THE LIFE-BOAT The Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution

VOL. XXXIII DECEMBER 1954 No. 370

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 155 Motor Life-boats 1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to 31st October, 1954 - 78,940

Notes of the Quarter THE cold, wet summer of 1954 was a LIFE-BOATMEN'S CHRISTMAS most exacting period for the Life-boat IF what has happened in recent years Service. In the six summer months, can be taken as a guide, a number of from the 1st of April to the 30th of life-boatmen are likely to spend some September, the Institution's life-boats part of Christmas at sea, rescuing those were launched on service 356 times and in danger. It is only four years since rescued 252 lives. The corresponding the bowman of the Walmer life-boat figures for 1953 were 334 launches on lost his life at sea on Christmas Eve. service and 180 lives rescued. Before On Christmas Day in the same year, the end of September more lives had 1950, the Redcar and Teesmouth life- been rescued by life-boats in 1954 than boats were both out on service, the were rescued in the whole of 1953. Teesmouth boat putting out at 10.30 at July was a particularly busy month, night and returning only at 4.45 next with 82 launches, as the result of which morning. In 1952 four life-boats were 55 lives were rescued. Never before in out on either Christmas Eve or Christ- the history of the Institution have life- mas Day, the Girvan and Yarmouth boats been launched so often in July. boats carrying out two services each and August has now become traditionally Campbeltown and Montrose one each. a month in which considerable numbers Scottish life-boats are equally liable to of yachtsmen are rescued and their have to go out on New Year's Day, as yachts saved. It may be noted, in the crew of JIallaig know from personal view of misleading tales which are still experience. current, that in August this vear, when In addition to the services rendered life-boats were launched on service 68 to those in danger, a traditional task times, only two property salvage claims carried out by a number of life-boats, were put forward by life-boatmen. In including those at Barry Dock, Clacton, one case the yacht saved had been Eastbourne, Margate, Selsey, Walton abandoned and was found drifting 8 and Frinton, and Weymouth, is taking miles from the East Goodwin light- Christmas fare to the men manning vessel. In the other ease a motor lightvessels. vessel was on charter to a brewery for advertising purposes. The two men BARROW'S STRANGE RECORD on board were rescued and brought to A record believed to be unique in the the life-boat, station. Life-boat Service was established this 762 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 year by the Barrow life-boat. On myself, is not a man to raise difficulties three consecutive occasions she was or to shrink from work", had stated launched to the help of the same single that the work could not be done more vessel. This was the Tranquillity, of quickly without additional staff, and he Peterhead. On the first and third assured Members that the Board of occasions, on the 22nd of July and the Trade had not communicated any facts 19th of September, the crew were to the Press. Then he explained where rescued from the Tranquillity, and on the Press had got its information. This the second occasion, on the 8th of was from the Report of the Life-boat September, the fishing boat was towed Institution where, apparently, the same in. difficulties in the matter of staff and sickness did not prevail. A QUESTION IN THE HOUSE The Annual Report of the Institution LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY'S has appeared this year in a somewhat ACHIEVEMENT different form. It is now known as a Panto Day, an annual event organ- Year Book, and by the publication of ised by the students of Liverpool the district branch collections as a University, this year produced a wind- separate supplement, it has been pos- fall for the Institution. As a result of sible to bring it out much earlier than in the students' activities Miss Joan the past. Early publication of the Crosley, secretary of the Panto Commit- Institution's Report has not always met tee, presented a cheque for the remark- with official approval and on one able sum of £4,000 to the Liverpool occasion even led to the asking of an branch, whose deputy chairman is Mr. embarrassing question in the House of M. Arnct Robinson, a member of the Commons. On the 2nd of December, Committee of Management of the 1867, the Vice-President of the Board Institution and chairman of the Hoy- of Trade, Stephen Cave, was asked why lake branch. In accordance with the the Official Wreck Register for 1866 had wishes of the students, the sum presen- not been printed and delivered to Mem- ted will be used principally to pay for bers of Parliament although its contents the 15 h.p. diesel-engined boarding had already appeared in the Press. boat Panto, which was delivered to The Vice-President of the Board of New Brighton station early this year, Trade evidently found this a searching and for its ancillary equipment. Every question. He spoke of "an unhealthy year part of the Panto Day's takings go time in the office, temporarily depriving to the Sick and Orphaned Kiddies' it of some valuable services". He Christmas Treat Fund of the Merseyside declared that the assistant secretary of Hospitals' Council. This year the fund the marine department "who, as the received £500, and all the other money Hon. Member knows almost as well as received went to the Institution.

Three Men Jump from a Fishing Vessel AT 5.2.3 on the afternoon of the 26th a moderate gale was blowing from the of July, 1954, a man at Aberdovey south-west, and it was high water. telephoned the Aberystwyth, Cardi- The launch was a difficult one, and ganshire, life-boat station to say that a the head launcher, Captain T. Brodi- fishing vessel was in difficulties between gan, when on the front of the tractor, Towyn and Aberdovey. Immediately injured his hand while slipping the afterwards the coastguard confirmed carriage securing chain. He was in the news. The boat in difficulties was great pain, but he carried on until the the 40-feet M.F.V. Lindy Lou, which boat was safely away. was in tow of an army launch. The life-boat was asked to stand by at the A Rough Passage Aberdovey harbour bar. About seven o'clock, after a rough passage, the life-boat met the two The life-boat Aguila Wren was boats between the Fairway and Bar launched at 5.50. The sea was rough, Buoys. The Lindy Lou had broken DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 763 down, and the two boats were making began to sweep over the Lindy Lou heavy weather. and her crew put on life-jackets and The three men on board the Lindy prepared to jump. About 7.40 the Lou refused to be taken off, and the coxswain closed the Lindy Lou, which crew of the launch, whose fuel was was then surging about in confused getting low, suggested that the life- cross seas on the bar. The three men boat should take over the tow. The jumped and all three succeeded at the life-boat coxswain decided against first attempt. The Lindy Lou was this, as the sr>as were heavy and break- left at anchor, and the life-boat ing and there were sand banks near returned to Aberystwvth, which she by. reached at nine o'clock. For this service Coxswain Baden Tow-Hawsers Part Davies was accorded the thanks of At 7.10 the two wire tow-hawsers the Institution inscribed on vellum. parted. The launch then made for A letter of commendation was sent Aberdovey, which she reached before to the head launcher, Captain T. her fuel ran out. The Lindy Lou Brodigan, M.B.E. anchored in three fathoms. Her crew Additional monetary rewards of £l still refused to be taken off and asked were paid to each of the seven members the life-boat to stand by for an hour of the crew. Total rewards amounted in the hope that conditions would to £32 18*. The man who first gave improve. the news of the distress made a gift The conditions became worse. Seas to the life-boatmen.

End of a Voyage to New Zealand AT 4.58 on the afternoon of the 27th returned to Clovelly. She had to of July, 1954, the Hartland coastguard wait for the tide to make before beach- rang up the Clovelly life-boat station ing, but she was ready again for with the news that the motor ketch service at 4.35 on the morning of the Progress, of Bideford, was in distress 28th of July. under the lee of Lundy Island. The At 12.53 that afternoon the coast- trawler Hosanna was standing by guard reported that the Progress was until the life-boat could reach her. firing distress signals and drifting to The Progress was a motor ketch of the east-north-east. At one o'clock 90 tons. Her owner, his wife and the life-boat was launched again. The their twelve-year-old son formed the gale had veered to the north-west, and crew, and they were planning a voyage the tide was now flooding. to New Zealand via the Bahamas. In order not to lose any time the coxswain made for the position Westerly Gale Blowing through the Hartland Race. The The life-boat William Cantrell AsHey life-boat had a rough passage, but at was launched at 5.10. The sea was 3.15 she found the Progress some five very rough, a westerly gale was blow- miles south-east of Lundy South ing, and it was high water. The life- Light, drifting up channel. The boat reached the Progress after two- Progress's anchor was still down, but and-a-half hours. The engines of the the cable could not be worked, as the Progress were disabled and she was capstan was run from the engines made fast astern of the trawler under which were out of action. She was the lee of Lundy Island. Once it was rolling heavily. clear that the Progress was safely anchored, the Hosanna went on her way to Milford. Ten Attempts at Rescue The owner of the Progress had The coxswain told the three people injured his hand, but he decided to on board to stand by in the starboard remain on board, and as the ketch was rigging and be ready to drop into the in no immediate danger the life-boat life-boat on the starboard roll. His 764 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 instructions were carried out, but journey to Clovelly. She reached time and again the life-boat was Clovelly at 7.50 in the evening. brought under the lee of the ketch and When the weather improved the still the crew of the ketch had not Progress was picked up by the been taken off. Altogether this Hosanna and towed to Milford Haven. manoeuvre was carried out ten times For the skill, seamanship and before the owner of the Progress, his courage which he displayed under very wife and son, a cat, some new-born difficult conditions. Coxswain George kittens and a canary were taken on Lamey was awarded the bronze medal. board the life-boat. By then it was Total rewards for these services 4.15 and the life-boat began the return amounted to £51 7s. 6cL

The Maer Rocks Rescue AT 9.49 on the night of the 19th of The wind had increased and condi- September, 1954, the honorary secre- tions in the channel had grown worse, tary of the Exmouth station, Mr. and it was impossible to board the P. H. C. Butler, was told by the coast- boat from the Maer Rocks. Coxswain guard that a flashing light had been Bradford decided that the only chance seen near the Maer Rocks at the of rescuing those on board the Nicky approach to the estuary of the river was to go in with the life-boat at Exe, and that shouts for help had high water. been heard. Mr. Butler and Coxswain Harold Bradford went at once by car Three Times Alongside to the point on the shore nearest to At 11.57 the life-boat Maria Noble the rocks. From there, by the light was launched. She made for the of the car's headlamps, they saw a casualty which she approached from cabin cruiser at anchor. the eastward, as there was more A moderate breeze was blowing water on that side. The coxswain from the south-south-west, and a con- manoeuvred the life-boat towards the siderable swell was breaking heavily on Nicky, keeping the wind and sea on the rocks. The night was dark with the port bow. He used the last of the heavy rain squalls, and it was two flood to help the life-boat to drift almost hours before high water. broadside towards the cabin cruiser. The Nicky was rolling and pitching Baling and Shouting for Help violently, and her crew who were still The cabin cruiser, which was the baling her could not jump together. Nicky of Stareross, had her anchor Coxswain Bradford had to edge the down in the channel, but she was some life-boat three times alongside the Nicky fifty yards inside the rock ledge on and then sheer off to avoid damage. which she was pounding. Her crew The life-boat struck the rocks heavily of five were baling and pumping and three times, but by the third attempt shouting for help. the crew of the Nicky had been taken off. Mr. Butler and Coxswain Bradford Coxswain Bradford then took the realised that the state of the tide would life-boat cautiously ahead. After not allow the life-boat to approach the striking the bottom twice more she Nicky from the seaward side. Because reached the deep water channel. Half of the swell there was very little water an hour later the Nicky sank. over the rocks and the cabin cruiser The life-boat landed the survivors was striking against the rocks at Exmouth at 12.23 early on the frequently. 20th of September. The life-saving apparatus team was For the courage and determination summoned and fired lines from the which he showed under difficult con- shore, but the lines failed to reach ditions the Institution awarded the the Nicky. While this was being bronze medal to Coxswain Harold done the coxswain went out in the Bradford. Additional rewards of £l pilot boat which was afloat. He were made to each of the seven towed a rowing boat which he hoped members of the crew. Total rewards to be able to veer down on the cruiser. amounted to £20. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 765

The Search for Edward May AT 4.45 on the morning of the 8th of moderate and a light southerly breeze September, 1954, Edward May, a 44- was blowing. The Walmer life-boat year-old steel worker from Scunthorpe, began what was to be a long search. waded into the sea at Cap Gris Nez. The San Vito lost sight of the man He planned to swim to Dover unes- who had been seen and who was pre- corted and thereby become the first man sumed to be May, and aircraft, R.A.F. to achieve this particular feat. He took launches and a warship all joined in food and rum with him on an inflated the search. No sign of May was seen. inner tube. He had a compass strap- At 4.9 on the 9th of September the ped to his wrist. Sandgate coastguard telephoned the May hoped to reach Dover about six Dover life-boat station and the life-boat o'clock that evening, but the weather Southern Africa put to sea. She reliev- grew steadily worse, and as the day ed the Walmer life-boat at daybreak went on aircraft and ships of a number and joined in the search, but she too of organisations were diverted from found nothing. their normal duties to go to his help. At eleven o'clock the search was About eight o'clock in the evening abandoned. The Dover life-boat re- the tanker San Vito wirelessed that she turned to her station at 12.50. The had seen a man in the sea near the Walmer life-boat had reached her Goodwin Sands. The Deal coastguard station at 7.5. passed this news to the Walmer life- May's body was washed ashore near boat station at 8.5. The position was Amsterdam three weeks later. He given as eight miles south-east of the left a wife and nine children. coastguard station. The cost to the Institution, for the Five minutes later, at high water, the search, in rewards amounted to £52 lls: life-boat Charles Dibdin, Civil Service £40 8s. for Walmer and £12 3*. for No. 2 was launched. The sea was then Dover.

