Commander P. E. Vaux, D.S.C..R.N., who was Chief Inspector of Lite-boats when war was declared and was called back at once to the Navy, served for four and a half years until in the spring of 1944 he was released at the urgent request of the Institution. He served first in command of six anti-submarine trawlers in the English Channel, and was then appointed an anti-submarine training officer, being promoted commander in January, 1941 and given command of H.M.S. "Seahawk", an anti-submarine training base. In November 1942 he took part in the landing in North Africa, was naval officer in charge at Bougie and PhiUipville, and captain of the shore-base at Bizcrta. In November 1943 he was given command of H.M.S.

"Vindictive", a mobile destroyer repair ship, and was serving in her at Malta when he was called home to the Life-boat Service..