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

VOL. XXXI. MARCH, 1939. No. 337.

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET Motor Life-boats, 142 :: Pulling & Sailing Life-boats, 20 LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Institution in 1824 to February 28th, 1939 - 66,142

The Great Gale of 23rd November, 1938. ON 23rd November, 1938, the severest signal the life-boat, William and Kate gale since the great gales of the winter Johnston, was away. It was then of 1929 to 1930, struck the British Isles. 9.55. The life-boat was drawing near The wind reached a speed of 108 miles to the position given about 10.30 and an hour. Much damage was done on could see a fishing boat. She appeared land. Cattle were swept out to sea; to be labouring heavily in the sea. telegraph poles, trees, hoardings and It was the Progress, of Hoylake, with a walls blown down; roofs torn off; crew of three. At the same time, the roads flooded; a railway bridge washed life-boat saw a schooner drifting away; and thirteen lives were lost. towards the shore with her sails blown Life-boats were launched all round away. She was the Loch Ranza Castle. the coast; on that one day there were of Annalong, laden with stone and 27 launches. Life-boats rescued 36 carrying a crew of four. lives. Life-boatmen at New Brighton, The coxswain had to decide at once Aldeburgh, and Great Yarmouth and which of the two vessels was in the Gorleston won six medals and four greater need of help. As the fishing vellums for gallantry, and the Institu- boat was the smaller of the two, and tion made rewards and other pay- as she was anchored and in deeper ments to life-boat crews- amounting to water, he decided to go to her help nearly £500. first. The life-boat went alongside, and after two or three attempts, rescued NEW BRIGHTON. the three men. Shortly afterwards The outstanding service of the day the fishing boat sank. was at New Brighton on the Mersey. At 9.15 in the morning, news was Right in tjie Surf. received at the life-boat station that a The life-boat then set course for the fishing boat was in difficulties E.N.E. schooner. The weather had become of the Crosby Light-vessel; it lies steadily worse, and a very heavy sea about 6i miles from the life-boat was now running. The squalls were berth. A whole west gale was blowing, terrific, and the spindrift and spray with a rough sea. There were gusts made it very difficult to see. By this of wind at 108 miles an hour. There time the schooner was right among the were frequent and very heavy squalls of surf. She was drifting rapidly ashore. rain and hail. Her crew had taken to the rigging. Within eight minutes of the assembly The surf was breaking between 200 and THE LIFE-BOAT. [MAK.CH, 19S9. 300 yards from the shore, and the to one. The life-boat was down coxswain took in the life-boat until she nearly three feet by the head. Her was between 150 and 200 yards from two forward compartments and the the schooner. There he took sound- cabin were flooded. It was clear ings, headed seaward again, and let that she had been severely damaged go his anchor. Those on the life-boat when she was taken over the wreck to could see now that the Loch Ranza rescue the three men in the starboard Castle had sunk. The crew were in the rigging. The life-boat would normally starboard and port rigging. have gone to her moorings, and the crew and the rescued would have been The Life-boat Over the Wreck. landed in the boarding boat, but in The coxswain veered the life-boat view of the damage to the life-boat, down, with the engines working, took and in view, too, of the condition of the her over the wreck, and after several last man to be rescued (he was sixty- attempts, succeeded in rescuing the five years old), the coxswain decided two men who were in the starboard to go alongside the landing-stage, a rigging. The other two men were on manoeuvre calling for great skill and the port side. One of them was seen seamanship. It was successfully to climb further up and cross over to carried out and the rescued were the starboard rigging. The other was landed. seen to get rid of his seaboots, but he The life-boat was taken next day to a remained where he was. Again the yard at Birkenhead for repair, and coxswain took the life-boat over the there it was found that, besides much wreck and rescued the third man. other damage, there was a hole three From him it was learnt that the fourth feet by three inches in the skin of the was too exhausted to do anything. He fore cabin, and another hole nine was in a very critical position, and the inches in diameter in the skin of coxswain realized that there was no another compartment, while the skin way of helping him unless he could take of a third compartment was also holed. the life-boat round under the port rigging where the man was clinging. The Rewards. The rescue of the three men had It was a service in which the cox- taken an hour; the tide had eased; but, swain showed great gallantry and by this time, none of the deck fittings, tenacity, and exceptional seamanship. not even the gunwale, were showing, The way in which he handled his boat and blocks, yards and rigging were after she had been damaged is worthy falling from the masts. of the highest praise. He was ad- mirably supported by his crew, Rescued Unconscious. especially by the second coxswain and The second anchor cable of the life- the two motor mechanics. The In- boat was bent on to the cable by which stitution has made the following awards: the life-boat was already anchored, and To Coxswain W. H. JONES, the the coxswain veered her down stern silver medal for gallantry, accom- first, passed under the bowsprit of the panied by a copy of the vote inscribed wreck, and so, with the help of the on vellum; engines, got right alongside the port rigging. The man by now was To the second coxswain, J. NICHOL- scarcely conscious and was quite in- SON and the motor mechanic, W. capable of helping himself. The cox- GARBUTT, second-service clasps to the swain kept the boat alongside the bronze medals for gallantry which they rigging and, after some very anxious already hold, accompanied by copies minutes, the crew succeeded in getting of the votes inscribed on vellum; the half-conscious man into the life- To the second motor mechanic, J. boat. There he was at once given first MASON, the bronze medal for gallantry, aid by the second motor mechanic. accompanied by a copy of the vote The coxswain then manoeuvred the inscribed on vellum; life-boat clear, cut his cable, and made To the bowman, W. S. JONES, and the for the New Brighton landing stage, other members of the crew, J. STONALL, where she arrived at seven minutes H. STONALL and W. DOUGLAS, the MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

thanks of the Institution inscribed on running rigging of the mainsail had vellum; parted; the sprit (the heavy spar which To the coxswain and each member of supports the mainsail) was swinging the crew a reward of £3 in addition to violently about; and the barge herself the ordinary scale reward of 19s. was sheering about so wildly that the Standard rewards to the crew, £5 14s.; coxswain had to make five attempts additional rewards to the crew, £24; before he could get the life-boat's total rewards, £33 4s. 6d. stem alongside the barge's rigging and the two men were able to jump aboard. Four days after the service Mr. J. The life-boat's stem was slightly Stonall collapsed while out fishing and damaged. died of heart failure. He left a widow The life-boat then went to the and two children. As he had not died Decima but she declined help and ran on life-boat service, or as a direct north; so the life-boat returned to the result of it, his widow was not eligible Grecian and this time her crew of two for a pension, but the Institution were very glad to leave her. They decided to make her an allowance of were rescued in the same way as the fifteen shillings a week during her crew of the Astrild. widowhood, and five shillings a week It was impossible for the life-boat for each of the children until they were to be brought ashore at Aldeburgh in sixteen. the heavy seas, so she ran for Lowestoft where she arrived at 1.15 P.M. The motor life-boat, Oldham, of It was a fine service, very skilfully Hoylake, was also launched on the same carried out, and the Institution has service. It was known that the New made the following awards: Brighton life-boat had put out, but it To Coxswain GEORGE E. CHATTEN, was thought that in the very heavy the bronze medal for gallantry, accom- weather the Oldham might also be panied by a copy of the vote inscribed wanted. She was launched at 11.13 on vellum; A.M. and reached the Crosby Channel To Lieut. D. DAY, R.N., honorary at 12.40. There she was hailed by the assistant secretary, and Mr. H. L. Mersey Dock tender, Vigilant, which GOODSON, a member of the local told her that the crews of both vessels committee, letters of thanks; had been rescued by the New Brighton To the coxswain and each member life-boat. She arrived back at 2.20 P.M. of the crew a reward of £1 in addition Rewards, £11 18s. to the ordinary scale reward of 19s. Standard rewards to the crew, £8 11s.; ON THE EAST COAST. additional rewards to the crew, £10; On the same day, on the east coast, total rewards to crew and helpers, a gale was blowing from the south and £49 14s. lid. south-east, with very heavy seas, and barges were running helplessly before it. TO THE HELP OF SEVEN BARGES. At 7.56 in the morning the maroons Further north on the east coast the were fired at Aldeburgh. Three barges Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor were in distress two and a half miles life-boat, John and Mary Meiklam of north-east of the station. They were Gladswood, went out to the help of no the Grecian and Astrild, of Rochester, fewer than seven barges. She was out and the Decima, of London. The almost continuously for over eleven motor life-boat Abdy Beauclerk was hours; saved two barges with their launched in nine minutes, in crews of four men; rescued the crews itself a notable feat, for the launch off of three more barges, six men in all; the open beach at Aldeburgh is very and stood by two other barges. difficult and dangerous. The life-boat The first call came at seven in the went first to the Grecian, but her crew morning. A gale was blowing from the declined help. She then went to south-east, with a very rough sea and the Astrild which was riding to an heavy rain. The life-boat found the anchor near Sizewell Bank. Her topsail sailing barge Ailsa, of London, about a had been blown away; she was con- mile south of Gorleston pier. The tinually swept by heavy seas; the barge was anchored, but the anchor THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

THE NEW BRIGHTON SERVICE TO THE

By courtesy o/J [Stuart Marsh, Hoyldke SEAS AT NEW BRIGHTON ON NOVEMBER 23rd, 1938.

By courtesy of] [Stuart Marsh* Hoylake THE LIFE-BOAT RETURNING WITH THREE COMPARTMENTS FLOODED. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

PROGRESS AND THE LOCH RANZA CASTLE.

By courtesy of] [Evening Express, Liverpool COMING ALONGSIDE THE LANDING STAGE.

[Eoening Express, Liverpool LANDING THE RESCUED. 6 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

was dragging and she was driving life-boat. The men got their gear on towards the beach, with seas breaking deck, but after several attempts, they clean over her. A tug had got made fast the hawser from the tug. a hawser aboard her. The coxswain took the life-boat alongside; three of The Life-boat in Pursuit. his crew jumped on board the barge; As soon as he saw her in tow and well with their help the hawser was secured clear of the sands, the coxswain made and the anchor heaved up. The tug for another sailing barge which had then towed the barge in with the passed the harbour and was running life-boat standing by. northward with a flag in her rigging. The coxswain then saw another She was the Cetus, of London. The barge, the Britisher, of London, to the life-boat followed her at full speed and north-east of the harbour with her came up with her abreast of Caister. sails blown away. On the advice of The skipper told the coxswain that he the coxswain, the barge anchored. had lost all his anchors, and that his The life-boat then took off her two men, barge was unmanageable. She con- and, backing clear, stood by to see tinued to run northward and when how the weather went. Half an hour abreast of Winterton Lighthouse, the later a tug came out. The life-boat skipper decided to abandon her. The put the two men back on the barge, life-boat came under her lee quarter, with three life-boatmen to help them, and the two men of the barge jumped and the tug's tow-rope was secured; aboard her, but the barge was being the anchor was got up; and the barge carried so rapidly to leeward that the was towed in with the life-boat standing life-boat was damaged by her; and by. the life-boat's crew narrowly escaped injury when she went under the barge's Running Before the Gale. bowsprit. It was now eleven in the morning. The life-boat collected the six men of A Rescue Just in Time. her crew from the two barges and no It was now about three in the after- sooner was this done than the coast- noon and the life-boat returned to guard reported other barges running Gorleston. When she was close to north, with their sails blown away. Britannia Pier the coxswain saw The life-boat left harbour again at another barge in danger, the Decima, 11.30 and spoke to the barges of London. Driving at full speed Raybell and Royalty, both of London. against the strong ebb and the heavy Raybell said she needed no help but sea he reached her just as she got into Royalty was taken in tow by a tug, with the breakers on Scroby Sand. At the life-boat standing by. The life-boat full speed he went alongside, and the then returned to the Raybell. The two men on board jumped into the wind had now veered to the south-west life-boat. A few minutes later the and was blowing with increasing force. barge was ashore on the sands. The Raybell had anchored south of The four men from the two barges Gorleston pier, but her anchor was were landed and the life-boat went to dragging and she was driving rapidly her moorings at 4.30, to learn that yet out; still the skipper said that he did another barge, the Una, of Ipswich, not need help. He dropped a second was ashore on Yarmouth beach.5* It anchor and then a third; but the was now dark and the sea on the beach barge did not hold. With the strong was very heavy. The coxswain ebb and heavy sea the barge was anchored and dropped down to the driving towards the Scroby Sands. barge. The life-boat herself struck With the three anchors failing, the the ground and bumped heavily. She skipper at last asked for help. A tug was knocked by the seas towards the had now come out, prepared to take her Una. The two men were ready. They in tow, if it was not too late, for the threw their dog aboard the life-boat barge was now very near the sands. then jumped themselves; and the life- The life-boat coxswain told the skipper boat, hauling on her cable, drew out and his mate to be ready, if they failed to into deep water and at last reached pick up the tow, to jump aboard the her station at 6.30 in the evening. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

Rewards. 17 OTHER LIFE-BOATS OUT. It was a series of difficult services in which the coxswain showed fine Seventeen other life-boats were out initiative and seamanship, and the In- on that day of gales. On the east coast stitution has made the following awards: at Southend-on-Sea (where the life-boat To Coxswain CHARLES A. JOHNSON was on almost continuous service for a second service clasp to the bronze twelve hours), Clacton-on-Sea, South- medal for gallantry, which he won in wold, Lowestoft and Skegness; on 1922, accompanied by a copy of the the north-east coast at Bridlington, vote inscribed on vellum; Flarnborough, Filey, Scarborough and To the motor mechanic, B. J. DARBY, Hartlepool; in the Isle of Wight, at a letter of appreciation ; Bembridge; on the south-west coast at To the coxswain and each member of Padstow and Barry Dock; on the east the crew a reward of £l in addition to coast of Scotland at Arbroath and the ordinary scale reward of £2 7*. Qd. Gourdon; on the west coast of Scotland Standard rewards to the crew, £23 15s.; at Portpatrick; and on the Irish coast, additional rewards to the crew, £11; at Portrush. Accounts of these total rewards, £36. 2s. The services launches are given under "Services of to the Ailsa and Britisher were property the Life-boats" on pages 32 to 34 salvage cases. and 38.

Silver Medal Service at Torbay. EARLY in the afternoon of the 9th had been summoned, but so near was December, 1938, the open motor the crabber to the cliffs that it seemed crabber, Channel Pride, of Dartmouth, impossible for the life-boat to reach was overtaken by a sudden gale off her; and at any moment he expected Coombe Point, Dartmouth. She had to see her capsize. That she was still two men on board. Her skipper afloat when the life-boat arrived was decided to return at once, but the due to three things: At the last moment propeller was fouled by a crab pot, her anchor had caught against a rock; and this stopped the engine. the wind, which was blowing at 30 to At 2.15, the crabber, with one of the 60 miles an hour from the south, veered men waving an oar, was seen drifting to S.W.; and the back-wash of the seas towards the cliffs by Mr. F. Hyne, helped to keep the boat off the cliffs. gardener to Mr. Cyril Maude, the At 2.24 the message reached the actor, of Redlap House, Dartmouth. Torbay life-boat station from the He rushed back to the house and coastguard at Berry Head. The crew telephoned to the coastguard. The were hurried down to the harbour in coastguard had already had the news, cars and at 2.40 the life-boat got away. but they asked Mr. Hyne to take ropes The heavy sea was made worse by the ebb to the cliff and to do anything possible tide running against the gale. There was until the life-saving apparatus arrived. heavy rain and visibility was very poor. Meanwhile, the crabber had con- tinued to drift. The two men had let A Journey of Ten Miles. go the anchor, but it would not hold. The life-boat had a journey of about They were baling hard. Then they ten miles before her. After she had took off their seaboots, and lashed passed Berry Head, she searched along round themselves the inflated rubber the coast to Dartmouth, keeping near floats used on the crab pots. It was the shore, then past Coombe Point, past all they could do, but they thought Redlap and three miles further along their last moment had come. The the coast to Slapton Sands where the huge, breaking seas were dashing 50 coxswain knew that the crab pots feet up the cliffs. If the boat had would be. The whole time she was struck the men would have been driving into the full force of the gale. beaten to death at once on the rocks. A look-out was kept, but in the growing From the top of the cliff Mr. Hyne was dusk and the heavy rain, she could see able to call to them that the life-boat nothing of the crabber. The crabber 8 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. was showing no lights. The men on then went hard astern and brought board had no electric light. Their the life-boat up all standing alongside matches were wet, and they were the crabber which was lying athwart unable to light a lamp. The coxswain the breakers. The two men jumped returned, again passing the crabber at aboard the life-boat. A moment later Redlap, and ran towards Coombe Point. a huge breaker hit her and knocked her Meanwhile, Mr. H. M. Smardon, the bow towards the shore. The coxswain honorary secretary of the station, had did not go astern for fear of fouling his been in constant touch with the Dart- propeller on the crabber's cable. He mouth coastguard at Coombe Point. went full speed ahead, bringing her News had now come that the crabber round with her head to the seas when had anchored and was dragging towards she was only five or six yards from the the Redlap cliffs. News also came to cliffs, and the seas were rebounding him from Mr. Gough, of Three Beaches, from them over her stern. Next moment that on his wireless he had heard the the coxswain had to put his helm hard Niton Radio Station calling the life- over again and just missed a rock boat and the life-boat calling Niton, awash under his starboard bow. So he but neither had been able to get into brought her safely out of the breakers touch with the other. Through the and reached Torbay again at 7.45. coastguard, Mr. Smardon asked Niton to send out a message to the life-boat that the crabber was only 200 yards off The Rewards. Redlap. But though, both before the It was a hazardous rescue carried life-boat put out and after she returned, out with great daring, and the Institu- her wireless was found in perfect order, tion has made the following awards: Niton could not get through to her. To Coxswain W. H. H. MOGEIDGE, Mr. Smardon knew that the crabber the silver medal, accompanied by the was dragging towards certain destruc- vote inscribed on vellum; tion and asked the Dartmouth coast- To the second coxswain, W. PILLAR, guard to fire white star rockets, the the bowman, F. C. SANDERS, the motor signal, "I wish to communicate." The mechanic, R. T. HARRIS, the assistant signal was given, but there was no motor mechanic, E. LAMSWOOD, and response. It was fired a second time, the other members of the crew, F. and then the coastguard saw the TUCKER, C. BICKFORD and F. navigation lights of the life-boat as she LAMSWOOD, the thanks of the Institu- came in towards Coombe Point for tion inscribed on vellum. information. He signalled the crabber's To the coxswain and each member of position to her by morse. It was then the crew a reward of £2 in addition nearly five o'clock. to the ordinary scale reward of £1 8*. Qd. Standard rewards to the crew, £9 19s. 6d. The Rescue. additional rewards to the crew, £16; After the rockets had been fired and total rewards, £26 13.?.; the life-boat seen, Mrs. Maude's parlour- To Mr. H. M. SMARDON, the honorary maid came out with electric torches and secretary of the station; Mrs. CYRIL a towel soaked in paraffin and started a MAUDE, her gardener, Mr. HYNE, and gorse fire on the cliff-top to guide the her parlourmaid; Mr. P. F. INGRAM, life-boat. who was the first to send the news to The coxswain made at once for Red- the coastguard; and Mr. N. P. GOUGH, lap cliffs, but in the heavy rain and the who reported the failure of the wireless intense darkness under the 200-feet station and the life-boat to get into touch cliffs, he saw nothing. It was not with one another, letters of thanks. until the life-boat was almost on top of Coxswain Mogridge has now won a her, that the bowman saw the crabber medal for gallantry three times. He on his starboard bow. Had she been was awarded the bronze medal in 1935, seen sooner the coxswain would have and the second-service clasp to that .anchored and veered down to her. As medal in 1937. On each occasion the he was so near he decided to go right in; members of his crew have been awarded put his helm hard over to bring the the Institution's thanks inscribed on crabber under the lee of his port bow; vellum. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

Another Bronze Medal Service at Southend-on-Sea. THE Southend - on - Sea motor life- lee rigging, taking off the mate, and boat, Greater London (Civil Service then the skipper, who had a wooden leg. No. 3), which had already been By this time the Lord Roberts had out in the great gale of 23rd Novem- sunk and her crew were at the top of the ber, 1938, on almost continuous mizzen mast. The coxswain took the service for twelve hours, was again life-boat right over the barge, and in called out three days later, on 26th the hollow of a sea she struck the November, in even worse weather. It barge and was damaged; but the two was just after three in the morning men were rescued. when the call came. A very heavy The life-boat got back to her station gale was blowing, and the coxswain about 4.30 in the morning. At 7.45 described it as "the worst gale for she again went out to search for a broken water I have ever seen." There vessel reported in distress but could were severe rain squalls, and in the find nothing and returned at nine spray and the rain it was almost o'clock. impossible to see the length of the It was a series of services very boat. skilfully carried out in the worst of From the pier-head barges had been weather, in the dark, and in excep- seen in great difficulties. The life-boat tionally difficult and severe conditions. went two miles to the eastward, and In recognition of the skill of coxswain there, by the help of her searchlight, and crew the Institution has made the she found the T.F.C., of Rochester, the following awards: Glenmore, of Rochester, and the Lord Roberts, of London, each with two The Rewards. men on board. To Coxswain SIDNEY H. B. PAGE the second-service clasp to the bronze Three Barges Sunk. medal which he already holds and a The life-boat went first to the Lord copy of the vote inscribed on vellum. Robsrts, but the crew would not leave, Coxswain Page won the bronze medal on so she went to the T.F.C. The barge's 2nd June, 1938, when the life-boat decks were under water, and the went out to five vessels in one day. crew were in the rigging. Playing his He is only the second life-boatman in searchlight on the masthead, the cox- the past thirty years to win two swain ran alongside the lee rigging and medals in one year; took off the skipper. The barge then To the second coxswain, W. A. DEER, sheered off heavily. The life-boat went the bowman, H. G. MURRELL, and the in again, and the mate was rescued. assistant motor mechanic, R. H. The life-boat then went back to the SANDERS, the thanks of the Institution Lord Roberts. Her crew were standing on inscribed on vellum; the cabin top which was underwater, but To the coxswain and each member still they would not leave her. So the of the crew a reward of 10s. in addition life-boat went on to the Glenmore. She to the ordinary scale reward of £2 7*. too had sunk, and her crew were in the Standard rewards to the crew, £18 16s.; rigging. As in the case of the T.F.C. additional rewards to the crew, £4 10s.; the life-boat twice went alongside the total rewards, £28 7s. 3d.

Life-boat Days in 1938. DURING 1938 life-boat flag days were and an increase on 1937 of £365. The held by 772 of the 1,072 branches of number of people who contributed was the Institution, seven fewer than the 5,648,000, which is 381,000 more than record number of 1937. The amount in 1937. The average contribution collected on those days was £43,839 was 1| of a penny, a slight decrease which was the largest total since 1930, on 1937. 10 THE LIFE-BOAT, [MAKCH, 1939.

Rescue from a Shelled Steamer. Spanish Ship attacked off Cromer. SHORTLY after three in the afternoon lengths apart. As the life-boat ap- of 2nd November, 1938, the coastguard proached, the Cantabria signalled with at Cromer reported flashes and gun fire a small torch. The life-boat went along- at sea. The firing shook the windows, side and found that of the forty or more and people, who crowded to the people who had been on board, there cliffs, could see the flashes. With were now only the master, his wife and binoculars, a large steamer also could two children, and one member of the be seen about ten miles north of crew. The rest of the passengers and Cromer, with an armed vessel about a crew had left in two boats. One had mile from her. There was no distress been picked up by the Nadir, and signal, and the life-boatmen stood by the other by the British steamer at the boathouse on the pier. The firing Pattersonian, on her way from the Tyne ceased about 4.15, but it was not until to London. 4.40 that any message was received. The Steamer Heeling Over. "Heave To or I Fire." Some twenty shells had fallen on or Then a wireless message sent out by near the Cantabria, and although no the British steamer, Monkwood, picked one had been injured, several of the up by a resident at Lowestoft, and shells had hit the hull. The steamer confirmed by the Humber Radio a had a heavy list to starboard, and all few minutes later, reached the Cromer the time that the life-boat was along- life-boat station through the coast- side she was heeling over. Before the guard. It was to the effect that an last of the five people had been taken auxiliary cruiser was firing at a Spanish off she was pressing so heavily on the steamer ten miles north of Cromer life-boat that five of the latter's stan- lighthouse. The cruiser was flying chions and her guard chain on the port the signal, "Heave to or I fire." The side had been broken. The life-boat, steamer appeared to be severely however, got safely away and reached damaged by the shell fire. Cromer again at 8.15. She was, as was discovered later, the The Pattersonian, according to her Cantabria, of Santander, of over 5,000 captain's report had come on the scene tons, belonging to the Spanish Govern- at 4.30. The Cantabria made a distress ment. After unloading a cargo of signal, and as the Pattersonian ap- timber from Russia in the Thames, she proached her the Nadir manoeuvred had left the Thames the night before for in an attempt to prevent it. A Immingham. The auxiliary cruiser collision was only just avoided. The was flying the flag of General Franco. Pattersonian took on board eleven of She was the Nadir. the Cantabria's crew, who had put off in one of her boats, and then continued her journey towards Great Yarmouth. The Life-boat Alongside. At 9.40 the coastguard reported to At 5.5. P.M., half an hour after the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston sunset, the No. 1 Cromer motor life-boat station that the steamer was life-boat, H. F. Bailey, was launched, in Yarmouth Roads and wanted to to see if her help was needed. A land eleven men of the Cantabria's moderate west breeze was then blowing, crew. It was not known if any of them with a moderate sea. About six were wounded or hurt. At 9.50 the o'clock the life-boat spoke the steamer motor life-boat, John and Mary Meik- Glenshiel and her captain pointed out lam ofGladswood, was launched, taking the position of the attacking ship. The with her Dr. G. H. Buncombe, a life-boat made for her. She reached member of the life-boat committee, in her half an hour later and then found the case medical help was needed. A Cantabria, which had no lights showing. moderate westerly breeze was blowing The two steamers were only two with a moderate sea. The life-boat MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. n

SOME OF THE RESCUED.

By courtesy of} [H. H. Tansley, Cramer FROM THE SPANISH STEAMER CANTABRIA. Coxswain Henry Blogg is shaking hands with the Cantatria's captain. The captain's wife and children and one member of his crew are on his left (See opposite page.)

By courtesy of] [Stuart Marsh, Hojlake FROM THE PROGRESS AND THE LOCH RANZA CASTLE AT NEW BRIGHTON. (See page 1.) 12 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. took off the eleven men and landed Blogg and the Cromer crew. A letter them. They were taken to the Sailors' of appreciation was also sent by the Home and the life-boat returned to her Inspector of H.M. Coastguard, East station, arriving at 11 P.M. Anglian Division. A letter of appreciation was sent by Rewards: Cromer, £26 9*. Qd.; Great the Institution to Coxswain Henry Yarmouth and Gorleston, £25 4,s.