Life-boat Builders by Tradition By J. A. Milne, O.B.E. Managing Director of Messrs. J. S. White & Co., Ltd. THE firm of J, Samuel White & Co., which carried Florence Nightingale to Ltd., of Cowes, has been building ships the Crimea, was constructed in Cowes a in the Isle of Wight for more than two century later. and a half centuries. During the Thomas White purchased Nye's greater part of that time the firm has Yard on the river Medina. For many been closely associated with the Life- years this yard had supplied whalers boat Institution, both when it was and cutters to various private owners known as the Royal National Institu- of large yachts, and indeed supplied tion for the Preservation of Life from the cutter attached to H.M.S. Bounty Shipwreck and since its name was chang- in which Captain Bligh made his ed, a hundred years ago, to that of the famous voyage of some 4.000 miles to Royal National Life-boat Institution. Timor after the mutiny. The founder of the firm was Thomas White (1773 to 1859), who was born 1851 Competition at Broadstairs in Kent. He came to When the Fourth Duke of North- Cowes in 1798. Cowes already had a umberland became the Institution's long-standing tradition of shipbuild- President in 1851 there were 96 life- ing, for it is recorded that a ship of boat stations, mostly local societies, war was built in Cowes for Queen but many of the boats were not sea- Elizabeth I in 1588, and one of the worthy. The Duke therefore decided earlier Vanguards, a third-rate-line-of- to offer a prize of one hundred guineas battle-ship of 1,419 tons, 520 men and for a new life-boat design. Thomas 68 guns was built in 1748. The Fectis, White sent in his model, which was 766 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 not successful. It was of the whaler for replacements of miscellaneous type and was not self-righting. boats for the Coastguard service and Thomas White had been supplying also orders from many life-saving this type of life-boat to the P. & O. societies. Line and the Royal Mail Steam Packet In The Illustrated London News Co., as well as to naval ships. One dated 17th January, 1857, a most such life-boat, the Lamb and White, moving and interesting account is was built in 1846. She was fitted given of the rescue carried out by the with built-in air cases at either end Mary White and the Culmer White life- and along either side. The hull itself boats. An American ship named the was built of two thicknesses of plank Northern Belle became a wreck at with prepared waterproof material Kingsgate, off the Kentish coast. interposed, a system of construction Two Margate luggers went to her that is still used at the present time. assistance but owing to the very To cope with the work of building rough sea they both foundered with such life-boats White's had opened a all hands. At this point a message new workshop called John and was sent to the life-boat station at Robert's Yard. Broadstairs asking for assistance. The Thomas White had preferred great crew got out the Mary White and pulled buoyancy and stability to the self- her two miles over heavy hilly country, righting properties which were incor- through hail, sleet and snow, reaching porated in James Beeching's successful Kingsgate at ten o'clock that night. model. It is interesting that in 1890 George Watson, the designer of the Nineteen Americans Rescued Britannia and the Watson type of "At daybreak an awful sight was life-boat, reverted to the principle of revealed to those on the cliffs and the non-self-righting type. beach. With the naked eye could be One life-boat was built by White's seen twenty-three men lashed to the for the Royal National Institution for rigging of the only mast left standing. the Preservation of Life from Ship- At 7.30 a.m. the Mary White was wreck, for the Cardigan station. She launched with the aid of the watching was 24-feet long and her crew, while crowd, ten brave men pulled through quite satisfied with her performance, the boiling surf and the raging sea and thought she would be better for this brought back seven of the twenty-three station if she were three feet longer, men on the wreck, amidst the cheering so they sailed her round to Cowes and people on the beach; meanwhile the exchanged her for another boat in Culmer White which had also been which they sailed back home. This brought across country, was manned new vessel cost £116, which was raised and launched. She succeeded in bring- by public subscription. ing away fourteen men. The two remaining men were the captain, and Life-boats for Madras the pilot who had been taken on at In 1849 Whites sent life-boats to Dover. The captain declared that he Madras as they were considered the only would rather die with his vessel than boats which could negotiate the surf. leave her, and the pilot expressed his In 1850 WThites' life-boats were desire to remain and perish in the old specially fitted in H.M. Polar Expedi- man's company. After one and a half tion ships The Enterprise and Investi- hours the life-boat for the third time gator before they sailed to find Sir left the shore in order to persuade the John Franklin, and it was in this same two men to save their lives. After year that Thomas White presented the much difficulty the crew succeeded in Mary White and the Culmer White to inducing them to come down from the Broadstairs, his birthplace. In 1851 rigging and come ashore. It is im- the Mary White with a crew of coast- possible to describe the scene on the guards and longshoremen went to beach when it was known that all help a brig (curiously enough also hands had been saved. At 3 p.m. the named Mary White) and saved seven Mary White was dragged upon her men. About this time too the Margate truck by three horses into Broadstairs. station ordered a 32-feet life-boat. In the boat sat her gallant crew, and During 1852 orders were received tied to an American oar from the wreck DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 767 was the American Standard which had built, including a 43-feet self-righting been hoisted as a signal of distress. boat for Chile in 1921, a 67-footer for The tattered Hag fluttered over the the Crown Agents in 1926. followed broken bows of the Mary White. It by two more similar boats in 1949-50, was thus that the boat passed through and three R.N.L.I. type 46-feet the streets of Broadstairs amidst the 9-inches boats for Belgium also in joyous shouts of the inhabitants of the 1949-50. town. Nearly all the brave fellows Eight White built life-boats were who, at the imminent peril of their engaged in the epic of Dunkirk. An own lives were thus engaged in restor- R.N.V.R. officer in command of one ing to America the lives of nineteen of of them, the Louise Stevens, said: "I those seamen of whom she is so justly took this life-boat across to Dunkirk proud, are married men with large on two nights. Her performance was families of small children, and there is a revelation and a delight." The not a man amongst them who has not Newhaven, Frinton, Aldeburgh and assisted in saving life, and who has Hastings life-boats worked in Dunkirk not at some period lost a father, harbour, carrying men to the ships brother, or cousin in the same glorious outside. The Mary Scott of South- cause." wold, commanded by an inspector of Steam Life-boats Built the Life-boat Service, then serving in In 1860 the life-boat station at the R.N.V.R., made many trips to the Poolbeg, Ireland, with a White life- beach and rescued over 600 men. boat was taken over by the Royal The Jane Holland, of Eastbourne, National Life-boat Institution. did wonderful work until she was During the year 1862 Whites rammed and sprayed with machine- received orders for life-boats, cutters gun bullets and abandoned. Two and gigs for all H.M. ships on the West days later she was found drifting in African station, and later one life-boat the Channel and was brought back to for every ship in H.M. Navy. Dover. One of her end-boxes was Ryde private life-boat station was stove in and she had over 500 bullet taken over by the Royal National holes in her, but she was still afloat Life-boat Institution in 1869 and the and very much buoyant. 8-oared Captain Hans Busk was re- Hundredth Boat for Institution tained. In this same year Whites Between the two wars Whites built planned to fit steam engines to life- many life-boats for the Royal National boats carried on shipboard. Life-boat Institution, but life-boat In 1880 they were invited by the work was interrupted in 1941 and Admiralty to incorporate the life-boat was not resumed until 1945. principles into steam pinnaces, and a In 1949 the Royal National Life- 48-feet by 9-feet 3-inches by 4-feet boat Institution contracted with 9-inches pinnace was built; it was a Whites for a programme of twenty- great success and was ordered by many life-boats, twelve of which have so foreign navies. far been completed. This programme In 1898 the Royal National Life- consists of twelve 46-feet 9-inches boat Institution ordered two steam Watson cabin type boats and eight life-boats, the James Stevens No. 3 and 52-feet Barnett type, as previously the James Stevens No. 4 for Grimsby built for the Donaghadee and Holy- and Padstow, followed in 1900 by the head stations, with the modern light City of Glasgow for the Harwich alloy superstructures. One of these station. boats, the 46-feet 9-inches Sir Godfrey In all, between the year 1864 and Baring, was exhibited at the Festival the outbreak of the 1914-18 war the of Britain and is now at the Clacton- firm of White's had built no less than on-Sea station. 368 steam life-boats for its different In 1951 the firm achieved the clients. remarkable record of building its For Chile and Belgium hundredth boat for the Royal National After the first world war life-boats Life-boat Institution. This was the 52- for clients other than the Royal feet Barnett type life-boat, which is to- National Life-boat Institution were day on service at the Aberdeen station. T68 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954

Life-boat Societies Abroad The Royal National Life-boat Institution agreed to a request made at the International Life-boat Conference that it should act as a distributing centre for information which may be of general interest to all Life-boat Societies. The Institution recently sent a request to all Life-boat Societies overseas to supply up-to-date information on the strength of their fleet, the nature of their finances and the numbers of services to British vessels. The following table is based on the answers received:—

Services to Country Name of Society Strength of Fleet Nature of Finances British ves~ sels in 1953 Belgium Section of Administra- 3 motor life-boats. State financed. 1 tion de la Marine, Ministere des Com- munications. Denmark Bestyreren af Rednings- 23 motor life-boats. State financed. 0 vaesenet. 19 pulling and sailing life-boats. France Societe Centrale de 45 motor life-boats. Voluntary contributions 2 Sauvetage des Nau- 11 pulling and sailing but with subsidies for the frages. life-boats. maintenance of stations and post-war recon- struction. Societe des Hospitaliers 5 motor life-boats. Voluntary contributions 0 Sauveteurs Bretons. 65 small beach patrol with State and municipal boats. subsidies. Germany Deutsche Gesellschaft zur 32 motor life-boats. Voluntary contributions 0 Rettung Schiff bruchiger. 6 shore stations with with State or municipal rocket apparatus.* subsidies for special pro- jects. Iceland Slysavarnafelag Islands. 2-100 ton cruising life- Voluntary contributions 0 boat cutters. with state and muncipal 2 motor life-boats. subsidies. 9 pulling life-boats. 66 stations with rocket apparatus. Italy Societa Siciliana Salva- 1 tug. Financed by the shipping 0 taggi (Palermo). company of which it forms part. Japan Nippon Suinan Kyusai- 39 motor life-boats. Voluntary contributions 0 kai. 93 pulling life-boats. with municipal subsi- dies. Netherlands Koninklijke - Noord - en- 25 motor life-boats. Solely by voluntary con- 1 Zuid-Hollandsche Red- tributions. ding-Maatschappij. Koninklijke Zuid - Hol- 8 motor life-boats. Solely by voluntary con- 0 landsche Maatschappij tributions. Tot Redding Van Schipbreukelingen. New Zealand The Sumner Life-boat 1 motor life-boat. Voluntary contributions 0 Institution. 1 pulling life-boat with a municipal grant. (reserve;. Norway Norsk Selskab til Skib- 27 patrolling rescue cruis- Solely by voluntary con- 0 brudnes Redning. ers. tributions. 32 shore stations with rocket apparatus. Poland Polskie Ratownictwo 9 stations for servicing State financed. 0 Okretowe. life-boats, tugs and ice-breakers. Portugal Institute de Socorros a 19 motor life-boats. State financed. 0 Naufragos. 23 pulling and sailing life-boats. Spain Sociedad Espanola de 28 motor life-boats. Voluntary contributions 0 Salvamento de Nau- with subsidies from offi- fragos. cial organisations. tSweden Svenska Sallskapet for 6 patrolling rescue cruis- Voluntary contributions 0 Raddning af Skepps- ers. with donations from brutne. 16 life-boats. towns and villages along 8 shore stations with the coast. rocket apparatus. U.S.A. United States Coast- 625 motor boats. State financed. 0 guard. 41 pulling boats.

* 1 fast cruising life-boat is now under construction. t The Swedish Board of Pilotage also has 5 life-boats and 20 stations with rocket apparatus which may be taken over by the Society. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 769

The Great Storm THE great storm of the 31st of January picked up by the Portpatrick wireless —1st of February, 1953, has had a station; of the search by a pilot of chronicler of distinction in Mr. J. the R.A.F. for the Michael Griffiths and Lennox Kerr.* of H.M. destroyer Contest for the Mr. Kerr has recorded the happen- Princess Victoria; of the help given to ings at sea around our coasts on those other vessels by the coastal cargo two extraordinary days when more steamer Orcy and the steam trawler than 300 lives were lost. He has done Loch Awe; and how the Humber life- so by questioning, while the details boat station, radio station and the were still fresh in their memories, coastguard worked unceasingly to those who were at sea and engaged warn shipping of the dangers of the in rescue work; he has written his drifting Spurn lightvessel. account in vivid and forceful prose; The work of the life-boats during and he has shown a seaman's under- the great storm, like that of the many standing of the difficulties and of other services involved, receives the men's reactions. tributes which it earned. The rescue It is a truly sympathetic work. of 31 survivors from the Princess While omitting nothing necessary to Victoria by the Donaghadee life-boat the telling of his story, Mr. Kerr has and the launching in the face of great avoided—or perhaps he never felt— difficulties of the Humber life-boat are the temptation to which so many described at length, and of the Port- reporters of disasters in our times have patrick life-boat Mr. Kerr writes: succumbed, that of searching for "No boat other than a life-boat scapegoats. Mr. Kerr does not pass designed for survival under the worst a word of censure; he simply tells how conditions at sea could have lived in men went about their work when the such a sea as now ran, no men but prospect of death faced themselves those staunch-hearted volunteers of and others. the Life-boat Service would have taken In recording what happened in a small craft out that day. The those two days, Mr. Kerr has achieved Jeanie Speirs drove ahead with her something seldom attempted, for he cockpit being filled every few minutes shows how all the different organisa- and surviving only because the water tions involved in the work of rescue could pass out again through her at sea co-operate. We read at first draining-valves and her engines could of how Mr. Price, the station officer of run submerged in water if need be." Stornoway coastguard station, and This is an inspiring book, and it the life-saving crew made their way may give many readers a feeling of through appalling conditions to take humility, a feeling which the author the crew off the Clan Macquarrie; of himself seems to share and for which the devotion to duty of the officers of the reader mav well thank him. the Princess Victoria and how David Broadfoot continued until his last *J. Lennox Kerr>: The Great Storm moments to send signals which were (Harrap, 12,v. 6d.).

No Small Tempest Lay On Us AT a life-boat service held at Lande- many days, and no small tempest lay wednack Parish Church, and attended on us, all hope that we should be saved by the crews of the Lizard, Cadgwith and was nozv taken away. Coverack life-boats, on 22nd August, In his sermon he said: 1954, a diocesan lay reader took as his I remember as a small boy being text Acts 27 verse 20: And when told by my Sunday School teacher, an neither sun nor stars shone upon us for old seaman, that the storv of St. 770 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 Paul's voyage to Rome and shipwreck much of his life in the West Country, is the most perfect account that may told me some time ago that if you want be found in any literature. In these to find the finest example of Cornish days of steam and motor ships it may men you must seek them in the little not be generally appreciated, for much fishing coves that face on to the of the terror of the sea has been Atlantic, for there you will find men removed thereby; but to those who who live daily with danger in their remember the days of canvas, when in efforts to wrest a living from the cruel fair weather ships were a joy to watch, sea. They have a sturdiness of char- but in storm and gale it was soul- acter that equals the invincible cliffs rending to see them in their weakness that resist the attacks of the mighty —especially being driven on to a lee sea. They "look on tempests and are shore—it is a moving story. not shaken " and are prepared to wage war on it at its worst. And that is a The Grylls Act quality that is passed on from father to son, a tradition that has bred Particularly should it appeal to us soundness of character and a desire who live in Cornwall, for we are told to serve one's day and generation. that when the crew and passengers The boys who play on the beach had safely landed on the Island of today and carve model boats out of Melita (Malta) that the barbarians bits of driftwood will be the life-boat- treated them with no common kind- men of tomorrow. That is why, after ness. It is here in this church, situated a tragedy like that which befell the so close to what was known to the St. Ives life-boat some years ago, a men of the sailing ships as the dreaded new crew was immediately forth- Lizard, that I would like to protest at coming. A people that is permeated the iniquitous statements that have with such tradition of service will been made about the Cornish people never be destroyed. in regard to wrecking. That anyone could possibly believe that the captain of a sailing ship, a highly skilled German Captain's Comment navigator, could be put off his course Some weeks ago a small steamship by the sight of a light—if it was was wrecked on the rugged coast possible to see such a thing—east by near the Lands End, and when the a horn lantern tied to a cow's tail, is crew was rescued bv the rocket appara- fantastic to a degree. Not very far tus, the captain, who was a German, from this site, and at several places said: "You English are a great along the coast near here, may be people." It was not a great event in found the graves of seamen, whose the lives of the local people, for they bodies were recovered after shipwreck, were born and bred in the tradition and who were given Christian burial, of service to their fellow-men. as may be seen from the orientation It is interesting to note what of the graves, in the days long before happened to the actors in the drama the Grylls Act made it compulsory told in this chapter from the Acts. for local authorities to bury bodies The Syro-Phoenician sailors who tried recovered from the sea. to desert the ship immediately they Grylls, who was responsible for the thought she would be lost, the Roman Act, lived not far from this spot. soldiers who cut away the boat to Again not very far from here, on the make sure that no chance of their own Looe Bar, was tried out and found safety should be thrown away, the efficient the first rocket life-saving Christian prisoners—bred in the creed apparatus, invented by Henry Tren- of unselfishness—who kept calm and grouse, who lived at Helston. And trusted in God to save them, the bar- nowhere around the coast of Great barians of Malta who befriended the Britain has finer work been done by the unfortunate castaways. Syro-Phoe- men of the Life-boat Service, than nicia and Rome have passed away; here in the Lizard Peninsula, from Christianity with its creed of unselfish- the dreaded Manacles to Predannack ness remains; the barbarians of Melita Head. were the defenders of Malta in the last An artist friend, who has spent war. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 771 Let us keep our traditions, which are in the lives of our fellow-men, be they the guarantee of survival. Let us friend or ex-foe. Let us further remember that we live riot only in remember that he who loses his life our own generation, but in the genera- will not only save it, but live the fuller tions that are to follow us. Let us life, and let us thank God for the great remember that peace will not come by example shown us by the men of the legislation, but in our efforts to live Life-boat Service.

