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

VOL. XXXII JULY, 1949 No. 350

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 156 Motor Life-boats 1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to June 30th, 1949 - - 76,495

The First Quarter of the Second Century On the 4th of March the Life-boat The last years of the first century had Service completed the first twenty-five been very busy with experiments. years of its second century.* They The first of a new type of light motor were full years. Thousands of lives life-boat had been built, and the first were rescued; many difficulties were life-boat with twin screws and a cabin. met and overcome; many developments A launching tractor had been tried in made; and, in the six years of war from place of horses, a line-throwing gun 1939 to 1945, the Service encountered in place of the old leaded cane thrown the busiest and most dangerous years by hand. During the next twenty- in its history. But in spite of the very five years these new and tentative great changes made in the structure of designs were vastly improved. At the society and the life of the British same time new types of boat were people, during those years, the Life- designed, and a new type of engine. boat Service is still, in the essentials New materials were successfully intro- of its organization, afloat and ashore, duced, and more inventions adapted to what it was when its second century the needs of the Service. began. The heavy-oil engine was introduced, When the first century ended the removed nearly all risks of fire, and fleet was still mainly a fleet of pulling nearly doubled the life-boats' range of and sailing life-boats. Of these there action. Aluminium alloy, with its were 184. There was one steam life- great saving of weight over wood and boat. There were then only 43 motor steel was introduced, and made possible life-boats. In the next twenty-five deck cabins. Radio-telephony was years those 184 pulling and sailing adapted to the very difficult conditions life-boats and the steam life-boat of life-boat work and gave instant and disappeared and to-day the fleet con- constant communication between life- sists of 156 motor life-boats, f boats at sea and the shore. Loud hailers were introduced, and made * The day was remembered on the other side of the world, and the Johannesburg Star published a leading speech between life-boat and the ship article on life-saving at sea which began, "To-day is a in distress much easier and more notable anniversary in the history of shipping—the 125th birthday of the Royal National Life-boat Institution." certain. At the end of the first century the t To be strictly accurate one pulling life-boat remains at Whitby. It is for use only in the harbour entrance 43 motor life-boats (with the one excep- where a boat under oars can work more easily and turn tion mentioned) were all open boats. more quickly than a motor boat. Whitby has also a motor boat for work out at sea. They all had (again with that one 306 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 exception) single screws and carried 38 of the 48 life-boatmen on board full sets of sails. Their fuel was petrol. them, and altogether in the twenty-five They communicated with the shore and years 47f life-boatmen lost their lives with ships in distress by flag, signalling at sea or died on their return. During lamp and megaphone. Twenty-five the last quarter of the first century, years later of the 156 motor life-boats there were 3,000 fewer services. In the in the active fleet on the 4th of March, course of them 11 life-boats capsized, 1949, 74 had cabins, 85 had twin screws, with the loss of 57 of the 146 life-boat- 27 had heavy-oil engines, 95 had radio men on board, and altogether 80 lives telephony sets, for receiving and sending were lost. messages,* 61 had loud hailers. In those 11,069 services, in the past twenty-five years, approximately 16,807 Lives Rescued 96,000 life-boatmen took part, so that Those.are the most important changes one life was lost out of every 2,042 life- which have been made. What has boatmen afloat. When one puts beside this better equipped and more powerful those lives lost the 13,687 lives rescued, fleet done? and the risks encountered and sur- In the twenty-five years its boats mounted in rescuing them, all has been have been launched to the rescue 11,069 said that need be said of the quality times. They have rescued 13,687 lives. of the crews and of their boats. If to those lives rescued by life-boats are added the 3,120 lives rescued by men in other than life-boats, who were The Cost in Money rewarded by the Institution, the grand The twenty-five years have seen a total of lives is 16,807. That is ,an great increase in the cost of the Service. average of nearly 13 lives a week. In the last year of the first century During the first century the weekly motor life-boats cost from £8,250 to average was eleven. £15,000. To-day the smallest costs £13,000 and the largest £28,000. In Travel by Air the last year of the first century the The twenty-five years saw travel by Institution spent in rewards, pensions air become a regular, daily and normal and other payments to its crews and thing, but this has not added as much launchers under £87,000. Last year to the work of the Life-boat Service it spent over £106,000. In the last as might be supposed. During the year of the first century the whole war of 1939, life-boats went out to annual cost of the Service was under aeroplanes 1,050 times, but in 1948, £235,000. Last year it was over out of 503 launches to the rescue, £670,000. only 39 were to aeroplanes, and most But that increase in cost has been of those were to service aeroplanes. matched, and more than matched, by the generosity of the British people. Increasing Work In the last year of the first century the Even when the aeroplane is added to Institution's income was just under the ship, it might reasonably be sup- £230,000, nearly £5,000 less than the posed that with all that has been done expenditure. Last year it was over in these twenty-five years to make £689,000, over £18,000 more than the travel by air safer, to improve com- expenditure. munications, to give warning to ships at sea of changes in the weather, the International Amity need for the Life-boat Service would be The relations between Life-boat Ser- growing less. That is not so. During vices have always been helpful and the past three years life-boats were cordial, and the spirit of them was called out to the rescue more often expressed by the Service in the United than ever before in time of peace. States of America, at the time of the Institution's centenary, when it wrote: The Cost in Lives "The sister service on this side of the In the course of those 11,069 services t The total of 47 does not include the coxswain and six life-boats capsized, with the loss of shore signalmen at Minehead who went out in the war In their own boat, as the sea was calm, to examine some • Seven others had sets only for receiving messages. wreckage and were blown up by a mine. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 307 Atlantic always has enjoyed the most nations approaching our shores in happy relations with the Institution dangerous weather. I can bear witness and has deeply appreciated the friend- to our unshakable belief in the Life- ship and concern which the Institution boat organization and to our pride in has in the work of the American Ser- the achievements of our fellow seamen, vice." The relations could hardly have who, husbands and fathers, would go become more friendly, but the oppor- out on a black night without hesitation tunities for .help and consultation have to dispute our homeless fate with the increased. Twenty-five years ago the angry seas." Institution held in London the first Sidney Webb, who was then Presi- international life-boat conference. dent of the Board of Trade, presided Since then conferences have been held at a dinner which the Government in France, in Holland, in Sweden, and, gave to the delegates at the first as soon as the war ended, in Norway. international life-boat conference. At But for the war one would also have that dinner he said: been held in Germany. " One of the glories of the Institution is that it is entirely voluntary, carrying on its work without Government assist- Joseph Conrad and Sidney Webb ance. One of the advantages of volun- Twenty-five years ago two famous tary organization is that it can initiate men paid very notable tributes to the and experiment, which is very difficult Service, Joseph Conrad and Sidney for a Government Department. But Webb (Lord Passfield). there are drawbacks. It is difficult for In a foreword to Britain's Life-boats: a voluntary association to have con- The Story of a Century of Heroic Service tinuity—but the Institution has man- Joseph Conrad wrote: aged to do it. It is another of the draw- "It is only those who have followed backs of voluntary associations that the sea for their livelihood that know they seldom manage to be equal to the with what confidence the Life-boat whole of their tasks—but here again Service is looked upon by those for the Institution has succeeded." whose benefit it has been founded by Joseph Conrad and Sidney Webb the generosity of people who live ashore. have died since they paid those tri- Myself a British seaman, with some- butes to the Life-boat Service twenty- thing like twenty years' service, I can five years ago, but their words are testify to that feeling and to the comfort recalled now in the belief that nothing the existence of life-boat stations, with in the record of the Service during those their ever ready crews, brings to the twenty-five years would make them hearts of men on board ships of all wish to alter what they'then said.

In Fog off Chesil Beach ON the evening of the 2nd of Apfil a H.L.S. 161, of about fifteen tons. She strong south-westerly wind was blowing had been bought in Plymouth, and her at Weymouth. The sea was rough; new owner, with three others, was there was a heavy driving rain; there taking her to London. One of the three were dense banks of fog. At a quarter was his father, a man of sixty, and past six the coastguard telephoned to another was a boy of seventeen. They the honorary secretary of the life-boat were making for Portland, but in West station, "small craft, apparently a Bay their boilers began to fail, and steam tug, in difficulties about one mile they lost their way in the rain and fog. west of [Portland] Bill, blowing siren continuously." At 6.35 the lite-boat William and Clara Ryland had slipped The Search in the Fog her moorings and was moving out of Ten minutes after leaving harbour the harbour. the coxswain received a radio-telephone The "small craft", so it was learnt message from the coastguard that the later, was an old dockyard steam tug, vessel was now one and a half miles 80S THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 north-west of Portland Bill, and was the tug's skipper was sick; the others drifting northwards. That is to say, seemed dazed and apathetic. They she was drifting towards that famous would not leave the tug. They seemed and dangerous bank of shingle, Chesil to think that they could be rescued by Beach. The life-boat went round Port- the rocket apparatus or walk ashore. land Bill, and at 7.50 the coxswain sent There was no time for argument. If they a message that he had seen the vessel, would not leave the tug the only thing but he lost her again at once in the fog. to do was to tow the tug off, and at once The district inspector of coastguard^ a rope was passed on board the tug where with his men, a searchlight and the there was one man ready to make it fast. life-saving rocket apparatus, was on The coxswain at the wheel, the mechanic top of the beach. A mile inland was at his engines^ the crew with the rope, the coastguard station at Wyke Regis, alj acted with superb skill and speed, with radio-telephony, and the coast- and in spite of the heavy breaking seas guard on shore and the life-boat in it was only a few seconds before the the bay were able to talk to one life-boatmen had secured a rope from another throughout the search. The the life-boat's stern to the tug's bow, tug was moving about slowly, but very and the life-boat was towing the tug erratically. She would be seen or clear of the surf. It was then 8.20. heard, by the life-boat or the coast- About two hours later they reached guard, only to disappear again, and for Weymouth again. nearly half an hour the search went on in the fog and the rain. " A Very Gallant Piece of Work " The district inspector of coastguard, Found who saw the whole rescue from the When the life-boat found the tug she beach, called it "A very gallant piece was broadside on to that dangerous of work," and the coxswain said of the beach and not more than fifty yards motor mechanic, who was without his from it. A long swell was coming from regular assistant mechanic, that he the south-west and on top of it a "performed wonders with his en- short steep sea which was breaking gines'," and that "the lives of all on heavily on the beach; and all knew board were in his hands." that very few have ever got ashore alive on that beach in a heavy sea. It The Institution has made the fol- was everyone's opinion that if the lowing awards: tug went ashore she would break up To COXSWAIN FREDERICK J. PALMER, in an hour and all on board be lost, the silver medal for gallantry, and a and the coastguard signalled with their copy of the vote inscribed on vellum searchlight to the tug—whose skipper and framed. In 1948 he won the said later that he had intended to beach bronze medal. her—warning her to keep off. To J. McDERMOTT, the motor mechanic, the bronze medal for gal- Not a Moment to Spare lantry, and a copy of the vote inscribed The tug's boilers were giving so little on vellum and framed. steam that she could do no more than To the coxswain and each member crawl, and the life-boat coxswain saw of the crew a special reward of £1 3*. that he had found her only just in time, in addition to the reward on the ordin- that in a few minutes she would almost ary scale of £l 7s. Additional rewards certainly strike the beach. He ran to coxwain and crew, £9 4*.; scale the life-boat straight alongside. But rewards, £10 8*.; total rewards, £19 12*.

