THE LIFE-BOAT. The Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.
VOL. XXXI. DECEMBER, 1939. No. 340.
THE LIFE-BO AT FLEET Motor Life-boats, 145 :: Pulling & Sailing Life-boats, 15 LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Institution in 1824 to 31st December, 1939 - 67,506
Four Months of War. THE first four months of war, from to vessels in distress from the ordinary 3rd September to the 31st December, perils of the sea. have been the most crowded and 192 of those launches were to vessels hazardous in the whole history of the in distress through the war and 596 life-boat service. lives were rescued from them. 227 Its crews have gone out to the rescue launches were to vessels in distress more often, and they have rescued more from the ordinary perils of the sea, lives, than in any previous four months and 405 lives were rescued from them. in war or in peace. Here are the figures: Life-boats put out to the rescue 419 The Perils and Difficulties of the Service. times. They rescued 1001 lives. In Whatever the cause of distress those those four months they rescued more 419 launches were made, and those 1001 lives than in any four months of the lives were rescued, in face of all the last war, even during 1917 when the dangers and difficulties of war. Life- attack of the German submarines was boats, like other vessels, have been most severe. In those four months exposed to the dangers of attack by they rescued more lives than in two mines, by the torpedoes of submarines, years of peace. by the bombs and machine-guns of aeroplanes. By night they have not 59 Lives a Week. only had to navigate at sea without For the 116 years since the Institution the help of coast lights, but they have was founded, the average of lives had to launch without the help of rescued is eleven a week. the usual floodlights, in complete For'the years of the last war the darkness. Even the maroons used for average is 21 lives a week. summoning the crews have had to be For the first four months of this war discontinued, as they might be mis- it is 59 lives a week.* taken for air-raid warnings, and life- Those figures speak for themselves. boatmen have had to be called out They need no words to emphasize them. individually. Each station has made But it is interesting to see how many of its own arrangements to do this as those launches were to vessels in distress quickly as possible. At some stations on account of the war, and how many special alarm parties have been organ- • The weekly averages for the 116 years and for the ised, each member of which has the last war include lives rescued by shore-boats for which duty of calling out certain members of the Institution rewarded the rescuers. The averaufi for the present war is for lives rescued by life-boats alone. the crew. 178 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. The work of launching and naviga- Stromness was out five times in the ting under the conditions of war, the four months and rescued 22 lives. In dangers of attack while at sea, the those five services the life-boat travelled great increase in the numbers of vessels over 600 miles in very bad weather in distress, the loss of life-boatmen around and through the islands and who have joined the Navy, all these reefs of those dangerous and stormy have made new and severe demands coasts, without aid of lighthouses and on the Institution's crews. light buoys. In spite of these difficulties there has been no failure to launch, or to carry Forty Medals for Gallantry. out any service that was needed, nor During the four months the Institu- even any exceptional delay in launch- tion awarded 11 silver and 29 bronze ing. There has been no serious damage medals for gallantry. to life-boats, and no serious breakdown In the same time it made money in machinery. During those four rewards to the crews and launchers months in which 1001 lives were rescued, amounting to over £9,000. That is there was no loss of life among the life- more than twice as much as the rewards boat crews. made in the same four months at the end of 1938 and the beginning of 1939. On the East Coast. It is on the east and south-east coasts that the burden has been heaviest To the Rescue of Foreign Vessels. From Aldeburgh in Suffolk on 10th At no time has the life-boat service September, 1939, the first life-boat was more faithfully fulfilled what it under- launched to the help of a ship in distress took when the Institution was founded, through the war, the Newcastle steamer to go to the rescue of those in peril Magdapur, with a crew of 80, sunk by round our coasts, in peace and in war, enemy action. The Aldeburgh life- whatever their nationality. During boat rescued 74 men from her. From the four months, life-boats went out that day onwards hardly a day has to the help of 66 vessels of foreign passed without life-boats going out to countries and rescued from them 276 the rescue somewhere round our coasts. lives. They belonged to sixteen The Humber life-boat was launched different eovintries. Three of these 17 times in these four months, and foreign vessels were German aeroplanes rescued 160 lives; Cromer was launched attacking our coasts which had crashed 20 times and rescued 99 lives; Great in the sea or been brought down by our Yarmouth and Gorleston was launched fighter aeroplanes. 18 times and rescued 20 lives. Of one of those foreign ships a Further south, launches were still more Danish ship, sunk by enemy action, numerous. Ramsgate was launched the coxswain of the life-boat which 16 times and rescued 34 lives. Walmer rescued her crew wrote in his report: was launched 26 times and rescued 45 "Five minutes later she went over lives. Margate was launched 23 times on her beam ends and sank. Her crew and rescued 96 lives. Eight of those stood to attention and took off their launches from Margate were made, and caps as she heeled over. It was a 53 of those lives were rescued, in eight pitiful sight to see such a beautiful days. ship go to her doom." On the east coast of Scotland launches have been fewer than on the English New Motor Life-boats. coast, but the services have been long When the war began the Institution and arduous. had under construction 17 motor Wick was out five times in six days lifeboats, It was decided to complete and in those five services rescued 17 them. Seven were completed before lives. On one service Lerwick was out the end of the year, and six of the seven for 17 hours and Aith for 30. On went by sea to their stations. Four another Lerwick was out for 21 hours of the six travelled together from the and Aith for 27. Two days later, in building yard at Cowes up the east the same gale, Aith was out again for coast, through those waters where 27 hours. shipping was most exposed to attack. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 179
THE FIRST WAR SERVICE.