Prize-Winning Essay A competition, open to secondary schoolboys and schoolgirls under the age of sixteen, for an essay on the subject of the Life-boat Service was held this year. The competition had been held regularly before the war, but it had not been revived since 1939. The subject set was: "A difficult and dangerous rescue is carried out by a life-boat. You are asked to describe the experiences of the coxswain from the moment the life-boat is called out to the day, months later, when he is presented with a medal for gallantry." The first prize for Great Britain and Ireland was awarded to Lesley Perry, a fourteen-year-old girl of West Norfolk and King's Lynn High School for Girls. Her essay is reproduced below. All on a Winter's Night By Lesley Perry I WAS just finishing my tea and con- him. I was already pulling on my gratulating myself that we had no calls cape; I shouted to Bess, who had just for a fortnight, although it was winter called to know "who it was and what and a stormy one at that, when the the matter was, that there was a ship news came. There was a loud, sharp wrecked on the Mermaid, and that I'd knock at the door. Bess (my wife) got to go and see to the launching of looked up from mending the children's the life-boat. I kissed her good-bye, socks. she pushed some sandwiches left over "Now whoever can that be at this from tea into my hands, and then we time of night?" were off in the Captain's car towards I pushed back my chair, forebod- the harbour, breaking all speed limits, ings already present in my mind. I should think, and the Captain's a "I'll go, Bess. Let's hope it's not J.P. too—but still, it was urgent—a a call, that's all." few minutes delay might have meant I opened the door. Captain Tre- death for the crew of the Nibingrad. mayne (our local secretary) stood out- When we arrived at the life-boat- side, his oilskin streaming with water. house we found that Jed Tooley, the A raging wind shrieked in through the second coxswain, had already given door, nearly pushing me backwards. orders for the boat to be made ready Tremayne shouted over the storm, for launching. We hurriedly climbed but his voice was carried away by the in, found that we had distress flares wind and I pulled him inside so that and drogue lines and the other things I could find out what he was saying. we would need, and then we were "Ship wrecked on the Mermaid down the slipway and into the boiling Point," he said breathlessly as I closed sea. I looked back and saw the the door. "Swedish. TheNibingrad. Captain was shouting something, prob- We'll have to hurry; there's terrible ably "Good luck," but the wind seas tonight." screamed round us like a thousand furies, and I could not hear his words. A Man of Few Words The sea was bad enough just inside The Captain's a man of few words, the harbour, threshing at the boat and and this was quite a long speech for thundering down on to the break- 772 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 waters, but when, after battling for a some distance to port. But we had good while with the storm, we man- heard enough from the Swedish sailor aged to reach open sea, we found that to know that the plight of the Nibin- there the conditions were far worse. grad's crew was even worse than we One minute we would be in a valley, had thought. I worked my way over with the black, foam-lashed water to Jim Fairbarn, our motor-mechanic. towering above us, and then we would "Engine all right?" be tossed up into the night on to the " Seems so. Worried me when that peak of another mountainous wave. sea struck us. Working pretty now, The sky was black as pitch above us, though." the moon and stars obscured by angry I left him and supervised the send- growling clouds, but now and again ing of the life-line. When we were lightning would flash in jagged fire carried by the waves near to the above us and thunder would boom and Nibingrad again, we threw it out, crash as though to crush us. signalling to the little group of men clustered by the rail to catch it if they In Sight at Last could. It fell into the sea, near the At last the Mermaid Point came side of the ship. We were swept into sight. To one side was a darker away, and tacked our way back again. mass against the blackness of the This time the line was grabbed by night—the Nibingrad. We battled eager hands, and fastened to some desperately with the furious sea; we object hidden from us by the spray. could not communicate with the ship Our little boat groaned as the waves by wireless, for hers was out of action. tried to sweep us away, and failed. There was nobody else to help her— The Nibingrad was in a bad state. nobody but our Mary Jane, looking Water poured in through the huge pitifully small and helpless in the vast gashes by the stern. Part of the ocean. Twice we got nearly close cabin was completely broken off. The enough to hail one of the two small ship's back was broken, and she was figures we saw upon the bridge, but in her death-throes. each time the waves swept us away again. We realised that the crew, Captain Rescued being Swedish, would not be able to One by one, the men swung across understand our instructions; we could the line to safety, our boat chafing on only hope that one of the crew could the other end. They were seized by speak English. willing hands and taken to compara- The third time that the boat was tive shelter in the stern, wrapped in swept in towards the rocks, almost blankets and given brandy if necessary. on top of the Nibingrad, I gripped the "Hurry!" Harry Ross called across side and shouted up with the full through cupped hands. Jed Tooley strength of my lungs: "We're sending joined in. "Hurry! The rope's a line!" and then the Mary Jane was fraying!" borne away again. When we man- There were still two men left on the aged to battle our way towards the Nibingrad—the captain and another ship again, one of the figures leant man, leaning against him, his arm in a over the rail and called down in make-shift sling. By signs, the cap- broken, but recognisable, English, his tain indicated that the other man voice faint by the time it reached us could not come, and he would not over the wind: "We break up quick. leave him. I decided quickly, and Come quick. One man he " swung across myself, a lifebelt fastened round my waist for the wounded man. Flung Against Cockpit Once there, the captain and I pulled We were not able to hear any more, the life-belt over his head and under as a great sea struck us, side on. his arms, taking care not to hurt the showering us with spray and tempor- broken arm, if possible. The captain arily interrupting the comforting throb (the man who had spoken to us in of the engine. I was knocked over English) explained quickly while we and flung against the cockpit; when did so that one man had already died, I regained my feet, the Nibingrad was jumping off the ship when it struck DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 773 and, after being crushed against the there was no time to think of him or side, drowning in spite of their efforts anything. to save him. He explained to the wounded man in Swedish that he Ambulance for Wounded would have to jump—there was no Gradually we battled our way in, other way. I was to jump with him, the great seas sweeping us here and while the captain reached the life-boat there at their will. The sea gives you by way of the life-line. The man, a feeling of helplessness and infinite un- who was very weak from loss of blood, importance when you know her like I was at last persuaded to jump. I do; she's too big and cruel to under- followed, seizing him when we reached stand or love, but she makes you fear the water and helping him across the her with all your heart. At four narrow stretch of water to the life- o'clock that morning she swept us boat. He swallowed a lot of water, past the breakwaters, and we were and panicked at first, but we managed home. Too tired to think, I super- to reach safety, just after the captain vised the sending for an ambulance for stepped on board and collapsed from the wounded man, the beaching and exhaustion. I clung, gasping, to the fastening of the life-boat, saw that the side of the Mary Jane, supporting the sailors from the Nibingrad were safe wounded man with my other arm. He for the night, and then returned home, was completely exhausted. Harry stumbling up the sandy path to our reached down and lifted him to safety; cottage with the captain of the Nibin- he moaned a little and was violently grad and the first mate of his ship sick. I could hardly feel anything as silent behind me. We made them several pairs of hands seized me and comfortable in the spare room, after laid me in the bottom of the boat. hot drinks and baths and a change of I was too tired even to feel relieved. clothing, and then I slept. How I Dimly I realised that they were slept! I didn't wake until twelve- carrying me into the cockpit. There thirty in the morning. was a murmur of voices all around me. Days passed after that, uneventful Then the comforting walls spun blackly days. We weren't called out any more, and I passed out. except once to the Kincally lighthouse when one of the lights failed. Then, Lights Appearing a few months after the terrible night, When I came to again we were still I received the letter telling me I'd battling our way back to shore. I won the Silver Medal. Harry and Jed struggled to sit up, and asked Harry had Bronze ones. My, how proud how things were going. Bess was! I shouldn't think there "Not too good," he said. "They was a person within five miles who think that man you saved's dying, didn't know about me and my medal. too." That summer, I travelled up to I swung my legs down and struggled London one blazing, sunny day, hot into my boots and oilskin. and uncomfortable in a stiff white "Here," protested Harry half- collar and my best suit, with Bess heartedly. Then one of the crew resplendent in her purple silk and hat stuck his head round the door and with feathers, straight and self-con- shouted something about the engine. scious beside me. It was a bit awe- Harry plunged out into the storm again, inspiring, and I was glad when it was I following. over and we were on our way home In the distance I could just see the again, the white collar not so stiff appearing and then vanishing lights of now. It's three years since it hap- Tomolly. Quickly I looked away and pened, now. I suppose it's become a went a little unsteadily, my stomach bit exaggerated with the passing of not feeling too good and my head time. To hear Bess talk you'd think whirling dizzily, to where Jed Tooley I'd deserved the V.C. at least! It was shouting instructions aft. I won- was sad that the seaman died; I dered briefly about the dying seaman often think of the poor fellow in the in the cockpit behind me, and then evenings. But the sea's like that; if another sea struck us, side on, and you respect her enough you're ready 774 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 to die for her. And it will make a Joseph's Boys School, Lovaine Place, grand tale to tell my grand-children. North Shields. Midlands: ANNE VERONICA OWEN, The Grammar School, Daventry, Northants. Other Prizes South-West: PAMELA BLACKWOOD, St. Prizes for the best essay in Scotland, John's School, Jersey. Ireland, Wales and six districts of England North-West: STANLEY HEATH, Stockport were awarded to the following: School, Mile End, Stockport. London: LEONARD GOLDSTEIN, Tylers Scotland: GEORGE NORMAN BISSETT, Central Croft Secondary Modern School (B), Senior Secondary School, Aberdeen. Kingsbury, N.W.9. Ireland: STELLA TYRRELL, The Collegiate School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. The national and district prize winners each Wales: David Glyn Jones, Ysgol Dyffryn received book tokens. Challenge shields Nantille, Penygroes, Caernarvon. presented by the seventh Duke of Northum- berland are held for a year by the schools England— | which the district prize winners are attending. South-East: LESLEY PERRY, West Norfolk Copies of Storm on the Waters by Charles and King's Lynn High School for Girls. Vince were also sent to the writers of the North-East: FREDERICK KNOWLES, St. 35 best essavs in each district.

Obituary COXSWAIN WILLIAM FLEMING, G.C. was Billy Fleming to several generations WILLIAM FLEMING, former coxswain of —a brave, modest and friendly man the Gorleston life-boat, died on the 30th whose delight in his last years was to of September, 1954, at the age of 89. talk of the incidents he could remember. He was born in 1865 and first served as "Like his friend, the late Coxswain a member of the Gorleston crew before Henry Blogg, of Cromer, he was much he was twenty. He became second decorated and when he received the coxswain of the No. 1 life-boat in 1903. Empire Gallantry Medal (which was In the same year he became second later exchanged for the George Cross) coxswain of the No. 4 life-boat and in from King George V, the King said to 1922 he became coxswain of the No. 1 him: 'You're getting along now, Flem- life-boat. The first two life-boats in ing, with your medals.' which he served as second coxswain "Another of his proud possessions were pulling and sailing boats and the was a silver watch presented to him by third was a steam life-boat. He served Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands as coxswain in a motor life-boat. in 1927 for his fearless seamanship when In 1922 Coxswain Fleming was helping to rescue the crew of the Dutch awarded the gold medal of the Institu- oil tanker Georgia. tion for the rescue of 24 people from "His record of helping to save 1.183 the S.S. Hopelyn. This service, one of lives in the life-boats of the Institution the greatest of the century, has been and in the volunteer life-boats which fully described in The Story of the used to serve at Gorleston speaks for Life-boat, 1954. itself. His last active links with the Coxswain Fleming was also awarded sea were trips in his small boat, and the George Cross and won two other holidaymakers he took out always life-boat medals. One was the silver returned wiser and happier. An hour medal for the rescue from the S.S. with Billy Fleming was an insight into Georgia in 1927, and the other was the the character of a man whose qualities bronze medal for the rescue in 1925 inspired. Until his legs failed him he from the ketch Henrietta. \ was almost a daily caller at the Gorles- Mr. A. C. Harrison, chief reporter of ton life-boathouse. No retired life- the Eastern Daily Press at Great boatman was ever more welcome. Yarmouth, and a member of the local "Four Norfolk coxswains, P. committee, writes: Williment (Gorleston), H. T. Davies "No one on the East Anglian coast (Cromer), J. H. Brown (Caister), and ever thought of him as Coxswain or W. E. West (Sheringham) were among ex-Coxswain William Fleming. He the bearers at his funeral." DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 775 The deaths have also occurred of two of the Fallowfield and Withington most prominent supporters of the Junior Life-boat Guild. Institution in the north-west of Eng- The other was Mrs. Parkinson, a holder land. One was Mr. Alfred Weiser, of the gold badge, who was associated who was associated with the Manchester with the Wallasey Ladies' Guild for 36 and district branch for over 30 years years. Mrs. Parkinson, a former Mayor- and had been honorary organiser for ess of Wallasey, was, in turn, both the Withington district and the founder president and chairman of the guild.

A Hundred Years Ago Krfrarf/ram The Life-boat, or Journal of the National Life-boat Institution, January, 1855. CHANGE OF TITLE OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK MOST of our readers are already aware ignominy of begging his bread, cannot that the title of the above Society be too highly appreciated, or too has been recently altered to that of liberally supported. the "Royal National Life-boat Insti- In the year 1851 that Society, which tution—founded in 1824 for the Pre- in the pursuit of its avocation had but servation of Life from Shipwreck"; too evident proof forced on it, of the they may not, however, be acquainted lamentable deficiency of all existing with the causes that have led to the means for saving life from shipwreck, change. determined to enter upon that work The Institution was founded in the also, little doubting that amongst its year 1824, chiefly by the exertions and numerous supporters, it would obtain under the auspices of the late Sir sufficient aid to enable it to accom- William Hillary, Bart., the late plish the object it had in view. Thomas Wilson, Esq., then M.P. for Before the expiration of the follow- the city of London, and other benevo- ing year, the Society found itself in lent gentlemen, some of whose possession of seven or eight new life- coadjutors have continued to this day boats, with their necessary gear, with to be working members of its Commit- houses to shelter them, and, where tee of Management, and to afford it the necessary, with carriages for their benefit of their knowledge and conveyance on the shore; and more- experience. over, with local Committees for their The original objects of the Institu- management, and an average annual tion may be shortly stated to have local income of £20 at each station for been: To rescue wrecked persons from their maintenance. drowning on the coasts of the United There were now two Societies before Kingdom, by every available means, the public, each having the same both direct and indirect. objects in view, and the titles of which Until the year 1851, the Institution were so similar, that the one was was the only body in this country frequently mistaken for the other, having the above objects in view, and and it appeared probable that many at the same time, whose sphere of persons being doubtful which Society action extended over the whole of the was most deserving of support, might coasts of the United Kingdom. withhold their subscriptions to the In the above-named year, however, cause altogether. another national and sister institution It accordingly became a question came into the field—The Shipwrecked whether it might not be expedient Fishermen and Mariners' Royal that the before-named Society should Benevolent Society—whose invaluable confine itself to its original objects, to services in providing for the ship- effect which there was an ample field wrecked seaman (already saved), and for its utmost exertions; and that it releasing him from the shame and should transfer its life-boat establish- 776 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 ments to the National Shipwreck liberally offering to hand over its life- Institution; the real question being, boat establishments, with all the not whether a good work should be funds especially raised for their sup- discontinued, but whether it might not port, to the National Shipwreck be better performed in one mode, Institution; requiring, as an equiva- rather than in another. lent for them, that the latter Institu- Negotiations accordingly passed tion should so alter its title, as to between the two Societies in the remove all similarity between the autumn of 1853, the Shipwrecked two, and to prevent any confusion exist- Fishermen and Mariners' Society ing in the public mind respecting them.

New Ways of Raising Money FOR some years yacht clubs and golf use of his model for demonstrations in clubs have been holding competitions, support of flag days in London and the for which all the entry money has been Home Counties. donated to the Institution. The prizes * * * for yacht races have been pennants, Mr. Davies, the general manager of and for golf competitions spoons. The Messrs. C. H. Bailey, Ltd., of Cardiff, Institution is now trying to extend this Newport and Barry, has organised a comparatively painless way of raising bow tie club. Any ship's superinten- money to other sporting fields, and for dent or master who visits the office on this purpose will donate a most attrac- a Saturday morning without wearing a tive silver pencil as a first prize for any bow tie is expected to contribute Is., type of sporting competition for which which is passed to the Barry Dock the entry money, to be given to the branch of the Institution. In this way Institution, can be guaranteed to more than £22 have already been exceed 25s. raised. * * * * * * The Silsden (Yorkshire) European Mrs. Sanderson has been selling per- Society, which looked after the welfare mits to anglers to fish in the stream of some 600 European volunteer work- running through her farm on the main- ers, has recently closed down, as the land opposite Holy Island for 2,9. 6d. a volunteer workers have found employ- day, the proceeds being given to the ment in different parts of the Common- Institution. wealth. When the Society closed there * * * was a balance in the bank of £3 14s. Id. and the Society donated this sum to Mrs. Hamley Rowan, honorary secre- the Institution as an international tary of the East Sheen and Barnes charity. branch has raised £15 13*. for the * * * Institution, in three months bv collect- Mrs. Ellen Goodeve, a 96-year-old ing ship halfpennies in boxes specially lady of Seaton (Devon), gave some designed for this purpose. garments which she had recently made * * * herself to the Institution for a sale of Mr. Edgar Newgass, the former work. They were sold at a bring and honorary secretary of the Steyning buy sale held at Bexleyheath (Kent). (Sussex) branch, has published a book * * * of poems, a number of which are on Mr. B. G. Sweet, of Cockfosters the subject of life-boats. He is donat- (Hertfordshire), has built a model of ing the profits on all copies sold the Cromer No. 1 life-boat, Henry through the Institution to the Institu- Blogg, on the scale of one inch to one tion's funds. Copies are sold at 5*. foot. The model is driven by a six-volt each. electric motor, powered by accumula- * * * tors, and can be started, steered, stop- A large cheque was recently received ped and reversed by radio control from from a supporter of the Institution in the side of a pond. He has offered the Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 777