Disaster at St. Ives. Seven Life-boatmen Lost. THREE minutes before two in the morn- St. Ives waited for nearly three ing of 23rd January. 1939, the honorary hours more, and then, just after seven secretary of the St. Ives life-boat o'clock in the morning, came the station was rung up by the district message that the life-boat had been officer of coastguard, who told him wrecked on the rocks near Godrevy that a vessel was in a dangerous position lighthouse and that, of her crew of two miles N.N.E. of Cape Cornwall. eight men. only one was alive. Cape Cornwall is eleven miles along What had happened during those the coast from St. Ives in the direction four hours since the life-boat had put of Lands End. A W.N.W. gale of out we know from the survivor, William exceptional violence was blowing, with Freeman. a very heavy sea. The life-boat would have to travel the eleven miles against The First Capsize. the gale. As she left the shelter of St. Ives Five minutes later the district officer Head she met a very heavy sea. again rang up suggesting that the life- She kept well clear of the headland to boat should not be launched until it avoid the heavier seas and strong flood was learned if the Sennen Cove life-boat, tide closer in. and turned westward. which was six miles on the other side She was then running almost in the of Cape Cornwall, could put out. teeth of the gale. When about one Sennen Cove cannot be launched during and a half miles N.N.E. of Clodgy the two hours on either side of low Point, the boat sheered as she came water. The tide was low, and the down a sea. The next struck her on answer came back from Sennen Co^ e her starboard bow, and she capsized. that the launch was impossible. At She was a self-righting life-boat, and that the coxswain said at once, "We're she righted herself in a few seconds. off," and at 2.30 he fired the assembly When she righted herself, four of the signal. Twenty minutes later the life- eight men on board were missing, boat had been launched. Over eighty Coxswain Thomas Cocking, the acting helpers took part in the launch. bowman, William Barber, the signal- man, John Thomas, and one oi; the "More Help Needed." crew, Edgar Bassett. William Free- At 4.20 the coastguard at Clodgy man, who was forward, was in the water Point saw red flares a mile out at sea. before he knew what had happened, They meant, "More help needed." but he kept hold of the gunwale and The coastguard rocket life-saving two of the other men dragged him on appliances at St. Ives were ordered board again. out and sent right round St. Ives Bay to Godrevy Point, on the leeward side Propeller Fouled. of the bay. The Porthreath appliances, The engine had shut off when the from the other side of Godrevy Head, life-boat capsized, as it is designed to were also summoned. At the same do. Before the motor mechanic re- time a message was sent to the Penlee started it and any attempt could be life-boat station, on the south coast made to pick up the missing men, some of Cornwall, nearly thirty miles away, of the boat's gear, which had been calling out the life-boat. She was washed partly out of her, was cut away launched at 5 A.M. for fear that it would foul the propeller. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 13

The mechanic then restarted the engine sail, to keep the life-boat head to without difficulty, but when he put in wind and sea, but with half the crew the gear, the engine stalled. He re- gone it was beyond their power. started it again. Again it stalled. While they were at anchor they The engine was working, but the burned the red flares, "More help propeller must have been fouled. The needed," which were seen by the coast-

PenleA ra.c0.tUd bij Lands End, CoO-it q-tuard / rni.l£ 1,-om Lonqsntps N ives LIFE-BOAT '2 MILE DISASTER ^ January 1939

astern gear was then put in; attempts guard. They also switched on the were made to clear the propeller, and searchlight, and burned a white flare. the ahead gear was once more put in. They saw the coastguard's answering Again the engine stalled. rocket. The four men then dropped the anchor Meanwhile, the life-boat was sheering and veered out all the cable. They about. A great strain was put on the then attempted to step the mizzen cable. It was a new one; it had not mast and, with the help of the mizzen previously been used; but the strain 14 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. was so great that it parted, and the the coastguard that the life-boat life-boat drifted to leeward across the station learned, at five minutes past mouth of the bay. seven, four and a quarter hours after the boat had put out, that she was The Second Capsize. smashed on the Godrevy rocks with As she drifted, the mechanic again only one of her crew alive. started the engine. It stalled again. As soon as the coastguard received Again he started it, but again it the news they started to search the stalled. The boat continued to drift. coast for the bodies of the seven other When she was two-thirds of the way men. The Penlee life-boat was off across the bay, a great sea struck her Lands End, twelve miles from her as she was beam on to it, and capsized station at 7.20. There she was sig- her a second time. When she righted nalled by the coastguard to return as herself, the motor mechanic, Richard her services were no longer needed. Stevens, who was forward, was missing. William Freeman, who was under the At the Scene of the Disaster. canopy above the engine controls had Immediately the news of the disaster jammed one hand in the railing below reached the headquarters of the In- the canopy. With the other he had stitution, Captain R. L. Hamer, R.N., grasped the starting handle. When the deputy chief inspector of life- the boat capsized, the pressure of the boats, went down to St. Ives with the air trapped under the canopy was inspector of machinery and the chief sufficient to keep the water out. Even draftsman (hull) and there met the when he was upside down, with the keel southern district inspector, Lieut.- of the boat above him, his face was not Commander H. L. Wheeler, R.N. under water. Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution, went down The Third Capsize. the same day, provided with funds to There were now only three men relieve any immediate necessities among aboard, and the life-boat continued to the families of the men who had lost drift towards Godrevy. The men were their lives. all aft. As she came close to the rocks, The wrecked life-boat was at once Matthew Barber, the bowman, who placed under guard and was examined was acting as second coxswain, shouted, the next day. She was on one of the "Look out, a big sea coming." For reefs of rock immediately to the south the third time she was capsized. When of Godrevy Island. She had been she righted herself only William Free- driven through a narrow gulley and man was on board. Matthew Barber left well above high-water mark. From. and the assistant mechanic, John the marks on the rocks and the damage Cocking, had gone. He felt them go to the boat it was evident that she past him, but he never saw them again. had, at one time, been keel up on the Three minutes later the life-boat rocks. From the place where she lay it struck the rocks near Godrevy. She was impossible to remove her by land was thrown on a fairly level ledge, or by sea, and she had been so severely her stern towards the shore. As the damaged that she was beyond econ- sea receded, William Freeman crawled omical repair. out and made his way on all fours The engine was not damaged. It along the rocks. A sea overtook him, was started without difficulty. The but it did not knock him over. He propeller was dented, but nothing was scrambled up a gap in the cliff, took off found foul of it. The engine was his water-logged boots, and made his removed, and later the remains of the way to Godrevy Farm. There he was hull were burned. taken in by Mr, and Mrs. Delbridge and put to bed. He was cut and much The Inquest. bruised. Mr. Delbridge then cycled to Four of the bodies had come Hayle. From there he telephoned to ashore, almost at once, Coxswain Camborne for a doctor, and then tele- Thomas Cocking, his son, John phoned the news of the disaster to the Bassett Cocking, Matthew Barber coastguard at St. Ives. It was from and William Barber. The inquest on MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 15

THE WRECK OF THE ST. IVES LIFE-BOAT.

By courttsy of] [Studio St. Ites, Ltd. The life-boat's air-cases can be seen protruding from the broken hull and scattered on the rocks.

By courtesy o/] [Studio St. Ives, Ltd. The life-boat was the John and Sarah Eliza Stych, of Padstow, temporarily stationed at St. Ives 16 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. them was held on 25th January and The survivor, William Freeman, aged was attended by the secretary, the 36, is a fisherman. He had not beeu deputy chief inspector of life-boats and out in the life-boat on service before. the district inspector of life-boats. He came down to the launch on the The verdict was "Death by misadven- morning of 23rd January and insisted ture ". The funerals were held next on taking the place of a regular day, the secretary, the deputy chief member of the crew who was preparing inspector of life-boats and the district to go out although he was ill. inspector of life-boats, representing the Institution. Nearly all the men of Messages of Sympathy. St. Ives were present, and life-boatmen The Duke of Kent, K.G., president and fishermen from all round the of the Institution, sent the following Cornish coast. telegram of sympathy to Mr. E. L. In the end all the bodies were given Guppy, the honorary secretary of the up by the sea, the last of the seven on station: the 10th February. " Deeply regret to hear of disaster to St. Ives life-boat resulting in loss of The Men. seven lives. Please convey my deepest The seven men who lost their lives sympathy to relatives of those who gave were: their lives in the performance of their THOMAS COCKING, aged 65, the duty." coxswain; Many other messages of sympathy MATTHEW STEVENS BARBER, aged 32, were received—from other branches of bowman and acting second coxswain; the Institution, from foreign life-boat WILLIAM BRYANT BARBER, aged 37, services, and one from the wife of the acting bowman, the brother of captain of the s.s. Alba, in Hungary. Matthew; RICHARD QUICK STEVENS, aged 36, The Mystery of the Ship in Distress. the motor mechanic; What ship it was that was in distress JOHN BASSETT COCKING, aged 38. off Cape Cornwall will never be certainly assistant motor mechanic, son of the known. It is possible that she got out coxswain; of danger and went on her way. Or JOHN THOMAS, aged 42, signalman; she may have been the 3,000-ton EDGAR BASSETT, aged 29. Glasgow steamer Wilston, with a crew Coxswain Cocking had been a member of over 30 men. The Wilston had left of the crew for many years. He was Newport. Monmouthshire, on the even- appointed bowman in 1919, second ing of 21st January, bound for the coxswain a year or two later, and Mediterranean. Two days after the coxswain in 1928. On the 31st wreck of the life-boat, wreckage began January, 1938, he won the Institution's to come ashore at Wicca Cove, some silver medal for gallantry for rescuing six miles to the east of Cape Cornwall, the crew of the steamer Alba, of a life-buoy with the Wilston's name Panama. He was a coxswain of long on it, and bodies of men who were experience, and all who knew him at identified as members of her crew. St. Ives described him as a natural leader, a man who did not know what Pensions. fear was. No man, they said, could The seven men were all married, and have stopped him taking his boat to besides the seven widows there are sea, and his crew would follow him, as eight children, and one of the widows they did, to death. is expecting a child. On the day of Of the other six men who were the disaster it was announced that, as drowned, four, Matthew Barber, from that day, the Institution would William Barber, John Bassett Cocking give pensions, and allowances for the and John Thomas also took part in children, on the same scale as if the men the service to the Alba, were awarded had been sailors, soldiers or airmen the Institution's bronze medals for killed in action. It has also given gallantry, and came to London with pensions and allowances to other Coxswain Cocking in 1938, to receive dependent relatives who would not, their medals from the Duke of Kent. under the pension scheme for the MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. armed forces of the Crown, be entitled pendents of the men who lost their lives, to receive them. and these havebeen sent on to the Mayor The pensions will amount to over of St. Ives. It has also received gifts £600 a year. amounting to nearly £200 to its own The Institution has paid all funeral funds in sympathy for the disaster. The expenses, and has given to the widows largest of these gifts to the Institution the money awards for the launch. was £52 10s. from the Civil Service These amount to £4 14s. a man. In Life-boat Fund. Another came from addition to this reward on the standard Wells Cathedral, and several came from scale, the Institution has given a schools. special reward of £10 to William Freeman. The total rewards to crew The Record of the Station. and launchers amount to £88 2s. A life-boat was established at St. Ives in 1840. Its life-boats have been Bronze Medals. launched on service 129 times. They The Institution has also awarded its have rescued 434 lives. Until 23rd bronze medal for gallantry to William January, 1939, not a life had been lost Freeman, and bronze medals post- from among its crews. humously to the seven other men. Freeman's medal is accompanied by a The Last Disaster. copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, The last life-boat disaster was just and special certificates have been over ten years ago, when, on the 15th awarded to the widows, recording that November, 1928, the Rye Harbour their husbands died on service. The life-boat, returning from service, cap- vellum and certificates have been sized in the surf and all the 17 men of signed by H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, her crew were drowned. In the ten K.G., President of the Institution. years between these two disasters— Special letters of thanks have been from the beginning of 1929 to the end sent to Mr. E. Leigh Guppy, the of 1938—life-boats have been launched honorary secretary of the station, to on service 3,613 times. Over 30,000 life- the coastguard, the police, the St. boatmen have been out in them. They John Ambulance Association, Mr. and have rescued 3,503 lives, and during Mrs. Delbridge, who took in William that time only one life-boatman has Freeman, and others who helped. lost his life, and his death was not due to any accident to the life-boat. The The Mayor of St. Ives' Fund. man was Coxswain Robert Patton, of The Mayor of St. Ives opened a fund Runswick, who, in attempting to help to supplement the pensions given by the a crippled man from the wreck into the Institution, and the Western Morning life-boat, was dragged overboard and News, of Plymouth, also opened a fund. crushed between the life-boat and the The response was immediate and very wreck. Since 1850 one life has been generous. Though it was intended lost for approximately 170 lives rescued. that the appeal should be confined to During the past ten years one life has the West Country, contributions have been lost—and that through no mishap come from all over Great Britain and but by deliberate self-sacrifice—for a few from Ireland. There have been 3,503 lives rescued. many gifts of £30, £40 and £50 each. An old age pensioner sent a three- Memorial Services. penny bit. Cornish towns have con- On the Sunday following the disaster, tributed very generously, Leeds, 29th January, a memorial service was through its Lord Mayor, has sent £100, held in St. Ives Parish Church, and the and many Ladies' Life-boat Guilds have sermon was preached by the Bishop of also contributed. The outstanding gift Truro (Dr. J. W. Hunkin, O.B.E.. has been £511 raised by ladies of the M.C.). Ladies' Life-boat Guild of Falmouth. Three days later a memorial service The total response is about £9,500. was held in the Wesley Methodist Church, St. Ives. The service was con- Gifts to the Institution. ducted by the Rev. J. Opie Urmson, and The Institution has received gifts the singing was led by the combined amounting to over £100 for the de- choirs of the Methodist Churches of St. 18 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. jves. Among those present were the Royal Benevolent Society, and many Mayor of St. Ives, the Mayor of Penzance, St. Ives societies. The Institution the vicar of St. Ives, an adjutant of the itself was represented by its deputy- Salvation Army, representatives of the chairman, the Hon. George Colville. St. Ives life-boat station, the St. Ives Addresses were given by the Rev Ladies' Life-boat Guild, the Ship- J. Opie Urmson, the Mayor of St. Ives, wrecked Fishermen and Mariners' the Mayor of Penzance, and Mr. Colville. MR. COLVILLE'S FUNERAL ADDRESS. " I have come here to-night as the on our coasts, in war and in peace. representative of the committee of From that high ideal the Service has management of the Royal National never faltered, and those who have Life-boat Institution. served it best are those who have not " We are met in grief and in pride. hesitated even to give their lives The men whom we mourn were loved for it. by many of you; respected by you all; " These seven men of St. Ives have and held in high esteem by the Life- joined the noble company of life-boat- boat Service. Now their names are men who have died on service. They known everywhere in the British Isles. themselves, and their families and their From all parts messages of sympathy friends, have paid a heavy price in have come to us. They have come serving that ideal; but I ask you to also from other countries—from the remember not only the heavy sacrifice, life-boat services of France, Holland, in brave men lost, but what that sacri- Denmark, Norway and Germany, from fice has achieved. the men in those countries who endure the " Over 66,000 lives have been rescued same hardships, face the same risks, and, from shipwreck round these shores in the end, may also give their lives. since the Life-boat Service came into " By those few minutes of disaster being. That is the number of lives in that gale ten days ago, the lives of actually saved. When you think also many of you have been completely of their families,- that figure of 66,000 changed. Even on this solemn occasion represents an, incalculable number of I do not wish to intrude on the grief of men, women and children who, by our the mothers, wives and children who Life-boat Service, have been saved are bereaved. But I would ask you from suffering and sorrow. I would to remember that we all share your ask you, even in-your sorrow, to think sorrow; and that the men and women with pride and thankfulness of the of the Life-boat Service all round the tens of thousands who, by the courage coasts of Great Britain and Ireland are and sacrifice of our life-boatmen, have with you in sympathy at this moment. been spared the sorrow which is yours. " Nothing can take away the burden " The names of those seven men of your sorrow, but I hope that it whom we mourn are permanently may be made lighter by your pride engraved in the records of this town. in the courage and self-sacrifice of the They are engraved also in the records men you have lost. of the Life-boat Service. They will be " ' Greater love hath no man than held in honour by all their comrades this that a man lay down his life for of the Service, and by all who reverence his friends.' the achievements of brave men. " These men of St. Ives did more "To-night I thank God for their even than to lay down their lives for courage, and I pray God to comfort their friends. They risked them many all who mourn for them. times, and in the end they laid them " If something is clone to make a down, for strangers whose only claim larger life-boat a possibility, you can upon them was that they were in peril. rely on the Royal National Life-boat " In doing this they carried on the Institution supplying you with one. great tradition of the Life-boat Service. " Let us offer also our heartfelt sym- One hundred and fifteen years ago, pathy to the relatives of the 31 men of when the Service was founded, it was the Wilston, wrecked at our gate, to resolved that the people of all nations succour whom, it may well be, the St. should be succoured, when in peril Ives life-boat was launched." MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 19

The Problem of Launching at' St. Ives. The first St. Ives life-boat was built again pressed upon the Government. locally and was stationed there in 1840. Before the wreck of the life-boat, the In 1860 she was replaced by a pulling Institution realized that a larger and and sailing life-boat of the self-righting heavier type would be better, but in type built by the Institution, and up its choice it was limited by the launch- to 1933 the life-boats stationed at ing conditions in the harbour, which St. Ives were of this type. dries at low tide. In 1933 the Institution replaced the The question of what type of life-boat pulling and sailing life-boat by a should.be placed at St. Ives was very motor life-boat, also of the self-righting carefully examined after the capsizing type. It was 35 feet 6 inches by of the life-boat in January, 1938. It 9 feet 3 inches, with a 35 h.p. engine, was discussed with the St. Ives crew, the Caroline Parsons, one of the light by the chief inspector of life-boats, the type, weighing seven tons, designed superintendent engineer and the sur- for launching off a carriage on the beach. veyor of life-boats. The crew were anxious to have a larger boat. The The Capsize in 1938. Institution was willing to provide one This boat capsized on January if it were practicable. Such a boat, 31st, 1938, when drawing away from the coxswain suggested, could lie afloat the Alba, after rescuing her crew of off the old breakwater, the crew to 23 men. She righted herself at once, board her by means of a motor boarding and her crew got aboard her again. boat. A motor boarding boat was Of the 23 men of the Alba 18 were laid down, and the Institution was rescued a second time, but five were prepared to send a reserve motor life- washed away and drowned. The life- boat of the 45 feet Watson cabin type, boat was then carried on to the rocks, weighing over 20 tons, for a period on and the 27 men on board got safely trial. Before this had been done how- ashore. The life-boat herself was, up ever the coxswain and crew had come to that moment, undamaged, but it to the opinion, after watching a strong was impossible to do anything with gale from the north one night, that it her, and the gale and tides carried her was not possible to keep the life-boat over the rocks and broke her beyond at moorings owing to the difficulty of repair. Her engine, which was un- getting out to her at low water. damaged, was taken out of her, a number of her fittings were removed, A Life-boat Specially Designed. and the remains of the boat were burnt. The Institution then decided to Shortly afterwards she was tem- design a new self-righting life-boat, porarily replaced by one of the two which like the previous life-boat would life-boats stationed at Padstow, the be launched off a carriage, but to John and Sarah Eliza Stych, built in modify the design to meet the wishes 1931. This life-boat was of the same of the coxswain and crew. This boat light self-righting type as the boat was to have more beam and to be lower destroyed, 35 feet 6 inches by 8 feet in the water. She was laid down last 10 inches, with a 35 h.p. engine. She year, and is due to be completed in was the boat which was wrecked on June, 1939. 23rd January, 1939. As it was impracticable to keep a At the inquest on the St. Ives life- large life-boat at moorings, the possi- boatmen, and in the press, the com- bility of building a slipway down which plaint was made that the light self- such a boat could be launched was righting type of life-boat was unsuitable considered at the end of 1938, and to the heavy se'as to be met once the a careful survey was made of the coast life-boat was beyond the shelter of in the neighbourhood of St. Ives. St. Ives Bay. The various schemes Numerous points were visited but no which had been proposed in the past suitable site was found. The only for improving the harbour at St. Ives possible place was inside the old pier were also recalled and the need for which is outside the harbour, but here, carrying out some such scheme was even if it were possible to launch down 20 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. a slipway at all states of^the weather decided in favour of it. That was and tide, the life-boat could only be the position when the life-boat was rehoused in calm weather. In bad wrecked. weather she would have to enter the Should the harbour now be improved harbour, where she would be a prisoner by the building of a breakwater, it is when the tide was low, or else she would probable that a site could be provided have to run for Padstow or Penzance, where a life-boat could be launched in both 30 miles away. shelter down a slipway in all tides and It was then decided to keep to a weathers, and should these harbour boat of the light type, to be launched works be carried out the Institution off a carriage, but to improye the would take immediate steps to provide launching by providing a motor cater- St. Ives with a heavier type of life-boat pillar tractor. A deputation of the and to build a boathouse and slipway. St. Ives crew was taken to Skegness to The cost would probably be from see one of these tractors in action, and £25,000 to £30,000.

Awards to St. Ives for the Service to the Alba. By a strange coincide the Hungarian Member of Parliament for St. Ives. Minister in London was notified by his At the first Investiture of the year, government on the day of the disaster at Buckingham Palace, on 14th Feb- at St. Ives of the awards which it had ruary, 1939, the King presented to made to St. Ives for the service to the Sergeant Horace Osborn, Constable Alba in January, 1938. Though the George Appleton, Constable Leslie Alba was registered at Panama and her Jones and Constable Noel Wilkinson, owner was Swiss, she had a number of all of the Cornwall Constabulary, the Hungarians among her crew. The King's Police Medal for their gallantry mayor of St. Ives was awarded the at the wreck of the Alba. When the Order of Merit of Hungary, and Cox- life-boat was washed ashore, with the swain Thomas Cocking the Cross of the crew of the life-boat and the rescued Order of Merit. These and the other crew on board, all four policemen went awards were presented on 31st Jan- into the sea to help get the men from uarv bv Mr. A. Beechman, M.C., the the life-boat to the rocks.

At Padstow on 23rd January. On the same day on which the from her tug and was drifting towards St. Ives motor life-boat was wrecked, Doom Bar. the motor life-boat, Princess Mary, at As she tried to get alongside, the Padstow, Cornwall, was damaged on life-boat was buried by a very heavy service. She is the heaviest life-boat sea. It washed overboard a ventilator, in the Institution's fleet. a life-buoy and several fenders, and At five minutes past two in the damaged the electric lighting system, morning, just eight minutes after the putting it out of action. The position honorary secretary at St. Ives had been of the Medea was now such that it was rung up by the coastguard, the Padstow not practicable for the life-boat to station was also rung up. The message reach her, so the coxswain signalled from the coastguard was that distress with his hand flashing lamp to the coast- flares could be seen about a mile guard of Stepper Point asking him to north of Trevose Head. The life-boat call out the rocket life-saving appliances. put out in a W.N.W. gale, with He had lashed a small torch to his exceptionally heavy seas and ground compass and put out to sea, to wait swell, and heavy squalls of rain. She for the tide to rise. The mine-layer found the ex-mine-layer Medea just out- drifted over the bar, and three of side the harbour. The Medea had parted the four men on board her were MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 21 rescued by the rocket appliances from second coxswain from the wheel. The the shore. The fourth man was life-boat was out for five hours. drowned. The Institution made a reward of Meanwhile the life-boat remained at £l to the coxswain and each member sea until high-water. As she was of the crew in addition to the coming in she was swept by three ordinary scale reward of £2 Vs. each. successive heavy seas which filled the Standard rewards to crew (of whom canopy, washed a spare drogue and four are full-time employees) £9 8s.; another life-buoy overboard, and additional rewards to crew, £8. Total knocked both the coxswain and the rewards, £22 10s. 4?d.

A Fine Service at Rosslare Harbour. ABOUT eight in the morning of 20th followed by Mr. Moncas-and the second December, 1938,' the life-boat watch- coxswain. man at Rosslare Harbour, County The schooner was badly damaged. Wexford, reported that he could see a The galley and ship's boat had been schooner apparently at anchor near washed away. The fore-top stay-sail Splaugh Rocks. An easterly gale was was the only sail which had not been blowing, with a very rough sea. The blown away. The running gear had weather was so cold that the water all unrove itself and the blocks were mains ashore were frozen, and there swinging and flying about. The seas were heavy snow squalls. A little were going right over the schooner's later the squalls cleared for a moment, bows, and at times her decks were knee and it could be seen that the sails of deep in water. the schooner were in ribbons. She There were on board the master, his was flying no signals of distress, but wife, a man and a boy. When the as it was clear that she was in a position schooner had been off the Longships of great danger the reserve motor life- three days before, the bottom had boat, J. B. Proudfoot, was launched at dropped out of the coal box; all the ten minutes past nine. Mr. W. J. B. paraffin on board had been used up; Moncas, the secretary of the station, and the only hot food they had had for went with her. three days was one cup of coffee each. They were so exhausted with cold, . Alongside the Schooner. hunger and fatigue that they could do Forty minutes later the life-boat nothing to help themselves, and the reached the schooner and found her to master's wife could not stand. be the M. E. Johnson, of Dublin. She Everyone thought that the schooner was lying at anchor in the narrow channel was sinking, but at the master's between the Splaugh Rocks and the request the life-boatmen let out more shoals of the Carrick Rocks. The seas cable, and afterwards she rode much were breaking heavily on the shoals. better. The four people were then The tide was running at over three knots. taken into the life-boat and brought The coxswain hailed the schooner. ashore, and the life-boat reached At first there was no reply, and then Rosslare Harbour again at 11.30. a.m. all that happened was that a small boy looked over the rail. He disappeared, The Rewards. and as there was no other sign of the This was a service carried out very crew, the coxswain took the life-boat skilfully, in difficult circumstances, and alongside. It was a feat of great in exceptionally cold weather, and the difficulty, needing considerable skill, Institution has made the following for the schooner was sheering about awards : very badly. There was still no sign To Coxswain JAMES WICKHAM, who of the crew, so two of the life-boatmen has twice won the Institution's silver jumped aboard the schooner and medal for gallantry, its thanks inscribed secured the life-boat. They were on vellum; B» 22 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. To MR. W. J. B. MONCAS, secretary life-boatmen went on board to pump her of the station, a letter of thanks; free from water. She returned to her To the crew a letter of appreciation; station at 3.15 in the afternoon. Next day, 22nd December, she again left To the coxswain and each member the harbour at 11.30 in the morning of the crew a reward of £2. Two of the to put food and oil on board and crew were volunteers and these were returned at two in the afternoon. On awarded the £2 in addition to the the 23rd she put out for the third reward of 19*. each on the ordinary time at eight in the morning and scale. The coxswain and the other five returned, an hour later. Just after are members of the permanent paid two in the afternoon she again went out, crew. Total rewards, £18 2s. 6d. helped to get the schooner clear of the rocks, and then, helped by a The Schooner Salved. motor vessel, towed her into harbour. The schooner, although so badly She returned to her station that damaged, did not sink, and at ten on afternoon at 6.15. The four launches the morning of the next day the life- on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd were a boat took her master back to her and property salvage case.

A Dangerous Launch at Gourdon. ON 17th December, 1938, a S.E. by brought her safely to the open sea. E. gale was blowing at Gourdon, Very soon afterwards news reached Kincardineshire, with, flurries of sleet. the life-boat station that there was no An extremely heavy sea was running, vessel in distress. What had been and was breaking heavily far outside reported as a rocket at sea was in fact a the harbour. Half an hour after rocket fired at Montrose aerodrome. midday a message came from the The life-boat was at once recalled, but coastguard that a vessel was in it was impossible for her to make distress. The motor life-boat, Margaret Gourdon Harbour again. She ran for Dawson, was launched quarter of Stonehaven, ten miles away, and an hour later. In the sea that was arrived there at 3.15. There again running it was most difficult and Coxswain Milne showed his fine sea- dangerous for the life-boat to get out. manship by bringing the life-boat She was flung about like a cork in the safely in. heavy surf. At one time she was The Institution has shown its appre- nearly on end; at another she was ciation of a launch so skilfully carried broadside on to the breaking seas; and a out in such dangerous conditions by local surf boat was launched to be making the following awards: ready in case any of her crew were To Coxswain GEORGE MILNE, its swept overboard before she had left thanks inscribed on vellum; the harbour. After the harbour was To the coxswain and each member cleared the life-boat had still to pass of the crew a reward of £1 in addition through a very narrow passage between to the ordinary scale reward of 19s. rocks. But Coxswain Milne handled Standard rewards to crew, £6 13*.; her throughout with splendid seaman- additional rewards to crew, £7; total ship; he never lost control; and he rewards, £40 11*. 7d.