Life-boat Pictures Abroad WITH the help of the Institution twelve enlargements of photographs the Central Office of Information showing wrecks and life-boats in has prepared a picture set called action, and is for distribution over- "Life-boat Service." It consists of seas. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 309

On the Sandbanks in Morecambe Bay AT three in the afternoon of Sunday, Disappeared in the Night the 3rd of April, the coastguard at In the evening, when the tide was Rossall told the coxswain of the low, six of the Alpha's crew returned life-boat that they could see a vessel to her, walking across the sands. They outside the harbour in a dangerous hoped to refloat her at high water. position. She was about two miles They went in spite of the warnings of away to the north-west of the harbour, the coxswain and others, who told near the sandbank named North Scar. them of the risks that they would run A strong wind was blowing from the both on board the ketch and in cross- south-west, with heavy showers of ing the gullies in the sands. Both rain, and the seas were breaking coastguard and life-boat's crew were heavily on the sandbanks. The cox- anxious about them, and all night they swain kept the vessel under observa- kept watch for signals, with the life- tion and at 3.40 he saw flares on board. boat ready to launch at once. No At 3.50 the life-boat Ann Letitia Russell signal was se«n, but when day broke was launched. The assistant motor there was no sign of the ketch. By mechanic did not get down in time this time the strong wind had risen to a for the launch, and the honorary gale. There were frequent and heavy secretary of the station, Major H, squalls of rain. The sea was very Cartman, took his place. rough.

The First Rescue A Two Hours' Search At 7.20 the life-boat was launched At' four o'clock the life-boat had and ran down wind to search to lee- reached the vessel. She was a 71-feet ward, but in the heavy rain-squalls it ketch, with an auxiliary engine, the Alpha, of Stranraer, bound for Aber- was very difficult to see. She searched gele. Just a fortnight before the Gir- for two hours before she found the van life-boat had found her off Girvan ketch, eight miles north-north-east with her engine broken down and her of Fleetwood. She was aground on sails useless and had towed her in. another large sandbank, Clarke's Wharf, When the Fleetwood life-boat found with the seas breaking over her mast- her now she had dropped her sails and head. To the life-boatmen it looked was bumping her way across the sand- very doubtful if any of her crew could bank. She was flying light and drew have remained on board. Between only four feet six inches of water. the life-boat and Clarke's Wharf there The coxswain took the life-boat were other sandbanks, and the water alongside, threw a line on board and on them was so shallow that it was attempted to tow her off the bank into impossible for her to cross them. deeper water, but the tow-rope pulled She had to make a detour, and in the the windlass out of her deck. At that rain-squalls lost sight of the ketch. the ketch's crew decided to abandon She did not find her again for nearly her and the life-boat again went along- an hour. side. It was not easy in those heavy breaking seas. The tide was ebbing, The Second Rescue the life-boat had very little water under She should have gone alongside in her, the ketch was bumping and rolling the shelter of the ketch's lee, but that on the sands, and at times her high was impossible. The ketch not only wooden sides were right over the heads had a heavy list, but the gale was now of the life-boatmen. But the ketch's driving her along the sandbank and crew of eight—one of them a boy of she would have come on top of the ten—jumped into the life-boat without life-boat. So the life-boat made for mishap. She turned for Fleetwood her weather side, but even then it was and was back in harbour at 4.35. hard to get near, so fast was she The rescue had taken forty-five minutes. travelling before the gale. A* 310 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 The life-boat pursued her through crew's intimate knowledge of the that fierce surf. " The sea was boiling," sandbanks. the second coxswain said. "Water The Institution has made the follow- everywhere. You could mot keep your ing awards: eyes open for more than a fraction of To COXSWAIN JAMES LEADBETTER, a second." But at last the life-boat the bronze medal for gallantry, accom- drove alongside, and for the second panied by a copy of the vote inscribed time took off the crew without mishap, on vellum; though this time she slightly damaged To the coxswain and each member her stem and fender. Then she turned of the crew a special reward of 10*. in into the fi.ce of the gale, and fought addition to the ordinary scale reward her way home against it, through the of 15*., for the first service, and a heavy breaking seas. She arrived in special award of 20s. in addition to the harbour at noon. ordinary scale reward of £l 7s., for the second service. Additional rewards to coxswain and crew, £12; scale rewards The Reward* to coxwain, crew and launchers, £30 7s.; Both rescues had been difficult and total rewards for the two services, dangerous. Both had been carried out £42 7s; with skill and speed. The second To MAJOR H. CARTMAN, L.D.S.(ENG.), was the more difficult of the two, the honorary secretary, who acted as and could not have been accomp- assistant motor mechanic in the first lished but for the coxswain's and service, a letter of appreciation.

Fear of Explosion AT 2.45 in the afternoon of the 3rd of when they went of the risk of explosion. April, 1949, the Pilot House at Irvine, The coxswain anchored and veered Ayrshire, telephoned to Troon, three the life-boat down on her cable over and a half miles to the south, that a the bank of stones, taking frequent vessel was ashore on the north side of soundings with a boat hook. Because Irvine Bar. She was the s.s. Christina of the shallow water and the steep seas Dawn, of Gloucester, and was bound he could not go under the steamer's lee, from Port Talbot to Irvine with a crew but came alongside on the windward of nine and a cargo of carbide. A strong side. There the life-boat was rising south-south-west wind was blowing and falling considerably on the seas, with a heavy sea. As the steamer was and it was only with difficulty that entering the harbour she was hit by a eight of the nine men jumped into squall and blown right over a bank of her. The ninth fell into the sea, but stones on the north side of the channel. was hauled aboard. The life-boat landed Her propeller and rudder were torn off, the men at Irvine at 4.15 and reached and she grounded in the shallower Troon again at five o'clock. Later the water on the other side of the bank. steamer's cargo did explode. She was holed and making water, and It was a rescue very promptly carried her master decided to abandon her, out by fine seamanship, and the Insti- expecting that the cargo of carbide tution awarded its thanks inscribed on would explode. vellum to Coxswain Arthur Pearce. It The life-boat, Sir David Richmond of also awarded to the coxswain, crew and Glasgow, was launched at 3.10 and sliore signalmen £6 6s. The owners of twenty minutes later reached the the steamer gave 25 guineas to the steamer. Her coxswain and crew knew Institution.

"Please Put it in the Box1 ON London life-boat day a porter at out the full collecting boxes to cars. the Savoy Hotel and a cleaner at the Both were offered tips. Both said: gas-rooms at Hackney helped to carry " Please put it in the box." JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 311

Life-boat Services in March, April and May 90 Lives Rescued

DURING March life-boats went out on 1949, three naval vessels were exer- service 52 times and rescued 48 lives. cising off Berwick when one of them, H.M.S. Diver, a tug with a crew of ten, TO THE HELP OF BARGES IN grounded on Standstill Point. Her THE THAMES engine had broken down. The life-boat J. and W. was launched at 3.29 in a Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 9.10 in north-easterly breeze, with a heavy the morning of the 1st of March, 1949, swell. She reached the Diver a few the look-out at Warden Point reported minutes later, towed her off and brought that a barge was making signals of her into harbour, arriving at five o'clock. distress three miles east-north-east of —Rewards, £11 5*. 6d. the point. The motor life-boat Greater London, Civil Service No. 3 was launched FISHING BOAT TOWED IN at half-past nine in a north-north-west gale with a very rough sea. She found Longhope, Orkneys.—At 10.10 on the the sailing barge Asphodel, of London, night of the 3rd of March, 1949, carrying a crew of two and laden with rockets were seen in the direction of sand. She was sinking and completely Swona, and the life-boat crew assembled under water. At the second attempt while the coastguard made enquiries. the life-boat took off the crew, but her At 10.30 they reported flares to the stem was damaged. She reached her north of Swona, and the life-boat station again at 12.45 in the afternoon Thomas McCunn was launched at 10.40. and handed the men over to the Ship- A moderate southerly breeze was wrecked Mariners' Society. blowing, with a swell and heavy rain, and A few minutes after the life-boat the night was very dark. The life-boat returned information came that another found the motor fishing boat Mazurka, barge was driving before the gale close of Peterhead, drifting towards the to the Nore Sands, with her sails in Lowther Rock, South Ronaldsay, with ribbons, and at one o'clock the life-boat her engine broken down. She had a put out again. She found the barge crew of seven. The life-boat towed her Kitty, of Harwich, half a mile north of to Longhope, arriving at four o'clock West Nore Buoy. She was deeply the next morning.—Property salvage laden with a cargo of potash, and the case. heavy seas were making a clean sweep over her. She was making a lot of TWO MEN AND A CAT water and her crew of two were Ramsey, Isle of Man.—At 10.20 on anxious to leave. The life-boat took the night of the 4th of March, 1949, them off and landed them at Southend the coastguard asked that the life-boat Pier at 1.55. crew should stand by as a vessel appeared As the Kitty had been abandoned in to be in distress to the north of Ramsey. the shipping channel it was decided to At 10.50 they reported that help was bring her in if possible, and at half-past needed, and at 11.15 the motor life- two the life-boat put out for the third boat Thomas Corbett was launched. A time. Aided by what sails the barge strong south-south-east wind was blow- had left, she towed her to a safe ing, with a heavy sea. The life-boat anchorage at Southend, and was finally found the Ramsey motor fishing boat re-housed at 6.15.—Rewards: first ser- Capella ashore between Dog Mills and vice, £14 8s.; second service, £11 5s.; Shellag Point in shallow water. After third service, property salvage case. cruising round for a time the life-boat ran alongside the fishing boat, and the boat's crew of two jlimped into the STRANDED NAVAL TUG life-boat, with their cat. The life-boat Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland.— reached her station again at one in the In the afternoon of the 2nd of March, morning.—Rewards, £19 6*. 6d. 312 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

