On 24th, September, 1939, just three weeks after war was declared, the Aldeburgh life-boat rescued the crew of 24 of a French steamer which had been torpedoed. The honorary secretary at Aldeburgh had a letter at the beginning of this year from the steamer's wireless-officer: "I am writing to-day from a Liberated France to send you an expression of my gratitude for the aid which you then brought us"..