Help from Golf Clubs. •DURING 1938 seventy-six golf clubs Ten more clubs held competitions held competitions in aid of the than in 1937 and £58 more was contri- life-boat service and contributed buted. The same appeal has been £280 11*. 9d. made to golf clubs for 1939. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 23

A Gallant Rescue in the Moray Firth. ON the morning of 27th January, 1937, boat. He did so at great risk of his the Russian steamer Kingissepp, of own boat being swept ashore by the Leningrad, was anchored about a mile surf. He took the three men on board off the harbour of Nairn on the Moray the Barbara; got their boat itself in Firth. An easterly gale was blowing, tow; and brought them safely to their with a rough sea. A boat was seen to ship. put off from the steamer. She had The captain of the Kingissepp then three men on board, and it was learnt asked Mr. Ralph to pilot him to Inver- later that she was attempting to make gordon. This Mr. Ralph did, and the Nairn in order to get medical help for injured man was at once put on shore one of the crew who had been injured. and taken to the Royal Northern In- It was seen that she could not firmary at Inverness. It was impos- make the harbour, and the harbour- sible for the Barbara to attempt to enter master intended to telephone to the life- Nairn harbour before the sea that was boat station at Cromarty, some ten running, and she remained at Inver- miles away on the other side of the gordon until the following afternoon. Firth, but it was soon realized that help This gallant rescue was carried out in could not come in time from Cromarty, the middle of a period of twelve days for the boat was being swept past the of continuous gales on the north-east harbour entrance by the wind and sea coast of Scotland, the worst within towards Fearn Rocks, about a mile to living memory, during which the the westward. If she got among the Aberdeen motor life-boat was out on breakers, it was certain she would be three services for nearly forty hours. wrecked, with loss of life. Her crew It was only at the end of April, 1938, could only be saved if a boat went to that the rescue was brought to the the rescue at once, and Mr. George A. notice of the Institution, and there was Ralph, with his son and grandson, put then delay in getting the full particulars, out in his 48-foot motor fishing boat, as Mr. Ralph had just left Nairn on a Barbara. voyage to the West Indies. It was then about 10 o'clock. A The Institution has now made the heavy sea was breaking on the bar at following awards: the harbour entrance; there was a risk To Mr. George A. Ralph, the bronze in attempting to cross it; but Mr. Ralph medal for gallantry, accompanied by successfully accomplished it. Mean- a copy of the vote of the medal in- while the Kingissepp's boat was drifting scribed on vellum and framed, £2, and westward. The Barbara got out to sea £1 for fuel used; and reached her only just in time. The boat was already inside the Fearn To Mr. Ralph's son, Mr. George Rocks, and on the edge of the heavy Ralph, the thanks of the Institution broken water on the shore. inscribed on vellum and £2; Mr. Ralph skilfully manoeuvred the To Mr. Ralph's grandson, Mr. George Barbara, bringing her head to seaward, Ralph Grenier, the thanks of the and then went stern-first down to the Institution inscribed on vellum and £2.

A " Fishing Fleet " Calendar. READERS of The Life-boat will be appeared in The Life-boat. Mr. Jenkins familiar with the name of Mr. H. has published a "Fishing Fleet" calen- Jenkins, the photographer of Lowestoft, dar for 1939. For each month the as a number of his fine photographs of picture is a study of the fishing fleets. life-boat work, which he has generously It is a beautiful collection of allowed the Institution to use, have photographs of ships and the sea. THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

A Record Year. THE life-boat service broke two records and Panama. Thirty-two lives were in 1938. Its life-boats were launched rescued from the six French vessels, to the rescue more often, and they and two of the vessels were saved; 28 saved or helped to save from destruction lives from one of the two Greek vessels, more boats and vessels, than ever and the vessel was saved; 18 lives from before in its history of 115 years. the Panama vessel; and 15 from one Life-boats were launched 485 times of the Finnish vessels. to the help of vessels in distress. That is 17 more launches than in 1936, the Services to Yachts and Motor Boats. next busiest year. It is an average of The year was notable for the large over nine launches a week. number of services to yachts and motor Life-boats saved or helped to save boats. Life-boats went out to the from destruction 88 vessels and boats. help of 91, which was 30 more than That is twice as many as in 1937, and in 1937. Fifty-three were sailing the largest number on record. They yachts and 38 were motor yachts also helped in various ways another and motor boats. They saved or 250 vessels and boats. helped to save 27 of them; helped in various ways 25 others; and rescued 88 A Very Busy Summer. lives from them. That is 38 lives more Not only was it the busiest year but than in 1937. the busiest summer in the Institution's Services to Fishing Boats. history. There were more launches in each of the months June and The year was no less notable for the August than ever before, and the total large number of lives rescued from number of launches for the five summer fishing boats. Life-boats were launched months from the beginning of May until to the help of fishing boats 135 times. the end of September was the record They rescued 216 lives from them. number of 186. That is over eight They saved or helped to save 30 of the launches a week, only one launch a week boats. That is more than twice as less than for the whole year. The many lives as in 1937, and three times busiest month was November with 59 as many boats. launches. The quietest month was Launches to Aeroplanes. March with 24. The year also showed the increasing The Institution gave rewards for the call made on the life-boat service by rescue of 673 lives during the year. flying. There were 24 launches to That is 149 more than in 1937, and the aeroplanes reported in distress. Help largest number rescued since 1923. was given to three of them and four Up to the end of 1938 the Institution lives were rescued from another aero- had given rewards for the rescue from plane. During the past eight years shipwreck round the coasts of Great there have been 89 launches to Britain and Ireland of 66,099 lives. aeroplanes, so that of that total for That is an average of eleven lives a eight years more than a quarter of the week for 115 years. launches were in 1938. Services to Foreign Vessels. Twenty-seven Medals for Gallantry. Life-boats helped 24 foreign vessels Twenty-seven medals in all were belonging to 11 different countries; won for gallantry, three times as rescued 124 lives from them; and saved many as in 1937. One silver and or helped to save 11 of the vessels. They eight bronze were awarded to St. were also called out to the help of 19 Ives, Cornwall; one silver and three other foreign vessels, but their help bronze to New Brighton, on the was not needed. Of the 24 to which Mersey; one silver and one bronze to help was given six were French, four Tenby; one silver to Torbay; seven Dutch, three German, two Danish, bronze to Galway Bay on the two Greek, two Finnish, and one each west coast of Ireland; two bronze from Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Spain to Southend-on-Sea; one bronze to MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

Aldeburgh; and one bronze to Great replaced pulling and sailing life-boats, Yarmouth and Gorleston. Coxswain and one was sent to the new station Sidney Page of Southend-on-Sea, who established at Tobermory (Isle of twice won the bronze medal, is only the Mull). The other stations to which second man in thirty years to win two the new boats went were Selsey medals in one year. (Sussex), Yarmouth (Isle of Wight), One other medal was awarded for a Salcombe (Devon), Whitby (Yorkshire), shoreboat service at Nairn in Scotland, Newbiggin (Northumberland), New which took place in 1937. Brighton (Cheshire), Appledore (Devon), Wick (Caithness-shire), Arklow (Co. Thirty-seven Motor Life-boats under Wicklow) and Kingstown (Co. Dublin). Construction. The twelfth boat is for Poolbeg (Co. It was a record year for the service Dublin), where she will replace a in another way. Thirty-seven motor pulling and sailing life-boat as soon as life-boats were being built during the the alterations to the station have been year, the largest number there has ever finished. n been in one year. Twelve were com- At _j the * end of the year there pleted and eleven were sent to the were 140 * motor life-boats and 23 coast, seven for England, two for Scot- • pulling and'sailing life-boats, making a land and two for Ireland. Eight of fleet of 103 life-boats round the coasts them replaced motor life-boats, two of Great Britain and Ireland.

Commander E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R* ON 31st December, 1938, Commander fatally in September of that year. E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., Commander Drury then became deputy retired from the service of the Institu- chief inspector, and on the retirement tion, having been chief inspector of of Captain H. F. J. Rowley two years life-boats since August, 1930. later he was selected for the post of Commander Drury, whose early years chief inspector. were spent within sound of the life-boat The period of his tenure of that post, maroons on the Cornish coast, and in while not perhaps so full of new develop- the Isle of Man, was educated at Mer- ments as that of his predecessor, has chant Taylor's School, whence'he went been one of steady and, latterly, of to sea at an early age. He served in rapid progress in the modernization of sail and steam, and was awarded an the life-boat fleet. At the outset of American medal for saving life in the his term, economy in the constructional St. Lawrence River. In August, 190S, programme was a clear necessity, in at the age of thirty, he was appointed view of the grave financial situation district inspector of life-boats. He was which culminated in 1931; but his early posted to the Western District, where years saw the design of the 35-feet he served until called up as a 6-inch Liverpool type of motor life- Lieutenant, R.N.R., on the outbreak boat and the 41-feet Beach type, while of War in 1914. He was in the Black a start was made on the design of the Sea, in Syrian waters, at Gallipoli, in light 32-feet Surf motor life-boat, the the Grecian Archipelago, and later at first of which type went to the coast in Constantinople and in the Sea of Azov. 1936. In 1917 he was promoted commander and given command of H.M.S. Empress. 50 New Motor Life-boats in eight years. He was twice mentioned in despatches In 1935 the programme for full and awarded the O.B.E. mechanization of the fleet was On returning to the Institution in approved, and since that date the 1920, he was posted to the Northern building of new life-boats has pro- District, where he served until called to ceeded rapidly. When Commander London in 1928, to deputize for Com- Drury became chief inspector the fleet mander Stopford Douglas, the deputy consisted of 90 motor and 104 chief inspector of life-boats, who had pulling and sailing life-boats; when been taken ill, and whose illness ended he retired, there were 140 motor 26 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MAECH, 1939. and 23 pulling and sailing boats on therefore, speak from personal ex- service. perience of the local conditions at each. , No chief inspector has ever exercized Many times he was fortunate enough to such close personal supervision over be able to go out in life-boats on service. the details of life-boat construction, and He knew the conditions the life-boatmen his visits to the building and repairing have to face, and, while they respected yards were regular and frequent, and his knowledge and judgment, he in his always useful. turn, appreciated and admired their The work of the chief inspector's seamanship and their courage. office must necessarily be carried out He made many friends among the mainly from headquarters, but it is no officials of the foreign life-boat societies. reflection on the manner in which His services were recognized in a cordial Commander Drury dealt with this side letter from the Board of Trade, and by of his task to say that he was always a special resolution of the committee of happiest when on the coast. As a management. For his retirement, he district inspector, he had gained, and has chosen his native county of Corn- retained to the end of his service, the wall, and in the many active years that friendship of the Western and Scottish he should still have before him the life- committees and crews; and during his boat stations on that dangerous coast chief inspectorship he visited every will not be far away, and will certainly station in the four countries. He could, be always in his thoughts.

The New Chief Inspector of Life-boats. COMMANDER DRURY has been succeeded Cross. In 1919 he served in coastal as chief inspector of life-boats by motor boats with the North Russian Lieut.-Commander P. E. Vaux, D.S.C., Relief Force, and was mentioned in R.N., inspector of life-boats for the despatches. He retired from the Navy Eastern district. in 1920 at the age of 24 and entered Commander Vaux was educated at the service of the Institution in March, the Rojral Naval Colleges of Osborne 1921, as inspector of life-boats for the and Dartmouth, and joined the Navy Irish district. While serving in the as a midshipman in 1913. He was Irish district he won the Institution's promoted to lieutenant in 1917. He bronze medal for gallantry in February, served during the war in H.M.S. Lion 1926, for landing on an island off the west in the actions at Heligoland and Dogger coast of Ireland, in search for men ship- Bank, in H.M.S. Warspite in the battle wrecked from the trawler Tenby Castle. of Jutland, and in H.M.S. Iphigenia, Commander Vaux was transferred as first-lieutenant and navigating from the Irish to the Eastern district officer, in the attack on Zeebrugge. For in 1929, and remained there until he his share in this last engagement he took up his duties as chief inspector at was awarded the Distinguished Service the beginning of 1939.

Life-saving by the Coastguard in 1938. IN 1938 the coastguard organization and rescued 54 persons. took action in 944 cases in which The Board of Trade shield for the vessels or aircraft were either observed most meritorious service performed by or reported to be in distress or to be a rocket life-saving apparatus company overdue round the coasts of Great during the year was won by the Porth- Britain and Northern Ireland. This cawl company in Glamorganshire for is three times as many cases as in 1937. the rescue of the crew of the Dutch The rocket life-saving apparatus steamer Regina, which went ashore on companies took action on 62 occasions Kenfig Sands on 4th October. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 27

Services of the Life-boats. Reported to the November and December, 1938, and January, 1939 Meetings of the Committee of Management. Launches 128. Lives rescued 180. November Meeting. down. The motor life-boat Civil Ser- vice No. 5 was launched at 2.40 A.M., with Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—On the 2nd the second coxswain in command. A June, 1938, the motor life-boat, as moderate to strong westerly breeze was reported on page 551 of The Life-boat blowing, with a rough sea and showers for October, rescued seven people from a of rain. The life-boat found the Mer- yacht and two barges, and the thanks of cedes off Lighthouse Island, towed her the Institution inscribed on vellum was back to harbour, and returned to her awarded to the coxswain. The award station at 4 A.M.—Rewards, £13 7*. 6d. has now been increased to the bronze medal for gallantry, accompanied by a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum. Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At (A full account of the services and 1.20 P.M. on the 10th October, 1938, a details of the rewards is given on telephone message was received from page 581 of The Life-boat; see December, the inspector of the Coast Life-Saving 1938.) Service at Dublin that the Lucifer Light-vessel was flying distress signals. Holyhead, Anglesey.—On the night of the A moderate to fresh westerly breeze 8th October, 1938,the City of Bradford I, was blowing, with a heavy swell. The doing temporary duty at Holyhead, went reserve motor life-boat J. B. Proudfaot, out in a gale to the steamer Kyle Prince, which was on temporary duty at Ross- of Liverpool, and rescued her crew of lare, put out at 1.40 P.M., and found that nine.—Rewards, The thanks of the the master of the light-vessel wanted a Institution inscribed on vellum to sick man landed. The life-boat took Coxswain Richard Jones and the motor him ashore and returned to her station mechanic, Gilbert E. Barrs, a letter of at 6.50 P.M.—Expenses paid by the thanks to the honorary secretary of the Irish Lights Commissioners. station, Lieut. L. A. C. May, R.N., and a reward of £1 to the coxswain, motor St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly.—At about mechanic and each of the other six 6.15 P.M. on the 12th October, 1938, a members of the crew, in addition to the doctor, a member of the local life-boat ordinary scale reward of 19s., making a committee, asked for the life-boat to be total reward of £1 19*. to each man. launched to take to Penzance a young Standard rewards to the crew, £5 14*. man who was suffering from acute Additional rewards to the crew £8. appendicitis. The steamer serving the Total rewards, £13 14s. islands was over at the mainland, and the doctor said that the case was too Donaghadee, Co. Down.—At about urgent to wait for her. The motor 2.20 A.M. on the 9th October, 1938, the life-boat Cunard was launched at 6.45 coastguard at Orlock Head telephoned P.M., and left for Penzance with the that a small vessel about a mile and a patient at 7 P.M. A very strong S.W. half N.E. of the Head was burning dis- breeze was "blowing, with a rough sea, tress signals. She was the motor boat and the weather was thick. The life- Mercedes, of Donaghadee, with the life- boat reached the mainland at 11.30 boat coxswain and four other men on P.M. The patient was taken to hospital board. She had put out during the and an operation immediately and previous evening for the coxswain to successfully performed. The life-boat offer his services as a pilot to a tramp sailed again at midnight and arrived at steamer. The steamer had not wanted her station at 4.40 A.M.—The expenses help, and the Mercedes was returning to of this service were met from the local Donaghadee when her engine broke medical emergency fund. 28 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Falmouth, Cornwall.—During the after- her station at 6.20 P.M.—Rewards, noon of the 15th October, 1938, the St. £33 lls. 6d. Anthony coastguard reported a motor yacht on fire about two miles south of Barra Island, Hebrides.—During the Portscatho. The wind was light and night of the 31st October, 1938, a whole the sea smooth. The motor life-boat south-westerly gale sprang up, and the B.A.S.P. was launched at 4.10 P.M., but steamer Kyle Rona, of Glasgow, which before she reached the yacht—the was at anchor in the bay, lost one of her Redhead, bound for London—the people anchors and was in danger of being on board had taken to the yacht's driven on the rocks. A very heavy sea dinghy and had been picked up by a was running. The steamer's danger motor boat. The life-boat took them was seen and the motor life-boat ashore and returned to her station at Lloyd's was launched to her help at 5.10 P.M.—Rewards, £9 195. 6d. 11.45 P.M. She stood by her all through the night. Next morning the storm Skegness, Lincolnshire.—During the abated and the Kyle Rona was able to morning of the 16th October, 1938, nine steam to Castlebay Pier. The life- Sea Scouts, from a Borstal Institution, boat returned to her station at 9.30 with a scoutmaster, left Hunstanton in A.M., having been at sea for nearly ten their motor boat for Boston. Soon hours.—Rewards, £20 9s. afterwards the boat's engine broke down and the boys took to the oars. Cromer, and Great Yarmouth and Gorle- The sea was then smooth. They ston, Norfolk.—On the 2nd November, managed to get within a mile of the 1938, the Cromer life-boat rescued five Lynn Well Light-vessel, but they were from the Spanish steamer Cantabria, then exhausted and could get no which was slowly sinking after being farther. The light-vessel launched a shelled by an armed auxiliary cruiser boat in answer to their signals, and this flying the flag of the Spanish insurgents. boat took them in tow. The master of Eleven of the Cantabria's crew were the light-vessel feared that a gale was picked up by the steamer Pattersonian coming up and sent a message for help. and were landed by the Great Yar- The coastguard passed it to the life- mouth and Gorleston motor life-boat.— boat station, and the motor life-boat Rewards : Cromer, A letter of appreci- Anne Allen was launched at 7.5 P.M. ation to the coxswain and crew and She found that seven of the boys had £26 4s. 6d.; Great Yarmouth and Gorle- been taken on board the light-vessel and ston, £25 4s. (For full account of the most of them were suffering from sea- service, see page 10.) sickness. They were quite unable to row their boat. The life-boat took them on board and towed the boat to The following life-boats were launched, Boston, returning to her station at 4.20 but no services were rendered for the A.M.—Rewards, £18 18s. reasons given: Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—During the after- Whitehills, Banffshire.—8th October, noon of the 27th October, 1938, the local 1938. White flares had been re- fishing boat Ploughboy, with two men ported, but all that was found was on board, was caught at sea by bad a trawler with very bright lights.— weather. A moderate and increasing Rewards, £15 12s. N.E. gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The motor life-boat Abdy Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.—9th Octo- Beauclerk was launched at 5 P.M. ber, 1938. The Norwegian steamer During the launch she was hit by a big Dixie was in trouble through the failure sea, and the coxswain was thrown of her engine off the Antrim coast, but against the edge of the cockpit, injuring a breakdown in communications pre- a knee. She found the Ploughboy com- vented the news reaching the Dona- pletely swamped. Two life-boatmen ghadee life-boat station. Portpatrick jumped on board to help get her gear was therefore called out, but the Dixie in, and the life-boat then towediher was able to make for Dublin without back to Aldeburgh. She returned to help.—Rewards, £13 7s. 6d. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 29

Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—llth Octo- Walmer, Kent.—13th October, 1938. ber, 1938. A destroyer had reported Flashes had been reported at sea be- through Sheerness that a motor boat tween South Foreland and Dover was in difficulties, but she must have Harbour, but nothing could be found gone on her way, as she could not be to explain them.—Rewards £36 6s. 9d. found.—Rewards, £19 1*. Ballycotton, Co. Cork. — At about Boulmer, Northumberland.—20th Octo- 5.30 P.M. on the 12th October, 1938, the ber, 1938. A rocket had been reported No. 1 man at the Gyleen coast life- off Seatoii Point, but no trace of a saving station telephoned that a large vessel in distress was found.—Rewards, steamer was near a very dangerous £17 7s. shoal of rocks and appeared to be trying to get clear. A strong S.W. Angle, Pembrokeshire.—23rd October, breeze was blowing, with a very heavy 1938. A steamer with defective steer- swell, and there was a very thick fog; ing-gear had run aground in Jack visibility was practically nil. At about Sound, but her crew were landed by 6 P.M. anolher report came from Gyleen small boat from the shore.—Rewards, that the steamer had again approached £15 17s. 6d. the rocks, but had then disappeared in the fog. The motor life-boat Mary Ramsgate, Kent.—23rd October, 1938. A motor boat, with a fishing party on Stanford was launched at 6.18 P.M. and board, had not returned when expected, reached the approximate position about an hour later. but it made Margate safely.—Rewards, She searched in the bay for about two £15 14s. hours, but found nothing, and the cox- swain decided to go to Cork for further Appledore, Devon.—26th October, 1938. The Finnish steamer Alca, of Marie- information. He steered the life-boat in by listening to the fog signals from hamn, had inadvertently burnt a red Poer Head and Rochespoint light- flare when signalling for a pilot. She houses. She met the Cork pilot boat, did not want help from the life-boat.—• but could get no news, and secured Rewards, £16 Is. alongside her. At 2.30 A.M. on the Walton and Frinton, Essex. — 30th 13th the fog lifted slightly, and the life- October, 1938. A fishing boat with boat left for home. Visibility became very bad again, but the coxswain three on board had capsized, but two coastguards rescued one man who was skilfully found his way to Ballycotton, clinging to her. His two companions and the life-boat arrived there at 5.45 could not be found.—Rewards, £11 15s. A.M., to hear that soon after she had set out on the previous evening the steamer Torbay, Devon.—30th October, 1938. Gunhild, of Copenhagen, had steamed A sailing dinghy had capsized, throw- slowly into Cork harbour. Attempts ing two boys into the sea, but they had been made to recall the life-boat, managed to get ashore.— Rewards, but had failed. A letter of appreciation was sent by £14 9s. Qd. the Institution to Coxswain Patrick Stromness, Orkney.—At about 12.30 Sliney, and an increase in the usual P.M. on the 2nd November, 1938, the money award on the standard scale was Kirkwall coastguard reported that the granted to him and to each member of Danish schooner Nordstjernen, of Mar- the crew—Standard rewards to crew, stal, was dismasted and drifting help- £13 2s. 6d.; additional rewards to crew, lessly, ten miles north of Noup Head, £4. Total rewards, £17 15*. Westray, and about forty miles from Llandudno, Caernarvonshire. — 13th Stromness. A whole west gale was blow- October, 1938. Shouts for help had ing, with a very heavy sea. The motor been heard off Llandullas, but though life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched the life-boat searched all night, she at 12.50 P.M. and reached the position could find nothing. Later three boys given at about 6 P.M. She could find in a boat were picked up in the Mersey. no trace of the schooner, but continued —Rewards, £80 7s. 3d. searching until, at 2 A.M. next morning, 30 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. she received a wireless message from Lighthouse Board sent their thanks Wick Radio that the schooner had been for the life-boat's help.—Rewards, picked up by a trawler which was towing £14 9s. 6d. her to Pierowall, Westray. The life- boat sheltered under the lee of Papa Ilfracombe, Devon.—Shortly after 3 Westray until daylight, and returned P.M. on the 18th November, 1938, a to her station at 1.30 P.M. She had southerly wind was rapidly rising to a been at sea for nearly twenty-five hours. gale, with a rough sea. Three rowing A letter of thanks was received from fishing boats could be seen at sea by the Danish government. A letter of the coastguard, and at 3.30 P.M. the appreciation was sent by the Institution motor life-boat Rosabella was launched. to the coxswain and crew, specially men- She found the Pamela, with a man and tioning the mechanic, who had stayed his two young sons on board, off in the cabin working the radio for over Rillage Point, seas were breaking over six hours, and an increase in the usual her and she was partly filled with water. money award on the standard scale was The two boys were taken on board the granted to each member of the crew.— life-boat and the Pamela taken in tow. Rewards: Standard rewards to crew, The life:boat then made for the Water £30 45.; additional rewards to crew, £18. Lily, which, with a crew of two, was Total rewards, £49 4*. about a mile farther to the east. Her crew were exhausted, and she was also December Meeting. taken in tow. The third boat was able to get in without help. The life- Portrush, Co. Antrim.—At 4.21 A.M. boat with the two boats and their on the 9th November, 1938, the coast- crews of five reached Ilfracombe Har- guard telephoned the life-boat honorary bour at 4.40 P.M.—Rewards, £21 Ss. 3d. secretary that a fishing boat was sig- nalling for help off Ramore Head. A Courdon, Kincardinesbire. — In the S.W. wind was blowing, with a moder- afternoon of the 18th November, 1938, ate, but increasing sea. The tide was a sudden south gale sprang up, with setting westward, and there was a a rough sea and heavy rain. A boat danger of the boat, with her crew of which came in reported that the small two, being carried seawards. The local fishing yawl May Queen, with a motor life-boat T.B.B.H. was launched crew of three, was coming towards at 4.45 A.M. with the honorary secretary, Gourdon and would be in danger if Mr. W. R. Knox, M.M., J.P., on board. she attempted to make the harbour She found the boat, with her rowlocks with the tide ebbing rapidly. At 4.15 broken, and brought her into Portrush P.M. the motor life-boat Margaret Harbour at 5.15 A.M.—Rewards, Damson was launched, being away in £14 9s. 6d. five minutes from the firing of the maroons. She found the May Queen Arbroath, Angus. — At 11.30 P.M. and advised her to run before the gale on the 16th November, 1938, the for Stonehaven. Escorted by the life- police reported that the lighthouse boat the May Queen reached Stone- tender Pharos was to land a sick light- haven safely at 6.20 P.M. The life-boat keeper from the Bell Rock. A strong herself remained at Stonehaven for the W.S.W. wind was blowing, and the night and reached her station again sea was too rough for the boat of the at 10.30 next morning. — Rewards, Pharos to come ashore so the help of £22 17*. 9d. the life-boat was asked for. The motor life-boat John and William Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At about Mudie was launched at 12.5 A.M. on 1 P.M. on the 19th November, 1938, the 17th November, and when the information was received from the Pharos was sighted at 5.15 A.M. put R.N. Shore Signal Station that a motor out to sea. She returned at 6 A.M. yacht was in distress, bearing south, with the sick man. Owing to the midway between Southend pierhead state of the tide the life-boat had to and Sheerness. A light S.W. wind be moored in the harbour until 8 P.M. was blowing and the sea was smooth. when she was rehoused. The Northern The motor life-boat Greater London MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

IN THE GREAT GALE OF NOVEMBER 23rd, 1938.

By courtesy of} ID. C. Thompson & Co., Ltd., Dundee PUTTING OUT AT ARBROATH. (See page 33.)