FLEETWOOD TRAWLER CAPSIZED ANOTHER FISHING BOAT TOWED IN Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. — At North Sunderland, Northumberland.— 10.40 in the morning of the llth of At 10.2 in the morning of the 14th of March, 1949, the Duntulm coastguard March, 1949, the Seahouses coastguard reported that the Fleetwood steam reported a man on a fishing boat wav- trawler Ben Bheula was leaking and in ing a flag, and at 10.15 the life-boat need of help two miles east of Castlebay, W.R.A. was launched, manned by her and the life-boat Lloyd's was launched coxswain-and a scratch crew. A west- at 11.20. A south-westerly gale was north-west breeze was blowing with a blowing, with a heavy sea. The life- moderate swell, but breeze and swell boat found that the Ben Bheula had were increasing. The life-boat found been taken in tow by another Fleet- the Seahouses fishing yawl John Wesley wood steam trawler, the Cyelse. At the two and a half miles south-east of entrance to Castlebay Harbour the Seahouses, drifting with the engine Ben Bheula grounded on a sandbank, broken down. She had three men on and the life-boat put into Castlebay for board. The life-boat towed her into a motor pump. She brought this out, harbour at 11.18.—Rewards, £24 16s. put it on board the Ben Bheula, laid out an anchor for her, and returned to DANGEROUS BAR her station at nine o'clock that night, leaving the Ben Bheula at anchor. Amble, Northumberland.—The life- Two days later, on the morning of boat Frederick and Emma was launched the 13th, the gale was blowing from at one o'clock in the afternoon of the north-west, and the Cyelse— the 15th of March, 1949, in a north- which had been standing by the Ben westerly gale with a heavy sea, to Bheula—was driven on to a sunken the help of the local fishing boat rock at the entrance to the harbour. Ocean Vanguard, which was waiting She gave a call for help on her steam outside the harbour where dangerous whistle, and at nine o'clock the life-boat seas were breaking. The life-boat put out. She found the Cyelse in a stood by for some time and then perilous position, rescued her crew of escorted the boat into the harbour, fourteen, and brought them ashore at returning to her station again at 2.10.— 10.15. She put out again at one o'clock Rewards, £8. and stood by until five in the afternoon, but the Cyelse then capsized and sank. RESCUED A SECOND TIME The Ben Bheula was able to leave Islay, Inner Hebrides.—At 12.30 in Castlebay two days later, on the 15th. the morning of the 16th of March, 1949, The Fleetwood Steam Trawlers' Mutual the Kilchoman coastguard reported a Insurance Association Ltd., gave £25 message from McArthur's Head Lightr to the life-boat crew.—Rewards: first house that a vessel was flashing S.O.S. service, £23 4s.; second service, £15. signals one mile from the lighthouse, and the life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth left her moorings at one o'clock in a TWO GIRLS RESCUED ON THE LIFFY fresh west-north-west breeze with a Poolbeg, Co. Dublin. — At 6.40 on moderate sea. She found the steam the night of the 13th of March, 1949, trawler Ben Bheula, of Fleetwood, a man telephoned to the life-boat three miles south of Port Askaig. The station that a pulling boat with two Ben Bheula had left Castlebay the girls in it was drifting down the river previous week, after being helped by Liffy. There was a fresh south- the Barra Island life-boat, and was westerly wind, the sea was choppy, the now homeward bound for Fleetwood, but girls could not manage the boat, and she was again leaking badly. The life- she was in danger of being blown out boat escorted her, but as the water to sea. The life-boat Helen Blake was was rising rapidly in the trawler's launched at 6.35, took the two girls engine room, she took her in tow and aboard, towed the boat to Pigeon House made for Caol Ila. The trawler's Dock and returned to her station at pumps broke down and it was decided half past seven.—Rewards, £7 17s. to beach her. This was done off Caol JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 313 Ha pier. The life-boat then landed ten to be in difficulties with a vessel in of her crew of twenty-one, returned tow. She was the motor vessel Hervor to the Ben Bheula and stood by until Bratt, of Gothenburg, with a crew of daybreak. The remainder of the crew fourteen, which had been ashore on then decided to stay on board and Trodday Island, Skye, on the 28th of the life-boat returned to her station, January, when the life-boat at Storno- arriving at 7.30.—Property salvage way, Lewis, landed twenty of her crew. case. Then a message came that she had broken adrift from the tugs, and, at WOMAN WITH APPENDICITIS 7.58 that evening, she said that she was drifting ashore near Mull Lighthouse Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—On the and asked for help. At 8.22 the life- morning of the 17th of March, 1949, a boat City of Glasgow was launched. A westerly gale was blowing, with a rough north-north-west gale was -blowing, sea, and at five o'clock a doctor on the with a very rough sea. More wireless Island of Eigg rang up Mallaig to ask messages came from the tugs, which if the life-boat could come to the island gave the position as eight miles south- to bring back to the mainland a woman south-west of Ailsa Craig, and when with appendicitis. The life-boat Sir the life-boat arrived she found that Arthur Rose left her moorings at 5.40. they had succeeded in getting the When she reached Eigg she found the Hervor Bratt in tow again, and were tide so high that the pier was under then making for Larnlash. At the water and she could not go alongside. captain's request the life-boat stood by The sick woman and the doctor were until they reached the island of Pladda, brought out in a rowing boat, and the and then returned to her station, where life-boat landed them at Mallaig at she arrived at 7.10 next morning.— ten o'clock.—Rewards, £14 15s.. repaid Rewards, £27 8s. Qd. to the Institution by the National Health Service. EMPTY LANDING BARGE ON THE GOODWINS INJURED SEAMAN BROUGHT ASHORE Ramsgate, Kent.—At 11.28 in the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. morning of the 19th of March, 1949, the —At 3.9 in the afternoon of the 17th of coastguard telephoned that a vessel March, 1949, the Gorleston coastguard two miles south-east of the North telephoned that the Great Yarmouth Goodwin Lightvessel, was drifting steam trawler^won, half a mile off the south, apparently with no crew, and harbour, had asked for a boat to land the life-boat Prudential was launched a member of the crew who was seriously at 11.40. A strong north-north-east injured. The life-boat Louise Stephens breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. was launched at 3.17 in a moderate The life-boat found an ex-landing barge westerly breeze with a moderate sea. near the East Goodwin Buoy. She She found that the man was so badly was anchored, but was dragging to- hurt that he could not be moved wards the sands. No one was on without a doctor's help. She wire- board, but she was a danger to shipping, lessed for one, returned to her station, and the life-boat towed her to Ramsgate, brought him out to the trawler, and which she reached at 3.5 that after- then brought the injured man and the noon.—Rewards, £12 14*. doctor, ashore. There an ambulance was waiting. The life-boat arrived ENGINE FAILED; SAILS USELESS back at her station at 4.37.—Rewards, £13 16*. Girvan, Ayrshire. — At 4.40 in the afternoon of the 20th of March, 1949, the Alpha, of Stranraer, a ketch with SWEDISH VESSEL ADRIFT an auxiliary engine, was seen to be at Campbeltown, Argyllshire. — During anchor three miles south of the har- the afternoon of the 17th of March, bour. It looked as if her engines had 1949, parts of wireless messages were broken down. A signal was made to picked up at the life-boat station. her, and she asked for help, so, at 5.7, They came from tugs which appeared the life-boat Lily Glen—Glasgow left 314 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 her moorings in a fresh north-westerly East Pier reported that cries for help breeze, with a heavy sea running. The could be heard, and five minutes later life-boat found the Alpha about a the life-boat Prudential left her moor- mile off shore. She had a crew of ings. A light north-easterly wind was seven and was bound for Abergele. blowing with a moderate sea. The Not only had her engine broken down, life-boat found the triple-screw motor but her sails were useless. A gale yacht Shirley Bourne aground on the warning had just been received, so the Dyke Shoals. She was on a pleasure ketch slipped her anchor and the life- cruise and had a party of six on board. boat towed her into harbour, arriving As the tide was low the life-boat could at 7 o'clock that night.—Rewards, not get alongside, but got a line aboard £.7 8s. by means of the life-boat's boarding boat, and then towed the yacht clear WITHOUT FOOD FOR NINETEEN and into Ramsgate Harbour. The HOURS life-boat arrived back at her station at 6.40 in the evening.—Property salvage Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 10.50 in the case. Rewards, 13s. morning of the 22nd of March, 1949, a report was received by telephone that the Cahirciveen motor fishing boat MOTOR YACHT BROKEN DOWN Morning Star, which had gone out the Weymouth, Dorset.—At 12.5 in the previous evening with a crew of four, afternoon of the 27th of March, 1949, had not returned. She had last been the Portland Bill coastguard reported seen about four miles inside Shilligs a small motor yacht in distress, Rock at two o'clock that morning. apparently broken down and drifting. The life-boat City of Bradford I, on Twenty minutes later the life-boat temporary duty at the station, was William and Clara Ryland put out in launched at 11.15 in a north-westerly a strong easterly wind with a rough wind with a rough sea. She found the sea, and found the yacht a mile south- boat four miles west of Bray Head west of Portland Bill. She was the with her engine broken down and her Puffin III, with two on board. The crew exhausted. They had been with- life-boat towed her into Weymouth out food for nineteen hours. The life- harbour, and reached her station again boat towed her to Cahirciveen, and at 4.15. The owners expressed their then returned to Valentia, arriving at thanks.—Property salvage case. 3.45 in the afternoon.—Rewards, £12 14s. 6d. WARSHIP'S DRIFTER ASHORE Weymouth, Dorset.—At 11.30 on the BOAT ADRIFT night of the 29th of March, 1949, the Newhaven, Sussex.—At 8.45 on the coastguard reported that a drifter, night of the 24th of March, 1949, the attached to H.M.S. King George V, had coastguard reported that a small vessel gone ashore on Mixen Reef about a was burning flares about two miles hundred yards from the pier while south-west of the harbour. The life- carrying about seventy-five naval men boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott was back to their ships. She was firing launched at 8.58 in a light easterly rockets. The life-boat William and breeze, with a slight sea. She found Clara Ryland was launched at 11.45, the local motor boat Our Boys, with in a light breeze with a moderate sea a crew of three, drifting two miles and fog, and went alongside the drifter. south-west of the breakwater with her Boats arrived from the warships and engine broken down. The life-boat took off the naval men, but the drifter's towed her to Newhaven, arriving at crew remained on board. At the 9.55.—Rewards, £9 11s. request of the naval authorities the life-boat passed a line to the drifter and pulled on it for about four hours AGROUND IN DENSE FOG until, on the rising tide, she refloated. Ramsgate, Kent. — At 5.20 in the The life-boat then towed her into afternoon of the 26th of March, 1949, harbour and arrived back at her station in a dense fog, the watchman on the at 6 o'clock the next morning. A letter JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 315 of thanks was sent by the commanding Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—March 31st. officer of H.M.S. King George V at —Rewards, £12 14*. Qd. Portland.—-Property salvage case. Ramsgate, Kent.—March 31st.—Re- wards, £17 0*. 6d. The following life-boats went out on Fowey, Cornwall.—March 31st.—Re- service but could find no ships in wards, £7. distress or were not needed. Hastings, Sussex.—March 31st.—Re- Dover, Kent.—March 1st.—Rewards, wards, £43 8*. 6df £10 15*. Ramsgate, Kent.—March 2nd.—Re- APRIL wards, £14 14*. 6d. Holy Island, Northumberland.—March During April life-boats went out on 3rd.—Rewards, £14 17*. service 51 times and rescued 39 lives. Skegness, Lincolnshire.—March 4th. —Rewards, £21 9*. STANDING BY STEAMER FOR 61 HOURS Lerwick, Shetlands. — March 5th.— Walmer, Kent—On the night of the Rewards, £15 15*. 31st of March, 1949, the S.S. Selskar, of Margate, Kent. •— March 6th.—Re- Newcastle, and the S.S. Nordic, of wards, £12 19*. 6d. Stockholm, were in collision near the Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—March 8th South Falls Buoy, and the Ramsgate —Rewards, £22 17*. 6d. life-boat was launched, but her services Weymouth, Dorset.—-March 9th.— were not needed as both the steamers Rewards, £10. 19*. had got under way. At 2.45 on the Teesmouth, Yorkshire. — March 16th. morning of the 1st of April, the coast- —Rewards, £10 13*. guard reported that the Selskar was Longhope, Orkneys.—March 16th.— making water and developing a list. Rewards, £10 12*. 6d. Her captain intended to beach her. Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire. — March The Walmer life-boat Charles Dibdin, 17th.—Rewards, £15 5*. Civil Service No. 2 was launched at Holyhead, Anglesey.—March 17th.— three o'clock in a dense fog. An east- Rewards, £10 10*. north-easterly breeze was blowing, with Fleetwood, Lancashire.—March 17th. a slight sea. While she was looking for —Rewards, £12 8*. the Selskar the life-boat received news Margate, Kent.—-March 19th.—Re- by wireless that she was ashore off wards, £26 8*. Qd. Walmer Castle. The life-boat reached Penlee, Cornwall.—March 28rd.—Re- her at half past seven and stood by wards, £15 0*. 6d. throughout that day and the following Walmer, Kent. — March 24th.—Re- night, while tugs and salvage vessels wards, £30 16*. got pumps aboard. At noon on the Dungeness, Kent. — March 24th. •—- 2nd of April she was refloated, but she Rewards, £34 18*. was still making so much water that Fowey, Cornwall.—March 24th.—Re- she had to be beached again. About wards, £7. five o'clock in the afternoon the life- Caister, Norfolk.—March 27th.—Re- boat put back to Walmer to re-fuel, wards, £12 13*. and at nine o'clock she returned to the Kirkcudbright. —March 30th. — Re- Selskar to stand by for the second wards, £20 13*. night. At two o'clock next morning Ramsgate, Kent.—March 30th.—Re- the Selskar floated off, but she had a wards, £14 4*. bad list, and the life-boat took off the Ramsgate, Kent.—March 31st.—Re- captain's wife for a time. At 9.20 the wards, £10 13*. 6d. Selskar reported that she was aground Campbeltown, Argyllshire. — March again. Her crew continued to work 31st.—Rewards, £29 4*, 6d. at the pumps and got the water under Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—March 31st. control; and when she again floated oft, —Rewards, £22 5*. tugs were able to take her in tow. Walmer, Kent.—March 31st.—Re- With the life-boat in attendance, they wards, £15 18*. reached Dover at 3.15 that afternoon, Dungeness, Kent. — March 31st, — the 3rd of April. The life-boat got Rewards, £39 17*. back to her station again at 4 o'clock. 316 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 She had then been out,on service for midnight. The life-boat Jose Neville sixty-one hours. — Property salvage was launched at 8.10, in a light south- case and rewards, £61 17s. easterly breeze with a light swell, and at 8.40 found the David M. three- SEARCHING IN A THICK FOG quarters of a mile east by north of Clogher Head, Co. Louth.—At 8.15 West Scroby Buoy. The water was on the night of the 1st of April, too shallow for a tug to get near her, 1949, the Civic Guard reported a so the life-boat helped to move her a message from the Coast Life-saving few yards. At 10.10 the Great Yar- Service that the s.s. Donaghadee, of mouth and Gorleston life-boat, Louise Belfast, was aground at Castlerock, Stephens arrived. The Gorleston coast- Dundalk Bay, with a broken rudder. guard had informed her station at 7.28, The life-boat Mary Ann Blunt was at 8 o'clock the agents for the David M. launched at 8.40 in a moderate south- had asked her to take out stevedores to easterly breeze, with a moderate sea, dump the vessel's cargo, and at 8.3Q and thick fog. On the way, she was she had left her moorings and embarked hailed by the motor vessel Arestal, of the men. She put them aboard the Portugal, which was trying to find David M., passed lines to her, and then Drogheda Bar. At the master's re- she and the Caister life-boat began to quest, two life-boatmen boarded her pull. An hour later they refloated the and helped to navigate her to the bar. David M. and piloted her to deep The life-boat then resumed her course water. The Louise Stephens re-em- and after a long search found the barked the stevedores and the David M. Donaghadee off Cooley Point. She made for Norwich. The life-boats had refloated and was awaiting a tug. then returned to their stations, Caister As the life-boat was not needed she arriving at 12.30 that afternoon and made for Port Oriel, arriving at 7.30 Great Yarmouth and Gorleston at 1.50 the next morning and reached her —Property salvage cases. station again at 11.30.—Rewards, £23 13s. 6d. PILOTING A TRAWLER May, Inner Hebrides.—At 10.15 in COLLIER ON THE ROCKS the morning of the 2nd of April, 1949, 1 while the life-boat was carrying out a Donaghadee, Co. Down. —At 4.20 in wireless test from the station with the the morning of the 2nd of April, 1949, Kilchoman coastguard, she heard a the coastguard telephoned that a distress call from the Aberdeen steam vessel was ashore about a mile south of trawler Newhaven N.B., bound from Lame Lough, and the life-boat Joseph Peterhead to Milford Haven. The Adlam, on temporary duty at the sta- trawler was reported to be to the north tion, was launched at 4.45 in a fresh of Islay. Ten minutes later the life- south-easterly wind with a slight sea. boat was launched. She was the She found the s.s. Clew Bay, of Belfast, Manchester and Salford, on temporary a laden collier, on passage from Glas- duty at the station. A strong south- gow to Belfast, ashore on rocks. The south-easterly wind was blowing with fife-boat stood by until she had been a heavy swell, and the weather was refloated by a tug, and then escorted thick, but improving. On her way the her to safety. The life-boat reached life-boat received further wireless mes- her station again at half-past one in sages that the trawler was now out of the afternoon.—Rewards, £18. danger, but she was to the west of Islay, and wished to be piloted to the HAULING A SHIP OFF SCROBY SANDS Sound of Islay. She was directed by Caiiter, and Great Yarmouth and Gorlet- the life-boat to go north, and the life- ton.Norf oik.—At 7.55 in the morningof the boat met her off Nave Island to the 2nd of April, 1949, the Great Yarmouth north-west of Islay. A life-boatman coastguard telephoned to the Caister went on board to act as pilot, and the life-boat station information, received trawler made for Port Askaig, pre- from Lloyd's agents, that the motor ceded by the life-boat, arriving at vessel David M., of London, had been half-past four in the afternoon.— aground on North Scroby Sands since Rewards, £11 11s. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 317