Services of the Life-boats in July, August and September, 1954 161 Lives Rescued JULY There was a choppy sea, an ebb tide DURING July life-boats were launched and a strong southerly breeze. The 82 times and rescued 55 lives. life-boat found that another boat had picked up the four people. They were all transferred to the life-boat, which BOWMAN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL then righted the boats and towed them AFTER ACCIDENT to harbour, reaching her station again Longhope, Orkneys.—At 12.10 early on at 7.40. The owners of the boats the morning of the 2nd of July, 1954, made a gift to the life-boatmen.— the motor mechanic reported that the Rewards, £6 17*. 6d. bowman of the life-boat had met with a serious accident on his motor cycle TOW TAKEN OVER FROM SPEED and that a doctor wished to send him BOAT to hospital at once. The bowman lived near the life-boat station, so it Fowey, Cornwall.—At 7.5 on the even- was decided that the life-boat Thomas ing of.the 3rd of July, 1954, the Polruan McCunn should take him to Kirkwall. coastguard telephoned that the local She took him on board, left her station motor launch Acorn, which had a at 12.20 in a smooth sea and fair crew of four, had broken down off weather and landed him at Scapa pier Blackbottle Head and was drifting at 3.5. She reached her station again towards a lee shore. At 7.15 the life- at ten o'clock.—No expense to the boat C.D.E.C. put out in a calm sea Institution. with a moderate west-north-west breeze blowing. It was nearly high water. A speed boat also put out, MOTOR BOAT TOWED TO DUN and reaching the Acorn before the life- LAOGHAIRE boat, passed a line to her. The life- Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.—At 4.50 on boat took the line over and towed the the afternoon of the 3rd of July, 1954, Acorn to Fowey, arriving at 8.10. The the Dalkey Civic Guard reported that skipper of the launch made a donation a motor boat was in difficulties about to the funds of the Institution.— four miles south-east of Mugglin Rewards, £5 5*. Island. At 5.30 the life-boat Dun- leary II put out. The sea was rough, WATERLOGGED WHALER TOWED IN a strong west-south-west wind was blowing, and the tide was ebbing. The Lizard, Cornwall. — At three The life-boat found that the motor o'clock on the afternoon of the 4th of boat Phoenix, of Dublin, which had a July, 1954, the coastguard rang up to crew of four, had broken down, and say that a message had been received she towed her to Dun Laoghaire, from the police at Mullion that a arriving at 6.40. The owner made a sailing whaler, with a crew of six from gift to the life-boatmen.—Rewards, £7. the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose, including three members of the W.R.N.S., had capsized off Menti- SECOND SERVICE ON SAME DAY heul Point, two miles south-west of Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.—At 6.40 Mullion Cove. At 3.24 the life-boat on the evening of the 3rd of July, 1954, Duke of York was launched, with the the life-boat Dunleary II had reached second coxswain in charge, in a moder- her station again after towing in the ate sea. There was a strong north- motor boat Phoenix. She then learnt westerly breeze, and it was half an that two sailing boats, each with a hour after low water. The naval crew of two, had capsized one and a M.F.V. No. 686, which had been half miles off the harbour, and she escorting the whaler and several immediately put to sea once more. other boats to Helford River, picked 778 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 up the six people. The life-boat found flares had been seen three miles south- the whaler waterlogged and towed her west of the lighthouse. At 12.51 the to Polpear, reaching her station again life-boat Beryl Tollemache was at 6.10. The Royal Naval Air launched in a heavy swell. There was Station at Culdrose expressed thanks. a light southerly breeze, and it was —Rewards, £14 5,?. one hour before low water. The life- boat found the cabin cruiser Mousme, CREW OF CUTTER RESCUED AFTER of London, seven, miles west-south- RACE west of Beachy Head, with a man and Falmouth, Cornwall.—At 6.53 on the two women on board. They were in evening of the 4th of July, 1954, the some distress and their boat was in a St. Anthony coastguard telephoned dangerous position. Two life-boat- that a naval cutter appeared to be in men went on board and passed a rope difficulties six miles south-east of St. across, and the life-boat towed the Anthony light-house. At 7.17 the boat to Newhaven, arriving at 5.10.— life-boat Crawford and Constance Cony- Property Salvage Case. beare put to sea. The sea was rough, a strong breeze was blowing from the CAPSIZED SAILING BOAT TOWED the north-west, and it was hours TO HARBOUR after low water. The life-boat found that the cutter, which had a crew of DunLaoghaire, Co. Dublin.— At 11.5 on five from the Royal Naval Air Station the morning of the 15th of July, 1954, at Culdrose, had been taking part in a the Coast Life-Saving Service reported race from Newlyn to Helford Passage that a wireless message had been but had been blown off her course. received from the mail steamer The life-boat rescued them and towed Hibernia that a sailing boat had cap- the cutter to Falmouth, arriving at sized off the Kish lightvessel. At 11.30 the life-boat Dunleary II put 9.45.—Rewards, £5 14*. to sea. The sea was choppy, a strong north-westerly breeze was blowing, and SICK MAN TAKEN OFF SWEDISH the tide was high. She found the STEAMER half-decked sailing boat Kandee lying Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—At on her side three miles south-south- 10.30 on the morning of the 10th of July, west of the lightvessel, but saw no 1954, a shipping agency at Preston sign of her crew. The life-boat telephoned to ask if the life-boat would righted her and towed her to Dun start out to the S.S. Windward Islands, Laoghaire. arriving at 2.30.—Rewards, of Gothenburg, which was due off the £8 10s. 6d. Nelson Buoy at three o'clock in the afternoon, and land a member of her crew who had acute appendicitis. At OFFICERS AND SEA CADETS 1.40 the life-boat Sarah Townsend RESCUED NEAR KIRKCUDBRIGHT Porritt put out in a moderate sea. A Kirkcudbright.—At 9.10 on the even- moderate westerly breeze was blowing, ing of the 16th of July, 1954, a man and it was low water. The life-boat at Kippford rang up to say that a boat took out a doctor, a shipping agent and with Sea Cadets on board had stranded customs officers and came up with the off Southerness lighthouse, and that steamer at 3.30. She took the sick her crew were waving. At 9.42 the man on board and landed him at 5.30 life-boat J. B. Couper of Glasgow was at Lytham. where an ambulance was launched. The sea was choppy, a waiting. The man's life was saved.— fresh south-westerly breeze was blow- Rewards, £10. ing, and the tide was half flood. The life-boat found the cabin cruiser LIFE-BOATMEN BOARD CABIN Douglas, with two officers and six CRUISER Dumfries Sea Cadets on board, in a Eastbourne, Sussex.—At 12.23 early dangerous position a mile south of the on the morning of the llth of July, lighthouse, towed her to Balcary Bay,1 1954, the coastguard rang up to say that and reached her station again at 6.50 a message had been received from the on the morning of the 17th.—Rewards, Beachy Head lighthouse that red £20 11*. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 779 BOYS RESCUED FROM WHALER life-boat found the sailing boat three Walmer, Kent.—At 3.55 on the after- hundred yards west of the life-boat- noon of the 17th of July, 1954, the house, rescued those on board, wrapped Deal coastguard rang up to say that a them in blankets and gave them rum. whaler, with six boys from the Royal The boat was then righted, and the Marine School of Music on board, life-boat towed her to Beaumaris, needed help three quarters of a mile arriving at 2.30.—Rewards, £7 10s. south-east of Deal. At 4.10 the life- boat Charles Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2 YACHT AGROUND NEAR LIFFEY was launched. The sea was rough, a BUOYS strong west-south-west breeze was Poolbeg, Co. Dublin.—At 9.10 on the blowing, and the tide was half ebb. evening of the 18th of July, 1954, the The life-boat rescued the boys, put Dublin Port and Docks Board Bathing three men in the whaler and towed her Master telephoned that a yacht had to Walmer, arriving at 4.40. The run ashore between No. 4 and No. 6 Commanding Officer of the Royal buoys in the River Liffey. At 9.40 Marine Depot at Deal made a dona- the life-boat Helen Blake was launched. tion to the funds of the Institution.— The sea was choppy, a strong west- Rewards, £14 16s. 6d. north-west breeze was blowing, and the tide was flooding. The life-boat YACHT TOWED TO SWANAGE IN found the yacht Flying Fox, with GALE eight people on board, hard aground. Weymouth, Dorset.—At 5.34 on the She stood by her until she refloated afternoon of the 17th of July, 1954, about eleven o'clock and arrived back the Wyke Regis coastguard telephoned at her station at 11.35.—Rewards, that a yacht was in distress thirteen £6 10*. and a half miles south-east-by-east of Portland. At 5.55 the life-boat Mil- CONVERTED SHIP'S BOAT TOWED burn, on temporary duty at the station, TO HARBOUR put out. The sea was very heavy, a Skegness, Lincolnshire.—At 9.20 on south-westerly gale was blowing, and the evening of the 18th of July, 1954, a the tide was flooding. The life-boat life-boatman, who was at Gibraltar found the yacht Yana, with a crew Point, reported that a yacht was flying of two, seventeen miles south-east of a distress signal three miles south- Weymouth pier. Her sails were torn south-west of Skegness. At 9.50 the and her engine was broken down. The life-boat The Cuttle was launched in a yachtsmen passed a line to the life- choppy sea. There was a strong boat and she started towing, but the north-westerly breeze, and it was one rope parted. The life-boatmen then hour after high water. The life-boat passed their rope across, and with found the Venture, a converted ship's difficulty in the heavy seas the life- boat fitted with an auxiliary engine, boat towed the yacht to Swanage, with two people on board. She had arriving at 10.20. The life-boat broken down. The life-boat towed her reached her station again at 3.15 on to Wainfleet Haven and reached her the morning of the 18th.—Property station again at three o'clock on the Salvage Case. morning of the 19th. The owner made a donation to the Institution.—- RESCUE 300 YARDS FROM BOAT- Rewards, £18 3s. HOUSE Beaumaris, Anglesey.—At 1.45 on the LANDING CRAFT TOWED TO afternoon of the 18th of July, 1954, YARMOUTH the police reported that a Conway Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—At 8.35 on sailing boat, with a crew of two, had the evening of the 20th of July, 1954, capsized near the life-boat station. the Needles coastguard telephoned that At two o'clock the life-boat Field a vessel needed help off South West Marshal and Mrs. Smuts was launched. Shingles Buoy. At 8.44 the life-boat The sea was moderate, a fresh north- The Lord Southborough, Civil Service westerly breeze was blowing, and it No. 1, on temporary duty at the was one hour after high water. The station, put out. The sea was choppy, 780 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 a light south-westerly breeze was blow- that a fishing vessel was reported to ing, and it was low water. The life- have been at anchor five miles north- boat found the motor vessel Althea, of by-east of Selker buoy since the prev- Southampton, a landing craft with a ious afternoon and to be showing the crew of two, off Hatherwood Rocks. "not under command" signal. The She was leaking and her bow was Bootle coastguard kept watch on her, sinking. The life-boat towed her stern and at 11.20 the life-boat Herbert Leigh first to Yarmouth, arriving at 10.15.— was launched. The sea was moderate, Rewards, £5 13s. a moderate west-north-west breeze was blowing, and it was half an hour THREE IRISH LIFE-BOATS JOIN IN after low water. The life-boat found SEARCH the fishing boat Tranquillity, of Peter- Youghal, and Ballycotton, Co. Cork, head, which had a crew of three, and Helvick Head, Co. Waterford.—At ten broken down. She towed her to o'clock on the night of the 21st of July, Fleetwood and reached her station 1954, a woman told the Youghal life- again at 12.30 early on the 23rd.— boat coxswain that her husband and Rewards, £26 14s. another man had put out from Youghal on a fishing trip in a fourteen-feet MOTOR CRUISER MADE FAST TO rowing boat fitted with an outboard LIGHTVESSEL motor, but had not returned. At Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 4.19 on the 10.30 the life-boat Herbert John was afternoon of the 22nd of July, 1954. launched, with the honorary secretary, the coastguard telephoned that the Commander B. Arbuthnot, D.S.C., Mid-Barrow lightvessel had wirelessed R.N., on board. She made a search that the motor cruiser Holliwell, which in a slight sea, with a light north- had broken down with a crew of three, westerly breeze blowing and an ebbing had made fast to her and needed help. tide. She found nothing and went to At 4.33 the life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring Ardmore at 11.45 for news. It was was launched in a slight sea, with a learnt there that the boat was still light westerly breeze blowing and a missing, and the honorary secretary flood tide. She towed the Holliwell telephoned the Helvick Head and to Brightlingsea and arrived back at Ballycotton life-boat stations to ask her station at 11.39.—Property Salvage for help in the search. At 12.30 early Case. on the 22nd the Helvick Head life- boat H. F. Bailey was launched, and a STOLEN YACHT FOUND BY LIFE- quarter of an hour later the Bally- BOAT cotton life-boat Mary Stanford put out. Wicklow.—At 3.50 on the afternoon The Youghal life-boat resumed the of the 23rd of July, 1954, a man at search between Ardmore and Capel Brittas Bay telephoned that the yacht Island and the Mary Stanford searched Monk, which had been stolen from in the Ballycotton area. The Helvick Dun Laoghaire, was in Brittas Bay. Head life-boat searched off Youghal, No one was aboard, and as no other and about four o'clock she found the boat was available to take her in tow, boat between eight and nine miles the life-boat Lady Kylsant was launch- south of Youghal harbour. She ed at 7.15. The sea was choppy, a rescued the two men and towed their fresh south-south-west breeze was boat to Helvick, reaching her station blowing and the tide was ebbing. The again at seven o'clock. The other life-boat found the yacht in shallow life-boats then returned to their water, dangerously near the rocks, and stations, Ballycotton arriving at 5.30 towed her to Wicklow, arriving at and Youghal at 6.30.—Rewards: 6.30.—No expense to the Institution. Youghal, £18 6s.; Ballycotton, £18 5s.; Helvick Head, £11 11s. FISHING BOAT TOWED TO BRODICK Troon, Ayrshire.—At one o'clock early FISHING BOAT TOWED TO BARROW on the morning of the 24th of July, Barrow, Lancashire.—At 9.30 on the 1954, the Kildonan coastguard tele- morning of the 22nd of July, 1954, the phoned that the police had reported Walney Island coastguard telephoned that a woman, who had been taken DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 781

BEAUMARIS LIFE-BOATMAN MAKES TOW FAST

(see page 779) 782 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954

By courtesy of] [Brixltam Harbour Snaps TAKEN FROM THE TORBAY LIFE-BOAT (see page 796)

By courtesy of] [Blackpool Gazelle & Herald

LANDED FROM THE LYTHAM LIFE-BOAT (see page 778) DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 783

By courtesy of] [W. A. Beck LIFE-BOAT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

By courtesy of} [II". A. Eecft BUILDING IN WHITES' YARD (see page 765) 784 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954

By courtesy of] Frank F. Burroughs, Gorlestm COXSWAIN WILLIAM FLEMING, G.C.

(see page 774) DECEMBER, 195).] THE LIFE-BOAT 785

By courtesy of] [Evening A rgus A CALL TO THE SHOREHAM LIFE-BOAT (see page 791)

By courtesy of] [Norman Cavell of Deal SIX BOYS RESCUED AT WALMER (see page 779) 786 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954

By courtesy of] [IV. Cull LIVERPOOL STUDENTS ON BOARD NEW BRIGHTON LIFE-BOAT (see page 762)

By courtesy of] [Richard Tan, Exmouth RETURN FROM THE MAER ROCKS (see page 764) DECEMBER, 195 !•] THE LIFE-BOAT

By courtesy of] Wallace A. S. Fussle, Helston NAMING THE WILLIAM TAYLOR OF OLDHAM (see page 803)

By courtesy of} [Planet News A NEW GERMAN LIFE-BOAT (see page 768) 788 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954

By courtly of] [Eastern Daily Press A TOW BY THE GORLESTON LIFE-BOAT (see page 803)