SUNK BY ENEMY ACTION. The British oil tanker " Magdapur " broken in two off A'deburgh on 10th September The photograph was taken by the motor mechanic of the life-boat.
By courtesy of] [ Keystone SEVENTY-FOUR RESCUED. Helping lascars of the " Magdapur's " crew ashore. They were covered with oil. (See page 198.) 180 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
One of those four boats, the new boat for stranded were rescued by a lifeboat- Aberdeen, travelled 561 miles.* and were put aboard the steamer again next day when she refloated. As she went on her way one of her Gifts. crew went below, rushed on deck again, No review of these first four months of and threw a life-boat collecting box war would be complete without mention into the life-boat. It contained of the many special gifts which the £2 3s. Id. Institution has received, some in Yet another gift was £20 from the gratitude from those to whose aid life- officers, passengers and crew of a Dutch boats had gone, others from those who steamer, who were rescued by a Belgian knew that the war must make excep- steamer when their own was sunk tional demands on the service. by enemy action, were wrecked with British, French Dutch, Greek and their rescuers when the Belgian steamer Swedish shipping companies have all went ashore, and were rescued for a sent special gifts. The master of one second time by a life-boat. from small English steamer sent £2 The gifts have varied in amount himself and his crew, saying that from £7,500 from the widow of a dis- they all put aside twopence a week tinguished English admiral to provide for the life-boat service. The crew of a motor life-boat in his memory, to another English steamer which had two shillings from a boy and girl, aged eight and nine, in Southern * A full account of this journey will be found on page 189. Rhodesia.
Economy in Paper. THE great increase in the number of as largely to destroy their value as services since the outbreak of war records of the work of the life-boats. would make it necessary nearly to It is felt to be better to keep them to double the size of The Life-boat if the full length and to delay publication. each quarterly number were to contain Accounts of medal services will be accounts of all life-boat services for published first. Accounts of other three months. services will be published in order of If only because of the economy date as promptly as space allows. in the use of paper which all have There will be one advantage in this been asked to observe in the national delay. It will mean that fuller ac- interest, any such enlargement is counts can be given than would be impossible. Each number must be possible, in the national interest, were kept strictly to 48 pages. they to be published soon after the To cut down the accounts of all services took place. In the present services so as to get them into that space number services for two months are would mean reducing them so severely published instead of for three.
Medals for Gallantry. SILVER and bronze medals for gallantry Yarmouth and Gorleston, Salcombe, have been awarded at the Humber, Torbay, and Falmouth. Whitby, Yarmouth (Isle of Wight), Full accounts of these services will Clacton-on-Sea, Blackpool, Lytham St. appear in later numbers of The Life- Annes, Dover, Broughty Ferry, Great boat.
Seven Times as Much. THE London Fire Brigade collected £78 is seven times as much as its gift for for the life-boat service in 1939. This 1938, when it collected £10. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 181
CROMER'S SERVICE TO THE " MOUNT IDA."
By courtesy o/] [H. ff. Tansley, Cramer THE "MOUNT IDA'S" CREW.