THE RIGGING ALOFT Where life-belts, fenders and bow-puddings are made at the Institution's Depot at Boreliam Wood From a photograph by Mr, Amos Burg, of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. 318 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

ON THE GOODWIN SANDS The Walmer life-boat and wrecks of American ships. (See page 333). From a photograph by Mr. Amos Burg, of Portland, Oregan, U.S.A.

IN A WHOLE GALE The Mary Scott, on temporary duty at Dover, going out on January 1st, 1949, to the help of a pilot boat. From a painting by Mr, A. Whiting, a member of the crw. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 319

ON PASSAGE The new Barmouth life-boat, The Chieftain, off St. David's Head, on her way to her station from the building yard at Cowes, with the Porthdinllaen life-boat, in February, 1949.

IN TENBY HARBOUR The Porthdinllaen and Barmouth life-boats on the sand alongside the quay. On the other side of the quay is the Tenby life-boathouse and slipway.

From photographs by Mr, A. R. Hughes, a member of the crew of the Porthdinllaen life-boat. 320 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

By courtesy of Keystone Press Agency

SWEDISH " PLAQUE OF MERIT " Presented to the Institution by the Swedish Life-boat Society. (See page 334). JULY,; 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 321

By courtesy of Keystone Press Agency THE PRESENTATION The Swedish Ambassador in London giving the "Plaque of Merit" and diplomas to Commodore the Earl Howe, C.B.E., V.R.D., P.C., R.N.V.R, Deputy Chairman of the Institution. 322 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

A FAMOUS COXSWAIN Henry Blogg, G.C., B.E.M., of Cromer,

A LIFE-BOAT RESCUE IN THE OLD DAYS Plaster panels recently modelled for the Ship Hotel, at Cromer,

The photographs are reproduced by kind permission of the Morgan Brewery Company JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 323

AN IRISH COXSWAIN AND HONORARY SECRETARY Coxswain Patrick Sliney, of Ballycotton, and Mr. R. H. Mahony, the Ballycotton honorary secretary. Patrick Sliney has been coxswain since 1922, after serving for eleven years as second coxswain—38 years as an officer of the life-boat—and has won for gallantry the Institution's thanks on vellum and its bronze, silver and gold medals. Mr. Mahony has been honorary secretary since 1931 and has been awarded the Institution's binoculars and inscribed aneroid barometer. 324 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

tT WOKTH NOT 72> yOU DI&'UT Bay A FLAG

HOLD UP A cartoon published in the Birmingham Mail on life-boat day.

Reproduced by kind permission of the Editor. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 325