By courtesy of] \H, Jenkins, Lou'fstoft PUTTING OUT AT LOWESTOFT. (See page 38.) 32 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939. (Civil Service No. 3) was launched at guard that a vessel was aground at the 1.25 P.M. She found the motor yacht River Bann. A slight W. wind was Dawn, of Southend, with her engine blowing, with a choppy sea and strong broken down. Two men and a woman tide. The motor life-boat T.B.B.H. were on board. The life-boat took the was launched at 8 A.M., and at Port- Dawn in tow and brought her to stewart Bay, near the entrance to the Southend Pier at 2.30 P.M. The owner River Bann, she found the s.s. Red- made a donation to the funds of the thorn, of Goole. The Redthorn was Institution.—Rewards, £10 16,9. laden with coal and bound from Garston to Coleraine, carrying a crew of seven. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. She had refloated, but was making —At 10.53 A.M. on the 20th November, water badly. Escorted by the life- 1938, several small motor boats with boat the steamer succeeded in reaching angling parties were out to the north Portrush Harbour, but later she sank. of the harbour. The S. by W. wind was The life-boat returned to her station increasing and the sea was getting up. at 9.5 A.M.—Rewards, £7 6s. 6d. The boats were kept under observa- tion and the life-boat crew assembled. Scarborough, Yorkshire.—Early in the At 12.45 P.M. the motor life-boat John morning of the 23rd November, 1938, and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood was a strong S.S.E. gale arose, with a launched. The sea on the bar was rough sea and heavy rain. The two very heavy. Two of the boats were motor cobles Hilda and Kingfisher advised not to approach the harbour were at sea to the northward, and in until the life-boat had rounded up the great danger of being swamped. The other boats. The life-boat then went motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was to the boat I'll Try which was abreast launched at 7.30 A.M. She found the of Wellington Pier with her engine Kingfisher about three miles away and stopped. She had six people on board. escorted her to harbour. Going out The life-boat took her in tow. She again she found the Hilda four miles then took in tow the Edward and to the northward and escorted her Ernest which also had six people on home, arriving at 10.12 A.M. The board. /'// Try parted her tow and life-boat was not rehoused until, at drifted some distance north before 12.30 P.M., it was learnt that a Filey the life-boat could pick her up again. boat, which had not been accounted On approaching the bar the lifeboat for, was safe.—Rewards, £20 11s. took on board the passengers from the Edward and Ernest, and then, waiting Skegness, Lincolnshire.—At 1.53 P.M. her opportunity, towed both boats on the 23rd November, 1938, the safely into the harbour at 3 P.M.— coastguard reported that a vessel was Rewards, £13 14*. showing signals of distress about two and a half miles E.S.E. of Skegness Lerwick, Shetlands.—At 3.10 P.M. on Pier. A whole S.W. gale was blowing, the 21st November, 1938, news was with a very heavy sea. The motor received from Quarff Post Office that life-boat Anne Allen was launched a young man had gone out fishing in a at 2.24 P.M. and found the steam drifter small rowing boat in the forenoon and Dusty Miller, of Yarmouth, fishing- had not returned. A moderate N.W. out of Boston, in a sinking condition. breeze was blowing, with a very heavy She had a crew of three on board. swell. The motor life-boat Lady Jane The heavy seas had stove in some of and Martha Ryland was launched at her planking and the engine-room was 3.26 P.M. and found the small boat in flooded. A small steamer was near, Quarff Bay several miles to the south but in the heavy sea could do nothing of Lerwick. She took her in tow and to help. The life-boat took off the brought her into Lerwick Harbour at crew and reached her station again at 4.30 P.M.-—Rewards, £6 18s. 4.10 P.M. The coxswain described it as one of the worst trips he had ever Portrush, Co. Antrim.—At 7.46 A.M. had. A letter of thanks was received on the 21st November, 1938, inform- from the rescued crew. A letter of ation was received from the coast- appreciation was sent by the Institution MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 33 to the branch, and an increase in the rough sea and torrential rain. The usual money award on the standard regular crew of the Filey life-boat was scale was granted to each member of at sea, but a scratch crew was got and the crew.—Standard rewards to the the pulling and sailing life-boat Thomas crew, £6 13s.; additional rewards to Masterman Hardy put out in case her crew, £3 10*. Total rewards, £12 8*. help should be needed. As the cobles had gone in various directions a message Gourdon, Kincardineshire.—Early in was sent to Flamborough, and the No. 1 the morning of the 23rd November, motor life-boat Elizabeth and Albina 1938, the Gourdon fishing fleet put Whitley was launched at 8.40 A.M. out to sea in fair conditions of weather. The Flamborough boat escorted in At 7.45 a strong E.S.E. breeze sprang two cobles, and returned to her station up, increasing later to gale force at 1.15 P.M. The Filey boat helped and bringing with it a rough sea the remainder in, and got back to her with heavy rain. The motor life-boat station at 1.20 P.M. A letter of appreci- Margaret Dawson was launched at ation was sent to the Filey crew by 12.20 P.M. and stood by at the harbour the Institution, and an increase in the entrance until all the boats had got in usual money award on the standard safely. She returned to her station scale was granted to each member of at 2.30 P.M.—Rewards, £15 15s. 6d. the crew.—Standard rewards to Filey Bridlington, Yorkshire.—On the morn- crew, £12 7s.; additional rewards to ing of the 23rd November, 1938, a crew, £6 10s.; total rewards, £22 12s. heavy gale sprang up from the south Flamborough rewards, £15 17s. 6d. bringing a rough sea and rain squalls. The fishing fleet was at sea. The Arbroath, Angus.—The local fishing motor life-boat Stanhope Smart was fleet put out during the early morning launched at 8.40 A.M. to stand by. of the 23rd November, 1938, in The district inspector, Lieut.-Com- fine weather. Later on a S.E. wind mander P.E. Vaux, D.S.C., R.N., sprang up and rapidly increased to gale who was at the station, went out with force. The sea grew very rough, with her. She escorted a number of fishing heavy rain, sleet and hail. Three boats boats into harbour, and also helped the returned to harbour. At 10.15 A.M. steam drifter Hall Mark, by lending the motor life-boat John and William her a man as a pilot. She returned Mudie was launched, in case any of the to her station at 3.50 P.M.—Rewards, others should need her help. She met £9 18s. one boat about four miles off and escorted her in, and then put out again New Brighton, and Hoylake, Cheshire.— and stood by until the remainder of On the 23rd November, 1938, the New the fishing fleet had crossed the bar. Brighton No. 1 motor life-boat rescued She was moored in the outer harbour the crew of three of the fishing boat at 2.30 P.M. and rehoused later. Progress, of Hoylake, and the crew of Rewards, £7 6s. 6d. four of the auxiliary schooner Loch Kanza Castle, of Annalong. The Hoy- Portpatrick, Wigtownshire. — Shortly lake life-boat was also launched, but after 4 A.M. oil the 23rd November, her services were not required.—Re- 1938, the coastguard telephoned that wards : Medals, clasps, and vellums, with Corsewall lightkeepers had reported a money awards amounting to: New a vessel apparently in distress near Brighton, £33 4s. 6d; Hoylake, £11 18s. Milleur Beacon. A S.W. gale was (For a full account see "The Great blowing, with a rough sea, and the Gale of 23rd November, 1938" on weather was thick, with rain. The page 1.) motor life-boat Jeanie Speirs put out at 4.30 A.M. Owing to very bad visi- Filey, and Flamborough, Yorkshire.— bility and the rugged nature of the Early in the morning of the 23rd No- coast she had great difficulty in finding vember, 1938, fourteen local fishing the vessel—the steamer Nora, of Liver- cobles put out from Filey. The wind pool, bound light from Girvan for got up suddenly, and at 7.15 a Creetown—which had gone aground whole S. gale was blowing, with a about one mile N.E. of Corsewall THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Lighthouse; but she was guided in crew of two of the barge Una.— by the searchlight of the coastguard's Rewards: Bronze second service clasp, L.S.A. Company which was trained 011 letter of appreciation, and money the Nora, The life-boat stood by for rewards amounting to £36 2s. several hours while efforts were made (For a full account see "The Great to refloat the Nora. These were un- Gale of 23rd, November, 1938," on successful, and it became apparent page 3.) that she was doomed. The life-boat then went alongside and rescued her Soutbend-on-Sea, Essex.—During the crew of five. Shortly afterwards the morning of the 23rd November, 1938, Nora heeled over and became awash. the barge Neepawa, of Rochester, was The life-boat returned to her station seen to be in distress a quarter of a at 1.20 P.M., having been on service mile east of the pier. A whole S.S.W. for nine hours.—Rewards, £20 7s. 6d. gale was blowing, with a very rough sea and squalls of rain. The motor Hartlepool, Co. Durham.—On the life-boat Greater London (Civil Service 23rd November, 1938, the steamer No. 3) was launched at 9.45 A.M. She Catherine Hawksfield, on passage from found that the barge had sunk and that the Tyne to Dover, picked up the motor her crew of two had got into her small boat Gypsy, sixteen to twenty miles S.E. boat. She rescued them and landed of Hartlepool. The Gypsy was towing them on the pier at 10.10 A.M. At the former Newbiggin life-boat to about noon a message came that a Goole. Her crew were in distress from fishing boat was in distress off Chapman exposure, and her engine had broken Sands. The life-boat put out again at down. The steamer put into Tees Bay 12.10 P.M. and found the fishing boat and called for the Hartlepool motor Audrey, with one man on board ex- life-boat Elizabeth Newton to take hausted. She rescued him and towed charge of the Gypsy so that she could the Audrey back to the pier. She then go on her way. The life-boat was learned that the lighter Elmsdale had launched at 10.45 P.M. and found three sunk off Southend, and that the only men on board the Gypsy in a state of man on board had launched a small collapse. One of them had been boat. When the life-boat arrived the washed overboard, but had got back boat was nearly full of water, and the into the boat again. Two life-boatmen man was very exhausted. The life- were put on board and the life-boat boat rescued him and returned to the towed the Gypsy into harbour. She pier at 2 P.M. Owing to the state of returned to her station at midnight. wind and sea it was impossible to The old Newbiggin life-boat was found house or moor the life-boat. At 2.45 drifting some days later and taken to P.M. the pier watchman reported that Hull.—Rewards, £17 5s. the schooner Westward was dragging Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—On the 23rd No- her anchor east of the pier. The life- vember, 1938, the motor life-boat boat went to her, but found that she rescued the crews, four in number, of had put out another anchor and did the two barges Astrild and Grecian.— not need help. She returned to South- Rewards: Bronze medal, letters of end and was moored at 4 P.M. At thanks, and monetary awards amount- 5.20 P.M. the Warden Point lookout ing to £49 14s. lid. telephoned that a motor barge was (For a full account see "The Great driving before the gale. The life-boat Gale of November 23rd, 1938", page put out yet again at 5.40 P.M., but 3.) although she searched for some hours could find no trace of the barge. She Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. returned to her station at 9.30 P.M. and —On the 23rd November, 1938, the was rehoused at 10.10 P.M. She had motor life-boat helped to save the been on almost continuous service for barges Ailsa and Britisher, with their nearly twelve hours. The owner of crews numbering four; rescued the the Neepawa made a donation to the crews, four men in all, of the barges Institution.—Rewards, first launch, Cetus and Decima; stood by the barges £9 17s.; second launch, £9 12s. 6d; Royalty and Raybell, and rescued the third launch, £20 8s. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 35

IN THE GREAT GALE OF NOVEMBER 23rd, 1938.

By courtesy of] [Skegness Standard ON BOARD THE SKEGNESS LIFE-BOAT. The sinking steam-drifter Dusty Miller, from which the life-boat rescued the crew of three, is on the right. On the left is a Dutch oil tanker. She gave the life-boat a lee. From a photograph by the motor-mechanic, Percy Grunnill (See pagt 32.)

By courtesy of] [Planet \eu-s A RESCUE AT SOUTHEND-ON-SEA. The sinking lighter Elmsdale is on the right. The one man on board had taken to a small boat. It can be seen, nearly full of water, ahead of the life-boat. (See opposite page.) 36 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—-At 7.15 A.M. on steam and the life-boat escorted her to the 25th November, 1938, the life-boat a safe anchorage in Weymouth Bay. assistant motor mechanic saw a vessel She returned to her station at 5.30 A.M. aground on Newcombe Sands. There —Rewards, £13 2s. 6d. was a heavy swell on the sands, and the sea was moderate, with a freshen- ing S.S.E. wind. The motor life-boat Selsey, Sussex.—-The motor life-boat Agnes Cross was launched at 7.25 A.M. Canadian Pacific was launched at 12.30 and found the s.s. Dunleith, of Poole, A.M., on the 26th November, 1938, as with a crew of ten, on passage from flares had been seen some miles S.S.E. Portsmouth to Edinburgh. She had A whole W.S.W. gale was blowing, gone ashore at 5 A.M. in a fog. At the with a very heavy sea and rain. The master's request the life-boat stood by. life-boat found the motor vessel Assur- Three times the steamer refloated and ity, of London, making very heavy grounded again. Eventually she got weather, about a mile and a half west outside the sands and the life-boat of the Owers Light-vessel. She had escorted her clear and brought her to not enough power to make headway the North Roads. Her master then against wind and sea. The life-boat reported that she was not making water stood by until 4 A.M., and then escorted and thanked the life-boat. The life- her into the shelter of St. Helen's boat reached her station again at 9 A.M. Roads, Isle of Wight. Owing to the —Rewards, £19 0*. 6d. very bad weather the life-boat could not be rehoused and went to Ports- mouth. She arrived there at 8 A.M., Plymouth, Devon.—At 1.18 A.M. on after seven and a half hours at sea in the 26th November, 1938, a message exceptionally bad conditions. The was received from the King's Harbour Institution sent a letter of appreciation Master that it had been reported to to the branch and an increase in the him that a vessel was sounding her usual money award on the standard siren and was apparently in distress scale was granted to each member of inshore. A whole S.W. gale was blow- the crew.—Standard rewards to crew, ing, with a very rough sea. The motor £18 16*.; additional rewards to crew, life-boat Robert and Marcella Beck put £4 10s.. Total rewards, £36 3s. 5d. out at 1.34 A.M.; and found the steamer Jellicoe Ease, of Liverpool, on the rocks in Jennycliff Bay. Her master asked Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—Oh the 26th the coxswain if he would take the first November, 1938, the motor life-boat officer ashore, and with very great rescued the crews, six in number, of difficulty he was taken off by means of the three barges T.F.C., Gknmore and the breeches buoy. The aircraft carrier Lord Roberts.—-Rewards: Bronze second Furious was nearby, and helped by service clasp, vellums, and money training her searchlights on the steamer. awards amounting to £28 7s. Sd. The life-boat landed the first officer (For a full account see page 9.) and then returned and stood by until tugs arrived and towed the steamer Ramsgate, Kent.—At about 4.45 A.M. clear. She returned to her station at on the 26th November, 1938, the coast- 6 A.M.—Rewards, £13 11s. 6d. guard reported that a vessel about a mile N.E. of the Brake Light-vessel was Weymouth, Dorset.—At 2.56 A.M. on burning flares. A S.S.W. gale was the 26th November, 1938, the coast- blowing, with a heavy sea. The reserve guard reported that the Greek steamer motor life-boat The Brothers was Panachrandos. of Andros, which was in launched at 5.10 A.M., and found that Portland Roads, was drifting towards the sand sucker Agivey, of London, had the shore. A west gale was blowing, broken away from a tug which had had with a heavy sea. The motor life-boat her in tow and was wallowing in big William and Clara Ryland was launched seas. The life-boat stood by until the at 3.15 A.M., and found the steamer tug picked her up again, and returned about three miles outside Portland to her station at 8.28 A.M.—Rewards, Breakwater. She was then under £14 16s. 9d. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 37

Arklow, Co. Wicklow— On the 28th Ethel Day Cardwell. They found the November, 1938, the trawler Roaming, steamer several miles to the westward of Arklow, with a crew of three, lost of the island. Her engine had broken her rudder while fishing in Courtown down. The life-boats stood by until Bay. She made for Arklow with the about 4 A.M. when tugs arrived from flood tide, using trawl boards for steer- Belfast. They got the Pas* of Ballater ing, and sending up flares. Another in tow and the life-boats left for their fishing boat, manned by a crew of five, stations, Peel arriving at 4.40 A.M. and went to her help, but was unable to Port Erin at 6.15 A.M. An increase get her into harbour as she grounded in the usual money award on the on the bar. After the fishing boat standard scale was granted to each had had two of her crew thrown into member of the two crews.—Standard the sea in their efforts to help the rewards to crews: Peel £15,; Port Erin, Roaming, she went into Arklow, and £15; additional rewards to crews: Peel, reported to the life-boat coxswain. £4; Port Erin, £4 105. Total rewards: The weather was clear, with a rough Peel, £28 9s.; Port Erin, £22 11s. sea on the bar and a S.W. wind. The motor life-boat Inbhear Mor was launched at 8.30 P.M. and helped the Hoylake, Cheshire.—At about 6.40 Roaming, which had drifted off the bar, P.M. on the 4th December, 1938, the into harbour, arriving at midnight.— coastguard reported that flares of Rewards, shore-boat, £2 10s., with £5 distress had been seen to the N.W. for loss of fishing and 3s. 4d. for fuel A light westerly wind was blowing, used; life-boat, £16 9s. Qd. with a moderate swell. The motor life-boat Oldham was launched at 7.7 P.M. and found the fishing boat Lily, Eastbourne, Sussex.—The motor life- of Liverpool, stranded and water-logged, boat Jane Holland was launched at about one and a half miles from the 1.20 P.M. on the 1st December, 1938, boat-house. She rescued the crew of as the coastguard had reported that three and got back to her station at the Royal Sovereign Light-vessel was 9.20 P.M.—Rewards, £25 19s. Qd. flying the International Code Signal "U.S."—"May I land my sick." She was also firing rockets. The life-boat The following life-boats were reached the Royal Sovereign at about launched, but no services were rendered 2 P.M. and found that one of her crew for the reasons given: was very ill. She took him off and brought him ashore at 3.45 P.M. He Torbay, Devon. — 7th November, was sent straight to hospital. It is a 1938. A fishing boat had lost her pro- coincidence that forty-seven years ago peller and burned flares, but a trawler to the day—1st December, 1891— took her in tow.—Rewards, £14 9s. Qd. the Eastbourne life-boat brought ashore an injured man from the same light- vessel. The Elder Brethren of the The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.—8th Trinity House made a contribution of November, 1938. A fishing party in £20 towards the rewards granted.— a motor boat had burned flares when Rewards, £21 14s. their engine failed, but they managed to get ashore without help.—Rewards, £14 17s. Peel, and Port Erin, Isle of Man.—On the night of the 1st December, 1938, information from the coastguard was Tobermory, Isle of Mull.—9th No- received at both life-boat stations that vember, 1938. A rocket had been the tank steamer Pass of Ballater, of seen about three miles away but nothing London, was in distress and needed was found.—Rewards, £13 2s. 6d. tugs. A moderate W.N.W. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The Peel Walton and Frinton, Essex.—10th No- motor life-boat Helen Sutton was vember, 1938. A steamer had run launched at 8.55 P.M., and five minutes ashore on the Inner Gabbard, but got later, the Port Erin motor life-boat off without help.—Rewards, £21 7s. Qd. 38 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Dfracombe, Devonshire. — At about Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—23rd No- 1.35 P.M. on the llth November, 1938, vember, 1938. A motor vessel had the coastguard reported that a passing stranded at Lee-on-Solent, but her steamer, going east, was flying a signal crew were rescued by ropes from the indicating aircraft in distress. A shore.—Rewards, £8 9s. squally S.S.E. breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea. It was decided that Lowestoft, Suffolk. — 23rd Novem- the Ilfracombe motor life-boat Rosa- ber, 1938. A barge was driving before bella should search from Bull Point to the gale, but she got out of danger and Heddons Mouth. The tide was at went on her way. Another barge had dead low water, but she was got away been reported in distress near Gorleston, smartly at 2.17 P.M., and searched for but it was learned from the St. Nicholas some hours. She could find no trace Light-vessel that the crew had already of aircraft or aircraft wreckage. She been rescued.—Rewards. £53 19s. was recalled by signal, and returned to her station at 7.55 P.M. Earlier in the day the life-boat cox- Southwold, Suffolk.—23rd November, swain, second coxswain, and Mr. C. R. 1938. A barge had appeared likely to Pedder, a member of the local com- go ashore, but she did not need help. mittee, put out in a motor boat after Another barge had been reported receiving a report from the coastguard drifting, but could not be found.— that an aeroplane was believed to have Rewards, £42 7s. 6d. come down into the sea at Woody Bay. After searching unsuccessfully for about Barry Dock, Glamorganshire.—23rd two hours they returned at 12.20 P.M.— November, 1938. The French schooner Rewards: life-boat, £71 5s.; shoreboat, Ideal had gone ashore at Colhugh Beach, £1, and a letter of thanks to Mr. but her crew were rescued from the Pedder. shore by the coastguard rocket life- saving appliances.—Rewards, £20 6s. Fowey, Cornwall.—16th November, 6d. 1938. A fishing boat had gone ashore at Mevagissey, but the crew were Padstow, Cornwall.—23rd November, rescued by another boat and from the 1938. A steamer had been reported shore.—Rewards, £13 2*. 6d. in distress twenty miles off Trevose Head, but she hauled down her signal and Boulmer, Northumberland.—16th No- steamed away.—Rewards, £4 7s. 6d. vember, 1938. A fishing boat, which had had trouble with her lines, was late Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—23rd Novem- in returning, but she got in unaided.— ber, 1938. A small tank steamer, Rewards, £9 10s. with her engine broken down, had dragged her anchor near the West Stromness, Orkneys.—19th Novem- Sunk Sands, but she did not need help. ber, 1938. A steam trawler had —Rewards, £24 19s. stranded at Skea Skerries, Westray Firth, but got off and was beached at Portrush, Co. Antrim.—23rd Novem- Rousay.—Rewards, £24 3*. Sd. ber, 1938. A boat had been reported in distress, but nothing could be found Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—20th November, and it was thought that what was 1938. A steamer was flying the "Not taken for a distress signal was probably under control" signal, but lowered the lightning.—Rewards, £14 9s. 6d. signal, and went on her way.—Rewards, £22 14*. 6d. Portpatrick, Wigtownshire, and Don- aghadee, Co. Down.—24th November, Filey, Yorkshire.—22nd November, 1938. An aeroplane had been reported 1938. A drifter had run aground at down in the sea, but she had made a Filey Brig, but refloated and was taken safe landing. The pilot sent a letter in tow by motor cobles.—Rewards, of thanks.—Rewards: Portpatrick, £32 3s. 6d. £10 8s. 6d.; Donaghadee, £19 3s. MARCH. 1939. THE LIFE-BOAT. 39

AT BRIDLINGTON.

By courtesy of] (Alfred H dson, Bridlington IN THE GREAT GALE OF NOVEMBER 23rd, 1938. The life-boat standing by while one keel-boat tows in another (Sec page 33.)

By courtesy of] [A. Smith Bridlington TOWING IN A FISHING BOAT ON DECEMBER 23rd, 1938. (See page 44.) 40 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Wells, Norfolk.—26th November, 1938. crabber Channel Pride, of Dartmouth, A vessel had been reported in distress were rescued.—Rewards: Silver medal, off the Lynn Well Light-vessel, but vellums and monetary awards amount- nothing could be found. She may ing to £26 13s. have been a derelict drifter from (For a full account of this service see which theSkegness life-boat had rescued page 7.) the crew three days before.—Rewards, £28 125. 3d. Stromness, Orkney.—During the night (See Skegness " Services of the Life- of the 9th—10th December, 1938, the boats", page 32.) Grimsby steam trawler Rinovia, home- ward bound from fishing, and carrying Barmouth, Merionethshire.—On the a crew of nineteen, ran aground at morning of the 26th November, 1938, Rusk Holm, Isle of Eday. Her signals the coastguard reported a vessel ashore of distress were seen by the coast- off the Dysinni River. A W.N.W. gale watcher at Eday and he reported by was blowing, with a rough sea. The telegram to the Kirkwall coastguard. pulling and sailing life-boat Jones-Gibb News was received at the life-boat was launched at 8.50 A.M., but some station at about 12.15 A.M., and the time later it was learned that there was motor life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was got no one on board the vessel, a sand away at 12.40 A.M. A strong S.E. hopper, which presumably had broken breeze was blowing, with a moderate away from a tow. The life-boat was sea, and the weather was showery. recalled by flares and returned to her The life-boat reached the Rinovia at station at 1.20 P.M. A letter of thanks 5 A.M., and found a drifter standing by. was sent to the honorary secretary, At the request of the Rinovia's master Capt. G. B. Piggott, who went by car the life-boat stood by, and later, with to the scene of the wreck,' twenty miles some difficulty owing to the very strong away. An increase in the usual money tide, ran out an anchor from her, and award on the standard scale was granted took on board a hawser. At high tide to each member of the crew and the the life-boat towed while the Rinovia helpers on shore.—Standard rewards hauled on her winch, and the Rinovia to crew and helpers, £14 18*. 6d.; was refloated. The life-boat then made additional rewards to crew and helpers, for her station, which she reached at £7 17s. 6d. Total rewards, £23 8s. 6d. 4 P.M. She had been on service for over fifteen hours.—Property Salvage Aberdeen.—4th December, 1938. A Case. fishing boat was reported to be in difficulties, but she made Stonehaven Girvan, Ayrshire.—At about 11.25 without help.—Rewards, £11 6s. 3d. A.M. on the llth December, 1938, the harbour-master saw the local motor January Meeting. fishing boat Peggy Gordon, with a crew of two, about two miles west of the Peel, Isle of Man.—At 5.10 P.M. on harbour, flying distress signals. A the 5th December, 1938, the coast- moderate S.S.E. gale was blowing, with guard reported flares six miles N.N.E. a moderate sea. The motor life-boat of Peel. A strong and freshening S.W. Lily Glen—Glasgow was launched at breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. 11.50 A.M. and found that the Peggy The motor life-boat Helen Sutton was Gordon had lost her propeller. She launched at 5.30 P.M., and found the towed her back to harbour, and re- local motor fishing boat Manx Lad in turned to her station at 1 P.M.—Re- difficulties. Her propeller had been wards, £7 3*. fouled. She carried a crew of five. The life-boat towed her back to harbour, Barrow, Lancashire.—In the evening and returned to her station at 10.40 of the 12th December, 1938, the coast- P.M. A letter of thanks was received guard at Walney Island reported that from the owner.—Rewards, £23 18s. 6d. a vessel appeared to be ashore about one and a half miles N.W. of Walney Torbay, Devon.—On the 9th Decem- lighthouse. She was burning flares. ber, 1938, the crew of two of the motor A moderate south breeze was blowing, MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 41 with a moderate swell. The motor tow. Her bottom was found to be life-boat N.T. was launched at 8.10 P.M. damaged and she was beached. But for and found the vessel to be the motor the life-boat's help she would have drifter Linnet, of Banff, bound, in been totally wrecked. The life-boat ballast, for Fleetwood. She could not returned to her station at 10.45 A.M.— get alongside as the water was too Property Salvage Case. shallow, but, at the request of the Linnet's master, stood by for some Scarborough, Yorkshire. •—• On the hours until the Linnet refloated. She morning of the 16th December, 1938, was making water, so the life-boat watch was kept by the life-boat cox- escorted her into Fleetwood, and re- swain and the coastguard from 8.30 turned to her own station at 4 A.M. A.M. onwards as the motor fishing boat next morning. She had then been at Courage with a crew of five, which had sea for nearly eight hours.—Rewards, gone out fishing the night before had £15 7s. 6d. not returned. The weather was stormy with a very rough sea and a strong S.E. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. wind. Shortly after 1 P.M. the boat •—At 2.50 A.M. on the 13th December, was seen making for harbour in a 1938, the coastguard reported that a very heavy sea. The motor life-boat vessel about two miles E. by N. from Herbert Joy II was launched at 1.30 Britannia Pier was thought to be P.M., found the Courage a mile to the ashore. A light, and increasing, S.E. northwards, and escorted her home, breeze was blowing, with a moderate arriving at 2.10 P.M.—Rewards, £20. swell, and the weather was foggy. The motor life-boat John and Mary Meik- lam ofGladswood was launched at 3 A.M., Peel, Isle of Man.—At 6.40 P.M. on and found the Dutch motor vessel the 17th December, 1938, flares were Kaapfalga, of Heiloo, aground on seen four miles W.N.W. of Peel. An Scroby Elbow. She carried a crew of E.S.E. gale was blowing, with a very seven, and was bound, laden, for rough sea, and visibility was very poor. London. She did not want any help The motor life-boat Helen Sutton was at the moment, and the life-boat drew launched at 7.15 P.M. and found the off into deeper water and anchored. motor fishing boat Cicely, of Castle- At daylight a Dutch tug arrived. The town, with a crew of four, seven miles life-boat sounded round and guided W.N.W., with her engine broken down. the tug into the most favourable posi- She had hoisted a small sail but it would tion, and then helped make connection not get her to land. The life-boat between her and the Kaapfalga. She towed her into harbour, and returned then sounded for the best water, and to her station at 11 P.M. This was a the tug began towing. The Kaapfalga good service, and a letter of thanks was eventually refloated at 3.15 P.M. The sent to the crew and helpers. A letter life-boat escorted her into Yarmouth of thanks was received from the owner. Roads, and returned to her station at —Rewards, £22 14*. 5.15 P.M., having then been at sea for over fourteen hours.—Property Salvage Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.—On the Case. 18th December, 1938, at 1.24 P.M., the coastguard reported that the steam Barra Island, Hebrides.—During a trawler Lord Wakefield was making for whole S.E. gale on the morning of the harbour where there was not sufficient 15th December, 1938, the steamer water. A heavy sea was running, with Dorothy, of Glasgow, dragged her a strong S.E. wind and hail showers. moorings in Castlebay Harbour and was When signalled not to enter harbour driven on to the rocks on the west side the trawler asked for a boat to land a of the harbour. She was in ballast, sick man. The motor life-boat John and carried a crew of four. A very and Charles Kennedy was launched at heavy sea was running, and the weather 2 P.M. and put a doctor on the trawler. was very cold. The motor life-boat She then took off the sick man and Lloyd's put out at 7.45 A.M., got the brought him ashore, arriving at 3 P.M. Dorothy off the rocks and took her in —Rewards, £7 6s. 6d. 42 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Teesmouth, Yorkshire.—At 12.45 A.M. was dragging, and she was leaking on the 18th December, 1938, the badly. A heaving line was thrown to coastguard reported that a trawler was the crew and with some difficulty they ashore in a bad position near North were got into the life-boat. The line Gare Breakwater, and was making was then cut and the life-boat returned distress signals. She was the steam to her station at 9.45. Owing to the trawler Matabele, of Hull, and had a low tide, she could not be rehoused crew of eighteen on board. A moderate until 11.30 P.M. This service was to strong S.E. breeze was blowing, with smartly carried out in rough breaking a rough sea. It could be seen that seas on a bitterly cold night. The two tugs and a pilot cutter were stand- Bretonne disappeared during the night ing by near the Matabele, but in the and it was assumed that she had heavy seas they were not able to send foundered. A letter of thanks was boats away to her, and the motor life- sent by the Institution to the crew and boat J. W. Archer was launched at helpers.—Rewards, £20 12s. 2 A.M. She rescued the eighteen men, took them to Middlesbrough, and Droughty Ferry, Angus.—Shortly be- returned to her station at 5 A.M.— fore 9 A.M. on the 19th December, 1938, Rewards, £23 Is. information was received from the pilot cutter and the coastguard that a Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—At about vessel was in distress a quarter of a mile 10.10 P.M. on the 18th December, 1938, E.N.E. of the Abertay Light-vessel. the coastguard reported distress signals A strong wind was blowing, with snow in the Solent, off Yarmouth. A moder- showers and a heavy sea. The vessel ate east gale Avas blowing, with a very was the Finnish three-masted sailing rough sea, and the weather was very barque Alastor, of Hango, on passage, cold. The motor life-boat S.G.E. put light, from Plymouth to Mariehamn out at 10.35 P.M. and found the barge with a crew of fifteen. She was in a Youngarth, of London, dragging her very dangerous position. The motor anchors and in danger of drifting into life-boat Mono, was launched at 9.2 the pier. She was bound with a cargo A.M. and the pilot cutter and the of cement from Newport for Weymouth, Dundee Harbour tug also went to the and had a crew of two on board. Big vessel. The life-boat transferred a seas were sweeping over her decks. pilot from the cutter to the barque, and The life-boat ran alongside and was carried a hawser to her from the tug. thrown against the barge, receiving The barque was then towed to safety. some damage to her planking. She The life-boat returned ashore at \.\5 rescued the men and returned to her P.M.—Rewards £6 12s. station at 11.20 P.M. On the following day the life-boat Anstruther, Fifeshire. —• During the put out again at 4.45 P.M. with the two morning of the 19th December, 1938, men, put them on board the barge it was learned that the boatman who again and then helped them to get took stores to May Island had been her into harbour. The life-boat re- unable, owing to bad weather, to make turned to her station at 6.45 P.M.— the trip for five days, and that the Rewards: first service, £11 14*.; second twenty-eight people on the island had service, Property Salvage Case. only one day's rations left. A moder- ate E.S.E. breeze was blowing, with a Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—On the 18th rough sea, and the weather was very December, 1938, the French schooner cold, with snow. It was decided to Bretonne, of Treguier, was sheltering send the motor life-boat Nellie and in Whitesand Bay from a S.E. gale. Charlie. Provisions were put on board, She carried a crew of five and was and she was launched at 11.25 A.M. bound with a cargo of coal from Cardiff She went to the lee of the island into to Douarnenez. At 7.35 P.M. she burn- comparative shelter and the stores ed flares, and at about 8.5 P.M. the were put ashore. She returned to her motor life-boat The Newbons was station at 2 P.M. The people on the launched. She found that the Bretonne island expressed great gratitude for the had parted one cable, the other anchor life-boat's help.—Rewards, £9. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT: 43

By courtesy of] [/. F. Seaman, Scarborough MEETING HEAVY SEAS. At Scarborough on December 16th, 1938. (See page 41.)