By courtesy of} [P. A. Vicary, Cromer THE LIFE-BOAT'S CREW. Left to right: G. Cox, Robert Cox, I. R Davies, J. J. Davies, junior, W. H. Davies, J. J. Davies, senior (second coxswain), Henry Blogg (coxswain), J. W. Davies, H. T. Davies, F. Davies, R. C. Davies and H. W. Davies (motor mechanic). Robert Cox and G. Cox are father and son, and all the Davies's are members of the same family, and are relatives of Coxswain Blogg. This crew have won between them 14 gold, silver and bronze medals and 19 vellums inscribed with the thanks of the Institution. 182 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
Service to a Greek Steamer at Cromer. AT 6.25 in the morning of the 9th wait until slack water before making October, 1939, the Cronier coxswain another attempt. He took the life-boat learned through the Humber radio and clear of the sands and signalled to the the coastguard that a vessel had gone ship what he intended to do. ashore on Haisborough Sands, thirteen At 2.15 in the afternoon the coxswain miles to the east. A breeze was blow- decided that the tide had slackened ing with increasing force from S.E. by enough for another attempt to be made. E. A very heavy sea was running. Wind and sea, however, had by this The tide was at half ebb. There was time considerably increased. The life- mist and rain. At 6.45 the No 1 boat got alongside and ropes were motor life-boat, H. F. Bailey, was thrown to her from the wreck, but launched. Before launching the cox- they snapped almost at once from the swain had asked the coastguard to get strain put upon them by the heavy seas. the position of the vessel and shortly At least a dozen ropes were snapped. after eight o'clock the life-boat heard There was no hope of being able to on its wireless the coastguard asking keep the life-boat alongside the steamer the Haisborough Light-vessel to tell by ropes. Instead the coxswain used her that the vessel had grounded on the life-boat's engines. He drove the Ower Bank. She was nowhere ahead as the seas broke alongside the near the Haisborough Sands, but ship, and so prevented them from another nineteen miles further on. sweeping the life-boat away from her. At this time the life-boat was near A rope ladder was dropped over the the North Middle Haisborough Buoy. steamer's side and six men climbed She went south towards Middle Hais- down into the life-boat. A seventh borough Buoy and then across the man began the attempt, but when sands to the gap between that buoy about half-way down he hesitated. and the East Haisborough Buoy. The life-boat's crew shouted to him to From there she set a course for the jump. Instead he started to climb Ower, to the north-east. About one back, but before he could get aboard o'clock she crossed the Leman Bank, the steamer again a big sea lifted the and shortly afterwards saw the vessel life-boat right to the top of the ladder aground on the Ower. She was a and the man's leg was crushed between Greek steamer, the Mount Ida of her and the steamer's side. His com- Piraeus, of 4,275 tons, loaded with rades pulled him aboard and did their grain and timber and on her way from best to stop the flow of blood from his Vancouver to Hull. She had a crew of mangled leg. Then they tied him in twenty-nine on board. Hankets and lowered him by ropes The steamer was lying nearly head on from the steamer's port life-boat into to the seas, so that she offered the life- the life-boat. boat no lee. She had a list to star- While the injured man was being board. Part of her bridge had been attended to, no other members of the smashed. Her starboard life-boats had steamer's crew would come down the been carried away. A very heavy sea ladder. Then only about six of the was running on the bank. remaining twenty-two would venture to use it. The others slid down a rope A Dozen Ropes Snapped. from the port life-boat. It was now about 12.30 P.M., and the coxswain approached her on the port Twenty-nine Rescued. side, but before a rope could be thrown It was not until about 3.30 in the the life-boat was struck by two heavy afternoon that the last of the twenty- seas and flung back. The coxswain nine men had been rescued. The life- made a second attempt to get alongside, boat had been alongside the steamer, but he found that the ship had set up held in position there by her engines, such strong cross currents in the tide as for well over an hour. She had been made it impossible for the life-boat to swept almost continuously by heavy remain alongside her. He decided to seas. She had been flung against the DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 183
CROMER'S SERVICE TO THE " MOUNT IDA."