BOYS IN DISTRESS IN RUBBER DINGHY steamer Christina Dawn, of Gloucester. Margate, Kent.—At 4.5 in the after- Rewards, the thanks of the Institu- noon of the 2nd of April, 1949, the tion on vellum to the coxswain and coastguard reported that two boys in a £6 6s. to coxswain and crew. (For the rubber dinghy were going round in full account of this service see page 310.) circles three-quarters of a mile off Cliftonville. At 4.58 they telephoned A MEDAL SERVICE BY FLEETWOOD that the boys were now in distress off Fleetwood, Lancashire.—On the 3rd Whiteness, and the life-boat Lord South- of April, 1949, the life-boat Ann Letitia borough, Civil Service No. 1, was Russell rescued the crew of eight of the launched at 5.6. A fresh westerly ketch Alpha, of Stranraer, and rescued breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. six of them a second time after they The life-boat found the dinghy three had returned to the ketch. Rewards, miles oft North Foreland, and the boys the bronze medal to the coxswain and who were brothers, suffering from £42 17s. to coxswain and crew. (For exposure. They were taken into the the full account of this service, see page life-boat, given restoratives and 309.) wrapped in blankets. The life-boat returned to Margate, arriving at 6.15, PORTUGUESE STEAMER ON THE and the boys were landed and taken to GOODWINS a waiting ambulance. — Rewards, Walmer, Kent. — At 7.24 in the £8 165. morning of the 6th of April, 1949, the coastguard reported that the South A MEDAL SERVICE BY WEYMOUTH Goodwin Lightship had fired guns to Weymouth, Dorset,—On the 2nd of warn a vessel approaching the sands. April, 1949, the life-boat William and A little later news came that she was Clara Ryland rescued four lives from the aground on the south part of the tug H.L.S. 161. Rewards, the silver Goodwin Sands, and the life-boat Charles medal to the coxswain, the bronze Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2, was medal to the motor mechanic, and launched at 7.55. A west-south- £19 12*. to coxswain and crew. (For westerly breeze was blowing, with a the full account of this service see page rough sea. The life-boat found the 307.) s.s. Conceicao Maria, of Lisbon, bound laden to Newcastle-on-Tyne, with a ANOTHER FISHING BOAT BROKEN crew of twenty-four. Life-boatmen DOWN boarded her and the life-boat laid out a kedge anchor about ten o'clock. Caister, Norfolk. — At 8.35 in the Then, when the tide rose, tugs were morning of the 3rd of April, 1949, the able to get tow-ropes to the steamer Winterton coastguard telephoned that and she was refloated at 2.30. The a fishing boat half a mile south-east of life-boat accompanied her to the Downs, Winterton was flying a distress signal. arranged for a pilot, and arrived back The life-boat Jose Neville was launched at her station at four in the afternoon. at 8.50 in a fresh south-westerly wind —Property Salvage case. with a choppy sea, and found the motor fishing boat Beaty, of Yarmouth, with COXSWAIN INJURED AND two men on board, at anchor with her LIFE-BOAT DAMAGED engine broken down. She gave the men rum and chocolate, and towed Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At 10.5 their boat to Great Yarmouth, arriving in the morning of the 7th of April, 1949, at 11.30. The life-boat reached her the Walton-on-the-Naze coastguard re- station again at 12.25 that afternoon.— ported a vessel flying signals of distress Rewards, £16 5*. 6d. one mile north-north-east of the coast- guard station. At 10.24 the life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched. A strong A VELLUM SERVICE BY TROON north-west gale was blowing, with a Troon, Ayrshire.—On the 3rd of April, very rough sea. The life-boat found 1949, the life-boat Sir David Richmond that the vessel was the motor barge of Glasgow rescued nine lives from the Success, of Blyth. She had a crew of 326 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 four, was laden with coal, and bound local motor fishing boat Pilot Me II for Shoreham. A tanker had taken left for the fishing grounds, was over- her in tow, and the life-boat went with taken by bad weather and decided to them as they made for the Sunk Light- return to Whitby. At half past six vessel, but the gale increased and the the life-boat coxswain saw her making tow-rope parted. The barge was then for harbour, but finding it difficult to making water forward, and the seas maintain her course, and at seven o'clock were sweeping clean over her decks. the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth It was impossible for the tanker to was launched. A northerly wind was pass another rope to her, so the life- blowing and the sea was heavy. The boat coxswain drove the life-boat life-boat met the fishing boat half a straight at her, slightly damaging the mile out, escorted her across the har- boat and injuring himself. He held bour bar, and returned to her station her alongside and the barge's crew at eight o'clock.—Rewards, £6 7s. Qd. jumped on board. The life-boat re- turned to her station with the rescued ALEAK IN A ROUGH SEA men, arriving at 6.20 that evening.— Broughty Ferry, Angus.—At four Rewards, £25 5s. o'clock in the afternoon of the 10th of April, 1949, the Carnoustie coastguard OUT IN GALE FOR ELEVEN HOURS telephoned that a small motor boat, Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—At 10.34 with two on board, was alongside the in the morning of the 7th of April, North Carr Lightvessel. She had 1949, the Kildonan coastguard tele- sprung a leak. The life-boat Mono, phoned that a fishing boat was ashore was launched at 4.12, in a strong on the west side of Pladda Island, and westerly wind with a rough sea, and at 10.47 the life-boat City of Glasgow reached the lightvessel two hours was launched. A north-north-west later. She towed the motor boat to gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. Anstruther and got back to her station The life-boat found the motor fishing at 11.20.—Rewards, £12 13s. vessel Aurora, of Ballantrae, lying on her side pounded by the seas, but her YACHT ON THE BEACH crew of three had. got ashore. They Arklow, Co. Wicklow.—At 4.50 in asked the life-boat to take them to Ayr, the afternoon of the llth of April, 1949, and this she did, reaching her station the yacht Tory, which was being taken again at 9.50 that night.—Rewards, by a crew of two to new owners in £24 3s. 6d. Liverpool, was seen making for the harbour. A fresh south-west wind was A TOW IN A ROUGH SEA blowing, with a heavy swell, it was Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.—At dangerous to attempt to cross the bar, 12.45 in the afternoon of the 7th of and the life-boat coxswain warned her April, 1949, information was telephoned to keep outside. Her engine failed, and from Duncannon that a local fishing the flowing tide carried her on to the boat was in distress off Broom Hill, and beach to the north of the North Pier. the life-boat Annie Blanche Smith was A fishing boat was near, but could do launched at 1.10 in a north-north-west nothing to help her, and at five o'clock gale, with a rough sea. The honorary the life-boat Inbhear Mor was launched. secretary of the station, Mr. A. West- She pulled the yacht off the beach cott-Pitt, went in the life-boat. She and returned to her station at six found the fishing boat three miles east o'clock.—Property salvage case. of Dunmore East, with her crew of three exhausted, towed her to Duncannon, ENGINE BROKEN DOWN and reached Dunmore East again at Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.—About 3.10.—Rewards, £4 18s. 6.40 in the evening of the lit11 of April, 1949, the coastguard reported a fishing ESCORTING FISHING BOAT IN HEAVY boat in difficulties to the southward, SEA and the life-boat Jeanie Spears was Whitby, Yorkshire.—In the early launched at 7.5 in a fresh west-south- morning of the 8th of April, 1949, the west breeze with a moderate sea. She JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 327 found the local motor fishing boat south-south-west of the lightvessel. Nellie, with a crew of three, one and a Her engine had broken down, her half miles south of the harbour. Her anchor would not reach the bottom, engine had broken down. The life- and four of her crew of five were sea- boat towed her in, and reached her sick. At the skipper's request, the station again at 7.35.—Rewards, £5 5*. life-boat towed her to Portavogie, arriving back at her station at 5.15. NORWEGIAN STEAMER ON THE The skipper made a donation to the GOODWINS Institution.—Rewards, £21 4s. Walmer, Kent.—At 1.3 in the after- DUTCH MOTOR VESSEL AGROUND noon of the 14th of April, 1949, the Deal coastguard telephoned a report Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.-—At from North Foreland Radio Station 1.45 in the afternoon of the 17th of that the motor tanker Brali, of Oslo, April, 1949, information was received bound for Bergen, from Abadan, had that a Dutch vessel had stranded on gone aground on the Goodwin Sands at Hantoon Bank, and at 1.55 the life-boat South Sands Head. The life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson was launched. Langham, on temporary duty at the The secretary of the station, Mr. station, was launched at 1.5 in a light W. J. B. Moncas, went with her. A southerly breeze with a slight sea, and light southerly breeze was blowing with the coxswain and five life-boatmen a smooth sea. The life-boat found the boarded the tanker. Tugs came to her motor vessel Confid, of Rotterdam, help and she was refloated. The life- bound for Wexford, on the south-east boat then escorted her to the Downs part of the bank. She had a crew of and returned to her station, arriving six. Her skipper said that another at 3.40 the next morning.—Property Dutch vessel would try to tow him off salvage case. on the flood tide, and asked the life- boat if she would then stand by him, so she returned to her station at 4 YACHT GUIDED TO SAFE ANCHORAGE o'clock and put out again, at 6.40. Ramsgate, Kent.—At 8.12 on the She then stood by the Confid until evening of the 15th of April, 1949, high water when the other vessel information was received from the refloated her. The towing wire fouled, West Cliff that a yacht was in a dan- so the life-boat continued to stand gerous position near Pegwell Bay, and by until both vessels had reached a the life-boat Prudential was launched safe anchorage. She arrived back at at 8.20 in a smooth sea with a light her station at 12.4 the next morning. east-north-east wind. She found the —Rewards, £7 10s. cutter yacht Sunfire, with a crew of two, at anchor. The coxswain ex- TUG AND LOCK GATE IN DISTRESS plained to them the danger of their anchorage, with the wind freshening The Mumbles, Glamorganshire. — At and the tide falling, and guided them 1.45 in the afternoon of the 17th of to a safe anchorage. The life-boat April, 1949, the coastguard telephoned arrived back at her station at 9.15.— that the Scarweather Lightvessel had Rewards, £7 8s. reported a tug one mile east of the lightvessel making S.O.S. signals. The life-boat William Gammon-—Manchester SEASICK YACHTSMEN RESCUED and District XXX was launched at 2.4. Cloughey, Co. Down.—At 11.55 on The south-easterly breeze was light, the night pf the 16th of April, 1949, the but there was a heavy swell. The life- Tara coastguard telephoned that red boat found the tug Plumgarth, of flares could be seen about two miles Bristol, broken down, with a lock gate south of the South Rock Lightvessel, in tow. She was four miles south-east and the life-boat Herbert John was of the lightvessel, and had anchored, launched at 12.35. A south-westerly but was dragging. At her skipper's breeze was blowing, with a heavy swell. request the life-boat stood by until The life-boat found the motor yacht tugs arrived at 9 o'clock that night. Schollevaer, of Dun Laoghaire, five miles They towed the Plumgarth and the 328 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 lock gate to Swansea, and the life-boat overtaken by bad weather. Some returned to her station, arriving at reached the shore with difficulty. 11.30.—Rewards, £22 18s. Three were still at sea, and the life- boat Foresters Centenary was launched RESCUED: IN DISTRESS AGAIN TWO at 9.50. A strong north-westerly DAYS LATER breeze was then blowing, and the sea Newcastle, Co. Down. — At 9.15 in was rough. The life-boat escorted in the morning of the 19th of April, 1949, one of the boats, put out again to the coastguard telephoned that a boat search for the other two, and found was drifting off Cranfield. Shortly one of them broken down and in tow afterwards they reported her in distress, of the other. They were a mile east and at 9.50 the life-boat L.P. and St. of the life-boat station. The life-boat Helen was launched. A moderate took over the tow, put a man on board westerly gale was blowing, with a the broken-down boat and made for choppy sea. The life-boat found the the shore, the other boat going under motor yacht Schollevaer, of Dun her escort. When they were near Laoghaire—to whose help the Cloughey enough for the broken-down boat to life-boat had gone two days before— row ashore she cast off the tow and half a mile north-east of Cranfield Poirit. returned to her station, arriving at There was no one on board. Her crew 11.5.—Rewards, £21. had been taken off by a local motor boat. The life-boat then -went to FISHING BOAT CAPSIZED Greencastle and there met the owner Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—At 3.33 in the of the yacht, who asked him to tow afternoon of the 23rd of April, 1949, the her to Kilkeel. This the coxswain coastguard telephoned that a local agreed to do, as the yacht was in a fishing boat, with a crew of two, had very dangerous position. With some capsized one mile south of Sizewell, and difficulty the owner and two life- at 3.50 the No. 1 life-boat, Abdy boatmen boarded the Schollevaer, and Beauclerk, was launched. A light west- the life-boat took her to Kilkeel, south-west breeze was blowing with a arriving back at her station at 5.15 slight swell. Another fishing boat had in the afternoon.