By courtesy of] [Fox Photos and G. W. Stone, GorUston COMING IN WITH TWO BOATS IN TOW. The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston life-boat on November 20th, 1938. (See page 32.) 44 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MAHCH, 1939.

St. Mary's, Isle of Scilly.—At about very heavy ground swell got up in 9.30 A.M. on the 22nd December, 1938, Wick Bay and seas were frequently it was learned that a dredger was in breaking across the harbour entrance. difficulties near the Spanish Ledges The fishing fleet was at sea, and as and wanted a pilot. A N.E. gale was the entrance became more dangerous blowing, with sleet and snow showers, the motor life-boat City of Edinburgh and the sea was rough. A pilot would was launched at 2 P.M. She was on not go in his own boat and at 9.45 service until 4.45 P.M. escorting the A.M. the motor life-boat Cunard was fishing boats into harbour.—Rewards, launched with him on board. She £7. found the dredger Foremost 18, of St. John, N.B., bound from Newfoundland Portrush, Co. Antrim.—At 12.22 A.M. for Southampton. Another pilot had on the 27th December, 1938, informa- reached her a few minutes earlier. tion was received from the coastguard He asked the life-boat to stand by that a ship was ashore at Greencastle. until he could get the dredger under A moderate W.N.W. wind was blowing, control. Eventually the dredger was with heavy squalls of rain and a choppy taken into St. Mary's harbour and the sea. The motor life-boat T.B.B.H. lifeboat returned at noon.—Rewards, was launched at 12.35 A.M. and found £7 Us. the steam trawler Cevic, of Fleetwood, ashore on shelving rocks. She had on Bridlington, Yorkshire. — At about board a crew of ten, with a cargo of 1.40 P.M. on the 23rd December, 1938, fish, and was bound from Moville to a motor fishing vessel was seen making Fleetwood. The life-boat stood by the heavy weather south of Bridlington. trawler until she refloated on the rising A strong, squally, east breeze was tide and then escorted her to Moville. blowing, with a rough sea. The vessel She returned to her station at 12 noon. showed no signals, but was making The owners, The Cevic Steam Fishing very poor progress, and the motor Company, sent a letter of thanks and life-boat Stanhope Smart was launched made a gift of £20 to the life-boat crew. at 2.30 P.M. She found the vessel to —Rewards, £24 12*. 6d. be the Prospecto, of Bridlington, in ballast, with a crew of six. Her engine Cromer, Norfolk.—The motor life-boat had broken down. She was helpless H. F. Bailey was launched at 2.25 and in danger of driving ashore. At A.M. on the 27th December, 1938, as the request of her master the life-boat information had been received from the towed her into Bridlington harbour, coastguard that the 2,100 ton Finnish and returned to her station at 3.30 P.M. steamer Otto H, of Pori, was aground —Property Salvage Case. at Eccles, between Haisborough and Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 6 A.M. on the Palling. A moderate N.W. breeze was 23rd December, 1938, seven motor blowing, with a smooth sea, increasing fishing boats left harbour on the ebb later. Visibility was poor. The life- tide. The very heavy seas of the boat found Otto H on the outer bank, previous few days had moderated. about two hundred yards off the beach. When the tide began to flow the sea She stood by until daybreak, and then got up again very fast, and rough cross passed ropes from her to a tug. At seas began to break between Rock about 9.15 A.M. the steamer was towed Buoy and the pier ends. A fresh S.E. off and went on her way. As conditions wind was blowing. The No. 1 motor were unsuitable for getting the life- life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was boat on to her slipway at Cromer she launched at 1.30 P.M. and escorted made for Gorleston, arriving there at each vessel from the Bell Buoy to the 12.20 P.M. She returned to her station harbour entrance. Most of the boats on the 29th December.—Property Sal- shipped seas on their way in. The vage Case. life-boat returned ashore at 3.30 P.M. —Rewards, £8 5s. 6d. Scarborough, Yorkshire.—Some of the local motor fishing boats were caught Wick, Caithness-shire.—At about 1 at sea by bad weather on the 2nd P.M. on the 23rd December, 1938, a January, 1939. A N.E. breeze was MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 45

blowing, with a rough sea. The Eagle number of fishing boats went to sea. came in and reported that the boats At about 8.30 A.M. a N.E. gale sprang still at sea were in danger of being up and the sea became rough, broken swamped. The motor life-boat Her- and dangerous between the pier ends bert Joy II was launched at 11.45 A.M. and the Rock Buoy. At 9.30 A.M. the and made three trips to the N.E. to motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworih was escort in the Hilda, Reliance and Cour- launched, manned by a scratch crew, age in turn. She returned to her with the second coxswain of the No. station at 2.20 P.M.—Rewards, 2 pulling life-boat in charge. The £19 14s. 6d. regular members of the crew were at sea in the fishing boats. Some of the Flamborough, Yorkshire.—During bad boats had a bad time, but by 2 P.M. weather on the morning of the 2nd all the boats, fourteen in number, January, 1939, it was reported that had reached safety escorted by the one of the local motor fishing cobles life-boat.—Rewards, £7 6s. 6d. was at sea. A N.E. gale was blowing, with a very rough sea and Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—At 8 P.M. on squalls of sleet. The motor life-boat the 2nd January, 1939, the life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was coxswain saw a flare about three miles launched at 10.50 A.M., and found the south of Ballycotton Light. A moder- coble, the Pioneer, with a crew of three, ate W.N.W. breeze was blowing with a about one and a half miles north of heavy swell. The s.s. Innisfallen was North Landing. She had just cut away in sight and as several boats were from her gear. The life-boat went fishing it was at first thought that the alongside and life-belts were thrown flare was to indicate that drift nets to the fishermen. She then escorted were being used. As the flares con- her in. The life-boat returned to her tinued the motor life-boat Mary Stan- station at noon.—Rewards, £15 13s. ford was launched at 8.45 P.M. and Redcar, and Teesmouth, Yorkshire.—At found the motor drifter Pre-eminent, about 9.45 A.M. on the 2nd January, of Ballycotton, with a crew of four, 1939, the coastguard at Marske tele- towing the motor drifter Yankee Girl, phoned that a motor fishing vessel was of Ballycotton. The Yankee Girl had in distress four miles north-east of struck a large shoal of herrings, and Huntcliffe. She was the Success, of while the crew were hauling their nets Whitby, with a crew of four. Her abroad the water had rushed through engine had broken down. A strong the exhaust and disabled the motor. N.E. breeze was blowing, with a rough She was still taking in water through sea and squalls of hail. The Redcar her exhaust and was almost level with motor life-boat Louisa Polden was the water. With the life-boat escorting launched at 10.25 A.M., and the Tees- them, the boats got safely in at 10.20 mouth motor life-boat J. W. Archer at P.M.—Rewards: lifeboat, £13 lls. Qd.; 10.30 A.M. The Louisa Polden arrived Pre-eminent, £2 10s., with £3 for loss first and found the Success riding to of fishing, and 2s. Qd. for fuel used, a single anchor. Her main cable had together with a letter of thanks to her parted and she was dragging. Her owner. crew did not wish to abandon her, and the Redcar life-boat stood by until the The Humber, Yorkshire.—At 6 A.M. bigger Teesmouth life-boat arrived. on the 3rd January, 1939, the watch- Teesmouth then took the Success in man at the life-boat station reported tow. The Redcar life-boat returned a steam trawler aground on the Trinity to her station at 12.35 P.M., and the Sands. A N.W. breeze was blowing, Teesmouth life-boat, after towing the with a slight sea. Watch was kept on Success to Hartlepool, returned to her the trawler, which was the Spaniard, station at 3.15 P.M.—Rewards: Redcar, of Hull, bound for the White Sea £9 17s.; Teesmouth, Property Salvage fishing grounds with a crew of sixteen. Case. She was in no immediate danger, but the owners, who had been informed of Whitby, Yorkshire.— Early in the the position, asked that the life-boat morning of the 2nd January, 1939, a should go out and stand by. At 11.45 46 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

A.M. the motor life-boat City of Bradford Gourdon, Kincardineshire. — 17th II was launched, went to the trawler, December, 1938. A rocket had been and put on board the owner's repre- seen; but it was learned later that sentative. Shortly afterwards the there was no vessel in distress.—Re- trawler was refloated, with the help of wards, vellum and monetary awards a tug, and the life-boat returned to her amounting to £40 11*. 7d. station at 12.50 P.M.—Property Salvage (For a full account of this launch see Case. page 22.)

Lowestoft, Suffolk.—On the morning Lowestoft, Suffolk.—20th December, of the 3rd January, 1939, the sailing 1938. A motor vessel had been seen boat Roustabout, of Lowestoft, left drifting with a distress signal flying, harbour with a crew of four. At but she was able to go on her way.— 11.30 A.M. the life-boat coxswain, Rewards, £24 14s. 6d. who had gone to the coastguard look- out, saw the boat drifting towards the Cromarty.—20th December, 1938. Inner Shoal of the Newcome Sands, A fishing vessel had burned flares, but with the crew signalling for help. A she made Burghead Harbour with the strong N.N.W. wind was blowing, with help of another fishing boat.—Rewards, a rough sea. The motor life-boat £13 2*. Qd. Agnes Cross was launched at 11.35 A.M., and went alongside the sailing Salcombe, Devon.—23rd December, boat. The crew jumped into her. 1938. A small vessel had been reported Their sailing boat went adrift but the to be making morse signals for help, life-boat picked her up and brought but no vessel in need of help could be her in. The rescued, who had had a found.—Rewards, £15 9s. narrow escape from being drowned, expressed their thanks. The life-boat Blyth, Northumberland.—23rd Decem- was re-moored at 12.35 P.M.—Rewards, ber, 1938. Anxiety had been felt for £20 18s. 6d. a fishing boat, but she was found by the life-boat fishing, and in no need of help.—Rewards, £8 5*. Qd. The following life-boats were launched but no services were rendered The Humber, Yorkshire.—26th De- for the reasons given: cember, 1938. A steam trawler had run ashore on the Middle Binks, but Portrusb, Co. Antrim.—3rd Decem- she floated on the rising tide without ber, 1938. A sand dredger had run help.—Permanent paid crew: Rewards, aground, but her crew of six got safely 18*. ashore.—Rewards, £12 8s. 3d. New Brighton, Cheshire.—27th De- Ramsgate, Kent. — 9th December, cember, 1938. A boy had been re- 1938. A motor boat had broken down, ported adrift in a collapsible canoe, but she did not need help as she was but could not be found.—Rewards, being taken safely into Broadstairs by £13 11*. Qd. the wind and tide.—Rewards, £8 Is. Qd. Flamborough, Yorkshire.—27th De- Newhaven, Sussex.—14th December, cember, 1938. At about 11 P.M. the 1938. A fishing boat had been in coastguard reported to the life-boat difficulties, but she was towed in by station that three rockets had been another fishing boat. — Rewards, seen between Bempton lookout and £14 17*. Speeton coastguard station. A north- erly gale was blowing, with a very Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—15th heavy sea breaking right across the December, 1938. A steamer was drag- mouth of the landing. The tide was ging her anchors in bad weather, but at three-quarter ebb and it was only later her anchors held again, and she no with great difficulty that the motor longer needed help.—Permanent paid life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley crew: Rewards, £3 8s. Qd. was got away through the great MARCH, 1939.1 THE LIFE-BOAT. 47 breakers. The life-boat made a search, ber, 1938. The Swedish steamer Brit- during which two men were knocked annia, of Gothenburg, had stranded, down and injured by a big sea which in calm but foggy weather, and did broke on board. She could find nothing. not need help.—Rewards, £10 Is. Qd. It was impossible to land at Flam- borough, and after sheltering in Filey Portrush, Co. Antrim.—31st Decem- Bay the life-boat was eventually ber, 1938. A steamer had run aground, beached there with the help of the Filey but her crew were rescued from the life-boatmen, at 9 A.M. on the 28th. shore by the coastguard rocket life- She returned to her station on the saving appliances.—Rewards, £7 6s. 6d. morning of the 29th December. This was an arduous launch and search, and Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—2nd January, a letter of appreciation was sent to 1939. A flying-boat had been reported the coxswain and crew.—Rewards, down and in distress, but later it was £58 16s. learned that she was safely at anchor, and the life-boat was recalled by Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—29th Decem- wireless.—Rewards, £16 5s. 6d.

Shoreboat Services. For wbich Rewards were given at the November and December, 1938, and January, 1939, Meetings of the Committee of Management.

November Meeting. life-boatmen, manned two fast, power- Whitstable, Kent.—At about 11.30 ful cobles, which were lying afloat, and A.M., on the 2nd October, 1938, the reached the scene shortly before an sailing dinghy Wana, of Whitstable, with R.A.F. launch from Amble. Wreckage one man on board, capsized about half was found by dragging, but it could not a mile off Swale Cliff Rock. A moderate be got to the surface. The crew of the to fresh, squally, south breeze was plane, two in number, were lost.— blowing, with a rough sea and heavy Rewards, £12, with £l for use of boats, rain. Mr. T. Harman, a fisherman, 16s. for fuel used, and 3s. for a helper who was fishing near-by in his motor on shore. boat, saw the accident. He at once slipped his lines and went to the rescue. Withernsea, Yorkshire.—On the after- At some risk he got the man, who was noon of the 2nd August, 1938, two in a very exhausted condition, out of women, visitors from Hull, who were the water and landed him at Tankerton. bathing in a choppy sea off the groyne —Rewards, £l, also 2s. for fuel used. at the end of the South Promenade, Withernsea, got into difficulties. Two men swimmers put out to help. One December Meeting. man succeeded in saving one woman, Nairn.—On the 27th January, 1937, but the other man was drowned. Two George A. Ralph, his son, and grandson, young men of Withernsea, a van driver, rescued three of the crew of a Russian aged 19, and a shop assistant, aged steamer. — Rewards : Bronze medal, 16, were on the beach with their vellums and monetary awards amount- rowing boat. A woman told them of ing to £7. the bather in difficulties about 100 (For a full account of this service yards out, and they at once put off. see page 23). With some difficulty, and at the risk of upsetting their boat in the choppy Boulmer, Northumberland.—At about sea, they got her on board. She became 3 P.M. on the 14th November, 1938, a unconscious, but was revived on shore. large R.A.F. aeroplane was seen to —Rewards, £l 10s. crash into the sea one and a half miles south of Boulmer in Alnmouth Bay. Whitbv, Yorkshire. — At about 9 The weather was fine, the sea smooth, A.M. ' on the 25th November, 1938, and the tide low. Twelve men, mostly information was received from the 48 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MAKCH, 1939. honorary secretary of the Runswick reported down in the sea.—Rewards, life-boat station that the motor fishing £l, and a letter of thanks. boat Venus, of Whitby, was in diffi- (For a full account see Ilfracombe, culties, -with her engine broken down, "Services of the Life-boats," page off Staithes. A strong S.S.W. offshore 38.) wind was blowing with a moderately rough sea. Four men put out in the Walton-on-Naze, Essex. — On the 46-feet motor fishing boat Endeavour, morning of the llth November, 1938, a and found the Venus about one mile off youth launched a rubber canoe, hoisted Runswick Bay in danger of being sail and went south. The coastguard blown out to sea. They took her in considered that he was in danger, as there tow and brought her into Whitby was a heavy swell, with a S.S.E. breeze Harbour.—Rewards, £2, and 6*. for blowing, and reported to the life-boat fuel used. honorary secretary. The life-boat coxswain and three other men put off in a 17-feet rowing boat, and as the Barmoutb, Merionethshire. — During sea was increasing they took the youth the great gale on the 23rd November, aboard and towed the canoe to safety.— 1988, a message reached the coastguard Rewards, £1 10s. from Arthog post office that the station- master at Arthog had been marooned Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—At about by the floods on the railway, not far 11 A.M. on the 18th November, 1938, from the station, and was in danger of three men in the small motor fishing being drowned. The Great Western boat Mary, of Campbeltown, were Railway asked for help. The life-boat caught by a rising southerly gale with coxswain said that a punt could be a choppy sea when returning to harbour. sent and he asked for a lorry. This The boat's engine was flooded by the was sent as near to the quay, which was sea and she was driven towards the also flooded, as was possible, and the shore near Trench Point. Men on railway company also got a spare engine watch for her saw that she was in ready. The punt left the quay about distress, and four men in the 42-feet 11.30 in the morning in charge of Mr. motor fishing boat Pioneer put out to T. Morris, a member of the coastguard, her help. They had some difficulty, and his nephew Mr. W. Morris, the and ran some risk, in getting a rope life-boat motor mechanic and the aboard the Mary, and towed her in.— coxswain's son. The lorry took them Rewards, £l 10*., and 3s. for fuel used. as far as the railway station, and from there the engine took them as far as the south end of the Barmouth January Meeting. Viaduct. It could not go any farther, so the two men launched the punt here Drum more, Wigtownshire. — During and rowed it to Barmouth Junction. the afternoon of the 14th November, There they landed, carried the punt 1938, the steamer Ben May sprang a across the station, launched it in a field leak and sank in East Tarbert Bay. beside the railway and rowed to the Her crew of five took to the ship's place where the station-master was boat, and at the request of the coast- marooned. It was then very nearly guard, three men put out in a motor three hours since they had set out. By fishing boat and towed them into this time the water had begun to go Drummore Harbour.—Rewards, £l 10s., down and they arrived to find that a and 3s. for fuel used. policeman and a farmer, roped together, had succeeded in wading to the Arklow, Co. Wicklow — On the 28th station-master and rescuing him.— November, 1938, five men while out in Rewards, £l. their fishing boat rendered help to the trawler Roaming, of Arklow.—Rewards, £2 10s., with £5 for loss of fishing, and Lynmouth, Devon. — On the llth 3s. 4

The Archbishop of Wales' Appeal.1

THE Institution has received from the record of heroic and successful endea- Archbishop of Wales a personal letter vour. They have rescued nearly 5,000 commending the work of the Institu- lives, men and women of all nations, tion to the clergy and members of the and their gallantry is • a national Church in Wales. It is dated 23rd possession of which we should all be January, 1939: proud. They have deserved, and I am sure " I hope that both the clergy and the they have, the admiration and grati- members of the Church in Wales will tude of every man and woman in Wales, always remember the claims upon and I should like to see every man and their sympathy, help and generosity of woman in Wales show that gratitude the Life-boat Service. by giving their personal help to the Our Welsh life-boatmen have a long Life-boat Service." 1 Letters from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster and the Chief Rabbi were published in The Life-boat for June and December, 1938.

From a Life-boat Collector.

The following letter has been received have received from so many people in from a lady who for over fourteen the course of collecting; people I might years has been a collector for one of not have met, and friendships I might the Institution's branches:—• have missed otherwise. "I wish to assure you that all my " I am now an old woman, but hope- efforts on behalf of your great caus ful that I may carry on for a bit and have been well repaid by the friend- leave someone to take my place when ships I have made, and the kindness I I am called awav."

Service.1

A rocket signal somewhere out to sea, A vessel dragging down upon the land, Mayhap the fishing fleet in jeopardy, Swift on the tidings is the life-boat manned. A modern ark up-borne on stormy seas, Buoyant with hope, devotion at the helm, By faith and courage served—and such as these That never watery threat can overwhelm She forges bravely onwards through the spume, An unseen Presence walks the waves again, And once again to fisher folk has come The call that bids them fishers be of men. E. NEWGASS. l Copyright by E. Newgass. 50 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Centenaries of Life-boat Stations. Presentation of Vellums at Dover, and at Wexford and Rosslare Harbour. Two life - boat stations celebrated organizing secretary for the South-East their centenaries in 1938: Dover, of England, and was accepted by the Kent, and Wexford and Rosslare Mayor to be hung in a prominent Harbour, Co. Wexford. In each case position in one of the public rooms at a vellum was presented by the Institu- the Town Hall. tion, signed by the H.R.H. Duke of Kent, K.G., as President, expressing the Wexford and Rosslare Harbour. Institution's appreciation for the volun- A station was established by the tary work of the officers and committee Institution at Rosslare, Co. Wexford, of the station and the devotion and in 1838, as the result of a request by courage of the life-boat crew. Sixty- the Inspector-General of Coastguard. three centenary vellums have now been The Corporation of Wexford granted presented. £30 towards the expenses of the estab- lishment. The first life-boat was one Dover, Kent. transferred from Newcastle, Co. Down. A station was established in 1837 She was replaced by a new boat in the by the Dover Humane Society, and a following year. 37-feet life-boat, built by Elvin, of The early records of the station are Dover, was stationed at Townsend. incomplete, but it appears to have In 1853 the Dover Humane Society been closed for some time after 1851 decided to place a new boat at the until 1858. In that year a small life- station. The Institution contribvited boat was stationed there. In April, to the cost, and the boat was built by 1859, the American immigrant ship Clarkson, of London, of a material Pomona was wrecked near Rosslare, which he had patented, composed of with the loss of 386 out of the 409 alternate layers of laminae, canvas, people on board. In the following cork and wood, fastened to each other November a second station was estab- with marine glue. In 1855 the life-boat lished. The first was known as Ross- was taken under the management of lare Fort No. 2 and the second as the Institution, and was replaced by a Wexford No. 1. new boat in 1858. In 1896 a station known as Rosslare The station was closed in 1914, owing Harbour was opened, and Rosslare to the difficulties in manning the boat. Fort No. 2 was closed in the following It was reopened in 1919, and the steam year. life-boat James Stevens No. 3 was In 1921 a motor life-boat, with a stationed there. It was closed again permanent crew, was stationed at in 1922. In 1929 it was reopened Wexford (Rosslare Point), and in the with the present motor life-boat, Sir same year the Rosslare Harbour station William Hillary, a life-boat specially was closed. designed, with nearly twice the speed During December, 1924, and January, of any other life-boat on our coasts, 1925, severe gales, with very heavy in order to protect not only the steamer seas, overwhelmed the station on the but the aeroplane traffic across the point. It had to be abandoned, and straits. The station has had altogether it was eventually washed away. The nine life-boats. life-boat was then kept at Wexford Before 1858 there is no record of itself until 1927, and in that year the launches and lives rescued. Since 1858, present station was opened at Rosslare when the first life-boat built by the Harbour. Institution was stationed at Dover, Altogether these stations have had there have been 76 launches on service thirteen life-boats. Since 1850 they and 104 lives have been rescued. have been launched on service 310 On May 28th the centenary vellum times and have the splendid record of was presented to the Mayor of Dover 738 lives rescued from shipwreck. by Colonel R. J. P. Wyatt, M.C., the Two gold, twenty-one silver and one MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 51 bronze medal for gallantly have been J. M. Upton, R.D., R.N.R... the Irish awarded by the Institution. In 1914 District Inspector of Life-boats, on the King of Norway awarded silver 30th July, 1938. Among those present medals to Coxswain Edward Wickham, were Major-General B. J. C. Doran, Mr. James Wickham and Mr. William C.B., a vice-president of the Wexford Duggan (who were also awarded silver branch, ex-Coxswain Edward Wickham medals by the Institution), for their and Captain Boyle, son of Coxswain gallantry when the Norwegian schooner Marcus Boyle, who won the silver Mexico ran ashore on South Keeragh medal in 1878. The weather was bad, Island. The Fethard life-boat, which and Coxswain James Wickham and his went to her rescue, capsized, drowning crew were not present, as it was not nine of her crew of fourteen. Ten of thought safe for them to leave the the schooner's crew were then rescued station. In addition to the Mayor of by the Wexford life-boat from the Wexford and Commander Upton, the island on which they had taken refuge, speakers were Mr. Fintan O'Connor, the and two by the Dunmore East life- Rev. J. E. Hazley, rector of Wexford, boat. Mr. W. J. B. Moncas, the secretary of The presentation of the vellum was the Rosslare Harbour station, and Mr. made to the Mayor of Wexford at the E. McCarthy one of the honorary Chamber of Commerce by Commander secretaries of the Wexford branch.

Life-boat Exhibitions in 1938. THE Belfast branch of the Institution two months, from 30th April to 29th had a stand at the Royal Ulster June, 1938. It was visited by over Agricultural Show on 25th-28th May. 10,000 people. Models of pulling and sailing and motor life-boats were shown, photographs An Exhibition at Cramer. of famous coxswains and wrecks, An exhibition in aid of the Cromer and items in the equipment of a branch was held on May 25th. It was modern life-boat, such as the line- arranged by Mr. H. H. Tansley, whose throwing gun, the drogue, an air-case, fine photographs of life-boat work on a searchlight, a signalling lamp, a life- the East Coast have appeared in The belt, and the switch for cutting off the Lfe-boat. He showed a number of his engine of a self-righting life-boat if she photographs of rescues by the Cromer should capsize. Honorary workers of life-boats, and films of the life-boats on the Belfast branch helped to take charge service and of the naming ceremony of of the stall and nearly 500 life-boat the two new motor life- boats by Sir souvenirs of different sorts were sold. Samuel Hoare, Bt., M.P., the Home Secretary, in August, 1937. There were Life-boat Photographs at Rotherham. also on exhibition models of life-boats The exhibition of life-boat photo- lent, among others, by Coxswain Henry graphs, which has already been shown Blogg, and Grace Darling's oar lent by during the past three years in London, Sir Edward Meyerstein. A demon- Edinburgh, Birmingham, York, Brad- stration of life-saving by breeches- ford, Sunderland and Leeds, was buoy was given by the Cromer coast- shown at the Museum and Art Gallery, guard. The exhibition was opened Rotherham, Yorkshire, through the by Lord Suffield, president of the kindness of the Corporation, for branch.