THE GORLESTON LIFE-BOAT RETURNS Photograph taken by 15-year-old Keith Harrison, son of a member of the local committee DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 789 ashore from the converted fishing boat asked her to stand by. The life-boat Silver Craig, had stated that the boat remained with the yacht until she had broken down and needed help one refloated, escorted her clear, gave her mile off Corrie. At 1.30 the life-boat a course for Ramsgate, and then Sir David Richmond of Glasgow put returned to her station, arriving at out. The sea was moderate, a light seven o'clock.—Rewards, £15 18,9. 6d. westerly breeze was blowing, and it was four hours after low water. The YACHT TOWED TO INVERGORDON life-boat found the Silver Craig, with Cromarty.—At 7.40 on the evening eleven people on board, towed her to of the 25th of July, 1954, the coast- Brodick, where she arrived at five guard rang up to say that the yacht o'clock, and reached her station again Aerielle, which had a crew of two, at eight o'clock.—Rewards, £10 10*. appeared to be in difficulties six miles east-by-north of South Souter. At LIFE-BOATMAN SWIMS TO YACHT eight o'clock the life-boat James Mac- Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At 11.40 on fee was launched. The sea was the morning of the 24th of July, 1954, moderate, a moderate westerly breeze the Foreland coastguard telephoned was blowing, and the tide was flooding. that a yacht had been reported in The life-boat found that the yacht's difficulties on the Chichester harbour outboard motor had broken down and bar. At 11.49 the life-boat Jesse that she was unable to make any head- Lumb was launched. The sea was way under sail. She towed her to rough, a moderate south-westerly Invergordon and then returned to her breeze was blowing, and it was low station, arriving at 10.30.—Rewards, water. The life-boat found the sailing £5 14s. yacht Black Adder, with a crew of two, bumping badly on the eastern side of YACHT DRIFTING NEAR FILEY the harbour. Her boom was broken, Filey, Yorkshire.—At 10.15 on the her mainsail split and her anchor was night of the 25th of July, 1954, the dragging. The life-boat came as near coastguard telephoned that a man had to her as she could, and a life-boatman reported that a yacht was drifting went overboard and swam to the three miles east-north-east of Filey yacht with a breeches buoy, but the Brigg Buoy. At 10.55 the life-boat yacht's crew would not leave her. The Isa & Penryn Milsted was launched The yacht was in a dangerous position in a calm sea. The weather was fair, two hundred yards off shore and the and it was an hour and a half before life-boat stood by her. The crew high water. The life-boat came up and the life-boatman were later taken with the sailing yacht Rousalka, which ashore by the Selsey coastguard. The had two people on board, off Speeton life-boat returned to her station, cliff, towed her to safety and reached arriving at 6.10.—Rewards, £19 2s. 6d. her station again at 12.30 earlv on the 26th.—Rewards, £11 8s. LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY TILL YACHT REFLOATS IRISH YACHT TOWED FROM PIER Margate, Kent.—At 12.42 on the after- Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At noon of the 24th of July, 1954, the 1.15 on the afternoon of the 26th of July, coastguard telephoned that a yacht 1954, the owner of the yacht Mabel, of had run ashore on the Hook Sands. Dun Laoghaire, told the coxswain that At 12.50 the life-boat North Foreland, he had tried to take the yacht out of Civil Service No. XI was launched. the harbour, but that she had broken The sea was rough, a fresh south- down and was now secured to the pier. westerly breeze was blowing, and it She was in danger of being damaged was low water. The life-boat found against the pier, and the owner asked the auxiliary yacht Svenska, of Brix- for help. No other boat was available, ham, with a crew of four, on the north and at 1.30 the life-boat Douglas Hyde side of the sands. She was listing, left her moorings. The sea was choppy, and the seas were breaking into her a moderate north-westerly gale was cockpit. The life-boat came as close blowing, and the tide was half ebb. to her as she could, and the skipper The life-boat towed the Mabel, which 790 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 had a crew of four, to a safe anchorage motor yacht was burning red flares in Rosslare Bay and reached her off Quern Buoy in the Ramsgate moorings again at three o'clock.— channel. At 9.52 the life-boat Michael Rewards, 15s. and Lily Davis put out. The sea was slight, a moderate west-south-west AWARD FOR ABERYSTWYTH wind was blowing, and it was high COXSWAIN water. The life-boat found the motor On the evening of the 26th of July, yacht Venturous, with a crew of three, 1954, the Aberystwyth, Cardigan- with her engines broken down. A shire, life-boat Aguila Wren, after life-boatman boarded her and the standing by for an hour in rough seas life-boat towed her to Ramsgate with a gale blowing from the south- harbour, reaching her station again west, rescued three people from the at 10.4.—Property Salvage Case; motor fishing vessel Lindy Lou. The Rewards. 12s. fid. thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain CLOVELLY COXSWAIN WINS Baden Davies, and a letter of com- BRONZE MEDAL mendation was sent to the head On the afternoon of the 28th of July, launcher. Captain T. Brodigan, M.B.E. 1954, the Clovelly, Devon, life-boat For a full account of this service see William Cantrell Ashley rescued three page 762. people from the ketch Progress. The life-boat had to be brought some ten FAMILY TAKEN OFF TEN-TON times under the lee of the ketch before YACHT the ketch's crew were taken off. Skegness, Lincolnshire.—At 11.54 on Coxswain George Lamey was awarded the night of the 26th of July, 1954, the the bronze medal. coastguard telephoned that the Lyn- For a full account of this service see well lightvessel had reported that a page 763. cabin cruiser had burnt a red flare a hundred yards from the lightvessel. SEARCH FOR DRIFTING PONTOON The Trinity House vessel Warden went New Brighton, Cheshire.- At 10.15 on to her and wirelessed that she was the the night of the 27th of July, 1954, the 10-ton motor yacht Petan, with the Superintendent of Wallasey Ferries owner, his wife, son and daughter on reported that a large pontoon beneath board. The Warden anchored the the New Brighton landing stage had yacht, which had engine trouble, stood severed its securing bolts and was by her and then took off the woman adrift. It was a danger to navigation, and the children. The owner then so at eleven o'clock the life-boat got his yacht under way on one engine Norman E. Corlett put out. The sea and made for Boston. The Warden was rough, a moderate west-north- remained with the Petan, but at 12.50 west gale was blowing, and it was one the next afternoon the Petan''s owner hour after high water. The life-boat asked for the life-boat. The yacht searched with the help of her search- was now one mile west of North Lynn light and was joined by a salvage vessel. Knock Buoy. At 1.10 the life-boat The pontoon was found near C.18 red The Cuttle was launched in a rough sea. buoy. The salvage vessel put a man on There was a strong south-south-west the pontoon, but the weather was so bad breeze and it was two hours after low that he could not make a rope fast water. The life-boat took the woman to it. The pontoon eventually drifted and children off the Warden, took on out of the fairway, and the life-boat board the owner of the Petan, towed returned to her station, arriving at the Petan to Boston, and reached her 1.10 early on the 28th. The pontoon station again at 11.40.—Rewards, went ashore at Crosby.—Rewards, £25 10,9. &d. £7 8s. LIFE-BO ATM AN BOARDS YACHT DOCTOR TAKEN TO FLEETWOOD Ramsgate, Kent.—At 9.44 on the morn- TRAWLER ing of the 27th of July, 1954. a message Fleetwood, Lancashire.—At 4.45 on the was received from the East Pier that a afternoon of the 28th of July, 1954, the DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 791 police reported that a member of the went to Brighton on the morning of crew of the local steam trawler the 31st of July, 1954, for a special Phrontis. which had left for a fishing trip for publicity purposes. About trip, was ill and that she was returning 12.15 a speed boat broke down three to Fleetwood. She was expected at hundred yards west of Brighton West the Wyre Light about six o'clock, but Pier. The piermaster signalled the would be unable to enter the harbour life-boat, which made for the position. because of the low tide. At 5.30 the The sea was moderate, and a light life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was south-westerly breeze was blowing. launched, with a doctor and an ambu- The life-boat found the speed boat lance man on board. The sea was Brigand, with one person on board, moderate, and a moderate breeze was and two other boats with her. One blowing from the north-west. The of the boats tried to take the Brigand life-boat came up with the Phrontis off in tow, but fouled her propeller. The the Wyre Light, but found the man had life-boat towed the Brigand to Shore- died. She landed his body at Fleet- ham Harbour, arriving at 4.20.— wood at seven o'clock. The owners Property Salvage Case. made a donation to the funds of the Institution.—Rewards, £7 9s. WOMAN FOUND CUT OFF BY TIDE Swanage, Dorset.—At 2.30 on the IRISH BOAT TOWED TO HARBOUR afternoon of the 31st of July, 1954, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.—At 10.15 when the life-boat was about to be on the night of the 29th of July, 1954, launched for the life-boat flag-day, a a message was received that a man had police sergeant told the coxswain that a returned to the harbour in a sailing woman was missing and was thought boat with the news that a motor boat to be on a cliff at Anvil Point. The had broken down two miles east of life-boat put out at once in a smooth East Pier. At 10.55 the life-boat sea. A light south-westerly breeze Dunleary II put out in a smooth sea. was blowing, and it was two hours There was a light westerly breeze and after high water. She found the a flood tide. The life-boat found the woman on a ledge at the foot of a motor boat Martha, of Dublin, with a cliff at Tilly whim caves, cut off by the crew of three, and towed her to Dun tide. The life-boat went as close in- Laoghaire, arriving at 11.35. The shore as she could, and the second owner made a gift to the life-boatmen. coxswain swam about twenty yards —Rewards, £6 17,?. 6d. to the woman. He helped her to climb to the top of the cliff, and the YACHT TOWED TO SWANAGE life-boat left the position at 3.10. She Swanage, Dorset. — About seven remained afloat until 4.30.—Rewards, o'clock on the morning of the 31st of £7 15*. July, 1954, the St. Albans Head coast- guard telephoned that the yacht Tarka The following life-boats went out was in distress three miles south-south- on service, but could find no ships in west of Anvil Point. At 7.14 the distress, were not needed or could do life-boat R.L.P. was launched. The nothing: sea was smooth, there was a light St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—July 2nd. south-westerly breeze and it was one —Rewards, £10 1*. hour after low water. She found the Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — July yacht three miles south-west of Anvil 6th.—Rewards, £10 105. Point, with two people on board. The Dover, Kent.—July 6th.—Rewards, yacht's fore-stay had carried away. £4 6*. The life-boat towed her to Swanage The Lizard, Cornwall.—July 6th.—• Bay, reaching her station again at Rewards, £21. eight o'clock.—Rewards, £6 15s. Skegness, Lincolnshire.—July 7th.—• Rewards, £15 7*. DISTRESS CALL DURING PUBLICITY Margate, Kent.—July 9th.—Rewards, TRIP £8 Is. Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—The life- Margate, Kent. — July 12th. — Re- boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn wards, £8 Is. 792 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 Arbroath, Angus.—July 13th.—Re- Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—July 27th.— wards, £8 19s. Rewards, £12 8s. Montrose, Angus.—July 14th.—Re- Skegness, Lincolnshire.—July 29th. wards, £9 6*. —Rewards, £14 Is. Qd. St. Abbs, Berwickshire.—July 14th. Ramsgate, Kent. — July 29th. — Re- —Rewards, £5 17,?. wards, £5 17s. Gd. Kirkcudbright. — July 15th. — Re- Arranmore, Co. Donegal.—July 29th. wards, £7 7s. —Rewards, £7 13s. The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.— Port Erin, Isle of Man. — July 30th. July 15th.—Rewards, £9 18s. —Rewards, £8 15s. 6d. Walmer, Kent. — July 17th. — Re- Port Erin, Isle of Man.—July 30th. wards, £15 13s. —Rewards, £12. Glacton-on-Sea, Essex.—July 17th.— Donaghadee, Co. Down.—July 31st.— Rewards, £17 7s. Rewards, £5 5s. Eastbourne, Sussex.—July 17th.— Rewards, £17 13s. AUGUST Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork.— DURIXG August life-boats were launch- July 18th.—Rewards, £5 6s. ed 68 times and rescued 27 lives. Filey, Yorkshire.—July 19th.—Re- TWELVE ANGLERS EMBARKED wards, £20 Is. Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.—On the Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.—July morning of the 1st of August, 1954, 19th.—Rewards, £7 8s. twelve members of an angling club Padstow. Cornwall.—July 19th.—Re- went in a motor boat to the Calf of wards, £9 3s. Man, but during the afternoon the Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. — July weather grew worse and prevented 20th.—Rewards, £6 9s. them from returning. At three o'clock Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, in the afternoon, as the weather was Norfolk. — July 20th. — Rewards, £8 too bad for a shore-boat to put out, the 17s. 6d. life-boatmen manned the reserve life- Cromer, Norfolk. — July 20th. — Re- boat Helen Sutton, which is stored at wards, £11 5s. the station. The sea was rough, a Dungeness, Kent. — July 21st. — Re- fresh southerly wind was blowing and wards, £16 18s. it was two hours after high water. St. Ives, Cornwall. — July 21st. — Re- The life-boat embarked the twelve wards, £12 16*. Qd. people and returned to Port St. Dover, Kent.—July 22nd.—Rewards, Mary at 4.30.—No expense to the £5 10,9. Institution. Llandudno, Caernarvonshire. — July FOUR MISSING IN TWENTY-FEET 25th.—Rewards, £19 15s. YACHT Rhyl, Flintshire. — July 25th. — Re- New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 5.55 on wards, £16 15s. the afternoon of the 1st of August, Howth, Co. Dublin.—July 25th.—Re- 1954. the coxswain reported that four wards, £8 10s. people had left Rock Ferry for a Newhaven, Sussex.—July 25th.—Re- cruise in the 20-feet yacht Eilae about wards, £9 7s. Qd. 1.45 and were now overdue. The St. Ives, Cornwall.--July 26th.—Re- Formby coastguard reported that in wards, £17 4.9. the poor visibility nothing could be Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.—July seen of the missing boat, but at 9.15 26th.—Rewards, £2 17s. a vessel wirelessed that a yacht was Angle, Pembrokeshire.—July 26th.— in difficulties near C.14 red buoy. At Rewards, £9 9s. 9.20 the life-boat Norman B. Corlett Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—July 26th. put out in a moderate sea. There —Rewards, £7 10s. was a fresh south-south-east breeze Ramsgate, Kent. — July 26th. — Re- and heavy rain squalls, and it was an wards, £6 12s. Qd. hour and a half after low water. The Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.- July 26th. life-boat found the Eilae, which was —Rewards, £8 10,9. short of fuel, in a dangerous position Caister, Norfolk. — July 27th. — Re- off C.18 buoy. The four people on wards, £19 10s. 6d. board were cold and wet. The life- DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 793 boat towed the yacht to Rock Ferry had called at Kingsdown for a rowing and reached her station again at boat, and two life-boatmen manned 12.15 early on the 2nd.—Rewards, this boat and at some risk rowed to £78,?. the cliff through a broken sea and jagged rocks. The boy and man jumped into the boat. They were YACHT TOWED OFF SANDS then transferred to the life-boat, Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 9.30 on which returned to her station, arriving the evening of the 4th of August, 1954, at 5.35.—Rewards, £16 12*. a boatman reported that while he had been in his boat on a pleasure trip from the Naze to Walton River with BOYS RESCUED FROM CANOES passengers on board, he had seen a Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, yacht go ashore on Old Stone Point Norfolk.—At 8.37 on the evening of at the west end of the Pye Sands. the 6th of August, 1954, the Gorleston After further enquiries had been made, coastguard rang up to say there were the life-boat Edian Courtauld put out two canoes half a mile east of the pier, at 10.30, taking a dinghy with her. one of which had capsized, and that There was a moderate sea, a light three boys were in the sea. Five easterly breeze and a flood tide. The minutes later the life-boat Louise life-boat found the 15-ton yacht Dus- Stephens was launched in a slight sea. marie, of Colchester, with the owner, There was a light south-westerly his wife and three children on board, breeze and an ebb tide. Two life- bound for Hamford Water. Using boatmen, who were returning to the the dinghy, the life-boatmen made a harbour in their shrimp boat, also rope fast to her and the life-boat saw the canoes and rescued the boys pulled her clear and towed her to the just before the life-boat reached the entrance of Hamford Water. The position. The life-boat rescued two life-boat then returned to her station, boys from the other canoe and then arriving at 5.30 on the morning of the took on board the other three. Two 5th. The owner made a donation to of the three who had been in the sea the funds of the Institution.—Re- were exhausted and the life-boatmen wards, £21 11s. gave them rum and dry clothes. The life-boat took the canoes on board BOY SWIMMER RESCUED FROM and made for the harbour, arriving LEDGE at 8.57.— Rewards, £11 12s. 6cL Walmer.Kent.—On the 6th of August, 1954, two boys walked round the cliff from St. Margaret's to Kingsdown, SECOND COXSWAIN JUMPS but were trapped by the tide at ABOARD CABIN CRUISER Kingsdown. They both tried to swim Poole, Dorset.—At four o'clock on the round the cliff, but one of them got afternoon of the 7th of August. 1954, into difficulties. His companion a report was received that three boys helped him to a small ledge on the in a cabin cruiser in Poole harbour cliff face and then swam for help and were waving a white sheet. At 4.5 reached the Kingsdown range warden's the life-boat Thomas Kirk Wright was house. The warden told the Deal launched. The sea was rough, a coastguard, who passed on the news south-westerly gale was blowing, and to the life-boat station at 4.15. Five the tide was half ebb. The life-boat minutes later the life-boat Charles found the 6-ton cabin cruiser Elsie, of Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2 was Wareham, broken down and at anchor. launched. The sea was moderate, a Three boy scouts and the owner were moderate south-south-west breeze was on board. As the life-boat could not blowing, and it was high water. In the come alongside because of the con- meantime a man swam out to the boy ditions, the second coxswain jumped from Kingsdown, reached a ledge aboard. With difficulty he heaved about fifteen yards away from him, and up the anchor, and the life-boat towed kept up his spirits until the life-boat the Elsie to Wareham, reaching her arrived at five o'clock. The life-boat station again at 7.30.—Rewards, £9 8s. 794 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 PILOT TAKEN TO GERMAN SHIP the sailing dinghy Imp and a canoe at Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. — At Crawford's Perch, Meols, but there was 11.18 on the night of the 10th of August, no sign of their crews. She searched 1954, the coastguard reported that a for some time and then received a vessel appeared to be aground off St. message that the two people who had Combs, but at 11.50 she was seen to been manning the boats were safely be under way. At midnight she ashore. The life-boat towed the boats anchored, but she was dangerously to Hoylake, arriving at 4.30.—Re- near the shore. At 12.5 early on the wards, £11 14,9. llth the life-boat The Duchess of Kent •was launched on service for the first time. She took a pilot with her. MOTOR CRUISERS There was a heavy swell and a light AGROUND ON GOODWINS west-north-west breeze, and it was Ramsgate, Kent.—At 4.49 on the morn- half an hour before high water. The ing of the ]4th of August, 1954, the life-boat found the motor vessel coastguard reported that a red flare Audentia, of Bremen, put the pilot had been seen from a vessel between aboard and escorted the Audentia to Gull Stream Buoy and North Goodwin Fraserburgh, arriving at 1.45.—Re- Buoy. At 5.2 the life-boat Michael wards, £69*. and Lily Davis put out. The sea was slight, there was a light breeze, and it MEN RESCUED WHILE ADVERTIS- was two hours before low water. The ING BREWERY life-boat found three motor cruisers Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—At 9.20 aground on the North Goodwin Sands. on the night of the 12th of August, 1954, They were the Kon Tiki and Thyl, of the coastguard telephoned that a red Nieuwport, Belgium, and the Fraeya, flare had been seen four and a half of London. They had been taking miles south-east-by-east of Shoreham part in the Thames motor cruiser rally. Harbour. At 9.30 the life-boat Rosa The life-boat anchored close to them, Woodd and-Phyllis Lunn was launched. and three life-boatmen walked over The sea was heavy, a moderate south- the sands. One went aboard each south-west gale was blowing and it cruiser. The life-boat towed the Bel- was an hour before high water. The gian cruisers clear, stood by while the life-boat found the motor vessel Bos- Fraeya refloated, and then returned tonian VII, which was on charter to a to her station, arriving at 10.12. The brewery for advertising purposes, crews of the boats, twelve people in bound for Newhaven with a crew of all, made gifts to the life-boatmen.— two. She had broken down, had Rewards, £13 3*. anchored in a dangerous position, and was dragging. The life-boat rescued the two men on board and reached FISHING BOAT TOWED TO SEAHAM her station at 12.10 early on the 13th. Seaham, Durham.—At 3.42 on the Ten minutes later the life-boat was afternoon of the 17th of August, 1954, launched again. This time she towed the coastguard reported that the fish- in the vessel and arrived back at her ing boat Jean Horsley, which had a station at 6.40.—Rewards: 1st service, crew of five, had broken down off £8; 2nd service, Property Salvage Crimdon, about eight miles south of Case. Seaham. At four o'clock the life-boat George Elmy was launched. There DINGHY AND CANOE TOWED TO was a moderate sea and a moderate HOYLAKE south-easterly breeze, and it was two Hoylake, Cheshire.—At 2.5 on the and a half hours before high water. afternoon of the 13th of August, 1954, The life-boat found the Jean Horsley a the police reported that a sailing dinghy hundred feet from the shore in a dan- had capsized off Meols. At 2.49 the gerous position. She had lost one of life-boat Oldham IV was launched. her anchors and was dragging the The sea was rough, a moderate other. The life-boat towed her to westerly breeze was blowing, and the Seaham, arriving at 7.30.—Rewards, tide was half ebb. The life-boat found £12 15.9. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 795 SAILING BOAT TOWED TO gale was blowing, and it was one hour WICKLOW after low water. The life-boat put Wicklow.—At 6.10 on the evening the provisions aboard and returned to of the 17th of August, 1954, a man at her station, arriving at 4.30.—Rewards Arklow rang up to say that the 24-feet £3 15s. sailing boat Sarah, of Wicklow, had left Arklow for Wicklow earlier in the BOYS RESCUED FROM ROWING day with four men on board. At 7.30 BOAT the Wicklow Head lighthouse reported Fowey, Cornwall.—At 4.45 on the after- that the boat had been seen about noon of the 18th of August, 1954, the two miles south-east of the Head about Polruan coastguard telephoned that one and a half miles off shore. At two boys were in difficulties in a rowing 7.50 she was seen in Wicklow Bay boat three miles south of Fowey. At drifting seawards, and at 9.20 the 5.28 the life-boat C.D.E.C. put'out in life-boat Lady Kylsant was launched. a flood tide. The sea was calm and a The sea was rough, a strong breeze light breeze was blowing from the was blowing from the west, and the north-west. The life-boat rescued the tide was flooding. The life-boat towed boys, took their boat in tow and reach- the Sarah in and reached her station ed her station again at 6.10. A dona- again at 10.35.—Rewards, £8 14s. tion to the funds of the Institution was received.—Rewards, £5 5s. ABANDONED YACHT TOWED IN Dover, Kent.—At 1.55 on the afternoon LIFE-BOATMAN BOARDS FISHING of the 18th of August, 1954, a message BOAT was received from Lloyd's Signal Eyemouth, Berwickshire.