In the early morning of 23rd. September the Fraserburgh lifeboat was called out. Only the day before the coxswain had been called to the Navy, and Captain Andrew Stephen, honorary secretary of the station took command.

A gale was blowing. The Life-boat found the Grimsby trawler "Northwood" stranded on a reef. Heavy seas were breaking her whole length. The life-boat made three attempts to get alongside the wreck, but the water was too shallow, so she waited for daylight and the rising tide. Then she dropped down on her cable until she was bumping on the bottom. She was still fifty feet from the trawler. She fired her line-throwing gun; rigged a breeches buoy, and hauled the ten men one by one through the surf. One was rescued unconscious but was quickly revived. Another fell out of the buoy, but clung to the line and was hauled in. The Institution has awarded the silver medal to Captain Stephen, who had won its bronze medal eight months before, and two bronze medals and five vellums to the seven members of his crew..