From a Fancy-Dress Dance at Sea. AT a fancy-dress dance held on board He borrowed from the purser the the T.S.S. Voltaire, of Messrs. Lamport life-boat collecting box which is always and Holt, during a cruise, one of the on board the Lamport and Holt liners passengers appeared as a life-boatman. and collected £5 4s. 5d. 52 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Summary of the Meetings of the Committee of Management. Thursday, 10th November, 1938. Laurence, K.C.B., D.S.O., had accepted appointment as an ex-officio member of the Sir GODFREY BARING, Bt., in the chair. committee of management upon being Reported the receipt of the following appointed Admiral Commanding Reserves in special contributions:—• succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Studholme Mr. C. V. Thomas, C.A. . . 1,500 0 0 Brownrigg. R.N.D. . . . 40 0 0 Resolved that the warmest thanks of the Committee of Management be accorded to Accepted the tender of Messrs. William Commander E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., Moss & Sons, Ltd., amounting to £43,630, R.N.R., for his distinguished and valuable providing for the completion of the new services to the Institution, extending over buildings and fittings at Elstree Life-boat thirty years, as district inspector, deputy Dep&t within thirty-three weeks. chief inspector and chief inspector of life- Resolved that the Lytham St. Anne's boats, and that this committee express their station be closed. deep regard for Commander Drury, both as Produced a report on air-raid precautions an officer of the Institution and as a friend. proposed for Life-boat House and resolved Decided that the motor life-boat at present that the Secretary and Chief Inspector be at Lytham St. Anne's be replaced by a reserve directed to consider the question of the motor life-boat, and that the possibility of sending away of important documents to retaining the station be further investigated. some safe place in a future emergency. Reported the receipt of the following Resolved that in the event of a future special contributions:—• emergency instructions for the move of the office and essential equipment to the new Mr. Herbert Kenchington, depot at Elstree be given on the authority of F.R.I.B.A. . . . 50 0 0 the chairman or vice-chairman of the Anonymous . . . 50 0 0 Emergency Committee. Mr. William Gibson, deceased— Paid £28,636 Is. 7d. for the total charges of donation from executors to the Institution during the month, including Dundee branch . . . 50 0 0 rewards for services, payments for the con- Paid £20,394 18s. 2d. for the total charges struction of life-boats, life-boathouses and of the Institution during the month, including slipways, and the maintenance of life-boat rewards for services, payments for the con- stations. struction of life-boats, life-boathouses and Included in the above were :— slipways, and the maintenance of life-boat £155 3s. 3d. to pay the rewards for life-boat stations. services; Included in the above were:— £250 17s. 6d. to pay the rewards for life- £576 18s. to pay the rewards for life-boat boat launches services; (Accounts of these services and launches £502 12s. 3d. to pay the rewards for life- appear on pages 27-30); boat launches £5 16s. 6d. for the assemblies of crews, etc.; (Accounts of these services and launches £20 12s. 8d. on account of pensions already appear on pages 30—iO); granted to the dependent relatives of men who had lost their lives in the life-boat service £14 10s. for the assemblies of crews, etc.; at Rye Harbour; £25 15s. lOd. on account of pensions already £19 11s. to men for injury in the life-boat granted to the dependent relatives of men service at Aldeburgh, Newbiggin, Rhyl and who had lost their lives in the life-boat Southend. service at Rye Harbour; Voted £30 on account of additional rewards £23 3s. to a woman helper for injury in the to the crews of the Ballycotton, Holyhead life-boat service at Lynmouth. and Stromness life-boats. Voted £80 7s. 6d. on account of additional rewards to the crews of the Aldeburgh, Voted £1 2s. to pay the reward for a shore- Barmouth, Filey, Great Yarmouth and boat service at Whitstable, account of which Gorleston, New Brighton, Peel, Port Erin, appears on page 47. Selsey, Skegness and Southend-on-Sea life- boats. Thursday, 8th December, 1938. Voted £29 18s. to pay the rewards for the Sir GODFREY BAKING, Bt., in the chair. Barmouth, Boulmer, Campbeltown, Lyn- mouth, Nairn, Walton-on-the-Naze, Whitby Resolved that the Flamborough No. 2 and Withernsea shoreboat services, accounts station be closed forthwith. of which appear on pages 47 and 48. Resolved that the Dungeness No. 2 station be closed on the 31st March, 1939. Decided that the services of Engineer- Friday, 30th December, 1938. Captain A. G. Bremner, O.B.E., R.N., Super- Paid £28,977 4s. for sundry charges in intendent Engineer, be retained for a further connexion with the construction of life-boats, period of one year after 1st January, 1940. life-boathouses and slipways, etc., and the Reported that Vice-Admiral Sir Noel F. maintenance of life-boat stations. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 53

Thursday, 12th January, 1939. granted to the dependent relatives of men who had lost their lives in the life-boat Sir GODFREY BARING, Bt., in the chair. service at Aldeburgh, Caister, Fethard, Filey, Resolved that the invitation of the German Fraserburgh, Holyhead, Johnshaven, The Life-boat Society to the Fifth International Mumbles, New Brighton, Newhaven, Pad- Life-boat Conference to be held in Bremen in stow, Port St. Mary, Rhoscolyn, Runswick, 1940 be accepted, and that the Board of Rye Harbour, St. Andrew's, Troon and Trade be informed that the Institution hope Whitby. that, as at former conferences, the Board of £98 17s. 6d. to men for injury in theiife- Trade will be represented. boat service at Blackpool, Buckie, Caister, Reported that Mr. Stanley J. Aubrey had Falmouth, Lowestoft, Moelfre, Newbiggin, been re-elected chairman of Lloyd's and so Newburgh, Newhaven, Port St. Mary and continued as an ex-officio member of the Teesmouth. committee of management. Voted £23 on account of additional rewards Reported the receipt of the following to the crews of the Gourdon and Torbay special contributions:— life-boats. King George's Fund for Sailors 1,000 0 0 Voted a further compassionate grant of Mr. A. J. Grave, deceased, £22 10s. to Charles Lacock, ex-coxswain of donation from executors . 200 0 0 the Caister life-boat, who served for twenty- Cunard White Star Line, Ltd., five years in the life-boat, and is now in collections on board the straitened circumstances. company's vessels . . 75 0 0 Voted a further compassionate grant of Paid £27,419 3s. 9rf. for the total charges £9 to Andrew Young, ex-coxswain of the of the Institution during the month, including Cloughey life-boat, who is in poor circum- rewards for services, payments for the con- stances. struction of life-boats, life-boathouses and Voted a compassionate grant of £26 to slipways, and the maintenance of life-boat John Kelly, a survivor of the Fethard Life- stations. boat disaster of 1914, who is now in ill- Included in the above were:— health and poor circumstances. £312 17s. 6d. to pay the rewards for life- Voted a special compassionate allowance of boat services; 15s. a week, together with 5s. a week for £240 12s. 7d. to pay the rewards for life- each of two children, to the widow of James boat launches Stonall, a member of the crew of the New Brighton life-boat, who died suddenly four (Accounts of these services and launches days after an arduous life-boat service on appear on pages 40-47); 23rd November, 1938. £14 9s. for assemblies of crews, etc. Voted £9 6s. to pay the rewards for the £13 5s. Irf. for services previously reported; Arklow and Drummore shoreboat services, £327 3s. Hd. on account of pensions already accounts of which appear on page 48.

Member of the Institution's Staff Killed: A member of the Institution's staff, a fractured skull. Mr. Langridge Mr. Thomas Edgar Langridge, was was on the staff of the storeyard killed last Christmas morning. He at Poplar. He was twenty-four years was cycling along a snow-bound road old, and had been in the service of in Wembley, near his home, when the Institution nearly ten years. He he collided with a motor car. Two was married only a few months before hours later he died in hospital from his death.

Halfpennies and Farthings. FOR the eighth year running the has come from a lady in Haslemere, Institution received at Christmas, from her third collection during the year. a lady in Hampstead, a gift of all the The Institution has also received two halfpennies she has collected during collections of farthings, one of 480 from the year. Her collection for 1938 was a lady at Brockenhurst, Hampshire, 552. This was 182 more than in 1937. and the other of 360 from the children Another collection, of 120 halfpennies, of a Sunday School at Chelmsford. 54 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Awards to Coxswains and Life-boatmen. Certificates of Service and Pensions. DAVID PHILLIPS, 16 years second coxswain and 27 years a member of the crew of the The COXSWAIN'S CERTIFICATE OF Angle life-boat. SERVICE, and a PENSION, have been WILLIAM WALKER, 11 years second coxswain awarded to: and 37 years a member of the crew of the WILLIAM MATTHEWS, 20 years coxswain and Margate life-boat. 4^ years second coxswain of the Beaumaris WILLIAM T. JONES, 8 years second coxswain, life-boat. 5J years bowman and 11 years a member THOMAS M. HOHN, 10J years coxswain, 8f of the crew of the Holyhead life-boats. years second coxswain and 11 £ years signalman of the Exmouth life-boat. The LIFE-BOATMAN'S CERTIFICATE OF WILLIAM CURTIS, 9J years coxswain and SERVICE and a GRATUITY has been 3 years second coxswain of the Hastings awarded to: life-boat. FRED HARRIES, 7 years bowman and 2:5 ANGUS MCEACHRAK, 7f years coxswain and years a member of the crew of the Tenbv 4 years second coxswain of the Campbel- life-boat. town life-boat. The LIFE-BOATMAN'S CERTIFICATE OF RICHARD MARTIN, 7J years coxswain and 9J SERVICE has been awarded to: years bowman of the Minehead life-boat. WILLIAM J. THOMAS, OJ years second cox- WILLIAM C. CORIN, 7^ years coxswain, J years swain, 3J years bowman and 18f years a second coxswain, 5 years bowman and 27 member of the crew of the Beaumaris years a member of the crew of the Coverack life-boat. life-boat. JOSEPH STEPHENS, 54 years a member of the crews of the Cadgwith and The Lizard WILLIAM H. JONES, 7 years coxswain and Ill- life-boats.' years second coxswain of the New Brighton WILLIAM HOOPER, 34 years a member of the life-boat. crew of the Tenby life-boat. JAMES CROCKFORD, 26J years a member of The LIFE-BOATMAN'S CERTIFICATE the crew of the Tenby life-boat. OF SERVICE, and a PENSION, have WILLIAM ALLCHORX, 20 years a member of been awarded to: the crew of the Eastbourne life-boat. SAMUEL B. PARKER, 17 years second cox- FRANCIS H. WILEY, 20 years a member of swain, 14J years bowman and 6£ years a the crew of the Cadgwith life-boat. a member of the crew of the Great Yar- EI.IAS GAIJSHAN, 17i years a member of the mouth and Gorleston life-boat. crew of the Beaumaris life-boat.

Awards to Honorary Workers. Honorary Life-Governor. The family of Capt. DAVID REES, who died after forty-seven years as honorary secretary The following have been appointed HONOR- of the New Quay (Card.) station. ARY LIFE-GOVERNORS of the Institu- Mr. THOMAS KENT RIDLER, on his retirement tion and have been presented with a copy after thirty-seven years as honorary secre- of the vote inscribed on vellum and signed by H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, K.G., tary of the Minehead station. President of the Institution. • Major H. R. HILDYAHD, on his retirement Mr. WILLIAM BERTRAM, O.B.E., J.P., has after twenty-three and a half years as been elected an Honorary Life-Governor honorary secretary of the Hythe and of the Institution in recognition of the Dymcrmrch station. valuable help which he has given to the life-boat service at Dunbar and Skateraw Gold Badge. for upwards of fifty years, for over forty of which he has been the honorary secretary The GOLD BADGE, with the RECORD OF of the station. THANKS has been awarded to the Mr. H. P. F. DONEGAN has been elected an following: Honorary Life-Governor of the Institution Mrs. MAY BURTON, president, Ladies' Life- in recognition of the valuable help which boat Guild, Beaumaris branch. he has given to the life-boat service as Mrs. GRACE TURNER, honorary secretary, honorary secretary of the City of Cork Kingston-on-Thames branch. branch for the past twenty-five years. Alderman W. J. DIXON, member of committee and previously chairman, Berwick-on- Tweed branch. Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. Mr. CHARLES DOWNEY, honorary secretary, The THANKS OF THE INSTITUTION City of Limerick branch. INSCRIBED ON VELLUM has been Mrs. MAUD E. FENTON-JONES, honorary awarded to: secretary, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Clacton- Mr. THOMAS W. GOMM, on his retirement on-Sea branch. after twenty-seven years as honorary Mr. LIONEL H. FRANCEYS, honorary treasurer, secretary of the Margate station. Blackpool station branch. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 55

Major H. R. HILDYARD, honorary secretary, Mrs. CORA HALE, honorary collector, Hornsey Hythe and Dymchurch station branch. branch. Mrs. K. BEVAN JOHN, honorary secretary, Mrs. T. HIMSWORTH, J.P., honorary secretary, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Llanelly branch. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Dundee Branch. Mrs. TOM LISLE, worker, Cullercoats branch. Captain H. E. HOLME, R.N., honorary Miss ANNIE TONKS, president, Sutton Gold- secretary, Boxmoor and Hemel Hempstead field branch. branch. Miss MARION JOHNSTON, honorary treasurer Binocular Glass. and previously honorary secretary, Wim- bledon branch. The BINOCULAR GLASS, with inscription, Mrs. MABEL H. LEE, honorary treasurer, has been awarded to the following honorary Watchet branch. secretaries of life-boat stations in recog- Lady MAHR, honorary secretary, Ladies' nition of valuable services: Life-boat Guild, Sunderland branch. Mr. T. A. COOLE, Port Erin; Mrs. E. MASON, honorary secretary, Ladies' Mr. W. L. JARVIS, Falmouth; Life-boat Guild, Carnforth branch. Dr. J. R. W. RICHARDSON, Dover; Miss EIRLYS MORRIS, worker, Barmouth Mr. FRANK RUDDOCK, Courtmacsherry; branch. Alderman CHARLES E. TATHAM. Blackpool; Miss MATTIE R. MURRAY, honorary secretary, Mr. W. H. S. TRIPP, Sunderland. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Gourock branch. Also to: Mrs. WINIFRED PETERS, honorary secretary, Major WILFRED LLOYD, honorary treasurer, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Berwick-on-Tweed Dunmore East; and branch. Mr. ROBERT CROSS, coxswain, The Humber. Miss FANNY M. POLE, honorary secretary, Neath Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Captain F. HOLLINOSWORTH has been awarded Mrs. DORA E. PURSLOW, member of com- a WRISTWATCH, with inscription, in mittee, Sutton Coldfleld branch. recognition of his valuable services as Mr. R. J. RAYNER, F.C.A., honorary auditor, honorary secretary, Newbiggin. Southend-on-Sea branch. Miss FRANCES J. RISHTON, honorary collector, Aneroid Barometer. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, City of Liverpool The ANEROID BAROMETER, with in- branch. scription, has been awarded to Dr. E. Mr. F. S. SEXTON, honorary treasurer and LEVERTON-SPRY for his valuable services life-boat day organiser, Ashford, Middlesex, as honorary secretary of the Porthoustock branch. station for 26 years. Mrs. GEORGINA M. SIMPSON, honorary secre- tary, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Bamber Bridge branch. Life-boat Picture or Statuette of a Life- Mrs. ANNIE J. SMITH, honorary secretary, boatman. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Ince-in-Makerfield The LIFE-BOAT PICTURE or the branch. STATUETTE OF A LIFE-BOATMAN Mrs. W. H. SPINNEY, worker, Hythe and has been awarded to the following: Dymchurch branch. Mrs. JESSIE E. ADDISON, honorary secretary, Mrs. MARY STEPHENS, honorary secretary, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Holyhead branch. Kington branch. Mrs. ETHEL ASHWORTH, honorary secretary, Mrs. A. E. TOMASIX, honorary secretary, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Ashton-under- Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Ryde branch. Lyne branch. Miss MABEL C. UPTON, worker, Coleshill Mr. ALFRED BROWN, honorary assistant district, City of Birmingham branch. secretary, Southend-on-Sea branch. Misiss ISABEL YABSLEY, honorarho y organiser, Mrs. W. F. CARTER, honorary secretary, Chiswick. Bromsgrove branch. Mrs. IRENE CLEMENT, honorary secretary, Record of Thanks. Wadebridge district, Padstow branch. The RECORD OF THANKS has been Mrs. RICHARD DAVIES, chairman and previ- awarded to the following: ously honorary secretary of the Menai Mr. STANLEY AIREY, worker, Leeds branch. Bridge Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Miss EDITH M. E. CLARKE, honorary secre- Miss FLORENCE N. EDEN, life-boat day wor- tary, Irthlingborough branch. ker, Forest Hill. Mr. W. A. T. CLARKE, honorary secretary, Mrs. T. E. FIELD, honorary secretary, Skel- Loughborough branch. manthorpe and Scissett branch. Mrs. IRENE CLAYTON, worker, Leeds branch. Mr. WILLIAM P. FULTON, honorary secretary, Miss ELIZABETH H. GOODALL, honorary secre- Isle of Bute branch. tary, Shepshed branch. Miss LILIAN R. FURNEAUX, organiser of Miss ELIZA J. HEARN, worker, Bridgnorth life-boat day, Forest Hill. branch. Mr. BERT A. F. GAUNT, honorary secretary, Mrs. OLIVER KNOWLES, honorary secretary, Wednesbury branch. Pocklington branch. Mrs. M. D. GILES, honorary secretary, Ladies' Mrs. CHARLES LAYWOOD, honorary secretary, Life-boat Guild, Newport (Mon.) branch. Doncaster branch. The HEADMASTER, STAFF, SENIOR PREFECTS Mrs. E. MAUDE MCALISTER, worker, City of and PUPILS of the Grammar School, Belfast branch. Glossop, for collecting funds for the Mrs. EMILY NIXON, honorary treasurer, Institution in Glossop. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Rhyl branch. THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH. 1939.

Mrs. ANNA M. PEMBOROUGH, worker, Leeds Mrs. VIOLET ROWLANDSOX, honorary secre- branch. tary, Budleigh Salterton Ladies' Life-boat Mrs. E. A. PESTERFIELD, honorary secretary, Guild. Outwood and Stanley branch. Mr. JOHN STEAD, worker. Leeds branch. Miss MAKGARET POWER, honorary secretary, Miss GERTRUDE THOMPSON, worker and Cobham branch. member of committee, Dewsbury branch. Mr. P. C. TOWNER, honorary secretary, Miss NORMA PRICE, honorary secretary, Southborough branch. Upton-on-Severn branch. Mrs. W. A. B. WHELL, honorary secretary, Mrs. REBEHTA PUGH, honorary secretary and Lostwithiel district, Fowey branch. previously member of committee, Ladies' Mrs. H. E. WILTSHIRE, honorary secretary, Life-boat Guild, Rhyl branch. Calne branch. Mr. JOHN ROBERTS, honorary treasurer, Miss HILDA M. WRIGHT, honorary secretary, Llanfairfechan branch. Loughborough branch.

News from the Branches. 1st October to 31st December, 1938. Greater London. for 41 years and on his retirement became honorary secretary of one of its branches. Film premiere attended by H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent at the Odeon Theatre, ROMFORD.— Address to Rotary Club by Leicester Square. (A full account appeared the district organizing secretary. in the last issue of The Life-boat.) ST. ALBANS & DISTRICT.—Life-boat BATTERSEA.—The Rev. P. H. Jones, dance. C.B.E., R.N. (ret.), appointed chairman in ST. PANCRAS.-—Lantern lectures by Mr. succession to Mrs. Mills. C. W. Lawrence, assistant secretary. Mr. Lawrence has resigned the assistant secretary- BEXLEYHEATH.—Bring-and-buy sale ship on receiving an appointment with the and physical training display, with short London City Mission. Lantern lectures by address by the district organizing secretary. Mr. Leckie. BROMLEY.—Address by Mrs. Tucker, SOUTHEND & DISTRICT.—Concert and honorary secretary, to St. Mark's Church presentation by Mr. Henry Channon, M.P., Women's Fellowship. to Coxswain Page of the second-service clasp to his bronze medal for gallantry, and of the BURNT OAK, EDGWARE.—Annual Institution's thanks recorded on vellum to meeting on 25th January, County Councillor second coxswain William Deer, bowman Mrs. Grey-Skinner, chairman, presiding. H. G. Murrell, and assistant motor mechanic Speaker: the district organizing secretary. R. Sanders for a service to three barges on Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day, 20th November. Dance at Canvey Island. dances, entertainments. Amount collected in 1938 £210, an increase of £52 on 1937. TWICKENHAM.—The Mayor appointed president. Mrs. Jarvis appointed honorary CHIPSTEAD.—Mrs. Swallow appointed secretary in succession to Mr. Berkeley Moir, honorary secretary in succession to Mrs. A.R.I.B.A., Mrs. Harris appointed honorary Phillips. assistant secretary. CHISLEHURST.—Address by Sir Godfrey WALTHAMSTOW.—Mr. E. J. Collins Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, to appointed honorary secretary in succession the Wives' Fellowship, at Throwleigh, Shep- to Mr. Boxall. Carol singing. herd's Green (by kind permission of Mrs. Leighton, honorary secretary). Entertain- WATFORD.—Life-boat day. Life-boat ment at Chislehurst cinema. films shown. CLAPHAM.—Whist drives. WELLING.—Whist drives. HACKNEY.—Life-boat dance, attended WOOLWICH.—Special meeting attended by the Mayor and Mayoress. by the Mayor, chairman. Address by the HAMMERSMITH.—The branch has suf- district organizing secretary. A committee fered a severe loss by the death of Mr. J. H. of 16 members elected representing 12 Derbyshire, a member of the committee who organizations in the Borough. Address to gave valuable services at the branch's annual the Rotary Club by the district organizing swimming galas. secretary. ILFORD.—Ladies' Life-boat Guild meet- Lectures at East Ham and Ilford by Mr. ing. The Mayoress presented with badge of E. G. Kempster. Lectures to the Home office as president. Mrs. Elborne, deputy Service association of the Wandsworth & Mayoress, and Mrs. Billington elected vice- District Gas Company at Epsom, Sutton, presidents. The Mayor's father, Mr. J. G. Wimbledon, Worcester Park and Kingston, Farman was in the service of the Institution and to the Alnwick and District Association. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 57

North-West of England. LANCASTER.—Annual meeting on 24th ACCRINGTON.—Annual meeting on 6th November, the Mayor in the chair. Speaker: December, the Mayor, president of the branch, Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., in the chair. Speaker: The district organizing secretary of the Institution. Efforts of the secretary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat past year: House-to-house collection. Amount day, dance and opera collections. Amount collected in 1938, £215. collected in 1938, £176, an increase of £31 on LEYLAND.—American tea at Worden 1937. Hall, by kind permission of Mrs. H. Trevor Annual dance, bridge and whist drive, Wanklyn. organized by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. LEIGH.—Address by the district organ- ADLINGTON.—Whist drive. izing secretary to the members of the Round APPLEBY.—Bridge and whist drive at Table Rotary Club. the house of Mrs. Baker-Courtenay. LIVERPOOL.—Collections on H.M.S. BARROW.—Annual meeting on 23rd Liverpool. Presentation by Colonel J. G. B. November, the Mayor in the chair. Speaker: Beazley, deputy chairman, of the statuette Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., of a life-boatman awarded by the Institution secretary of the Institution. Efforts of the to Miss F. J. Rishton, president of the past year: Life-boat day, dance, whist drives. Calderstones Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount collected in 1938, £303, an increase of £61 on 1937. LYMM AND HEATLEY.—Card evening. Annual dance, bridge and whist drives, LYTHAM.—Annual meeting of Ladies' arranged by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Life-boat Guild on 7th November, Mrs. W. BLACKBURN.—Annual meeting on 15th Milligan, honorary secretary, in the chair. November, the Mayoress, president, in the Speaker: The district organizing secretarv. chair. Speaker: The district organizing Amount collected in 1938, £91. secretary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat Mrs. S. Watson appointed honorary day. Amount collected in 1938, £145, an treasurer. increase of £20 on 1937. MANCHESTER, SALFORD AND BURY.—Benefit performance at Regal DISTRICT.—Annual meeting on 24th Novem- Cinema. ber, the Lord Mayor, president of the branch, CLITHEROE.—Dance. in the chair, supported by the Mayor and Mayoress of Salford, the Chairmen of the Ur- CROMPTON AND SHAW.—Children's ban District Councils for Sale, Knutsford and fancy dress dance. Denton; Mr. V. R. Kenny, M.B.E., Regional DUKINFIELD.—Annual whist drive and Director General Post Office; Mr. P. M. Oliver, dance. Miss Haigh and Mrs. J. H. Beard C.B.E., branch honorary secretary; and Mrs. appointed joint honorary secretaries in place H. Bayfield, president, Chorlton-cum-Hardy of Mrs. N. Cooke, now joint honorary trea- and Manley Park district Life-boat committee. surer. Speaker: Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, FLEETWOOD.—The branch has suffered O.B.E., secretary of the Institution. Amount a severe loss by the death of Mr. W. Hodgkin- collected in 1938, £2,639. son, one of the oldest members of its com- Annual dinner and social evening, in mittee. special celebration of the Grace Darling Fifth annual hot pot supper and enter- centenary, at which the coxswain and mem- tainment to the life-boat crew. bers of the Blackpool and Fleetwood life-boat crews were present. Mr. P. M. Oliver, FORMBY.—Mr. John Andrew, who has C.B.E., honorary secretary, presided, sup- died at the age of 73, was second coxswain ported by the Mayor and Mayoress of Salford. for sixteen years and coxswain for nine years, Speakers: Mrs. Henry Bronnert, honorary retiring in 1919, when the station was closed. secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild and He "was awarded a pension and a certificate president of the Didsbury district Life-boat of service. Guild committee; Councillor Harold Quinney, HINDLEY.—Annual whist drive and chairman of the gentlemen's life-boat com- dance. Two life-boat film shows by Mr. L. mittee ; and the district organizing secretary. Gregory at Argyle Street Council school. Prizes were presented by Miss Nellie Wallace and Wee Georgie Wood, the variety artistes. HOLLINGWORTH.—Beetle drive and Cunard White Star Limited Cruise re- social. union dinner and dance at which the cox- HORWICH.—Annual whist drive and swains and members of the Blackpool, Fleet- dance. wood and New Brighton life-boat crews HYDE.—Address to members of the Gee were present. Cross Circle Methodist Chapel with slides. AUDENSHAW.—Benefit performance KENDAL.—Annual meeting on 6th De- at the Odeon Cinema by kind permission cember, Mrs. G. H. AVhitaker, president, in of Odeon Cinemas, Limited. the chair. Speaker: The district organizing secretary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat CHORLTON - CUM - HARDY. — The day, bridge and whist drive. Amount col- branch has suffered a severe loss by the lected in 1938, £131, an increase of £3 on 1937. death of Mrs. H. Bayfield, president of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. KIRKBY LONSDALE.—Life-boat films, with collections, at Kirkby Lonsdale Cinema. CRUMPSALL.—Annual whist drive. 58 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