—At 4.15 on Station that a dismasted yacht had the afternoon of the 19th of August, been seen south of the South Goodwin 1954, the life-boat coxswain reported lightvessel. At 2.15 the life-boat that the fishing boat Endeavour, lying Southern Africa put out. The sea was off Eyemouth, had wirelessed the fishing very rough, a moderate gale was boat Amelia, which was in the harbour, blowing from the south-west, and it asking if she would put out and guide was high water. An aircraft guided her in. The Amelia put to sea, but the life-boat to a position eight miles both boats got into difficulties. At east of the East Goodwin lightvessel, 4.30 the life-boat Clara and Emily and there the life-boat found the yacht Bar-well was launched in a very rough Barnklet, of Burnham. A life-boat- sea and a flood tide. A moderate man boarded her, but he found no one northerly gale was blowing. The life- aboard, and the life-boat towed the boat went alongside the Endeavour and yacht to Ramsgate, reaching her a life-boatman boarded her and gave station again at 2.10 early on the the skipper advice about entering the morning of the 19th. A man had harbour. The life-boat then escorted chartered the yacht for a trip to in both boats and reached her station Boulogne, but a French steamer had again at 5.10.—Rewards, £9 14s. taken her in tow in the bad weather. The mast had broken, and the steamer YACHT'S CREW RESCUED had rescued the man and left the Beaumaris, Anglesey.—At 9.15 on the yacht.—Property Salvage Case. morning of the 20th of August, 1954, the Penmon coastguard rang up to FOOD TAKEN TO STEAMER IN GALE say that a yacht had anchored in a Workington, Cumberland. — On the dangerous position off Dutchman's 18th of August, 1954, the weather was Bank. The coastguard kept watch too bad for the S.S. Baron Yarborough, on her and later in the morning she of Ardrossan, which was at anchor off set sail, but got into difficulties. At the harbour, to enter, and she wire- 12.50 the life-boat Field Marshal and lessed for provisions. As no other Mrs. Smuts was launched. There was boat was available, the life-boat Man- a rough sea, a moderate north-north- chester and Salford XXIX put off at east breeze and a flood tide. The 3.15 in the afternoon. The sea was life-boat found the 18-feet yacht Eolet, rough, a moderate north-north-east with a crew of two, two and a half 796 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBEB, 1954 miles north-east of Penmaenbach. men and two women on board. She She rescued the two people, who were had lost her sails and anchor and her given rum and hot drinks, and towed engine had stopped. Two other boats the yacht to Beaumaris, arriving at were with her. Her crew re-started 2.30.—Rewards, £10 8s. her engine, and the life-boat escorted the yacht to an anchorage at Abersoch, SKIPPER TAKEN TO DUTCH FISH- reaching her station again at ten ING VESSEL o'clock.—Rewards, £21 11s. Berwick-on- Tweed, Northumberland. —At 1.40 on the afternoon of the BOY FALLS OVER CLIFF 23rd of August, 1954, the coastguard Torbay, Devon.—At 5.25 on the after- rang up to say that the motor fishing noon of the 24th of August, 1954, the vessel Ariadne Johanna, of Schevenin- Berry Head coastguard rang up to gen, which was one mile east of the say that a boy had fallen over a cliff pier, was making flag signals. She at Sharkham Point and that a rescue wished to land a sick man, and a local party had gone to his help. At 6.34 fishing boat took him and the skipper the coastguard reported that the life- ashore. At 5.30 the life-boat J. and W. boat had been asked for, and at 6.50 was launched in a moderate sea with the life-boat George Shee put out, with a light north-easterly breeze blowing. the second coxswain in charge, taking She took the skipper back to his ship a small boat with her. The sea was and reached her station again at 6.45. calm, and a light north-westerly breeze —Rewards, £14 Is. M. •was blowing. The life-boat made for the position in an ebb tide and found CHILDREN PICKED UP FROM that the rescue party had strapped DINGHY the boy in a stretcher. Using the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—At 4.10 on small boat, the life-boatmen trans- the afternoon of the 24th of August, ferred him to the life-boat, which 1954, the police reported that a dinghy, landed him at Brixham, where an with two children on board, was adrift ambulance was waiting, at 7.45.— off the entrance to Beaulieu River. Rewards, £5 13.5. At 7.28 the life-boat The Lord South- borough, Civil Service No. 1, on tem- LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY POLISH porary duty at the station, put to FISHING VESSEL sea in a flood tide. The sea was Anstruther, Fifeshire.—At 6.57 on the choppy, and a fresh breeze was blow- morning of the 25th of August, 1954, ing from the north. Off East Lepe the Fifeness coastguard telephoned Buoy the life-boat came up with a that the fishing vessel Krab, of Gdynia, pilot cutter, which had picked up the had run ashore half a mile east of children and their dinghy. The Leven. At 7.12 the life-boat James children were transferred to the life- and Ruby Jackson was launched. boat, which then towed the dinghy There was a slight swell and a light to the shore. She landed the children north-westerly breeze. The life-boat and returned to her station, arriving stood by the Krab until she refloated at 6.40.—Rewards, £7 1,?. 6rf. on the flood tide and then returned to her station, arriving at 11.15.—Re- YACHT ESCORTED TO ABERSOCH wards, £11 14,s. Criccieth, Caernarvonshire.—At 5.57 on the afternoon of the 24th of August, MEN RESCUED FROM LIGHTHOUSE 1954, the Abersoch coastguaid tele- LADDER phoned that a fishing boat was drifting Poolbeg, Co. Dublin.—At ten o'clock on and making heavy weather off St. the night of the 28th of August, 1954, Tudwal's Island. At 6.7 the life-boat the Dublin Port and Docks Board Richard Silver Oliver was launched. telephoned to say the Poolbeg light- The sea was rough, a strong north- house-keeper had reported that two north-east breeze was blowing, and it men in a small yacht near North Bull was high water. The life-boat found lighthouse were shouting for help. At the yacht Amy, a converted fishing 10.35 the life-boat Helen Blake was boat, in St. Tudwal's Sound, with two launched in a flood tide. The sea was DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 797 rough, and a strong breeze was blow- 1954, a yacht off Staithes was seen to ing from west-south-west. With the be in difficulties, and it was noticed help of her Aldis lamp the life-boat that her crew of three had lowered found that the men had climbed the her sails. Her engine did not appear iron ladder outside the North Bull to be very powerful, and watch was lighthouse, after making their yacht kept on her. At 10.21 the Kettleness Libera fast to the ladder. The life- coastguard reported that a flashing boat rescued them with difficulty, white light could be seen off Runswick, took the Libera in tow, and reached and at eleven o'clock the life-boat The her station again at 12.12 early on Elliott Gill was launched at low water. the 29th.—Rewards, £6 10s. The sea was very choppy and a strong west-south-west breeze was blowing. CONVERTED SHIP'S BOAT TOWED The life-boat found the yacht Cor- IN morant at Runswick Wyke, towed her Anstruther, Fifeshire.—At 10.10 on to Staithes and reached her station the morning of the 29th of August, 1954, again at 1.30 early on the 30th.— the coastguard rang up to say that a Rewards, £19 "is. man at Pittenweem had reported that a small boat was drifting towards the ENGINEER TAKEN OFF POLISH shore east of Pittenweem. It was BOAT low water when the life-boat James Broughty Ferry, Angus.—At 11.44 on and Ruby Jackson was launched at the morning of the 30th of August, 10.15, and she made for Pittenweem 1954, the Carnoustie coastguard rang in a calm sea with a light westerly up to say that the motor fishing boat breeze blowing. She found the con- Arka, of Gydnia, which had a sick verted ship's boat Sun, of Stonehaven, man on board, had run aground one with a crew of three, a quarter of a and a half miles west-by-south of mile east of the harbour. The Sun Buddon Ness. At 1.55 the life-boat had run short of fuel, and the life-boat Mona was launched. The sea was towed her to Anstruther, arriving at rough, and a strong westerly breeze 10.48.—Rewards, £9 Is. 6d. was blowing. She made tor the Arka in a flood tide and found that the YACHT AGROUND NEAR NEEDLES Arka's engineer had injured an eye. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—At 5.14 on The life-boat wirelessed for an ambu- the afternoon of the 29th of August, lance to meet her at Broughty Ferry 1954, the Needles coastguard rang up and landed the man there at 3.30. to say that a yacht had gone ashore The Arka refloated at high water.— about two and a half miles north- Rewards, £6 19*. 6d. north-east of Needles, but that she was in no immediate danger. At 6.19 the coastguard stated that she had NINE TAKEN OFF SAILING BOAT burnt a red flare, and at 6.36 the Falmouth, Cornwall.—At 10.32 on the life-boat The Lord Southborough, Civil night of the 31st of August, 1954. a Service No. 1, on temporary duty at man rang up to say that his sailing the station, put out. The sea was boat Victory had put out that morning rough and a moderate breeze was with a crew of two and nine visitors, blowing from the south-west. She but had not returned. At 10.50 the made for the position in a flooding life-boat Hearts of Oak, on temporary tide and found the yacht Trenchemer, duty at the station, put out. The sea with a crew of three, on Shingles Bank. was calm, a light easterly breeze was The life-boat stood by her until she blowing and the tide was ebbing. refloated and got clear under her own The life-boat found the Victory in power, and then escorted her to Falmouth Bay. A dinghy was towing Yarmouth, reaching her station again her with difficulty. The life-boat took at 8.45.—Rewards, £7 ]*. 6d. the visitors on board, landed them at Falmouth and then towed in the YACHT TOWED TO STAITHES Victory, arriving at her station at Runswick, Yorkshire.—About 8.30 on 12.15 early on the 1st of September.— the evening of the 29th of August, Rewards, £4 18*. 798 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 The following life-boats went out continually had given rise to the on service, but could find no ships in report. The life-boat returned to her distress, were not needed or could do station, arriving at 6.40.—Rewards, nothing: £9 9s. Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—August 1st.— Rewards, £29 5s. Qd, Holyhead, Anglesey.—August 12th.— Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.— Rewards, £7 16s. August 1st.—Rewards, £4 2,y., Partly Hastings, Sussex.—August 13th.— Permanent Paid Crew. Rewards, £23 4s. 6d. Swanage, Dorset.—August 1st.—Re- Padstow, Cornwall.—August 14th.— wards, £7 7*. Rewards, £7 14s. Workington, Cumberland. — August Howth, Co. Dublin.—August 15th.— 2nd.—Rewards, £7 9s. Rewards, £5 13s. Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—August 2nd. Kirkcudbright.—August 17th.—Re- —Rewards, £10 19s. wards, £22 12s. Blyth, Northumberland.—-August 3rd. Douglas, Isle of Man.—August 18th.— —Rewards, £8 7s. Rewards, £15 19s. Padstow, Cornwall.—August 4th.— Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—August Rewards, £4 10s. 18th.—Rewards, £8 Is. 6d. Barmouth, Merionethshire.—August Hoylake, Cheshire.—August 18th.— 5th.—Rewards, £7 16s. 6d. Rewards, £19 6s. Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.— Girvan, Ayrshire.—August 19th.— August 6th.—Rewards, £5 7s.—Partly Rewards, £5 13s. Permanent Paid Crew. New Quay, Cardiganshire.—August Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, 21st.—Rewards, £11 2s. 6d. Norfolk.—August 7th.—Rewards, £11 New Brighton, Cheshire. — August 12s. 22nd.—Rewards, £5 10s. Skegness, Lincolnshire.—August 7th. Troon, Ayrshire.—August 23rd.—Re- —Rewards, £l 6 6s. wards, £4 15s. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—August 7th. Falmouth, Cornwall. — August 24th. —Rewards, £26 2s. 9d. Rewards, £4 18s. Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.— Skegness, Lincolnshire.—August 24th. August 7th.—Rewards, £3 10s.— —Rewards, £12 12s. Partly Permanent Paid Crew. Arbroath, Angus.—August 25th.—Re- Wafmer, Kent.— August 9th.—Re- wards, £7 9s. wards, £14 12s. St. Ives, Cornwall.—August 27th.— Fowey, Cornwall.—August 9th.—Re- Rewards, £12 9s. wards, £5 5s. Walmer, Kent.—August 29th.—Re- Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—August 9th. wards, £16 6s. 6d. —Rewards, £20 18s. Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. — St. Ives, Cornwall.—August 10th.— August 29th.—Rewards, £14 19s. Rewards, £14 13s. Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. — Newhaven, Sussex.—August llth.— August 29th.—Rewards, £11 5s. Rewards, £7 12s. 6d. Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—August 31st. —Rewards, £11 5s. 6d. FAULTY MOTOR HORN CALLS OUT LIFE-BOAT SEPTEMBER Fowey, Cornwall. —At 2.3 early on the DURING September life-boats were morning of the 12th of August. 1954, launched 76 times and rescued 79 lives. the Polruan coastguard reported that a vessel was sounding blasts on a fog- FISHING BOAT AGROUND OFF horn near Gwineas Rock about one FOWEY mile west of Mevagissey. At 2.31 the Fowey, Cornwall.—At 2.30 on the life-boat C.D.E.C. put out. The sea morning of the 2nd of September, 1954, was calm, there was a light southerly the Polruan coastguard reported that a breeze and fog, and it was two hours vessel had gone ashore at Great Per- before high water. The life-boat haver Beach. At 2.50 the life-boat made a search, but it was then learnt C.D.E.C. put out in a calm sea, with a that a faulty motor car horn sounding light southerly breeze blowing and fog. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 799 She found the fishing boat Ibis, of at the station, put out in a choppy sea, Mevagissey, with a crew of three. The with a strong south-westerly breeze life-boat stood by her until she re- blowing. She searched for the other floated on the rising tide, then escorted boy in an ebb tide, but did not find him. her to Mevagissey, and reached her She then took the dinghy on board and own station again at 5.40.—Rewards, returned to Weymouth, reaching her £6 13s. station again at 12.20 early on the 9th.—Rewards, £7 Is. 6d. YACHT TOWED FROM PIER Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At THREE COBLES ESCORTED 8.15 on the morning of the 3rd of Septem- Boulmer, Northumberland.—At 9.3 on ber, 1954, the coxswain noticed that the the morning of the 9th of September, yacht Squall, of Belfast, which was 1954, a man at Alnmouth reported that anchored in the harbour, was dragging the fishing cobles Brighter Dawn, Cath- towards the pier. At 8.30 the life-boat leen, and Golden Gleam, of Boulmer, Douglas Hyde put out in a flooding tide. appeared to be in difficulties in Aln- The sea was rough and a fresh gale was mouth Bay. At 9.15 the life-boat blowing from the south. The life-boat Clarissa Langdon was launched. The towed the yacht, which had a crew of sea was rough and a strong breeze was two, clear of the pier, took her to a safe blowing from the south-east. The life- anchorage and reached her station boat made for the position in a flood again at 9.30.—Partly Permanent Paid tide, escorted the cobles to Boulmer, Crew.—-Rewards, 15*. and reached her station again at ten o'clock.—Rewards, £10 Is. 6d. TOW FOR THE TRANQUILLITY Barrow, Lancashire.—During the after- STEAMER'S STEERING GEAR noon of the 8th of September, 1954, the BREAKS DOWN Walney Island coastguard noticed a St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—At 12.38 on fishing boat near Half-Way buoy and the afternoon of the 10th of September, saw later that she had anchored a mile 1954, the motor vessel Island Commo- south of it. At five o'clock the coast- dore, of London, bound for Cherbourg guard asked the local pilots to speak with thirty-seven people on board, wire- her when they put out in the pilot lessed the life-boat station that her boat. This the pilots did and found steering gear had broken down and that the fishing boat was the Tran- that she needed help between Alderney quillity, of Peterhead, with a crew of and Burhou. At 1.3 the life-boat three, and that her engine had broken Euphrosyne Kendal put out in a very down. The pilots wirelessed the life- rough sea. A strong breeze was blow- boat station, and at 6.13 the life-boat ing from the south-west, and it was Herbert Leigh was launched, with an low water. The life-boat found the ex-motor mechanic in charge, in a vessel at 3.20 drifting broadside to moderate sea with a moderate south- wind and sea. She had broken away westerly breeze blowing. She made for from another vessel which had taken the position in a flood tide, towed the her in tow. The life-boat sprayed oil Tranquillity to Fleetwood, and reached on the sea, passed lines to the Island her station again at 10.35.—Rewards, Commodore and towed her to Alderney, £11 Us. 6d. reaching her station again at 9.30.— Property Salvage Case. LIFE-BOAT'S SEARCH FOR BOY SWIMMER TOW TAKEN OVER FROM GREEK Weymouth, Dorset.—At 9.17 on the STEAMER evening of the 8th of September, 1954, Swanage, Dorset.—About 3.23 on the the Wyke Regis coastguard rang up to afternoon of the 10th of September, say that a sailing dinghy, with two 1954, the coastguard rang to say that boys on board, had capsized in Portland the S.S. Eptanissos, of Ithaka, had harbour, about a quarter of a mile off wirelessed that she had found a yacht Sandsfoot Castle, and that one of the in difficulties two miles south-east of boys had swum ashore. At 9.30 the Bournemouth and had taken her in life-boat Milburn, on temporary duty tow. She asked for a boat to take the 800 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 tow over, and at 3.28 the life-boat reported to be in danger. At 1.30 the R.L.P. was launched. There was a life-boat Samuel and Marie Parkhouse heavy sea, and a strong breeze was was launched. The sea was choppy and blowing from the south-west. The a moderate westerly breeze was blow- life-boat made for the steamer in an ing. The life-boat searched in a flood ebb tide and came up with her five tide and found the man's body between miles south-west of Hengistbury Head. Rickham Sands and Moor Sands. She found that the yacht was the racing Using a dinghy, two life-boatmen yacht Osterling, with a crew of four, recovered it and transferred it to the towed her to Swanage, and reached her life-boat, which then returned to her station again at 5.45.—Rewards, £9 6*. station, arriving at four o'clock.— Rewards, £7 10*. FISHING BOAT TOWED TO TORE AY Torbay, Devon.—At 7.49 on the even- SIX RESCUED AFTER ALL-NIGHT ing of the llth of September, 1954, SEARCH the Brixham coastguard telephoned St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—At 9.20 on that red flares could be seen coming the evening of the 12th of September, from a motor boat a quarter of a mile 1954, a man at Sark reported that the east of Great Rock. At eight o'clock motor yacht Dorian had left Sark, with the life-boat George Shee put out. The six people on board, for Guernsey at sea was calm and a light westerly six o'clock that evening and ought to breeze was blowing. The life-boat have arrived at 7.20. She was still searched in a flooding tide and came up missing when the life-boat Euphrosyne with the motor boat Betsy Nora, of Kendal put out at 10.1 in a moderate Torquay, half a mile east of Great sea with a moderate south-westerly Rock. Six people had put out in her breeze blowing. The life-boat searched for a fishing trip, but her engine had extensively in an ebb tide, and at broken down. At their request the eight o'clock next morning found the life-boat towed the boat to Torquay. yacht broken down four miles east of She reached her station again at ten Quenard lighthouse, Alderney. The o'clock.—Rewards, £4 18s. life-boat rescued the six people, towed the Dorian to Alderney, and then took DOCTOR TAKEN TO LIGHTVESSEL the rescued people to St. Peter Port, Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At 7.45 on arriving at 12.35 on the 13th.—Re- the evening of the llth of September, wards, £21 14s. 1954, the Cowes Marine Superintendent of Trinity House rang up to ask if the LIFE-BOAT PUTS OUT TWICE TO life-boat would take a doctor to the COBLES Nab lighthouse to attend the assistant keeper. No other boat was available, Newbiggin, Northumberland. — At so at 8.5 the life-boat Jesse Lumb was 10.15 on the morning of the 16th of Sep- launched with a doctor on board. The tember, 1954, the coxswain reported that sea was moderate and a fresh westerly the weather was worsening and that breeze was blowing. The life-boat three fishing cobles were at sea. The transferred the doctor to the lighthouse coastguard stated that one of them and he decided to land the man. The was heading south, but that one of the life-boat then took the sick man on others had broken down. At 11.5 the board and landed him at Bembridge at life-boat Richard Ashley was launched. 10.35. The Superintendent expressed The sea was rough, and there was a his thanks.—Rewards, £8 Is. 6d. Re- strong westerly breeze. The life-boat funded to the Institution by Trinity searched in an ebb tide, found the House. coble Louisa Twyzell one and a half miles north of Church Point and escorted her in. The life-boat then SWIMMER'S BODY RECOVERED put off a second time, towed in the Salcombe, Devon.—At 1.15 on the other coble, the John and Margaret, afternoon of the 12th of September, 1954, and reached her station again at 1.30. a man swimming off Gara Rocks was Rewards. £11 8s. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 801 YACHT TOWED FROM DANGEROUS flood tide and came up with the trawler POSITION Naomi, of Brixham. Her skipper Kirkcudbright.—At 2.55 on the after- stated that she had been towing the noon of the 19th of September, 1954, trawler Flower of Fleet, of Brixham, the Ross Island coastguard telephoned which had broken down, with a man that a yacht was in difficulties. She and woman on board, but that the had been burning1 flares and was now Flower of Fleet had broken adrift off drifting rapidly towards rocks. At Portland. The life-boat did not suc- 3.15 the life-boat J. B. Couper of ceed in finding the Flower of Fleet and Glasgow was launched in a rough sea. returned to her station, arriving at A south-westerly gale was blowing. four o'clock on the morning of the 20th. She searched in a flood tide and found At 7.23 the coastguard reported that a the yacht Larrios, of Douglas, with a boat could be seen one and a quarter crew of two, near Milton Sands at the miles east of Grove Point, and at 7.44 entrance to the River Dee. The the life-boat put to sea again. The yacht's engine had broken down and wind had veered to the south-south- she was in a dangerous position. The west, moderating slightly, and the tide life-boat towed her to Kirkcudbright was ebbing. The life-boat came up and reached her station again at 9.30.— with the Flower of Fleet in tow of a Rewards, £9 18s. naval tug, took her over and towed her to Weymouth, arriving at 9.20.— TRANQUILLITY'S CREW Rewards: 1st service, £12 15s. 6d.; 2nd RESCUED service, £5 18s. Barrow, Lancashire.—Ar two o'clock on the afternoon of the 19th of Septem- TWO WOMEN RESCUED FROM ber, 1954, the life-boat motor mechanic MOTOR BOAT noticed that a fishing boat about six Appledore, Devon. — At 9.20 on the miles off shore between Barrow and evening of the 19th of September, 1954, Heysham appeared to be drifting. He a doctor told the coxswain that a told the coxswain, who kept the boat woman and her daughter were in diffi- under observation. A report was re- culties in the local motor boat Mahala ceived later from the Heysham pier- of Crow Rocks and were burning flares. head lighthouse that she appeared to At 9.30 the life-boat Violet Armstrong be flying a flag. At 3.35. one hour put out in a rough sea, with a fresh before high water, the life-boat Herbert north-westerly breeze blowing. She Leigh was launched in a rough sea. A made for the position in a flooding tide strong west-south-west breeze was blow- and found the Mahala on the rocks in a ing. The life-boat found the fishing dangerous position. The life-boat res- boat Tranquillity, of Peterhead, with a cued the two women and towed the crew of two, stranded on Lancaster boat to Appledore, arriving at 11.15.— Sands, four miles north-west of More- Rewards, £8 11s. cambe jetty. The sea was rough and broken on the sands, but the life-boat MEDAL FOR EXMOUTH COXSWAIN came close to and passed a line to the On the 20th of September, 1954, the boat, but she was unable to refloat her. Exmouth life-boat rescued the crew of She therefore rescued the two men and five of the cabin cruiser Nicky which returned to her station, arriving at was in distress on Maer Rocks. For a 6.30.—Rewards, £8 10*. 6d. full account of this service see page 764.