By courtesy of] [P. A. Victory, Cramer EIGHT MEDALS FOR GALLANTRY. Coxswain Henry Blogg (two gold and three silver medals). Second Coxswain J. J Davies (three bronze medals)
By courtesy of] [P. A. Vicary, Crotntr THE ",MOUNT IDA." 184 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. wreck and badly damaged. Only the when news was brought him that a bold seamanship of the coxswain, the vessel was in distress off Bacton, nearly care with which the mechanics had ten miles south-east of Cromer. He handled the engines, and the promptness called out the crew again, stayed only to with which they had carried out the put on dry clothes himself, and went to coxwain's orders had made it possible to the boat-house intending to refuel the keep alongside the steamer at all. H. F. Bailey from the slipway. This The last man rescued, the coxswain was found to be impossible. It was decided that his best way of clearing impossible also, owing to the mishap the sands was to drive straight ahead to the tractor, to launch the Harriot through the seas. This was safely Dixon again, so the biggest shoreboat accomplished, and he made for Cromer available was loaded with forty tins as the best place to land the injured of petrol, and she took them and the man and to get him medical help as crew out to the H. F. Bailey. Two of soon as possible. the life-boatmen brought the shoreboat in again. They narrowly escaped being A Launching Mishap. capsized in the broken water. The There the life-boat arrived at eight H. F. Bailey stood by until they had in the evening, but, with the sea that signalled that they were safely ashore, was running, it was impossible to land and then made for Bacton. A strong the man on the slipway. The coxswain wind was blowing from the south-east. thereupon called out the No. 2 life-boat There was haze and heavy rain, but the Harriot Dixon, which is launched by sea was now moderate. tractor off the open beach. The Harriot The vessel in distress was the steam Dixon was launched at 8.25, with Dr. D. drifter Vera Creina, of Lowestoft, with Vaughan on board. Unfortunately, as ten men on board. She was on her she was being launched, a throttle wire way home from the fishing grounds broke, the engine stalled, and the life- and had run aground. boat was thrown right across the The life-boat reached her at one carriage. A hole was knocked in her o'clock next morning. She was hailed port quarter, the carriage was broken, from the shore and told that the drift- and the life-boat was launched stern er's crew had already been rescued by first. In spite of this mishap she got the Board of Trade's life-saving rocket safely away, and brought ashore the apparatus. The drifter herself was re- injured man, the other twenty-eight floated two days later. rescued men, and the H. F. Bailey's As the life-boat had been damaged crew. The motor mechanic of the during the service to the Mount Ida, H. F. Bailey stayed on board her, with the coxswain, instead of returning to four members of the Harriot Dixon's Cromer, made for Lowestoft, twenty- crew, to look after her while she lay at five miles further south, where repairs anchor. could be started at once. The life-boat The injured man was taken at once arrived there at 6.30 in the morning to the Cromer and District Hospital, and her crew returned by road arriving but there he died of his injuries the next at midday. It was then thirty hours night. since they had set out to the help of The coxswain sent his crew home at the Mount Ida. During those thirty once to get dry clothes and a meal. hours they had been at sea nearly They had then been out for fourteen twenty-one hours and had travelled hours. over JOO miles. A Second Call. Meanwhile, the tractor and the The Damaged Life-boats. carriage of the Harriot Dixon had been The smaller life-boat, Harriot Dixon, completely submerged. They had to was found to have six planks in her be hauled out by means of the winch skin fractured on the port side and a and a wire hawser, a difficult task in hole in one of the air-cases. She was the darkness, wind and rain. The temporarily repaired with a patch of coxswain remained on the beach until copper on the outside, and strengthened this had been done. He then went with timber on the inside. These home, but he had only just got inside, repairs were completed by the 12th DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 185
and the life-boat was then again ready To the ASSISTANT MOTOR MECHANIC for service. J. W. DAVIES, a second-service clasp The larger life-boat, the H. F. Bailey, to the bronze medal which he already was found to have her stem badly holds, accompanied by a copy of the damaged at the forefoot. Four inner vote inscribed on vellum; skin planks, two ribs and two deck To the BOAT SIGNALMAN H. T. beams had been fractured. Twenty DAVIES, and to each of the seven feet of the fender on the starboard side other members of the crew, R. C. had been broken to splinters. The foot- DAVIES, F. DAVIES, J. J. DAVIES, wale was badly split all along the star- JUNIOR, W. H. DAVIES, R. DAVIES, board side. Stanchions had been bent R. Cox and G. Cox, the thanks and the guard chains broken. The of the Institution inscribed on repairs were completed late on the vellum; night of 20th October. The life-boat To the coxswain and each of the was launched next day. She returned eleven members of the crew of the to Cromer, ready for service again, on H. F. Bailey, who went out to the the 22nd October. Mount Ida, a reward of £3 in addition The Rewards. to the ordinary scale reward of £3 6s. This was a very fine service, carried Standard rewards, £41 6s. 6d.; addi- out in very severe weather, and the tional rewards, £36; total rewards, Institution has made the following £77 65. 6d.; awards: To the coxswain and crew of the To COXSWAIN HENRY G. BLOGG a Harriot Dixon who, owing to the third-service clasp to the silver medal accident with the tractor were on duty for gallantry which he already holds, for eleven hours, £1 17s. 6d. each; accompanied by a copy of the vote total rewards, £33; inscribed on vellum; To the coxswain and crew (some of To SECOND COXSWAIN J. J. DAVIES, whom had manned the H. F. Bailey SENIOR, a third-service clasp to the and some the Harriot Dixon in the bronze medal and clasp which he al- service to the Mount Ida) who went ready holds, accompanied by a copy out to the Vera Creina, £1 17s. Qd. of the vote inscribed on vellum ; each; total rewards, £23 2s.; To the MOTOR MECHANIC H. W. Total rewards for the services to the DAVIES, a second-service clasp to the Mount Ida and the Vera Creina, bronze medal which he already holds, £133 8s. 6d. accompanied by a copy of the vote The owners of the Mount Ida gave inscribed on vellum; £50 to the Institution.
