 9s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 23RD. - ANSTRUTHER, FIFESHIRE. A fishing boat had been reported drifting, but she was found to be lifting crab pots and not to need help.- Rewards, £10 15s.

FEBRUARY 23RD. - TORBAY, DEVON.

A whaler from a naval corvette had been reported missing. She was found waterlogged, but there was no trace of her crew of four. - Rewards, £10 11s. 6d.

FEBRUARY 23RD. - NORTH SUNDERLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND. A Beadnell fishing boat had been reported out invery bad weather, but she reached harbour without help. - Rewards, £16 13s.

FEBRUARY 23RD. - TORBAY, DEVON. A motor boat had been reported in difficulties off Dartmouth, but she was towed in by a tug. - Rewards, £6 6s.

FEBRUARY 26TH. - SENNEN COVE, CORNWALL. A steamer which was making water had called for help, but she was able to get the leak under control without help.- Rewards, £12.

FEBRUARY 28TH. - CLACTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX. Red flares had been reported, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £15 15s.