DENTON.—Annual bring-and-buy sale RAMSBOTTOM.—Annual meeting on 19th and whist drive, opened by Miss Ann Penn, December, the chairman of the Ramsbottom the B.B.C. impressionist and mimic. Urban District Council presiding. Amount NEW MOSTON.—Annual dance. Din- collected in 1938, £88, an increase of £8 on ner and dance at which Mr. P. M. Oliver, 1937. C.B.E., honorary secretary of the Manches- ROMILEY.—Annual meeting on 22nd ter, Salford and District branch, presided, November, Mrs. Kinsey, president, in the supported by Councillor Hague. chair. Speaker: The district organizing PRESTWICH. — Chrysanthemum and secretary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat budgerigar show, organized by Mrs. II. W. day and military whist drive. Amount Horrocks, honorary secretary of the collected in 1938, £44, an increase of £2 on Ladies' Life-boat Guild committee. The 1937. show was opened by Mrs. Wolstenholme, Whist drive. J.P., of Walshaw, and Councillor A. Naylor, J.P., chairman of the Prestwich RUNCORN.—Special meeting on 16th Urban District Council presided. The November at the house of Mrs. N. A. Bos- Cycle Queen of Great Britain attended by well, Commander W. L. Rossiter, R.D., kind permission of Riding's Stores, Ltd. R.N.R., presiding. Speaker: The district organizing secretary. Ladies' Life-boat Guild SALFORD.—Address by the branch formed. Chairman, Mrs. J. Beck; honorary secretary to members of the Windsor treasurer, Mrs. McCulloch; joint honorary Institute. secretaries, Mrs. C. R. Rooke and Mrs. F. M. URMSTON.—Annual dance and whist Fraser. drive. ST. HELENS.—Annual meeting on 2nd WALKDEN, WORSLEY AND DIS- December, the Mayor in the chair. Speaker: TRICT.—Special meeting on 15th Novem- The district organising secretary. Efforts ber. Mrs. Dixon appointed honorary of the past year: Appeal by the Mayor, secretary in succession to Mrs. Higgin- exhibition of arts and crafts, whist drive. bottom. Annual dance and whist drive. Amount collected in 1938, £78, an increase WHALLEY RANGE.—Whist drive, of £67 on 1937. organized by Mrs. R. Millner, president of SANDBACH.—Annual meeting on 9th the Life-boat Guild committee. November. Speaker: The district organizing MARYPORT.—Annual social and enter- secretary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat tainment given by the Ladies' Life-boat day. Amount collected in 1938, £32. Guild to the life-boat crew. Miss F. Gillespie appointed honorary secretary of the Ladies' SOUTHPORT.—Annual meeting on 8th Life-boat Guild in succession to the late December, the Mayor in the chair. Speaker: Miss Leighton. The district organizing secretary. Efforts of MORECAMBE AND HEYSHAM.—An- the past year: Life-boat day, bridge and nual meeting on 24th November, the Mayor, whist drives, bring-and-buy morning coffee president of the branch, in the chair. Speaker: sale. Amount collected in 1938, £259. Lieut.-CoI. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., Mrs. F. Whittaker appointed chairman in secretary of the Institution. Efforts of the the place of Mrs. G. H. Hibbott. past year: Life-boat day, fishermen's con- Bring-and-buy morning coffee sale, organ- certs, dance and beetle drive. Amount ized by Mrs. Claff. collected in 1938, £315, an increase of £74 on STOCKPORT.—Annual whist drive and 937. dance. American tea, arranged by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. TOTTINGTON.—Jumble sale. NORTHWICH.—Special meeting on 16th WALLASEY.—Annual meeting on 3rd November, Mrs. Gillbert in the chair. November, Mrs. John Williams, chairman, Speaker: The district organizing secretary. presiding in the absence of the Mayor. Ladies' Life-boat Guild formed. Chairman, Speaker: Mr. W. W. Harris, J.P., vice- Mrs. Gillbert: honorary treasurer. Mrs. B. M. chairman and honorary secretary of the Thornton; honorary secretary, Mrs. L. New Brighton committee, and honorary Hinton. Treasure hunt and puzzle compe- secretary of the Port of Liverpool branch. tition. Address to the members of Weaver- Whist drive and dance. ham Women's Institute. WARRINGTON. — Annual meeting on OLDHAM.—Annual dance. 30th November, the Mayor, president, in the ORRELL.^Annual whist drive. chair. Speaker: The district organizing POYNTON.—Annual meeting on 17th secretary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat November, Mrs. Cecil Bentham, president of day, bring-and-buy sale. Amount collected the branch, in the chair. Speaker: The in 1938, £206. district organizing secretary. Efforts of the WESTHOUGHTON.—Annual meeting on past year: Life-boat day, dance and whist 30th November, Councillor W. Lowe, chair- drive. Amount collected in 1938, £53, an man of the branch, presiding. Efforts of the increase of £10 on 1937. past year: Life-boat day, whist drive. Amount Mrs. E. Rains elected honorary treasurer in collected in 1938, £25, an increase of £2 on place of Mrs. P. Lees. 1937. RADCLIFFE.—Whist drive. Whist drive. MAKCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 59

WIGAN AND STANDISH.—Annual NEWCASTLE - UPON - TYNE.—Bridge meeting on 7th December, the Mayor in the drive. chair. Speaker: The district organizing NORTH SUNDERLAND.—The station secretary. Efforts of the past year: House- has suffered a severe loss by the death of to-house collection, bridge and whist drive. Mr. M. R. Norris who had been its honorary Amount collected in 1938, £174, an increase secretary for 10 years. Both his father and of £32 on 1937. grandfather served in the life-boat, and his WORKINGTON.—Annual dances. family had been associated with the station for 70 years. North-East of England. NORTHUMBERLAND.—County life-boat ALNMOUTH AND BOULMER.—Annual ball. meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. REDCAR.—The station has suffered a BEDLINGTON.—Whist drive. severe loss by the death of Captain J. T. BERWICK-ON-TWEED.—Annual meet- Shaw. He had been the honorary secretary ing on 23rd November, the Mayor presiding. for 19 years and in 1931 was awarded in- Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day. scribed binoculars by the Institution. Amount collected in 1938, £127. ROTHERHAM.—Life-boat ball. Dance and whist drive at Spittal. SCARBOROUGH.—Whist and bridge BLYTH.—Annual meeting of the Ladies' drive. Life-boat Guild. Amount collected in 1938, £16. SEAHAM.—Young people's dance. Whist drive and dance. SELBY.—Annual meeting of the Ladies' BRIDLINGTON.—Bridge and whist drive. Life-boat Guild. Amount collected in 1938, £58. CONISBOROUGH.—Bridge drive. Bridge drive. DARLINGTON.—The branch has suffered a severe loss by the death of Alderman SOWERBY BRIDGE.—Whist drive and George R. Young, who was its honorary dance. secretary from 1911 to 1933, and from 1933 SPENBOROUGH.—Bridge and whist until his death, its chairman. He was drive. awarded the life-boat picture in 1921, and in 1934, the gold badge which is only given STAMFORDHAM.—Concert. for distinguished honorary services. SUNDERLAND.—Mr. James M. Brown Bridge and whist drives. who has died at the age of 76, was second- DONCASTER AND DISTRICT.—Dance coxswain for 13 years and coxswain for 10 at Bentley. years. He letiied in 1916, and was awarded FILEY.—Annual meeting on 2nd Decem- a pension and a certificate of service. ber, Mr. R. M. Robson presiding. Efforts Dance. Christmas party. of the past year: Life-boat day, whist drive TYNEMOUTH.—Annual meeting of the and dance. Amount collected in 1938, Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount collected £243, an increase of £57 on 1937. in 1938, £14. GATESHEAD.—Bridge drives. WAKEFIELD.—Military whist drive. HALIFAX.—Annual meeting on 27th January, the Mayor presiding. Efforts of WEST HARTLEPOOL.—Annual meeting the past year: Life-boat day, whist drive and of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount dance. Amount collected in 1938, £307. collected in 1938, £117. Whist and bridge drive. HARROGATE.—Annual meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount collected WOOLER.—Annual meeting of the in 1938, £179. Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount collected in 1938, £5. HAUXLEY AND AMBLE.—Bridge and whist drive. YORK.—Address by district organizing HECKMONDWIKE.—Bridge and whist secretary to conservative club and York drive. Round Table. HOLMFIRTH.—Whist drive'and dance. Midlands. HUDDERSFIELD.—Annual meeting of BELPER.—Life-boat film "Story of the the Ladies' Life-boat Guild on 2nd December. Life-boat" shown. Amount collected in 1938, £272, an increase of £9 on 1937. BIRMINGHAM.—Collections at the Alex- andra, Royal, and Empire theatres, at KEIGHLEY.—Bring-and-buy sale. Bingley Hall Circus, at the Birmingham Ice KIRKBURTON.—Bridge drive and dance. Rink and at the West Bromwich Albion football ground. Concert arranged by Mr. S. LEEDS.—Collection at thQ Empire. Poynton, West Bromwich, attended by the Dance. Bring-and-buy sale. Whist drive Mayor. Life-boat balls in Botanical gardens, and dance at Headingley. Edgbaston. Addresses to the Young People's Society, Smethwick; St. Andrews Women's MARKET WEIGHTON.—Whist drive. Unionists and the Unionists of St. George's MEXBOROUGII.—Bridge drive. Institute, Edgbaston, 60 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

BRISTOL.—Life-boat ball. Lantern lec- CHATTERIS.—Life-boat day. ture by Mr. G. F. Igglesden, honorary CHELMSFORD.—Christmas whist drive. treasurer, to British Legion. CHICHESTEK.—Life-boat film " The CLEETHORPES.—Christmas fair and Story of the Life-boat" shown, with collect- sherry party by kind permission of Mrs. ions. Locking at the Cliff hotel. CHORLEY WOOD.—Bridge party. Carol KENILWORTH.—Whist drive. singing. MATLOCK.—Ex-Inspector Joseph Ken- CLACTON.—Annual meeting of the nedy appointed honorary secretary. Address Ladies' Life-boat Guild; Mrs. F. M. H. by the district organizing secretary to the Coleman, J.P., president, in the chair. Rotary Club. Speaker: Captain E. S. Carver, R.D., R.N.R., NORTHAMPTON.—Annual meeting, Mr. the Institution's superintendent of stores. C. E. D. Archer, chairman, presiding in the Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day, absence of the president, Councillor W. H. whist drive, and church collections. Amount Percival, supported by Mrs. Harvey Reeves, collected in 1938, £144. vice-president, and Mr. C. Mobbs, vice- Golf competition. Whist drive arranged chairman. Amount collected in 1938, £198. by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Visit of the NOTTINGHAM.—Annual meeting. Lieut.- motor life-boat to the Mid-Barrow and Commander G. J. Mackness, D.C.S., R.N., Barrow Deep lightships with Christmas chairman, presiding in the absence of the gifts from the people of Clacton. Duke of Portland, K.G., P.C., G.C.V.O., The thanks of the Institution inscribed on patron, supported by the Lord Mayor, vellum, awarded to Coxswain Charles Ellis president, and the Lady Mayoress. Speaker: for the rescue of seven German yachtsmen last June, presented to him by Lieut.- The district organizing secretary. Commander P. E. Vaux, D.S.C., R.N., chief Life-boat ball. inspector of life-boats, at a dinner given by OLDBURY.—Annual meeting, Mrs. M. R. the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Growcott, J.P., chairman, presiding. Amount CLAYGATE.—Carol singing. collected in 1938, £44. CROMER.—Annual meeting, Lieut.-CoI. RUGELEY.—Life-boat ball. F. A. G. Noel, chairman, presiding. Efforts STOKE-ON-TRENT AND NEWCASTLE- of the past year: Life-boat day, life-boat UNDER-LYME.—Collections at the Theatre cup competition, exhibition. Amount col- Royal, Hanley and at the Port Vale football lected in 1938, £573. ground. Whist drive, organized by the Cinema collection. Newcastle Ladies' Life-boat Guild. DORKING.—Bridge and whist drives. WARWICK.—Life-boat day. EASTBOURNE.—Annual meeting, Mr, Ernest Armstrong, chairman of the branch WOLVERHAMPTON.—Life-boat ball. and a member of the committee of manage- Address by the district organizing secretary. ment of the Institution, presiding. Speaker: Lectures at Bromsgrove and Daventry. Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Institution. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat days in Eastbourne South-East of England. and district, and other collections arranged by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount ALDEBURGH.—Presentation by the collected in 1938, £1,524. Certificates of Mayor of the certificate of service awarded service awarded by the Institution to two by the Institution to Coxswain J. Pead on members of the crew, and records of thanks his retirement. awarded to four honorary workers, presented ATTLEBOROUGH.—Life - boat day. by Lieut.-Col. Satterthwaite. Life-boat film " The Story of the Life-boat" EPPING.—Whist drives at Epping and shown. Theydon. Dance. BEXHILL.—Annual meeting, Rear- ESHER.—The branch has suffered a severe Admiral C. A. M. Sarel, O.B.E., R.N., loss by the death of the honorary secretary, chairman, presiding. Efforts of the past Mrs. Chapman. year: Cinema collection and golf competition. Amount collected in 1938, £139, an increase FOLKESTONE. -Series of bridge parties. of £36 on 1937. FOREST ROW.—Branch formed. Hon- BLETCHLEY.— Whist drives. orary secretary, Miss I. Young. BOGNOR REGIS.—Carol singing. GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLES- TON.—Annual meeting, Lieut.-Commander BURNHAM (BUCKS).—Branch formed. H. K. Case, D.S.C., R.N.R., chairman, pre- Honorary secretary, Mrs. Richardson. siding. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day, badminton and tennis tournaments, BYFLEET AND PYRFORD.—Dance. a whist drive, and a golf competition, CANTERBURY.—The branch has suffered arranged by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. a severe loss through the deaths of the Amount collected in 1938, £285, an increase chairman, Surg.-Captain K. H. Jones, R.N., of £31 on 1937. M.B.. F.Z.S., and Sir Reginald T. Tower, On Armistice Day, llth November, the K.C.M.G., C.V.O., a member of the committee. motor life-boat put out, and a service i n MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 61 memory of those who lost their lives at sea SELSEY.—Visit of the motor life-boat to in the Great War was conducted on board the Owers lightship with Christmas gifts by the vicar. Afterwards wreaths were cast from the people of Bognor Regis, Chichester, on the sea. and Selsey. Informal visit to the life-boat station of SHERINGHAM.—Annual meeting, Mr. Sir John Simon, G.C.S.I., K.C.V.O., P.C., H. E. S. Upcher, J.P., C.C., president, in the M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer. Whist chair. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day drive at Filby. Dance arranged by the and exhibition. Amount collected in 1938, Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Part proceeds of collection at annual fisherman's church £263. service. Lantern lectures to schools by SHOREHAM HARBOUR.—Dance at Lieut.-Commander Case. Southwick. HASBOROUGH AND DISTRICT.— SITTINGBOURNE AND MILTON Whist drive and dance at Bacton. Christ- REGIS.—Whist drive and dance. mas party at Wroxham, in conjunction with SUDBURY.—The branch has suffered a the Norwich Mutual Service Club, including severe loss through the death of the honorary a whist drive and show of life-boat films. treasurer, Sir George Whitehouse, K.C.B., HASTINGS AND ST. LEONARDS.— J.P. Annual meeting, Commander John Bray, TOLLESBURY.—House-to-house collec- V.D., R.N.V.R., chairman, presiding. tion. Speaker: Mr. H. S. H. Burdett-Coutts, a member of the committee of management TUNBRIDGE WELLS.—" Ideal Sale." of the Institution. Efforts of the past year: Lectures at Groombridge Women's Institute Life-boat days at Hastings and Battle, by Captain Basil Hall, R.N., and at Rusthall blessing-of-the-sea service, life-boat Sunday, Women's Institute by Miss Dorothy Davies, church collection, cinema and theatre collec- chairman of the branch. tions. Amount collected in 1938, £625. Competition at Nevill golf club. HITCHIK—Life-boat film "Boats that WALTON AND FRINTON.—Annual Save Life" shown, with collections. meeting, Mr. J. W. Eagle, J.P., chairman, presiding. Efforts of the past year: Life- HYTHE AND DYMCHIJRCH.—Series boat day and life-boat Sunday. Amount of lantern lectures by Mr. Clayton Rickard, collected in 1938, £210. the honorary secretary, at which the life-boat The motor life-boat took out Christmas film " Boats that Save Life" was shown. gifts to the Sark and Kentish Knock light- IPSWICH.—Carol singing. vessels from the people of Walton-on-Naze and district. KESSINGLAND.—Whist drive and dance. WELLS-ON-SEA.—Whist drive and dance. KNEBWORTH.—Branch formed. Hon- Life-boat film " The Story of the life-boat" orary secretary, Mrs. Philip Kerr. shown. LITTLEHAMPTON. — Annual life-boat WORTHING.—Mr. William Blann, who has ball. died at the age of 78, was second-coxswain for LOWESTOFT.—Annual meeting, Mr. F. 22 years and coxswain for 10 years, retiring Spashett, J.P., chairman, presiding. Efforts in 1930 when the station was closed. He was of the past year: Life-boat day. Amount awarded a pension and a certificate of service. collected in 1938, £224, an increase of £12 Since then he had been the caretaker of the on 1937. boat-house which was still left open to Dance. visitors although the station had been closed. MARGATE AND HERNE BAY.— Lectures were also given to the Chobham Visit of the motor life-boat to the Tongue Unionist Association, the Horley Towns- and Edinburgh lightships with Christmas women's Guild, and to the Women's Instit- gifts from the people of Margate, and to the utes at Althorne, Buxted, Flimwell, Graffham, Girdler lightship with Christmas gifts from Hollingbourne, Leaden, Roding and Warfield. the people of Herne Bay. Awards won in the life-boat essay competit- ion for elementary schools were presented at RAMSGATE. — Life-boat films "Boats Aylesbury. that Save Life " and " Heroes of the Sea " shown to school children. Visit of the motor life-boat to the Brake lightship with Christ- South'West of England. mas gifts from the people of Ramsgate. APPLEDORE.—Annual meeting, Captain The Hon. Denys Scott, president of the RYE AND WINCHELSEA.—A memorial branch, in the chair. Amount collected in service was held in Rye Harbour church for 1938, £289, an increase of £86 on 1937. the seventeen life-boat men who lost their lives ten years ago on 15th November, 1928. BATH.—Carol singing. Lantern lecture Lecture at Icklesham Women's Institute. by Mr. G. E. Farr of the Bristol Shiplovers' Society, to St. Luke's Literary Society. ST. IVES (HUNTS).—-The branch has suffered a severe loss through the death of BOURNEMOUTH.—Mr. S. J. Rees, J.P., Mrs. G. G. G. Wheeler, for many years F.R.G.S., vice-president of the branch, has president of the branch, and a holder of the been elected a Freeman of the borough of Institution's gold badge. Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. 62 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

BUDE.—Annual meeting, Captain A. B. 15 years and coxswain for 17 years, retiring Barrow, R.N., in the chair. Amount collect- in 1901, with a pension and certificate of ed in 1938, £146, an increase of £25 on 1937. service. CAMBORNE.—Annual house - to - house REDRUTH.—Jumble sale. collection. Jumble sale. Sacred concerts SALISBURY.—Special Sunday concert at at the Scala theatre. the Regal Theatre, by the massed Royal CREDITON.—Bridge drive. Marine Bands of the Portsmouth Naval EXETER.—Three performances of "The Command, and the Portsmouth Royal Naval Two Mrs. Carrolls " by Mrs. Gamble and her Singers. Speaker: Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., company, arranged by The Viscountess chairman of the Institution. Sidmouth. SEATON.—-Lantern lecture to Ryall's FALMOUTH.—Annual meeting. Amount Court school, by the Rev. W. Robins, •collected in 1938, £150. honorary secretary. Whist drive, organized by the Ladies' SOUTHAMPTON.—Whist drive, organ- Life-boat Guild. Prizes presented by Mr. ized by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. J. Snell, coxswain of the Falmouth life-boat. SWANAGE.—Lantern lectures by Mr. FARNBOROUGH.—House - to - house E. L. Millward, honorary assistant secretary. collection. WATCHET.—Annual meeting, Mr. H. K. FOWEY.—Whist drive, organized by the Hole, chairman, presiding. Amount col- Ladies' Life-boat Guild. lected in 1938, £103, an increase of £9 on GOSPORT.—Annual meeting, Colonel R. 1937. F. A. Sloane-Stanley, J.P., president of the branch, and a member of the committee of WESTON - SUPER - MARE.—Christmas management, in the chair. Amount collected vouchers presented to life-boat crew by the in 1938, £129, an increase of £24 on 1937. Ladies' Life-boat Guild. The life-boat took out Christmas gifts to the English and Welsh ISLE-OF-WIGHT :— Grounds lightship. COWES.—American tea. Annual ball and children's dance, organized by the WEYMOUTH.—Annual meeting, Major Ladies' Life-boat Guild. J. H. C. Devenish, president and chairman of the branch, presiding. Amount collected NEWPORT.—Address by Sir Godfrey in 1938, £319, an increase of £52 on 1937. Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, to Presentations of record of thanks awarded the Townswomen's Guild. by the Institution to Captain A. C. Denman, RYDE.—Presentation of prize won in former branch honorary treasurer, and framed the life-boat essay competition for element- photograph from the life-boat crew to Mr. ary schools, by Alderman A. Andrews, Butt, former acting honorary secretary. vice-chairman of the Isle-of-Wight Edu- Officials of the branch and crew entertained cation Committee. to dinner by Major Devenish. LIZARD.—Presentation of certificates of The life-boat took out 200 Christmas service awarded by the Institution to Lizard parcels to the men on Shambles lightship. and Cadgwith life-boat men. Lectures to Norwich House School, King- LYNTON AND LYNMOUTH.—Annual ham, Oxon, and Bedales School, Petersfield. meeting, Mr. H. F. Saltmarsh, president, in the chair. Amount collected in 1938, Scotland. £124, an increase of £4 on 1937. ABERDEEN.—Annual life-boat ball, MINEHEAD.—Annual meeting, Lieut. attended by the Lord and Lady Provost and H. M. Brandram, R.N.R., chairman of the over 900 guests. branch, presiding. Amount collected in 1938, £188, an increase of £6 on 1937. ARBROATH.—Annual meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Lady Chapel, in the OXFORD.—Annual meeting, the Mayor, chair. Speaker: The district assistant sec- president, in the chair. Speaker: Lieut.-Col. retary. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the day and Sunday concert. Institution. Efforts of past year: House-to- house collection, life-boat day. Amount ARDRISHAIG.—Visit of the Tobermory collected in 1938, £635. motor life-boat. Presentation of awards by the Institution AYR.—Mr. John Morrison, who has died to honorary workers. at the age of 67, was second-coxswain for PAIGNTON.—Whist drives and bridge over 6 years and coxswain for 25 years, drive, organized by the Ladies' Life-boat retiring in 1932 when the station was closed. Guild. He was awarded a pension and a certificate PLYMOUTH.—Annual meeting, the Lord of service. Mayor presiding. Amount collected in 1938, AYTON AND BURNMOUTH.—Military £447. whist drive, with address by the district Dinner-dance, organized by the Ladies' assistant secretary. Dance at Burnmouth. Life-boat Guild. Collection at Plymouth Argyll Football Ground. Social at Bere BANFF, MACDUFF, WHITEHILLS Ferrers. AND GARDENSTOWN.—Annual meeting, Mr. John H. Liscock, who died last year ex-Provost James Christie, chairman, pre- at the age of 91, was second-coxswain for siding. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat , 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 63

days life-boat cruises, dancing displays, whist certificate of service awarded to him by the drives. Amount collectedin 1938, £165. Institution. Whist drives at Banff and Macduff, Whist drive and dance, arranged by the arranged by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Ladies' Life-boat Guild. BUCKIE.—Variety concert, organized by GLASGOW.—Lantern lecture by the Rev. the Townswomen's Guild and Mr. A. W. David McQueen, M.A., to the Young People's Thomson. Address by Mr. James Archibald, Association of Govan Congregational Church. Lord Lieutenant of the County and president Lantern lectures. of the branch. GREENOCK.—Annual meeting on 17th DUMBARTON.—Bridge and whist drive. November, Mr. S. M. Turnbull, presiding. Speakers: Mr. J. D. Shannon, Mr. D. M. DUNBAR.—Whist drive at Innerwick, Ferguson, Mr. Colquhoun, Mr. A. R. Stewart arranged by the Women's Rural Institute. and the Scottish organizing secretary. Presentation by Mr. T. Wilson Fish, chairman Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day and of the branch, of Christmas gifts to the crews lantern lecture. Amount collected in 1938, of Dunbar and Skateraw life-boats. £167. DUNDEE.—Concert arranged by Dundee Performance of the life-boat play " Their Invalid and Cripple Children's Dramatic Business in Great Waters" by the Union Society. Street Church Dramatic Club. IRVINE.—Mr. Alexander Sinclair who DUNOON.—Annual meeting on 13th has died at the age of 82, was bowman of the December, Mrs. McArthur Moir, president of Irvine life-boat for nearly 7 years, and the Ladies' Life-boat Guild in the chair. coxswain for 16 years, retiring in 1914, when Speaker: The district assistant secretary. the station was closed. He was awarded Efforts of the past year: Life-boat balls and a certificate of service and a special pension. life-boat day. Amount collected in 1938, At one time the life-boat crew was almost £174, an increase of £34 on 1937. entirely qomposed of Sinclairs. Concert at Innellan, Sir Norman Lament, Bt., of Knockdow, presiding. ISLE OF BUTE.—Annual whist drive and dance. The Marchioness of Bute, EDINBURGH.—Address by the Scottish D.B.E., president of the Ladies' Life-boat organizing secretary to St. Paul's Church Guild, in the chair. The Duke and Duchess Mothers' Union, Mrs. R. H. Maconochie, a of Montrose were present and the prizes were vice-president of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, presented by the Duchess. in the chair. Lantern lectures. ISLE OF ISLAY.—Dance at Bowmore, EYEMOUTH.—Annual meeting on 26th arranged by Mrs. Fisher. October, Sir Christopher Furness, Bt., pre- KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE. — Annual sident of the branch, in the chair. Efforts meeting on 7th December, Sir Charles Hope- of the past year: Life-boat day. Amount Dunbar, Bt., of St. Mary's Isle, president, collected in 1938, £38. in the chair. This meeting was preceded by FORT WILLIAM.—Annual meeting on the annual meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat 16th December, The Lady Hermoine Cameron Guild, the Countess of Galloway, president of Lochiel, president of the Ladies' Life-boat in the chair. Efforts of the past year: Guild, in the chair. Efforts of the past Life-boat days, house-to-house collection, year: Life-boat days and evening party. concert, sale, cabaret dance, whist drive, Amount collected in 1938, £79, an increase boat card collections and lantern lectures. of £59 on 1937. Amount collected in 1938, £201, an increase of £33 on 1937. GALASHIELS.—Annual meeting on 12th January, the Countess of Haddington, LANARK.—Life-boat day. president of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, in LOSSIEMOUTH.—Whist and bridge drive the chair. Speaker: The district assistant and dance. secretary. Efforts of the past year: Daffodil MONTROSE.—Cinema matinee, organized day and appeal for subscriptions. Amount by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Mrs. collected in 1938, £90, an increase of £15 Macpherson Grant of Craigo, presiding. on 1937. Speakers: The Countess of Airlie and Mrs. GIRVAN.—Annual meeting of the Ladies' Forsyth-Grant of Ecclesgreig. Life-boat Guild, Mrs. J. Blair, president, in NAIRN.—Annual meeting on 16th Novem- the chair. Efforts of the past year: Whist ber, Commander A. R. Chalmer, R.N., drive and dance and life-boat day. chairman, presiding. Efforts of the past Special meeting at which ex-Provost J. year: Life-boat day and appeal for sub- McCrindle, chairman of the branch, presented scriptions. Amount collected in 1938, £50. to Coxswain James McCartney the certificate of service awarded to him by the Institution. PAISLEY.—Annual life-boat service in Speakers: Commander J. M. Upton, R.D., Paisley Abbey conducted by the Rev. W. J. R.N.R., district inspector of life-boats, and Baxter, M.A., of Dowanhill Church, Glasgow. Mr. J. Brewster, honorary treasurer of the branch. PETERHEAD.—Annual dance. Special meeting, ex-Provost J. McCrindle RENFREW.—Annual meeting on 7th chairman of the branch, presiding. The December, Miss Lobnitz of Ross Hall, vice- Marquess of Ailsa, president of the branch, president of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, in presented to Second-Coxswain Ingram the the chair. Speaker: The district assistant 64 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

secretary. Efforts of the past year: Appeal MARKET DRAYTON.—Miss M. W. for subscriptions. Amount collected in 1938, Jones appointed honorary secretary. £35. NEATH.—Bridge and whist drive. TROON.—Annual meeting on 3rd Novem- NEWPORT, MON.—Annual life-boat ball, ber, ex-Provost McAlister, president of the organized by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. branch, in the chair. Efforts of the past year: Whist drive, joint church service, PENARTH.—Annual life-boat ball, organ- life-boat day and appeal for subscriptions. ized by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Amount collected in 1938, £157. PONTYPOOL.—Special meeting to re- Whist drive. organize the branch, Mr. H. H. Pratt, J.P., Lectures at Johnstone, Tillicoultry, and presiding. Speaker: The district organizing Uddingston. secretary. Mrs. Llewellyn Hughes ap- pointed honorary secretary. Wales. WREXHAM.—Special meeting, the Mayor (Including Herefordshire, Monmouthshire presiding, to reform the branch. Speaker: Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the and Shropshire.) Institution. Mrs. Arthur Davies appointed ABERGAVENNY.—A special meeting to honorary secretary. re-organize the branch, the Mayor presiding. Speaker: The district organizing secretary. Ireland. Miss G. Savegar appointed honorary secre- BANGOR.—Bridge drive. tary. BELFAST.—Life-boat ball. BANGOR.—Ladies' Life-boat Guild din- ner. Guest of honour, the Lady Penrhyn. CORK.—Annual life-boat dance. Golf Speaker: The district organizing secretary. competition. Presentation of prize in the life-boat essay competition for elementary BARRY.—Bridge and whist drive organ- schools. ized by the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Prizes DUBLIN.—Carol singing. Presentation presented by Mrs. Richard Read. of prizes in the life-boat essay competition CAERNARVON.—Special meeting, the for elementary schools. Deputy Mayor presiding, to form a branch. DUN LAOGHAIRE.—Presentation from Speaker: Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman Irish station branches to Commander J. M. of the Institution. Upton, R.D., R.N.R., district inspector of CONWA Y.—Annual meeting of the Ladies' life-boats, on his transfer from Ireland to Life-boat Guild on 10th November, Mrs. the east coast of England, by Mr. J. P. Guyse Barker, the chairman, presiding. Dooge, P.C., chairman of Dun Laoghaire Speakers: The Mayor and the district Borough Council. Representatives from organizing secretary. Efforts of the past many branches attended and the speakers year: Appeal for annual subscriptions and included the chairman and the honorary life-boat day. Amount collected in 1938, secretaries of Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Wex- £129, an increase of £7 on 1937. ford, and Wicklow. Mrs. J. McGachen appointed joint honorary LIMERICK.—Presentation by the Mayor secretary. of Limerick of the wrist watch awarded by HEREFORD.—Annual meeting on 31st the Institution to Master Thomas Long for January, Vice-Admiral F. P. Loder Symonds, his gallantry in rescuing a drowning man on C.M.G., J.P., chairman, presiding. Speaker: 14th June, 1938. Speakers: Mr. C. Downey, The district organizing secretary. Efforts of honorary secretary of the Limerick branch the past year: Appeal for annual subscrip- and the district organizing secretary. Golf tions, house-to-house collections, whist drive, competition. jumble sale. Amount collected in 1938, £43. PORTAFERRY.—Carol singing, organized LLANDYSSUL.—Life-boat day. by Miss Peggy McCleery.