SEARCH FOR TRAWLER IN GALE MOTOR VESSEL LED THROUGH Weymouth, Dorset.—At 8.55 on the SOUND evening of the 19th of September, 1954, Stronsay, Orkneys.—At 3.20 on the the Wyke Regis coastguard telephoned morningof the 20th of September, 1954, that red flares had been seen one mile the owners of the motor vessel lona, of west of Portland Bill. At 9.20 the Shapinsay, a passenger boat of 15 tons life-boat William and Clara Ryland put bound for Shapinsay from Stronsay out. The sea was very rough and a gale with five people on board, reported that was blowing from the south-west. The she was long overdue, as she had left life-boat made for the position in a Stronsay at 10.45 on the night of the 802 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 19th. The life-boat Edward Z. Dresden that while he was on his way in from put out at 3.55 in a flooding tide, a sea in his fishing boat, he had seen the smooth sea and fair weather. She yacht Schilleen in a dangerous position found the lona near Quiabow. The about one mile north of Naze Point. skipper needed help to find his way She was pitching and rolling heavily through Spurness Sound, so the life- and he had seen a man and woman on boat led the lona through the Sound board. They had asked him for help, to Eday Gruna buoy and then returned but they would not leave their yacht. to her station, arriving at 5.45.—Re- At 5.25 the life-boat Edian Courtauld wards, £5 13,?. put out, with the coxswain in charge. The sea was choppy, a fresh westerly MAN AND WOMAN RESCUED FROM breeze was blowing and it was high ROWING BOAT water. Life-boatmen boarded the Coverack, Cornwall.—At 10.55 on the Schilleen, which was on private charter, morning of the 20th of September, 1954, and weighed her anchor with difficulty. a man reported that a rowing boat The life-boat towed her to Walton fitted with an outboard motor was in River and moored her opposite Stone difficulties near Lowland Point. At Creek. The coxswain then noticed 11.5 the life-boat William Taylor of three people and a baby marooned on Oldham was launched on service for the Stone Marshes, With the help of a first time, with the second coxswain in dinghy, the life-boatmen rescued them charge. The sea was moderate and a and two dogs and took them all to her strong breeze was blowing from west- station, which she reached at 8.20. north-west. The life-boat searched in The man who had chartered the a flooding tide and found the rowing Schilleen expressed his thanks. — boat Alice between three and four miles Rewards, £12 6*. east of Coverack, with a man and woman on board. They had put off FRIENDLY FORESTER ESCORTS for a pleasure trip, but were being COBLE blown seawards. The life-boat rescued them and towed the boat to Coverack, Flamborough, Yorkshire.—At 9.55 on arriving at 11.50.—Rewards, £8 4s. the morning of the 22nd of September, 1954,the coxswain reported that the local THREE RESCUED FROM YACHT fishing coble Dennis was still at sea and the weather was deteriorating. It was Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 3.10 on thought that she might be in danger the afternoon of the 20th of September, making for the shore, and at 10.5 the 1954, the Sheerness police reported that life-boat Friendly Forester was launch- a yacht was in distress off Minster. At ed. The sea was rough, a strong wind 3.30 the life-boat Greater London, Civil was blowing from the north, and the Service No. 3 was launched. The sea tide was flooding. The life-boat came was very rough and a strong breeze was up with the Dennis, escorted her to the blowing from the south-west. The North Landing and reached her station life-boat searched in a flood tide and again at 10.25.—Rewards, £10 14s. found the yacht Scaup, of Gravesend, with a crew of three, a quarter of a mile west of the boom defence off Minster. DOCTOR TAKEN TO NORWEGIAN Her outboard engine was not powerful STEAMER enough for such bad weather, and she Workington, Cumberland. — On the was in a dangerous position. Her crew 23rd of September, 1954, the S.S. were wet and cold. The life-boat William, of Drammen, Norway, arrived rescued them and towed the Scaup to off Workington and wirelessed that she Southend pier, arriving at 5.30.— had a sick man on board. She asked Rewards, £14 5s. for a doctor, and at 4.15 the life-boat Manchester and Salford XXLX put off ONE SERVICE IN LIFE-BOAT with one. There was a rough sea and SECOND IN DINGHY a strong south-south-east breeze. The Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 4.45 on life-boat put the doctor on board and the afternoon of the 20th of September, returned to her station, arriving at 1954, the life-boat coxswain reported 5.45.—Rewards, £4 10s. DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 803 AHAB NEEDS A LIFE-BOAT BOYS RESCUED FROM DRIFTING Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—At 4.10 BOAT on the afternoon of the 23rd of Septem- Anstrwther, Fifeshlre.—At 2.16 on the ber, 1954, the life-boat honorary secre- afternoon of the 25th of September, tary saw a motor fishing vessel driving 1954, the coastguard telephoned that towards the north breakwater. At two boys were drifting in a rowing boat 4.20 the life-boat White Star was about two miles south-east of Elie Ness. launched and made for the M.F.V. in At 2.25 the life-boat James and Ruby a rough sea. A fresh south-easterly Jackson was launched. The sea was gale was blowing, and the tide was half choppy, a fresh breeze was blowing flood. The life-boat found M.F.V. from the north and it was one hour 900, on charter to a film company, with before high water. The life-boat found nine film employees on board and a the rowing-boat three miles south-east crew of three, aground on the break- of Elie Ness. The boys were cold and water. She was in danger of breaking frightened. The life-boatmen rescued up. The life-boat towed her to moor- them, gave them rum and hot soup, and ings in Fishguard harbour and reached towed their boat to Elie. The life-boat her station again at 5.40. The film reached her station again at 4.40. The company, which was making the film boys' parents expressed their thanks.— Moby Dick, made a donation to the Rewards, £10 3s. funds of the Institution.—Rewards, £5 4,9. FISHING BOAT ESCORTED UP CHANNEL YACHT TOWED TO POOLE Poole, Dorset.—At one o'clock early on Barrow, Lancashire.—At 9.47 on the the morning of the 24th of September, morning of the 26th of September, 1954, a message was received from the 1954, the life-boat motor mechanic coastguard that shouts for help could noticed that a small fishing boat off be heard from a yacht in Poole harbour. Foulney had hoisted a distress signal. At 1.15 the life-boat Thomas Kirk At 10.4 the life-boat Herbert Leigh was Wright was launched. The sea was launched. The sea was moderate and rough, and a gale was blowing from the a fresh westerly breeze was blowing. south-south-east. The life-boat search- The life-boat made for the position in a ed in an ebbing tide and found the local flooding tide and came up with the yacht Mouette driving ashore. She local fishing boat Nacelle one mile north- went alongside but the yacht's crew of east of Foulney Island. Her trawl had three had been taken off by a motor fouled her propeller, but her crew of launch. The life-boat towed* the yacht two had cleared it and she was under to Poole quay, reaching her station way again. The life-boat escorted her again at 8.15.—Rewards, £13 16s. 6d. up Walney Channel as far as Jubilee Bridge and then returned to her station, HERRING DRIFTER TOWED TO arriving at 12.25.—Rewards £7 11s. Qd. HARBOUR Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, MEN PUT ABOARD BELGIAN Norfolk.—At 7.49 on the morning of the TRAWLER 24th of September, 1954, the Gorleston Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, coastguard rang up to say that the Norfolk.—At 2.16 on the afternoon of herring drifter Golden Gift, of Yar- the 26th of September, 1954, the mouth, had anchored in Yarmouth Gorleston coastguard rang up to say Roads and was showing a distress that a message had been received from signal. At 8.4 the life-boat Louise the Humber radio station that the Stephens was launched in a moderate trawler Irma Alice, of Ostend, was sea with a fresh south-westerly leaking and needed help. She was breeze blowing. She made for the stated to be near the Newarp light- position in an ebbing tide and vessel. At 2.26 the life-boat Louise found that the drifter, which had a Stephens was launched in a slight sea crew of two, had broken down. She with a light south-westerly breeze towed her to harbour and reached her blowing. She made for the trawler in station again at 10.38.—Rewards, an ebbing tide and found her at 4.21 £12 6s. one and a half miles north-west of the 804 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 lightvessel. A tug and two other mandy, which had ten people on board, trawlers were with her, and the life-boat including a party of workmen, was over- passed messages to the trawler from the due on a return trip from the Minquiers tug and later put two men aboard to reef. Anxiety was felt for her safety. rig pumps. The life-boat then helped It was thought that the men might have the tug to tow the Irma Alice to landed on the reef, but a steamer later Yarmouth harbour, helped to secure reported that no sign of them could be her at Bollard Quay and returned to seen on Maitresse Island, the main her station, arriving at eight o'clock.— island of Minquiers. At 10.10 the life- Rewards, £11 16*. boat Elizabeth Rippon put out in a heavy sea, with a strong north-north-west FISHING BOAT TOWED TO breeze blowing. She searched widely, HARTLEPOOL but found nothing, and returned to her Hartlepool, Durham.—At 3.30 on the station at 3.30 on the morning of the afternoon of the 27th of September, 1954, 29th for food, with the intention of a police officer rang up to say that putting to sea again at daybreak. She he had seen someone waving in a fishing resumed the search at five o'clock and boat one mile north of Heugh Light. found the men on Maitresse Island. The boat appeared to have broken She took them on board, left their boat down, and at 3.40 the life-boat The moored at the reef and landed them at Princess Royal, Civil Service No. 7 was St. Helier at 1.12.—Rewards, £28 launched in a flooding tide. She made 18*. 6d. for the position in a calm sea, with a light north-westerly breeze blowing, TWO RESCUED FROM BARGE and found the local fishing boat Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire. — At Provider, with a crew of four. Her 7.45 on the morning of the 29th of Sep- engine had broken down. The life-boat tember, 1954, the coastguard telephoned towed her to Hartlepool, arriving at that a vessel was burning flares three 4.50.—Rewards, £4 19*. hundred yards off Porth Nant Quarry. At 8.10 the life-boat Charles Henry TUG AGROUND WITH YACHT IN Ashley was launched. The tide was TOW flooding, the sea was rough and a strong Margate, Kent.—At 6.35 on the morn- breeze was blowing from the north- ing of the 28th of September, 1954, the west. The life-boat found the barge coastguard rang up to say that a tug Ellendale, with a crew of two, anchored with a yacht in tow had run ashore on but rolling heavily in the backwash from the Hook Sands. At 6.45 the life-boat the cliffs. She went alongside twice North Foreland, Civil Service No. 11 and rescued the men, who had had no was launched. The sea was choppy, food for twenty-four hours. The life- a fresh south-westerly wind was blow- boatmen gave them rum and soup and ing, and it was nearly low water. The landed them at their station at 9.40. life-boat found the tug Sally, of Whit- The rescued men expressed their appre- stable, with a crew of two, towing an ciation.—Rewards, £7 9*. empty yacht, the Sunbeam. The tug had been bound for Rochester, but had SAILING BOAT TOWED TO lost her bearings and her crew had no BRIXHAM food. The life-boatmen passed across Torbay, Devon.—At 8.55 on the morn- soup and biscuits, and the life-boat ing of the 30th of September, 1954, the stood by until the tug refloated and Brixham coastguard telephoned that a went on her way. The life-boat re- small yacht was burning flares south- turned to her station at eleven o'clock. west of Thatcher Rock. At 9.12, at —Rewards, £12 15s. 6d. high tide, the life-boat George Shee put out. The sea was calm and a squally MEN FOUND ON REEF AFTER south-westerly breeze was blowing. The NIGHT'S SEARCH life-boat found the 22-feet sailing boat St. Helier, Jersey.—About nine o'clock Ripple, with two men on board, anchor- on the evening of the 28th of Septem- ed on a lee shore one and a half miles ber, 1954, it was reported that the south of the rock. Her auxiliary harbour motor boat Duchess of Nor- engine had broken down. The life- DECEMBER. 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 805 boat towed her to Brixham and Margate, Kent.—September, 13th.— reached her station again at 10.40.— Rewards, £14 7s. Rewards. £5 6s. ' Margate, Kent.—September 16th.— Rewards, £9 12s. 6d. The following life-boats went out on Selsey, Sussex.—September 17th.— service, but could find no ships in Rewards, £14 17s. distress, were not needed or could do Torbay, Devon.—September 18th.— nothing: Rewards, £6 7s. Padstow, Cornwall.—September 1st.— Ramsey, Isle of Man.—September 19th. Rewards. £6 11s. —Rewards, £16 Is. Dover, Kent.—September 3rd.—Re- Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—September wards, £5 19s. 19th.—Rewards, £5 5s. St. David's, Pembrokeshire. — Sep- Clogher Head, Co. Louth.—September tember 3rd,—Rewards, £5 19s. 19th.—Rewards, £20 15s. 6d. Margate, Kent.—September 3rd.—Re- Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—September wards, £8 Is. 20th.—Rewards, £8 Is. 6rf. Penlee, Cornwall.—September 3rd.—• Exmouth, Devon.—September 20th.— Rewards, £ll 13s. Rewards, £24 12s. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. — September Sheringham, Norfolk. — September 3rd.—Rewards, £25 17s.6d 21st.—Rewards, £23 18s. Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.—Septem- Selsey, Sussex.—September 21st.—• ber 4th.—Rewards, £6 13s. Rewards, £10 4s. 6d. Dungeness, Kent.—September 5.—Re- New Brighton, Cheshire.—September wards, £22. 21st.—Rewards, £8 14s. Teesmouth, Yorkshire. — September Howth, Co. Dublin.—September 21st. 5th.—Rewards, £9 14s. —Rewards, £7 Is. 6d. Troon, Ayrshire.—September 7th,— Dover, Kent.—September 23rd.—Re- Rewards. £10 17s. wards, £4. Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—Septem- Islay, Inner Hebrides. — September ber 9th.—Rewards, £7 19s. 23rd.—Rewards, £8 12s. Walmer, Kent.—September 8th.—Re- Islay, Inner Hebrides. — September wards. £40 8s. (For a full account of 24th.—Rewards, £29 12s. this service see page 765.) Ramsgate, Kent.—September 24th.— Dover, Kent.—September 9th.—Re- Rewards. £5 18s. wards. £12 3s. (For a full account of Hastings, Sussex.—September25th.— this service see page 765.) Rewards, £25 14s. 6d. Hoylake, Cheshire.—September 10th. Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—Septem- —Rewards. £17 11s. ber 24th.—Rewards, £5 13s. Margate, Kent.—September llth.— Bridlington, Yorkshire. — September Rewards. £9 11s. 26th.—Rewards, £16 6s. Beaumaris, Anglesey. — September Valentia, Co. Kerry.—September 28th. llth.—Rewards, £17 8s. —Rewards, £7 5s. Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire.—Septem- Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—September ber 12th.—Rewards, £23 4,v. 28th.—Rewards, £14 14s. New Brighton, Cheshire.—September Howth, Co. Dublin.—September 29th. 12th.—Rewards. £5 7s. —Rewards. £8 11s. 6d.