—Rewards, £30 9s. also put out. She rescued the two men, and the life-boat brought the SICK DUTCHMAN LANDED capsized boat ashore at 4.40.—Re- Barrow, Lancashire.—At 7.20 in the wards, £32 18*. 6d. evening of the 21st of April, 1949, information was received that one of PROPELLER FOULED BY NET the crew of the s.s. Colytto, of Rhyl, Flintshire. —At 2.30 in the Rotterdam, which was anchored one afternoon of the 24th of April, 1949, mile south-west of Lightning Knoll the owner of the local fishing vessel Buoy, urgently needed a doctor. As Osprey, reported that she was aground no other boat was available, the in the surf half a mile north of the life-boat Elsie, on temporary duty entrance to Foryd Harbour. It could at the station, was launched at 8.15 be seen that she had fouled her pro- with a doctor on board. A strong peller with a net and was in a dangerous west-north-west breeze was blowing, position. The life-boat The Gordon with a rough sea. The life-boat could Warren was launched at 3.20. It was not get alongside in that sea, until the then low water. A moderate west- Colytto got under way and made a lee north-west breeze was blowing, with a for her. She then took oft the sick moderate sea. The life-boat anchored man and returned to her station at close by the Osprey while the two men 11.45, where an ambulance was waiting. on board her cleared the propeller. —Rewards, £10 4s. 6d. About an hour and a half later the fishing vessel refloated, and the life- FISHING BOATS HURRY HOME boat towed her to deep water. She Sheringham, Norfolk. — About 9 then went on her way, and the life-boat o'clock in the morning of the 22nd of arrived back at her station at 7.15 that April, 1949, local fishing boats were evening.—Rewards, £12 2s. 6d. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 329 DRIFTING OUT TO SEA Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — April Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At 2.25 17th.—Rewards, £8 19s. in the afternoon of the 25th of April, Skegness, Lincolnshire. — April 18th. 1949, information was ree«ived that the •—Rewards, £15 Is. lightkeeper of the St. Helen's Fort was Arbroath, Angus.—April 19th.—Re- drifting seawards in a rowing boat, and wards, £16 5s. 6d. at 2.45 the life-boat Jesse Lumb was Montrose, Angus.—April 19th.—Re- launched in a light, squally north- wards, £15 8s. westerly breeze, with a slight sea. She Whitby, Yorkshire. —April 19th.— found the boat one mile north-east of Rewards, £6 7s. 6d. the coastguard station, rescued the man, Humber, Yorkshire. — April 22nd.— who was exhausted, and towed his boat Paid permanent crew. back to the fort. She reached her Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—April 24th. station again at 3.48.—Rewards, £7 2s. —Rewards, £35 10s. Qd., Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. — April FIVE FISHING BOATS ESCORTED IN 26th.—Rewards, £8 4s. Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—April 29th. Whitby, Yorkshire.—In the morning Rewards, £17 13s. of the 26th of April, 1949, there was a Valentia, Co. Kerry. — April 29th.— heavy swell at the harbour entrance Rewards, £7 Is. 6d. that would endanger the return of the fishing boats. When five were seen approaching two members of the harbour MAY pulling life-boat's crew stood by with DURING May life-boats went out on rockets to warn them oft. Then, at service 42 times and rescued 3 lives. 10.50, the motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. The north- TANKER AGROUND erly breeze was moderate, but a heavy Sheringham, Norfolk. — During the sea was now running. The life-boat afternoon of the 3rd of May, 1949, a escorted in the motor fishing boats vessel was seen to be stopped about five Provider A, Easier Morn, Gem, and miles oft shore, and it was thought that Venus. She put out again to a fifth, she was on Sheringham Shoal. The the motor fishing coble Enterprise, life-boat Foresters Centenary was handed life-belts to her crew and launched at 3.25, in a fresh north- escorted her into the harbour. She easterly breeze, with a rough sea reached her station again at noon.— running, and found the S.S. Barren Rewards, £8. Hill, of Panama, a tanker of over 10,000 tons, aground. She had a crew The following life-boats went out on of forty-three. The second coxswain service but could find no ships in boarded her and the captain said he distress or were not needed. had sent for tugs. The life-boat stood Dungeness, Kent.—April 1st.—Re- by, and about 9 o'clock a tug arrived wards, £21 17s. and made an unsuccessful attempt to Ramsgate, Kent. — April 2nd. — Re- refloat the tanker. Later another tug wards, £7 8s. came out, and about 2 o'clock the next Barrow, Lancashire. — April 3rd. — morning, the life-boat returned to her Rewards, £7 15s. station to refuel and • await the next Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. — April high tide. At 9 o'clock she put out 7th.—Rewards, £10 17s. 6d. again and stood by the Barren Hill The Lizard, Cornwall.—April 7th.— while tugs again tried to pull her clear. Rewards, £19 15s. They turned her round, but she held Selsey, Sussex. — April 7th. — Re- fast in the falling tide and the attempt wards, £8,12s. was given up. The life-boat arrived Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — April back at her station at 2 o'clock that 14th.—Rewards, £12 Is. afternoon, but at 7 o'clock in the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—April 16th. evening put out once more, with a —Rewards, £7 Is. Qd. salvage officer. She put him. aboard Ramsgate, Kent. — April 16th. — Re- the tanker which was now discharging wards, £6 13s. part of her cargo of motor spirit into a 330 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949 freighter moored alongside. With the life-boat in attendance, and the three life-boat standing by, the tugs again reached harbour at 8.15.—Property pulled the Barren Hill, and this time she Salvage Case. came oft and the tugs took her into deep water. The captain said all was Whitby, Yorkshire.—When the life- well, so the life-boat returned to her boat reached harbour at 8.15 on the station arriving at 10 o'clock that morning of the 7th of May, 1949, with night, the 4th of May.—Rewards, the fishing-boat Prosperity and the £94 5s. yacht Red Rover, she was told by the coastguard that three other local fishing DRIFTER ESCORTED IN A ROUGH boats were approaching the harbour, SEA and she remained afloat. Meanwhile, Thurso, Caithness-shire.—At 1.20 in the Prosperity put out again for the the afternoon of the 5th of May, 1949, fishing grounds in the hope of saving the Wick coastguard telephoned that a her crab pots. Later the life-boat drifter was in difficulties off Sandside. escorted her, and the other three fishing The life-boat H.C.J. was launched boats, at varying intervals, through the twenty minutes later. A moderate broken water at the harbour entrance, north-westerly gale was blowing, with and finally returned to her station a very rough sea. The life-boat found at 1.15 that afternoon.—Rewards, the drifter to be the Handsome, of £11 17s. 6d. Stornoway, escorted her into Scrabster Harbour and returned to her station at ANOTHER SICK SEAMAN half-past four.—Rewards, £9 7s. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.— At 11.11 on the night of the 7th of TO THE HELP OF A DYING SEAMAN May, 1949, the police told the life-boat Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.— station, through the coastguard, that a At 2.50 in the afternoon of the 5th of doctor was needed for a man with a May, 1949, the police informed the dislocated shoulder on board the S.S. life-boat coxswain that the S.S. Corn- Cordale, of London, which was then wood, of Hartlepool, outside the harbour, entering the roads. The life-boat had a sick man aboard in urgent need Louise Stephens was launched at 11.27 of help, and the life-boat Louise with a doctor. A north-west wind was Stephens was launched ten minutes later blowing with a slight sea. The life- with a doctor and the life-boat honorary boat brought the man ashore and he secretary, Mr. H. A. S. Lane, on board. was taken to hospital. She got back to A south-easterly wind was blowing, but her station at half-past one in the the sea was smooth. The doctor found morning .and was re-housed later.—• that the man had just died. The Rewards, £13 19*. 6d. steamer went on her way to London and the life-boat returned to her station TOWING IN A SINKING STEAMER arriving at 4.15.—Rewards, £10 13*. 6d. Whitby, Yorkshire— At 4.10 in the afternoon of the 12th of May, 1949, the A ROUGH SEA OFF WHITBY coastguard telephoned a message re- Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 6.30 in the ceived by wireless that the motor vessel morning of the 7th of May, 1949, in- Arbroath, of Dundee, had been in col- formation was received that the local lision with the S.S. Aina Maria Nur- fishing boat Prosperity had taken in minen, of Finland, in a dense fog and tow the motor yacht Red Rover, of that she was sinking. The No. 1 life- Southwold, about one mile to the north- boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched east, but was making heavy weather at 4.15 in a light south-easterly breeze against a strong northerly gale and a with a smooth sea, and found the ships rough sea. The life-boat Mary Ann five miles east by north of the harbour. Hepworth was launched at 6.45. The The Arbroath had been badly holed and yacht's engine had broken down, and her crew of eleven had been taken off the life-boat was asked to put a rope by the Aina Maria Nurminen. The aboard her. This she did and the latter's captain asked for a pilot, and. Prosperity continued the tow, with the the second coxswain went aboard. The JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 331 steamer then took the Arbroath in tow the Prawle Point coastguard telephoned and, led by the life-boat, made for that a small vessel 200 yards west Whitby. Later, the captain of the of the point was flying her ensign Arbroath wanted to return to his ship upside down, and the life-boat Samuel and the life-boat put him and his crew and Marie Parkhouse was launched ten aboard her. About a mile from the minutes later in a westerly breeze and shore three local fishing vessels took a smooth sea. She found the motor over the tow and beached the Arbroath boat Snow White, of Salcombe, with her near the piers. The life-boat remained engine broken down. She had two men in attendance, and at midnight five on board. The life-boat towed her into fishing vessels refloated the Arbroath Sal combe Harbour, arriving at 8 o'clock. and towed her into the harbour. The —Rewards, £5 6*. life-boat returned to her station at 4.45 the next morning.—Property sal- A SMALL BOAT TWICE RESCUED vage case. Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. —• At 8.10 A FRENCH STEAMER ASHORE in the evening on the 19th of May, 1949, Lowestoft, Suffolk. — At 1.8 in the the coastguard reported that men had morning of the 14th of May, 1949, the been seen waving from a small boat coastguard reported that a vessel was about five miles north by east of Peter- believed to be aground on the New- head, and the life-boat Julia Park combe Sands. Her signals by lamp Barry, of Glasgow, was launched at 8.15. could not be read, so the life-boat A freshening southerly wind was Michael Stephens was launched at 2.13 blowing, with a heavy ground swell. to investigate. A northerly breeze was The life-boat fovmd the fishing boat blowing and the sea calm, but there Ruby, of Banff, with a crew of two, on was some fog. The life-boat found the her way from Findochty to Buchan- vessel to be the S.S. P.L.M. 17, of haven. Her crew were, glad to be Rouen, put a life-boatman aboard and taken in tow as their engine had broken learned that she was waiting for high down and they had drifted a consider- water to try to refloat. The life-boat able distance seawards on the ebbing stood by. She returned to harbour tide. The life-boat towed her to about half past six, and a little later Buchanhaven and then returned to put out again and remained by the Peterhead, arriving at 10.20. At 1.25 steamer until she was refloated by tugs on the following morning the coast- at high water. She then made for her guard reported an object with a light station arriving at one o'clock in the attached drifting about a mile east afternoon.—Rewards, £23 15s. of Buchanhaven. The life-boat was launched again at 1.45, and found the CAPSIZED YACHT SAVED Ruby two and a half miles north of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At half past Peterhead with no one on board. She four in the afternoon of. the 18th towed her into Peterhead Harbour at •of May, 1949, a resident of Leigh 3.25.—Rewards: first service £6 2*. 6d., reported that a yacht had capsized second service, £8 4s. 6d. about two miles off Leigh and that a man was clinging to her. The life-boat OLD LIFE-BOAT RESCUED Greater London, Civil Service No. 3, Abexystwyth, Cardiganshire. — At 5.25 was launched at 4.50 in a light south- in the afternoon on the 23rd of westerly wind with a slight sea. She May, 1949, the Aberdovey coastguard found the small sailing yacht Drifter, of telephoned that the ketch of the Out- Leigh-on-Sea, but no trace of any crew. ward Bound Sea School—the old New The life-boat towed the yacht to South- Quay sailing life-boat, which had been end, arriving at 6.35, and later it was presented to the school—was in a dan- learned that the one man on board had gerous position on the North Bank on been saved.—Rewards, £7 16s. the Aberdovey Bar, and the life-boat Lady Harrison was launched at 5.55. MOTOR BOAT BROKEN DOWN A fresh westerly breeze was blowing, Salcombe, Devon.—About 6.55 in the with a heavy ground sea. The life- evening of the 18th of May, 1949, boat found the boat, with an officer and 332 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