Coxswain Henry G. Blogg. BY winning a third-service clasp to Between the years 1828 and 1830 his silver medal for the rescue of the Lieut.-Col. Sir William Hillary, Bt., the crew of the Mount Ida, Coxswain Henry founder of the Institution, was three G. Blogg, of Cromer, takes the first times awarded the gold medal for place in the Institution's records for gallantry in rescuing life in Douglas gallantry. He has now won its gold Bay. Between the years 1838 and medal twice and its silver medal three 1848, Lieut. J. Bulley, R.N., chief times. In the 115 years of the officer of coastguard at Atherfield, Isle Institution's history no other man has of Wight, was twice awarded the gold such an achievement. medal and twice the silver medal. It is a remarkable fact also that of That achievement of Sir William the five services for which these medals Hillary and Lieut. Bulley remained have been awarded, four have been to unchallenged for eighty-five years. It foreign steamers, Swedish, Dutch, was then equalled by Coxswain Blogg Italian and Greek. The other sendee himself when, by winning a second- was to an English barge. scrvicc clasp to his silver medal, he 186 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. had been awarded two gold and two years as coxswain the life-boats have silver medals. been out on service 214 times and Now Coxswain Blogg has beaten it, have rescued 448 lives.* and, although Sir William Hillary still The following are the awards which remains the only man who has won Coxswain Blogg has received: the gold medal three times, Coxswain In 1917, the gold medal of the Insti- Blogg may fairly be said to have tution for the rescue of eleven men of surpassed him. the crew of the Swedish steamer Apart from these three men only Fernebo. five other men have won the gold In 1924, the medal of the Order of medal twice, and of those five only the British Empire, which he received three have won the silver medal also. from the King at Buckingham Palace. One man has won one gold and three In 1927, a second-service clasp to silver medals. One man has won the his gold medal for the rescue of fifteen silver medal five times. These figures men of the Dutch oil-tanker Georgia, show how great is Coxswain Blogg's and a gold watch from the Queen of achievement and how rare the distinc- Holland. tion he has won. In 1932, the silver medal of the Coxswain Blogg became a member Institution, for the rescue of thirty of the Cromer crew in January, 1894, men from the Italian steamer Monte at the age of eighteen. In 1902 he Nevoso, and the silver medal of the was appointed second coxswain and Canine Defence League for the rescue in 1909 coxswain. Thus he was a of a dog from the same steamer. member of the crew for eight years and second coxswain for seven years. In 1933, a second-service clasp to He has now been coxswain for thirty his silver medal for the rescue of the years and, at the age of sixty-three two men of the barge Sepoy, of Dover. can look back upon forty-five years of In 1939, he won a third-service clasp service in the Cromer life-boats. Dur- to his silver medal for the rescue of the ing that time the Cromer life-boats have crew of twenty-nine of the Greek been on service 245 times and have steamer Mount Ida. rescued 502 lives. During his thirty « The above figures are to the 31st Wee-ember, 1939.