From a Working Man. A GIFT of ten shillings has come from He wrote: " I feel that their thanks as a working man at Southend-on-Sea in well as mine are due to the Life-boat gratitude for the rescue of three men Institution. I am only a working man, by the Southend motor life-boat with a family to keep, so I cannot afford Greater London. He had never seen much help in the way it deserves. I the three men before, but had let am sorry I cannot make it much them have his boat to go fishing. more." MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 65

Services of the Life-boats of the Institution during 1938. Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. Jan. 2. 8.17 a.m. Fishing cobles of Filey. Filey pulling and sailing life-boat escorted cobles into safety. 3. 12.50 a.m. Sailing barge Melissa, of London. Ramsgate motor life-boat saved barge and rescued ______2 ,, 4. 1.40 p.m. Fishing boats Peggy, If, and Billy Boy, of Aldeburgh. Aldeburgh No. 1 motor life-boat saved three boats and rescued - — - 7 „ 11. 11.30 a.m. Motor fishing boats Viper and Brothers, of Portrush. Portrush motor life-boat saved two boats and rescued _____ 9 12. 8.20 p.m. A motor fishing boat of Arranmore. Arranmore motor life-boat escorted boat into safety. „ 13. 5.45 p.m. Boat of trawler Prevail, of Dublin. Poolbeg pulling life-boat saved boat and rescued —__ — __ — _ — — __ 2 ., 15. 5.15 a.m. S.S. Fermanagh, of Belfast. Tenby motor life-boat _ _ _ _ 8 ., 15. 7.9 a.m. S.S. George J. Goulandris, of Andros. Barry Dock motor life- boat saved vessel and rescued -__ — __ — __ 28 „ 15. 12.30 p.m. S.S. Suffolk Coast, of Liverpool. Angle motor life-boat took a doctor out to vessel. ,, 15. 1.55 p.m. S.S. Spero, of Newcastle. St. David's motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 15. 2.40 p.m. Barra Head lighthouse boat. Barra Island motor life-boat escorted boat to safety „ 18. 2.46 p.m. Fishing coble Breadwinner, of Holy Island. Holy Island motor life-boat escorted coble into harbour. ,, 19- 3.27 a.m. Fishing vessel Rostellecois, of Camaret. Padstow No. 1 motor life-boat ------3 „ 20-21. Midnight. S.S. Plasma, of Glasgow. Kirkcudbright motor life-boat stood by vessel. 21. 3.15 a.m. S.S. Nora, of Liverpool. Ramsey motor life-boat stood by vessel. ,', 21. 3.0 p.m. Barra Island motor life-boat took a doctor to Vatersay Island. „ 24. 11.7 a.m. Thirteen fishing cobles of Newbiggin. Newbiggin pulling and sailing life-boat escorted cobles into safety. ,. 24. 4.30 p.m. A lighter of Plymouth. Padstow No. 2 motor life-boat saved vessel. „ 29. 1.50 a.m. S.S. Rivelin, of Liverpool. Holyhead motor life-boat escorted vessel into safety. „ 29. 6.30 a.m. S.S. New Verdun, of Plymouth. Bembridge motor life-boat escorted vessel into safety. „ 30. 12.20 p.m. Motor fishing coble Comrade, of Scarborough. Scarborough motor life-boat saved coble and rescued ------2 ,. 30. 7.24 p.m. Steam trawler Richmond Castle, of Dundee. Broughty Ferry motor life-boat ------8 „ 31. 4.55 a.m. Boat of steam trawler Ben Chourn, of Aberdeen. Lerwick motor life-boat saved boat and rescued — — — _- — ___ 4 „ 31. 7.30 p.m. S.S. Alba, of Panama. St. Ives motor life-boat - - - - - 18 Feb. 1. 3.36 a.m. ) S.S. Falavee, of Belfast. Campbeltown motor life-boat rescued 9.35 a.m. / crew and saved vessel — — — — — — — __ — __ 8. 4.30 a.m. Steam trawler Lord Keith, of Lowestoft. Lowestoft motor life- boat assisted to save vessel and rescued — — __ — — - 10 „ 10. 12.25 p.m. Fishing boat Urgent, of Cromer. Cromer No. 1 motor life-boat stood by boat. ,, 10. 2.32 p.m. Motor fishing vessel Ivo Luc, of Zeebrugge. Wick motor life-boat saved vessel and rescued _ — — — -______4 „ 11. 4.20 a.m. The Edinburgh light-vessel. Margate motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 12. 2.0 a.m. S.S. Ben Varrey, of Ramsey. Douglas motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 12. 10.30 a.m. Fishing boats Ina, Rejoice, and Margaret A. Johnson, of Blyth. Blyth motor life-boat escorted boats into harbour. „ 12. 11.0 a.m. Motor fishing boats Endeavour, Pilot Me, and Success, of Whitby. Whitby No. 1 motor life-boat stood by boats. „ 12. 12 noon. Motor fishing boats Mary Joy, Hyperion, Margaret, and Floreat, of Scarborough. Scarborough motor life-boat escorted boats into harbour. „ 12. 5.15 p.m. S.S. Deeneood, of London. The Humber motor life-boat escorted vessel into safety. » -12. 7.35 p.m. Motor boat Salvor, of Ramsgate. Ramsgate motor life-boat saved boat and rescued - — — — — — — _ — — __ 3 66 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. Feb. 12. 5.25 p.m.) Barge Chieftain, of London. Walton and Frinton motor life- „ 13. 8.0 a.m. J" boat rescued 3 and saved barge -____-___ 3 " *1 IA qqP m I Auxiliarv schooner Skjoldborg, of Fredrikshavn. Boulmer „ 12. 4.

Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. June 2. 5.10 a.m. Yacht Saladin, of Southampton. Dover motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued — — _ — ____ — -___ 3 „ 2. 8.30 a.m. Motor fishing boat Water Lily, of Yarmouth. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor life-boat escorted boat into safety. „ 2. 2.0 p.m. Fishing boat Restless Wave, of Arbroath. Arbroath motor life- boat escorted boat into harbour. „ 5. 1.46p.m. Yacht Nirvana, of Ardrossan. Dover motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — 4 ,, 0. 2.35 p.m. Yacht Dozmnre, of Caernarvon, Moelfre motor life-boat escorted yacht into safety. 10. 6.45 p.m. Schooner Minnie, of Peterhead. New Brighton No. 1 motor life- boat saved boat and rescued -____ — — ___ 4 ,. 11. 9.40a.m. Motor schooner Agrees Craig, of Dublin. Rosslare Harbour motor life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 19. 0.55 p.m. Motor launch Irene, of Amble. Boulmer motor life-boat ren- dered assistance. ,, 21. 7.10 p.m. Motor fishing boats Lizzie and William Cecil, of Annalong. Newcastle, Co. Down, motor life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 24. 2.5 a.m. Yacht Orchis, of London. Ramsgate motor life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 24. 6.20 a.m. Motor crab boat lolanda, of Brixham. Torbay motor life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 25. 3.0 p.m. Auxiliary yacht White Wings, of Cardiff. Barry Dock motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued ------4 „ 27. 1.30p.m. Eight motor fishing cobles, of Alnmouth and Boulmer. Boulmer motor life-boat escorted cobles into safety. ,, 29. 4.20 p.m. Yacht Narwhal, of Blyth. Blyth'motor life-boat rendered assis- tance. July o. 12 noon. Motor boat Pastime, of Skippool. Fleetwood motor life-boat saved boat and rescued ---_ — -- — — — — — 4 3. 3.50 p.m. Steam drifter Sailor King, of Lowestoft. Wick motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 4. 8.48 p.m. Yacht Helen, of Hamble. Bembridge motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued ------4 „ 13. 9.0 p.m. Motor yacht Cobra, of London. Newhaven motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 16. 4.10 p.m. Motor yacht Ocean Pride, of Buckhaven. Dunbar motor life- boat saved yacht and rescued —--- — - — - — — 4 „ 17. 3.11 p.m. Motor cruiser Andy, of Portsmouth. Swanage motor life-boat saved boat and rescued ------2 „ 17. 11.30 p.m. Motor yacht Naida, of Greenock. Cloughey motor lifa-boat rendered assistance. ,, 24. 3.15 p.m. R.A.F. Seaplane K.9686. Port Erin motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 24. 5.17 p.m. Motor vessel Oceana, of Shoreham. Shoreham Harbour motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 27. 11.30 a.m. Auxiliary yacht Florence 11, of Southampton. Exmouth motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued------2 „ 29. 11.10p.m. Sailing dinghy Taffy, of Guernsey. St. Peter Port motor life- boat saved boat and rescued ------3 ,, 30. 10.30 p.m. Motor cruiser Sea Spray. Blackpool motor life-boat landed 5. Aug. 1. 1.35p.m. Motor barge yacht Betsy, of Maldon. Walton and Frinton motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued ------4 „ 1. 10.58 p.m. S.S. Queen of Kent, of Rochester. Ramsgate motor life-boat landed 91.' „ 2. 1.2 a.m. Motor fishing boat Blanche, of Cleethorpes. Skegness motor life-boat landed 1. „ 3. 11.14a.m. Motor cruiser fta«/, of Folkestone. Hythe motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 4. 4.31 a.m. Auxiliary yacht Gisele Aimee, of St. MaLi. Weymouth motor life-boat assisted to save yacht and rescued —-- — — — 3 „ 4. 8.45a.m. A. small yacht. Torbay motor life-boat escorted yacht to harbour. „ 4. 5.30 p.m. Sailing boat Chance. Aldeburgh No. 1 motor life-boat escorted boat to safety. „ 5. 6.45 a.m. S.S. Esther Maria, of Copenhagen. Falmouth motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 7. 8.20 a.m. Steam trawler Capricornus, of Grimsby. The Humber motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 7. 8.24 a.m. Motor vessel John M., of London. Sheringham motor life-boat stood by vessel. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 69

Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. Aug. 9. 1.5 a.m /Dutch motor vessel Frederik, and the steam trawler Ben Aden, 1.45 p.m. •I of North Shields. Sunderland motor life-boat stood by I vessels. „ 11. 8.25 a.m. Steam drifter Young Mun, of Lowestoft. Tynemouth motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 11. 10.40 a.m. S.S. Fagerheim, of Tonsberg. Cullercoats motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 12. 4.35 a.m. \ Steam trawler Hood, of Aberdeen. Gourdon motor life-boat 2.45 p.m. / stood by vessel. „ 12. 9.38 p.m. Motor fishing boat Victory, of St. Abbs. St. Abbs motor life- boat saved boat and rescued ------2 „ 10. 3.45 p.m. Rowing boat Boy Sam, of Falmouth. St. Ives motor life-boat saved boat and rescued ------l ,, 16. 6.0 p.m. Auxiliary yacht Ivernia, of London. Dover motor life-boat saved yacht and rescued ___ — _-_-_ — — 4 „ 1C. 11.20 p.m. Steam trawler Nogi, of London, and boat of steam trawler Hatano, of London. Galway Bay motor life-boat rescued 12 and 4. - 16 „ 17. 12.22 p.m. Motor fishing vessel Valkyrie II, of Fraserburgh. Fraserburgh motor life-boat saved vessel and rescued _- — — — — — 8 „ 17. 3.40 p.m. Rowing boat Annie, of Sunderland. Sunderland motor life-boat saved boat and rescued -__--__-___- 2 „ 19. 12.15 p.m. A bathing float. Torbay motor life-boat ---- — -- l „ 19. 1.5 p.m. Yacht Vera, of Burnham-on-Crouch. Southwold motor life- boat saved yacht and rescued ------2 ,, 19. 1.7 p.m. Sailing yacht Sunshine, of Boston. Aldeburgh No. 1 motor life- boat saved yacht and rescued — — — — — — — — — — 4 „ 23. 6.20 a.m. Steam trawler Polar Prince, of North Shields. Cullercoats motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 25. 3.17a.m. Yacht Bryony, of Southampton. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 25. 7.50 a.m. Steam drifter Carry On, of Lowestoft. Aberdeen No. 1 motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 28. 11.8 a.m. Auxiliary schooner James Postlethwaite, of Dublin. Ferryside pulling and sailing life-boat rendered assistance. „ 29. 2.50 a.m. S.S. Salerno, of Hull. The Humber motor life-boat rendered assistance. Sept. 7. 10.15 p.m. Sailing boat Zephyr, of Baltimore. Baltimore motor life-boat rendered assistance. 8. 2.45 p.m. A small boat of Bracklesham. Selsey motor life-boat saved boat and rescued — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 2 9. 3.24 p.m. A small boat and a canoe. Shoreham Harbour motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 13. 10.18 p.m. Motor vessel Tempo, of Groningen. Ramsgate motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 15. 4.40 a.m. Steam trawler Excellent, of Boulogne. Lowestoft motor life-boat stood by vessel. ,, 16. 6.41 a.m. Barge Oceanic. Ramsgate motor life-boat landed an injured man. » 16. 3.7 p.m. Sailing boat Sea-gull, of Lowestoft. Lowestoft motor life-boat saved boat. „ 17. 12.16 a.m. St. Mary's motor life-boat took a sick man to Penzance. „ 19- 10.0 a.m. Fishing cobles Comrade and Royal Empire, of Whitby. \Vhitby No. 1 motor life-boat escorted cobles into harbour. „ 19- 5.0 p.m. Motor fishing boat Patriot, of Rosslare Harbour. Rosslare Har- bour motor life-boat escorted boat into harbour. „ 23. 3.40 p.m. Auxiliary yacht Veryan. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor life-boat escorted yacht into safety. ., 29. 4.45 a.m. Steam trawler Worsley, of Grimsby. Longhope motor life-boat 9 „ 29. 6.52 p.m. R.A.F. seaplane L.2237. Wick motor life-boat - - - - - 4 „ 30. 11.40 a.m. Motor cruiser Black Bess, of Oulton. Aldeburgh No. 1 motor life-boat saved boat and rescued ------l Oct. 2. 10.5 a.m. Four small boats of Ramsgate. Ramsgate motor life-boat saved boats and rescued _-___-______- 15 „ 2. 10.30 a.m. Two fishing boats of Shoebury. Southend-on-Sea motor life- boat landed 17. (A. rowing boat of Margate. Margate motor life-boat saved boat 11.15 a.m. I and rescued ------2 1 Yacht Engadine, of Margate. Margate motor life-boat saved I yacht and rescued _--__--_----- 4 1.42 p.m. Boat Kestrel, of Liverpool. New Brighton No. 1 motor life-boat saved boat and rescued ------2 70 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. Oct. 2. 5.45 p.m. Auxiliary yacht Manx Girl, of Ramsey. Fleetwood motor life- boat landed 5. „ 3. 5.20 p.m. Pile driver Topmast III, of Southampton. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, motor life-boat — — — — — — — — — — — — 7 3. 5.25 p.m. S.S. Florence, of Liverpool. Arbroath motor life-boat - - - 7 „ 3. 5.53 p.m. Two boats from H.M.S. Franklin. Ramsgate motor life-boat escorted boats to safety. .. 3. 9.15 p.m. Schooner Westward, of London. Margate motor life-boat stood by vessel. ,, 4. 9.30 a.m. S.S. River Humber, of Bristol. Pwllheli motor life-boat escorted vessel into safety. „ 4. 12.45 p.m. The Mumbles motor life-boat took food to R.E. Territorials marooned at Mumbles Fort. „ 4. 11.0 p.m. A rowing boat of Bayble. Stornoway motor life-boat landed 1 from a trawler. " 8. 10.40 a.m. S.S. Kyle Prince, of Liverpool. Holyhead motor life-boat - — 9 8. 7.45 p.m. Drifter Rambler Rose, of Banff. Scarborough motor life-boat escorted vessel into harbour. „ 9. 2.40 a.m. Motor fishing boat Mercedes, of Donaghadee. Donaghadee motor life-boat saved boat and rescued -__ — — — - — — 5 » 10. 1.40 p.m. Rosslare Harbour motor life-boat landed a sick man from the Lucifer Lightvessel. .. 12. 6.45 p.m. St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, motor life-boat took a sick man to Penzance. 15. 4.10 p.m. Motor yacht Redhead. Falmouth motor life-boat landed 4. ,, 16. 7.5 p.m. A Sea Scouts' motor boat. Skegness motor life-boat rendered assistance. „ 27. 5.0 p.m. Fishing boat Ploughboy, of Aldeburgh. Aldeburgh No. 1 motor life-boat saved boat and rescued — — __ — — — — - 2 >. 31. 11.45 p.m. S.S. Kyle Rona, of Glasgow. Barra Island motor life-boat stood by vessel. Nov. 2. 5.5 p.m. S.S. Cantabria, of Santander. Cromer No. 1 motor life-boat — 5 2. 9.50 p.m. S.S. Cantabria, of Santander. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor life-boat landed 11 from S.S. Pattersonian. „ 9. 4.45 a.m. A small fishing boat of Portrush. Portrush motor life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 17. 12.5 a.m. Arbroath motor life-boat landed a sick man from the Bell Rock lighthouse tender Pharos. „ 18. 3.30 p.m. Fishing boats Pamela and Water Lily, of Ilfracombe. Ilfracombe motor life-boat saved boats and rescued — — — ---— 5 ., 18. 4.15 p.m. Fishing boat May Queen, of Gourdon. Gourdon motor life-boat escorted boat into safety. .. 19. 1.25 p.m. Motor yacht Dawn, of Southend. Southend-on-Sea motor life- boat landed 3. ,, 20. 12.45 p.m. Motor boats I'll Try, and Edward and Ernest, of Great Yar- mouth. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor life-boat saved boats and rescued — — _ — — _ — __ — ___ 12 21. 8.0 a.m. S.S. Redthorn, of Goole. Portrush motor life-boat escorted vessel to harbour. 21. 3.26 p.m. A small fishing boat of Quarff. Lerwick motor life-boat saved boat and rescued ______i 23. 4.30 a.m. S.S. Nora, of Liverpool. Portpatrick motor life-boat - - - 5 23. 7.15 a.m. Barges Ailsa and Britisher, of London. Great Yarmouth .and Gorleston motor life-boat assisted to save vessels and rescued 4 23. 7.30 a.m. Motor fishing cobles Hilda and Kingfisher, of Scarborough. Scar- borough motor life-boat escorted cobles into harbour. 23. 7.45 a.m. Fourteen fishing boats of Filey. Filey pulling and sailing life- boat escorted boats into safety. 23. 8.5 a.m. Barges Grecian and Astrild, of Rochester. Aldeburgh No. 1 motor 23. 8.40 a.m. Twelve fishing boats of Bridlington and the steam drifter Hall Mark, of Buckie. Bridlington motor life-boat escorted fishing boats into harbour and rendered assistance to the drifter. 23. 8.40 a.m. Fishing cobles Mary and Isabella, of Filey. Flamborough No. 1 motor life-boat escorted cobles to safety. 23. 9.45 a.m. Barge Neepawa, of Rochester. Southend-on-Sea motor life-boat 2 23. 9.55 a.m. Fishing boat Progress, of Hoylake, and schooner Loch Ranza Castle, of Annalong. New Brighton No. 1 motor life-boat - - - 7 23. 10.15 a.m. Fishing fleet of Arbroath. Arbroath motor life-boat stood by fishing fleet. MARCH, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 71

Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. .'Barges Cetus and Decima, of London. Great Yarmouth and Nov. 23. 11.30 a.m. J Gorleston motor life-boat — — — — — — — — — — — 4 | Barge Raybell, of London. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor \ life-boat stood by vessel. „ 23. 12.10 p.m. Fishing boat Audrey, of Leigh, and lighter Elmsdale, of London. Southend-on-Sea motor life-boat — — — — — — — — — 2 „ 23. 12.20 p.m. Fishing fleet of Gourdon. Gourdon motor life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 23. 2.24 p.m. Steam drifter Dusty Miller, of Yarmouth. Skegness motor life-boat ------3 „ 23. 4.30 p.m. Barge Una, of Ipswich. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor life-boat ------2 „ 23. 10.45 p.m. Motor boat Gypsy, of Blyth. Hartlepool motor life-boat assisted to save boat and rescued ----__-__-_ 3 „ 25. 7.25 a.m. S.S. Dunleith, of Poole. Lowestoft motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 26. 12.30 a.m. Motor vessel Assurity, of London. Selsey motor life-boat stood by and escorted vessel into safety. „ 26. 1.34 a.m. S.S. Jellicoe Rose, of Liverpool. Plymouth motor life-boat landed 1. „ 26. 3.10 a.m. Barges T.F.C., Glenmore, of Rochester, and Lord Roberts, of London, Southend-on-Sea motor life-boat _ — __ — _ 6 » 26. 3.15 a.m. S.S. Panachrandos, of Andros. Weymouth motor life-boat escorted vessel into safety. ,, 26. 5.10 a.m. Sand sucker Agivey, of London. Ramsgate motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 28. 8.30 p.m. Trawler Roaming, of Arklow. Arklow motor life-boat assisted to save vessel and rescued ------3 Dec. 1. 1.20 p.m. Eastbourne motor life-boat landed a sick man from the Royal Sovereign Light-vessel. 1. 8.55 p.m. ) S.S. Pass of Ballater, of London. Peel and Port Erin motor life- 9.0 p.m. / boats stood by vessel. 4. 7.7 p.m. Fishing boat Lily, of Liverpool. Hoylake motor life-boat - - 3 5. 5.30 p.m. Motor fishing boat Manx Lad, of Peel. Peel motor life-boat saved boat and rescued - — — — — — — — _ — — _ 5 9. 2.40 p.m. Motor fishing boat Channel Pride, of Dartmouth. Torbay motor .life-boat — — — __ — _ — — — _ — _ ^ „ 10, 12.40 a.m. Steam trawler Rinovia, of Grimsby. Stromness motor life-boat assisted to save vessel and rescued — — — — — — — — 19 „ 11. 11.50 a.m. Motor fishing boat Peggy Gordon, of Girvan. Girvan motor life- boat saved boat and rescued ------2 „ 12. 8.10 p.m. Motor drifter Linnet, of Banff. Barrow motor life-boat stood by vessel. „ 13. 3.0 a.m. Motor vessel Kaapfalga, of Heiloo, Holland. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor life-boat assisted to save vessel and rescued 7 „ 15. 7.45 a.m. S.S. Dorothy, of Glasgow. Barra Island motor life-boat saved vessel and rescued — _-__ — — _ — — ___ 4 „ 16. 1.30 p.m. Motor fishing boat Courage, of Scarborough. Scarborough motor life-boat escorted boat into harbour. „ 17. 7.15 p.m. Motor fishing boat Ciceli/, of Castletown. Peel motor life-boat saved boat and rescued -- — - — - — — _ — — — 4 „ 18. 12.45 a.m. Steam trawler Matabele, of Hull. Teesmouth motor life-boat - 18 „ 18. 2.0 p.m. Trawler Lord Wakefield, of Hull. Fraserburgh motor life-boat landed a sick man. „ 18. 8.5 p.m. Schooner Bretonne, of Treguier. Sennen Cove motor life-boat. - 5 „ 18- 10.35 p.m. Barge Youngarth, of London. Yarmouth, Isfe of Wight, motor life-boat ------2 „ 19. 9.2 a.m. Sailing barque Alastor, of Hango. Broughty Ferry motor life- boat assisted to save vessel and rescued — — — — — — — 15 „ 19. 11.25 a.m. Anstrnther motor life-boat took provisions to people on May Island. „ 19. 4.45 p.m. Barge Youngarth, of London. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, motor life-boat took crew out to vessel. 20. 9.10 a.m. Motor schooner M. E. Johnson, of Dublin. Rosslare Harbour motor life-boat ------4 21. 10.0 a.m.'i !', 22. 11.30 a.m. I Motor schooner M. E. Johnson, of Dublin, Rosslare Harbour „ 23. 8.0 a.m. f motor life-boat assisted to save vessel. „ 23. 2.10 p.m.J „ 22. 9.45 a.m. Dredger Foremost 18, of New Brunswick, St. Mary's motor life- boat stood by vessel. 72 THE LIFE-BOAT. [MARCH, 1939.

Persons Time of rescued from 1938. Launching. shipwreck. Dec. 23. 1.30 p.m. Seven motor fishing boats of Whitby. Whit by No. 1 motor life- boat escorted boats into harbour. ,, 23. 2.0 p.m. The fishing fleet of Wick. Wick motor life-boat escorted fishing fleet into harbour. „ 23. 2.30 p.m. Motor fishing vessel Prospecto, of Bridlington. Bridlington motor life-boat saved vessel and rescued — — — -, — — — — — 6 „ 23. 5.15 p.m. S.S. Skarv, of Sunderland. Blyth motor life-boat - - - - 3 „ 27. 2.25 a.m. S.S. Otto H., of Pori. Cromer No. 1 motor life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 27. 12.35 a.m. Steam trawler Cevic, of Fleetwood. Portrush motor life-boat stood by vessel. SUMMARY OF THE YEAR'S WORK. Lives rescued by Life-boats ------546 Lives rescued in other ways for whose rescue the Institution gave rewards ------127 Total of lives rescued ------673 Persons landed from vessels on which they might have been in danger -_--__----.----_-_- 163 Boats and vessels which Life-boats saved or helped to save - - 88 Boats and vessels which Life-boats stood by, escorted to safety, or helped _-_-_------____ over 250 Total number of launches, including those in which for various reasons no services were rendered ------485

Notice. THE LIFE-BOAT is published quarterly and is sent free to all hononary secretaries of branches and the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, to coxswains, honorary workers, subscribers of ten shillings and over, libraries, the principal hotels and the Press. It is the current record of the work of the life-boat service, and the chief means by which it keeps its workers, subscribers, and the general public informed of its activities. Unless you are keeping a complete set of the journal you mil help the Institution, if after reading this number, you will pass it on to a friend. All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I. All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about the journal should be addressed to the Secretary. The next number O/THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in June, 1939.