twelve cadets aboard, at anchor with Cullercoats, Northumberland.—May seas breaking round her. Her coxswain 2nd.—Rewards, £24 9s. 6d. skilfully manoeuvred her among the Lowestoft, Suffolk.—May 4th. — Re- sand banks and, as the tide was falling, wards, £ll 5s. at once passed a rope to the ketch, directed her officer to cut his cable, Girvan, Ayrshire.—May 5th. •—Re- towed her clear of the bank and wards, £5 13s. brought her into Aberdovey at half- Troon, Ayrshire.-—May 5th.—Rewards, past seven. The life-boat arrived back £8 14s. at her station at half-past nine—Re- Whitby, Yorkshire.—May 5th.—Re- wards, £ 18 16*. wards, £7 18s. 6d. Blyth, Northumberland.—May 6th.— ANOTHER YACHT IN DISTRESS Rewards, £6 19s. 6d. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight—At 4.10 in the afternoon of the 29th of May, 1949, Sunderland, Durham. — May 6th.—• information was received that a sailing Rewards, £18 6s. 6d. yacht appeared to be in difficulties Teesmouth, Yorkshire.—-May 7th.— about four miles north-north-west of Rewards, £12 2s. Shingles Bank. A strong south/west New Brighton, Cheshire.—May 8th.— breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. Rewards, £8 2s. Later, the Needles Signal Station re- Donaghadee, Co. Devon.—May 10th. ported that the yacht was wallowing in •—Rewards, £7 5s. the seas and signalling to be taken in tow, and the life-boat S.G.E. was Coverack, Cornwall.—May 10th.—Re- launched at 4.38. She found the cutter wards, £12 10s. yacht Never Despair, of Christchurch, Newhaven, Sussex.—May 10th.—Re- with a crew of three, about a mile north wards, £7 16s. of the Needles Lighthouse, in broken Llandudno, Caernarvonshire.—May 14th. water. Her rudder was broken and —Rewards, £16 15s. she was leaking. With difficulty, the Clogher Head, Co. Louth.—May 14th. life-boat towed her into the harbour —Rewards, £13 13s. and reached her station again at 7 o'clock that evening.—Rewards, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. £7 Is. 6d. —May 15th.—Rewards, £15 17s. 6d. St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—May 16th. FISHING BOAT TOWED IN —Rewards, £4 17s. 6d. Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.— At Dungeness, Kent.—May 19th.—Re- 8.30 in the evening of the 31st of May, wards, £20 4s. 1949, the Coast Life-saving Service at Ramsgate, Kent. — May 21st.—Re- Blackwater reported that a fishing boat, wards, £20 5s. which had been at anchor close inshore since noon, had now hoisted a flag, and Workington, Cumberland.—May 21st. the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson —Rewards, £20 19s. was launched at 8.56. A southerly Walmer, Kent.—May 22nd.—Rewards, wind was blowing with a slight sea. £23 5s. The life-boat found the fishing boat Dungeness, Kent.—May 22nd.—Re- about half a mile off Blackwater Head. wards, £28 3s. Her engine had broken down, and her Torbay, Devon.—May 23rd.—Rewards, crew of two were without food. The £2 13s. life-boat towed her into Rosslare Har- bour, arriving at ten minutes after Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork.— midnight.-—Rewards, £4 15s. May 24th.—Rewards, £16 12s. Ramsgate, Kent.—May 25th.—Re- The following life-boats went out on wards, £7 8s. service, but could find no ships in dis- Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—May 26th.— tress or were not needed. Rewards, £14 12s. 6d. Hastings, Sussex.—May 1st—Rewards, Torbay, Devon. — May 28th. — Re- £35 3s. 6d. wards, £3 7s. 6d. JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 333