To the Rescue of a London Barge at Walton-on-Naze. THE barges Esterel and Yampa, of she swung round, and the line got under London, were on their way from her bottom and was useless. London to Norwich with cargoes of At 9.50 the Walton and Frinton maize on the 4th November, 1939. motor life-boat E.M.E.D. was launched When nearly opposite Orfordness they and a quarter of an hour later she were caught by an easterly gale. Both reached the barge. barges turned back. They struck the Cork Sands. The Esterel succeeded in A Clever Manoeuvre. getting off, with her sprit carried away. The coxswain anchored to. windward She was out of control; the heavy seas and dropped down stern first towards stove in her hatches; she was driven the bow of the barge. When he was ashore east of Walton Pier. It was then off her bow he moved the cable from nine in the morning, and the tide was the forward post of the life-boat to the at half flood. starboard after bollard and then The barge was lying 100 yards from steamed in under the lee side of the the shore, aground in about six feet of barge. By this manoeuvre, which water. She was surrounded by heavy brought his cable tight round the breaking seas, which were smashing barge's bow, he drew the stern of the the bathing huts on the shore. The life-boat against the barge. Lines Board of Trade life-saving rocket were thrown from the life-boat to the apparatus was quickly on the scene, barge, fore and aft, and by keeping and managed to send a line to her, but the boat still steaming ahead, the DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 187
SERVICE TO THE BARGE "ESTEREL."
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\
By courtesy of] [Planet News ASHORE AT WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE.
AFTER THE RESCUE. The Walton and Frinton motor life-boat" E.M.E.D." refuelling after the service to the " Esterel." 188 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
coxswain held her long enough along- find anything of the men. Finally, the side for the master, his wife, the mate coxswain spoke the Walton coastguard, and the dog to jump aboard her. but they had no information to give. It was clear that the men were drowned, A Dangerous Moment. and the life-boat returned to Walton Now came the most dangerous arriving at three in the afternoon. moment. The life-boat was not more This was a very fine service, carried than fifty yards from the rocks, and out under very difficult conditions, and the water was so shallow that she struck it was only through the great skill and the bottom several times. The cox- fine seamanship of Coxswain T. H. swain dared not risk going any nearer Bloom that the crew of the Esterel were the shore, and with so small a space in rescued and the life-boat brought out which to manoeuvre it was most diffi- again from her perilous position prac- cult and hazardous to get clear of the tically undamaged. The coxswain's wreck. He moved the life-boat care- manoeuvre in shifting his cable was a fully astern, hauling on his cable at clever idea very skilfully carried out. the same time, and thus brought her The assistant motor mechanic, F. clear of the bows of the barge. Heavy Bacon, who was in charge of the seas were breaking over her the whole engines in the absence of the motor time. The slightest mistake would mechanic, managed them very skilfully, have put her ashore. When the life- and the signalman, F. Williams, kept boat, going astern, was far enough from in touch with the coastguard through- the shore, the coxswain shifted the out the rescue by means of the search- cable again from the after bollard light, a very difficult thing to do in the to the forward post, went ahead on heavy seas. his engines, and picked up his anchor. The Jife-boat arrived back at her The Rewards. station at 11.30, an hour and forty The Institution has made the minutes after putting out. As soon as following awards: she had landed the rescued she put out To COXSWAIN T. H. BLOOM, the again for, fifty minutes before, the silver medal for gallantry, accompanied coastguard had received from the Cork by a copy of the vote inscribed on Light-vessel a signal that a vessel was vellum; in distress. The honorary secretary of the station, Captain William J. Oxley, To SECOND COXSWAIN WALTEE J. went out with her. There was a very OXLEY, the bronze medal for gallantry, big swell running, with a confused sea, accompanied by a copy of the vote and the gale was blowing fresh from inscribed on vellum; the north-east. To ASSISTANT MOTOR MECHANIC F. BACON, the bronze medal for gallantry, A Long Search. accompanied by a copy of the vote The coxswain made straight for the inscribed on vellum; Cork Sands, as he could see a barge To BOAT SIGNALMAN F. WILLIAMS, ashore there. He reached her in an the bronze medal for gallantry, accom- hour and twenty minutes and found panied by a copy of the vote inscribed her completely submerged. She was on vellum; the Yampa, the sister barge to the To each of the other five members Esterel, which had been with her of the crew, E. OXLEY, A. HALLS, G. when she put back off Orfordness. ALDKICH, A. E. COOK and G. SHAKMAN, Nothing could be seen of her crew. the thanks of the Institution inscribed Very heavy seas were running on the on vellum; sands, and to make certain that no one To the coxswain and each of the was in the rigging, the life-boat made eight members of his crew a reward of two complete circles of the barge. £3 in addition to the ordinary scale Then she made a call on the light-vessel, reward of 19*.—Standard rewards, ke a mine-sweeper, and searched £10 16s.; additional rewards, £27; Wallet, the channel between the total rewards for the service to the rmainland and Gunfleet Sound, for six Esterel, £87 \6s.; rewards for the launch miles, but she could neither learn nor to the Yampa, £10 16s. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 189