Portrait on the Cover

THE portrait on the cover is of Hubert which was taken by Mr. Carel Toms, Ernest Petit, who has been coxswain shows the coxswain at the wheel dur- of the St. Peter Port, Guernsey, life- ing the voyage of the life-boat from boat since 1948. The photograph, Cowes to her station. 806 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954. Naming Ceremonies H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF KENT, Presi- life-boat service, essential on this dent of the Institution, named two hazardous coast, should be maintained. new life-boats in 1954. These life- I am sure that all of you must feel boats, The Duchess of Kent and Edian very proud of these men, and of the Courtauld, are now on service at fine record of rescue work undertaken Fraserburgh and at Walton and by their predecessors in the old life- Frinton. boat in which they served so well. I Ten new life-boats were named in am confident that this new vessel 1954. Eight of them are in England, will carry out her duties with the same at Coverack, Exmouth, Filey, Humber, distinction, and I am very touched to North Sunderland, Padstow, Rams- think that you have chosen to call her gate, and Walton and Frinton; one is after me." in Scotland, at Fraserburgh; and one The new life-boat, which is a 46-feet in the Channel Islands, at St. Peter 9-inches Watson cabin type boat, has Port. An account of the naming been built out of the Institution's ceremonies at North Sunderland and funds. Exmouth will appear in the next ST. PETER PORT number of The Life-boat. The new St. Peter Port life-boat was FRASERBURGH na-ned Euphrosyne Kcndal at the The new Fraserburgh life-boat The Victoria Pier, Old Harbour, Guernsey, Duchess of Kent was named at the on the 17th of July. Mr. H. E. Harbour at Fraserburgh on the 7th of Marquand, chairman of the Guernsey July. Lord Saltoun, Chairman of branch, took the chair. Captain G. the Scottish Life-boat Council and R. Cousins, R.N., district inspector of President of the Fraserburgh branch, life-boats, described the new boat. was in the chair. Commodore the Lord Saltoun, a vice-president of the Earl Howe, deputy chairman of the Institution and a member of the Com- Institution, handed the life-boat over mittee of Management, handed the to the branch, Provost Harold J. life-boat over to the branch, and Air Milne accepting her on the branch's Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst, Gover- behalf. Commander T. G. Michel- nor of Guernsey, accepted her on the more, chief inspector of life-boats, branch's behalf. The Very Rev. E. L. described the life-boat. The Rev. Frossard, Dean of Guernsey, dedicated Robert Clarkson, Minister of West the life-boat, the Rev. A. H. Pringle, Parish Church, Fraserburgh, dedicated president of the Guernsey Free Church the boat. H.R.H. the Duchess of Ministers' Council, reading the lesson. Kent then named her. A vote of Lady Elmhirst then named the boat. thanks was proposed by the Lord A vote of thanks was proposed by Sir Lieutenant of the County, the Marquis Ambrose Sherwill, Bailiff of Guernsey. of Aberdeen and Temair. A bouquet The new life-boat, which is a 52-feet was presented to Her Royal Highness Barnett type boat, was built out of by Miss Margaret Ritchie, daughter of a legacy from the late Mrs. Euphro- the late Andrew Ritchie, coxswain of syne Kendal of Shepperton, Middlesex. the John and Charles Kennedy which WALTON AND FRINTON capsized on the 9th of February, 1953. The new Walton and Frinton life- The naming ceremony was televised boat was named Edian Courtauld at and the B.B.C. broadcast extracts the Albion Breakwater, Walton-on- from the President's speech when she the-Naze on the 20th of July. Lieu- named the boat. Recalling the facts tenant-Colonel Sir Albert Stern, presi- that the sole survivor of the tragedy, dent of the Walton and Frinton branch, Second Coxswain Tait, at once offered took the chair. Commander S. W. F. his services again and that a new crew Bennetts, deputy chief inspector of was formed within twelve days of the life-boats, described the new boat. disaster, the President said: "It is Mr. Augustine Courtauld, a member typical of the spirit of Fraserburgh of the Committee of Management and that these men came forward with the donor of the boat, presented her such ready courage in order that the to the Institution. Captain the Lord DECEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 807 Ailwyn, R.N., a vice-president of the district inspector of life-boats, des- Institution and a member of the cribed the new boat. Sir Arthur Committee of Management, handed Croft presented the life-boat to the her over to the Walton and Frinton Institution on behalf of the Bradford branch, Mr. J. Woodrufl'e Eagle, and District branch. Captain the Hon. chairman of the branch, accepting her. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., a mem- The Rev. C. H. Owen, vicar of Walton, ber of the Committee of Management, assisted by the Rev. F. Geoffrey accepting her. The Lord Archbishop of Jellvman, president of the Walton York, the Right Hon. and Most Rev. and Frinton Free Church Council, C. F. Garbett, dedicated the life-boat. dedicated the life-boat. H.R.H. the Lady Croft then named her. A vote Duchess of Kent then named her. A of thanks was proposed by Alderman vote of thanks was proposed by Coun- H. Hird, chairman of the Bradford cillor A. C. South, chairman of the branch. Frinton and Walton Urban District The new life-boat, which is a 46-feet Council, and seconded by Captain W. 9-inches Watson cabin type boat, is J. Oxley, honorary secretary of the the seventh to bear the name "Brad- branch. A guard of honour was ford. " A fund to meet the cost of this provided by the Frinton and Walton life-boat is being raised in Bradford. Red Cross Society. The new life-boat is a 46-feet 9-inches Watson cabin PADSTOW type boat. The new Padstow life-boat was FILEY named Joseph Hiram Chadwick at the The new Filey life-boat was named North Quay, Padstow, on the 28th of I fa and Penryn M.ilsted at the life-boat July. Mr. N. W. R. Reynolds, presi- station at Filey on the 21st of July. dent of the branch, took the chair. The Rev. P. V. Corner, chairman of Captain G. R. Cousins, R.X., district the branch, took the chair. Lieut.- inspector of life-boats, described the Commander H. H. Harvey, district new boat. Captain Guy D. Fanshawe, inspector of life-boats, described the R.X., a vice-president of the Institu- new boat. Mr. R. S. Robinson pre- tion and a member of the Committee sented the life-boat to the Institution of Management, handed the life-boat on behalf of the trustees of the late over to the Padstow branch. Mr. R. R. Mr. Milsted. Commodore the Earl Wilton, honorary secretary of the Howe, deputy chairman of the Institu- branch accepting her. The Right tion, handed her over to the branch. Rev. J. Wellington, Assistant Bishop Mr. J. R. Wiseman, honorary secretary of Truro, assisted by the Rev. P. H. of the branch, accepting her. The C. Slocombe, vicar of Padstow. and Lord Archbishop of York, the Right the Rev. W. E. Wall, Minister of the Hon. and Most Rev. C. F. Garbett, Methodist Church, dedicated the life- dedicated the life-boat. The Countess boat. Mrs. J. C. F. Prideaux-Brune Howe then named her. A vote of then named her. A vote of thanks thanks was proposed by Colonel L. was proposed by Mr. C. J. George, Hallam, chairman of the Filey Urban chairman of the Padstow Urban District Council, and seconded by Mr. District Council, and seconded by Mrs. A. Lawton, station officer, H.M. R. R. Wilton, honorary secretary of Coastguard, and a member of the the Padstow Ladies' Life-boat Guild. branch committee. The new boat, which is a 52-feet The new life-boat, which is a 35-feet Barnett type boat, has been built out 6-inches Liverpool type boat, has been of a legacy from the late Miss Elizabeth built out of a legacy of the late Mr. Ellen Chadwick of Rochdale, Lanca- A. P. Milsted of London. shire. HUMBER COVERACK The new Humber life-boat was The new Coverack life-boat was named City of Bradford III on the named William Taylor of Oldham at River Ouse at York, on the 24th of the Pier at Coverack, on the 10th of July. The Lord Mayor of Bradford, September. Mr. S. D. Roddick, Alderman H. J. White, took the chair. chairman of the branch, took the chair. Lieut-Commander H. H. Harvey, Captain G. R. Cousins, R.X., district 808 THE LIFE-BOAT [DKI'OIHKH. 1054 inspector of life-boats, described the boat. The Hon. Mrs. Greville Howard new boat. The Hon. Greville Howard, then named her. A vote of thanks M.P., a member of the Committee of was proposed by Mr. M. P. Williams, Management, handed the life-boat president of the branch, and seconded over to the branch, Mr. S. A. Roskillv. by Mr. J. V. Geach, chairman of the honorary secretary of the branch, Kerrier Rural District Council. accepting her. The Right Rev. J. The new liferboat, which is a 42-feet Wellington, assistant Bishop of Truro, Watson type boat, is the first of its assisted by the Rev. E. J. Saunders, kind, and was described in the Septem- vicar of St. Keverne. and the Rev. ber Number of the Life-boat. She has H. Garner, Methodist Minister, St. been built out of a legacy of the late Keverne Parish, dedicated the life- Miss Clara Selina Taylor of Oldham.

Notice All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary of the local branch, or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett liroivn, O.B.K., M.C.. T.I)., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42 Grosvenor Gardens, London. SJJ'.l. All enquiries about the u'ork of the Institution or about this journal should be addressed to the Secretary. The next number of THE LIFE-BOAT Kill be published in MARCH, 1955.

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