A Broadcast from Walmer to America IN July, 1948, Coxswain Frederick " Our life-boat assisted seven Ameri- Upton, of Walmer, recorded a talk for can ships in 1946 alone. The Luray the National Broadcasting System of Victory was the first—that was early in Ke\y York, to be broadcast in America. January. The North Eastern Victory was the last; still a visible hulk, broken "Hullo, America! and torn asunder by heavy surf, on "This is Freddy Upton, coxswain of the Goodwins. She nearly lost us our the Walmer life-boat in England. As Christmas dinner. We spent Christmas I speak I look over the waters of the Eve on the Sands with her and early Downs and remember the exciting Christmas morning as it was. times the Walmer life-boat had in the "Born and bred in the sight of the first eighteen months after the war. Sands, we men of Deal and Walmer My crew and I were able to help Ameri- know the Goodwins like the backs of can shipping quite a lot in those days, our hands, and we have a life-boat and our life-boat was kept mighty busy which can live in seas which would be then. I must say your captains were certain death to any ship's boat out always pleased to have us around. To there. Her cost was provided, like the be piled up on the Goodwin Sands, 'the rest of the Royal National Life-boat graveyard of a thousand ships' as Institution's fleet, entirely out of the they call them, is no joke, I can tell you. voluntary contributions of the public "It was about the middle of May, and we are very proud of her and of the 1945, when American shipping bound Institution. for German ports, began to come through "Altogether we have saved 92 lives the English Channel into the Downs from American ships that were stranded again for route instructions. There on the Sands in the wildest weather and were uncleared minefields to be warned became wrecks, and we have helped to about. I've piloted numbers of Ameri- save many other American vessels and can ships through to safe anchorage their crews. We are very proud of here. You can't take risks with the that record. Goodwins, although some stout Ameri- "To all who remember us, the can ships tried it on—and I can see Walmer life-boat crew say, 'Good from here what is left of some of them. luck to you—come back some time.' "

The Duchess of Kent and the Widows of the Mumbles WHEN the Duchess of Kent visited They were presented to her at Swansea on the 29th of October to the Guildhall and she told them how attend the Festival of Music, she met sorry she was to have been prevented the widows of the life-boatmen of The by illness from presenting to them her- Mumbles who lost their lives when the self the certificates of honour which they life-boat capsized on the 23rd of April, received from the Institution at its 1947. annual meeting in October, 1947.

Humane Society's Medal for a Welsh Life-boatman THE Royal Humane Society has repairs to the pier. Mr. Gammon saw awarded its bronze medal and certificate him rise to the surface, sink at once to Robert John Gammon, the mechanic and then rise again. Fully clothed he of the life-boat at The Mumbles, for dived 18 feet from the pier into the attempting to rescue a "frogman" water and tied a rope round the man. •who was working under water on He was hauled to the pier, but was dead. 334 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

A Swedish Presentation THE Swedish Life-boat Society has on the 8th of January last. Buckie awarded to the Institution its plaque took off nineteen of her crew. She of merit and two diplomas, each of which had to go alongside the steamer seven has this record: times and was damaged in doing it. Swedish Life-boat Society pre- Whitehills stood bv the steamer until sents to the Royal National Life-boat a tug came to take her in tow. Institution its plaque of merit for out- Stornoway landed twenty men from standing service, and the Society begs the motor vessel Hervor Bratt, of that its sincere thanks and compli- Gothenburg, which went ashore in the ments may be conveyed to the brave Outer Hebrides on the 20th of January British life-boatmen and especially to last. the crews on those Scottish life-boats The plaque and diplomas were pre- which so ably assisted and saved sented by the Swedish ambassador in Swedish sailors during this stormy London to Commodore the Earl Howe, winter." C.B.E., V.R.D., P.C., R.N.V.R., the deputy chairman of the committee of The Scottish life-boats were those management of the Institution. The at Buckie, Whitehills and Stornoway. two diplomas, and framed photographs Buckie and Whitehills went to the help of the plaque, have been presented by of the steamer Frej, of Stockholm, in the Institution to the Buckie and a whole gale, with very heavy seas, Stornoway stations.

French Honour for a Coxswain ON the 26th of November, 1948, at the presentation was made, the consul said, Guildhall, St. Ives, Cornwall, the French to show the gratitude of France for consul at Southampton presented to services to French merchant ships and Mr. William Peters, former coxswain of fishing boats during the war, and for the St. Ives life-boat, the Brevet de the hospitality shown by Cornish Chevalier de 1'Ordre du Merite. The people to French refugees.

Belgian Life-boats Built in England THREE motor life-boats have been built long, each with two 40-h.p. diesel at Cowes, under the supervision of the engines. Institution, for the Belgian Life-boat The first of the three went to Service, which is maintained by the Belgium last September, the second Ministry of Communications. All thre.e at the end of last November, and the are Watson cabin boats, 46 feet 9 inches third in February.

Life-boat as Mail Boat The Minister for Posts and Tele- The mails were loaded by the crew graphs in the Republic of Ireland has under the supervision of the district sent his thanks to the life-boat station inspector and the Minister specially at Kilronan for carrying mails for mentioned that "although the weather the Aran Islands from Rossaveal to was exceptionally bad they were de- Kilronan. livered absolutely dry." JULY, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 335

A Memorial at Clacton-on-Sea ON the 14th of November, 1948, a capsized in heavy weather while being memorial plaque to Second-Coxswain towed by the life-boat." Frank Castle, of the Clacton-on-Sea Councillor Mrs. F. M. H. Coleman, life-boat, was unveiled in the boat- M.B.E., J.P., president of the Clacton house. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, a member of The plaque is inscribed with these the branch committee, and an honorary words: life-governor of the Institution, un- " In memory of Frank Castle, second- veiled the plaque, and it was dedicated coxswain of the Clacton-on-Sea Life- by the Rev. G. E. Higgins. At the boat, who served in her for 38 years and end of the ceremony a bugler sounded lost his life on service, on April 7th, the Last Post and Reveille and a wreath 1943, when the barge Tarn O'Shanter of poppies was laid on the plaque.

From Canada: A Subscriber for 56 Years A SUBSCRIBER in Quebec, in sending and this amount I have contributed his annual gift of £5 wrote: since. There were some years when I "It may be of interest to you to was unable to contribute, but eventu- know that when a boy I was employed ally made up for them, for according to by a firm here which every summer my records, the enclosed makes £280 shipped by sailing vessels to Great which I have contributed in 56 years." Britain, many cargoes of square timber In thanking him for his letter the and sawn lumber, and thereby I came Institution sent him its latest publica- in contact with many seamen. Realiz- tions and in reply he wrote: ing what a hard life was theirs I • "They made me realize that you are acquired a great sympathy for them, doing a more wonderful work than I and upon reading R. M. Ballantyne's had any idea of, and gave me the book entitled The Life-boat, decided satisfaction of being able to contribute that should I ever be in a position to to it even in a small way." contribute to your work I would do so. With the second letter came an addi- "My first donation was £5 in 1893, tional gift of £10.

Portrait on the Cover THE portrait on the cover is of Coxswain in December, 1940, when he went out John Boyle, of Arranmore, on the west twenty-five miles in a full Atlantic coast of Ireland. He has been cox- gale to the help of a Dutch steamer. swain since October, 1928, and is one She was one of a convoy from America, of the seven coxswains who won the had lost her rudder as the convoy gold medal for conspicuous gallantry approached the Irish coast, and had during the war of 1939. He won it been flung on a reef.

Awards to Honorary Workers: A Correction IN the list of awards to honorary as the "President of the Huyton workers in the last number of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Liverpool." journal, Mrs. F. H. Thornton, who It should have been Wallasey, not received the record of thanks, was given Huyton. 336 THE LIFE-BOAT [JULY, 1949

Another Happy Collector* A LADY member of the Institution's In the war she managed a bicycle branch at Crewe is a very keen gar- business and charged accumulators. dener. She sells both plants and cut When an accumulator was brought in flowers, taking them by bus into the with dirty or corroded terminals she town where she has many standing made an extra charge for cleaning orders and more requests than she can it, and this money too went into her fulfil. The manager of one of the big life-boat box. Several of her war-time stores has first choice of all her plants. customers still make regular contribu- All the money made by these sales tions to the box. she puts in her life-boat collecting In these ways she has collected over box. £130 during the past few years. •For the first "Happy Collector" see The Life-beat for October, 1948.

London District Conference A CONFERENCE of the branches in the Earl Howe, C.B.E., V.R.D., P.C., London District was held at Southend- R.N.V.R., deputy-chairman of the In- on-Sea on the 30th of March. Eighty- stitution, presided, supported by one delegates from forty-five branches Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., attended it. The party was welcomed T.D., M.A., the secretary, and other by the Mayor, visited the life-boat officials of the Institution and the house, saw the life-boat launched and London District. was taken out in her for short Lord Howe welcomed the delegates trips. and spoke of the Institution's work. The conference was held at Garon's There was then a full discussion on Center House, through the kindness of the various methods of keeping the Mr. Frank Garon, chairman of the Life-boat Service before the public and Southend branch. Commodore the raising the Institution's funds.

Awards to Coxswains and Life-boatmen To ALEXANDER W. DICKSON, on his retire- To THOMAS BOYNE, on his retirement, after ment, after serving for 12J years as coxswain serving for 10J years as second coxswain, and 5J years as bowman of the St. Abbs life- 3J years as bowman and 26 years as a mem- boat, a coxswain's certificate of service and ber of the crew of the Howth life-boat, a an annuity. life-boatman's certificate of service and an To HENRY PETERS, on his retirement, after annuity. serving for 2J years as coxswain, 7 years as To DUNCAN ALEXANDER, on his retirement, second coxswain and 30 years as a member after serving for 16 years as bowman and of the crew of the St. Ives life-boat, a life- one year as a member of the crew of the Port- boatman's certificate of service and a patrick life-boat, a life-boatman's certificate gratuity. of service.

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 Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I. All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should be addressed to the Secretary. The next number of THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in October, 1949.