A War-time Journey up the East Coast. By COMMANDER J. M. UPTON, R.D., R.N.R., Eastern District Inspector of Lifeboats. EARLY in October, 1939, a month after Next morning we left Newhaven at war had broken out, four new motor seven o'clock. A fresh breeze was life-boats were ready at Cowes to go to blowing, still from the north, and the their stations. Two of them, Lowestoft Aberdeen boat again carried sail until and Hartlepool, were of the 46-feet we had passed Dungeness, when the Watson type, with a cockpit and cabin; wind went ahead. The Lowestoft boat the third, for Tynemouth, was of the then took the Aberdeen boat in tow, 41-feet Watson type, which has two the other two boats keeping close on cockpits, but no cabin. The fourth, either side of her. In this formation for Aberdeen, was of the light 35-feet we continued our journey to Ramsgate. 6-inches Liverpool type, which has a The Aberdeen boat was taking spray shelter over the engine controls but on board all the time that she was in neither cabin nor cockpits. tow. A Norwegian oil tanker entered As these four boats were all for east the Downs with us. We said to one coast stations it was decided that they another what a fine-looking ship she should go together in convoy. The was, painted grey and white. We were Royal Navy was told of our plans, and to see her again two days later. the honorary secretaries of the life-boat stations at all ports of call were asked Submarine Seen. to be ready for us with accommodation The tide was against us and we did and fuel. Each boat was manned by not reach Ramsgate until six in the the coxswain and a skeleton crew from evening. Our average speed for the the station to which it was going. Mr. seventy-four miles was 6.73 knots. J. P. Grant, inspector of machinery, The inner dock had been kept open for was in charge of the engines, and a us and there we lay all night. travelling mechanic was on board On the third morning, 21st October, each of the four boats. Our party we left Ramsgate at 6.30. A moderate numbered altogether twenty-two. breeze was blowing from the north- north-east. The wind and tide made a Cowes to Newhaven. confused sea and towing would have We set out at 8.30 in the morning on been both difficult and uncomfortable, 19th October, choosing that time so so the Aberdeen life-boat went under that the flood tide would be with us all her own power until we had passed the the way to Newhaven, fifty-six miles Kentish Knock Lightvessel at ten in away. An hour after leaving we set the morning. The Hartlepool boat course for the Owers Lightvessel. then took her in tow all the way to A moderate breeze was blowing from Gorleston. the north, and the Aberdeen boat, Off the Suffolk coast we saw the which carries a full set of sails, set periscope of a submarine within 200 all sails and was able to keep sail yards of our port hand. We could on for the whole passage to New- not tell its nationality, and we kept haven. The wind freshened as we our course. approached the Owers and heavy rain The Lowestoft boat left the convoy fell. Patrolling aircraft were busy at its own harbour entrance, and the above us. They came down almost to other three boats continued on their mast height on several occasions to way to Gorleston, where we arrived at examine the convoy, satisfied them- 6.30 in the evening. For that day's selves of our identity, and went on journey of eighty-four miles our average their way with a friendly wave. At speed was 7 knots. Newhaven we spoke to the examination At 6.30 next morning, 22nd October, vessel before being allowed to enter the our fourth day out, we left Gorleston. harbour. It was then 3.30 in the The weather was fine, with a light head afternoon. Our average speed for the wind. The Hartlepool boat again took fifty-six miles was eight knots. Aberdeen in tow. On our way 190 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. we saw the masts of a ship. It The Tynemouth Ladies' Life-boat was our Norwegian friend the oil Guild provided meals for us all and had tanker, which had entered the Downs accommodation ready for the Aberdeen with us two days ago, and which crew. we had so much admired. Later that It was now six days since we had left day she had been sunk by a mine. For Cowes. We had travelled 413 miles. ten miles we steamed through thick We had been at sea for fifty-seven and a oil fuel which covered the white bottom half hours. Our average speed had paint of all the boats. been 7.18 knots. That was a very good Our port of call was Spurn, where we speed considering that we had had head arrived at six in the evening. We had winds all the way from Dungeness to covered tl\e ninety miles at an average Tynemouth and that for most of the speed of 7.83 knots. At Spurn all way we had had one of the boats in tow. sixteen of us were put up at the life-boat Our average speed in fact was only a station by Coxswain Robert Cross, who knot and a quarter less than the maxi- gave us a grand meal night and morn- mum speed on trials of the Hartlepool ing. boat, the fastest in the convoy. We left Spurn at seven in the morning of the 23rd, with a light wind blowing A Tribute to the Crews. from the west, and after clearing the I was now on the boundary of my Binks the Hartlepool boat again took district and Commander T. G. Michel- the Aberdeen boat in tow and towed more, R.D., R.N.R., the northern her all the way to Whitby. WTe ran district inspector, was waiting to take into fog about nine in the morning. over the Aberdeen boat from me, but The visibility was under a mile. Just before I let him take up the story I south of Flamborough Head we passed would say that the arrangements made through a large convoy of ships coming for us by the honorary secretaries at all south, and one of the cruisers gave me ports of call were excellent, and that the a bearing of the head, which we passed travelling mechanics not only kept in the afternoon. The fog then lifted continual watch on their engines to and we reached WThitby at five in the hold the convoy together, but in afternoon. We had travelled sixty-six harbour, where it was their business to miles that day, and our average speed look after the refuelling, they were was 6.6 knots. Most of the day the always last off the boats in the evening tide had been against us. and the first on board them again in the morning. Rumours of a Naval Battle. Every man of our party of twenty- We set out from Whitby at 6.15 on two pulled his weight, and I understand the morning of the 24th and the Hartle- that during the evenings ashore "a pool boat left the convoy and made for good time was had by all." They were her own station. The Tynemouth boat a grand lot of men. I would mention now took the Aberdeen boat in tow. by name Coxswain Thomas Sinclair, of A fresh breeze was blowing from the Aberdeen, three times a medallist for north-west. The sea was short and gallantry. He and his crew of four sharp. The Aberdeen boat took a lot had the worst of the trip. While they of water on board. We reached Tyne- were being towed, which was most of mouth at 12.15 that afternoon, having the time, they got very wet, but they travelled forty-three miles at an average were always cheerful at the end of the speed of 7.17 knots. There the Tyne- day. mouth honorary secretary boarded his life-boat from the examination vessel. Commander Michlemore's Story. He told me that the combination of fog, Commander Michelmore writes: the convoy of ships going south and I took over the Aberdeen life-boat the three life-boats, all seen off Flam- from Commander Upton in the after- borough Head at the same time, had noon of 24th October, and at seven next started a rumour that there had been morning cast off from Tynemouth. A a naval action in the North Sea. All strong breeze was blowing from the day long messages had been coming to north-north-west, with a moderate swell him asking him for information. running from the north-east. The DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 191
A WAR-TIME JOURNEY UP THE EAST COAST.
THE CONVOY. The Hartlepool, Tynemouth and Aberdeen motor life-boats
THE ABERDEEN LIFE-BOAT IN TOW. Both photographs were taken by Mr. J. P. Grant, inspector o{ machinery, from the fourth life- boat in the convoy, the Lowestoft motor life-boat, on the passage from Ramsgate to Lowestoft. 192 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. weather was fine when we started but flung about by the confused seas. It got steadily worse as the wind veered was not until 6.10 in the evening that to the north. When we passed the we reached Arbroath. We had run Inner Fame Lighthouse, just after fifty-four miles that day and our midday, a moderate gale was blowing, average speed had been 5.5 knots. with a heavy, lumpy, head sea, and On 29th October we set off again at hard squalls of hail and snow. We 10.30 in the morning. It was not were now steaming against a strong possible to cross the bar earlier. The tide, and our speed was reduced to 3 wind was still in the north. It had knots. I had intended to reach Dunbar dropped to a fresh breeze, but the that night, but with the head gale this weather got worse as the day wore on, was impossible. We should not have with a freshening wind and a rising sea. arrived until long after dark and the We did not reach Aberdeen until 6.25 water would have been dead low. At in the evening. That day we had run low water, with that sea and no lights forty-one miles at an average speed of showing; it would have been very risky 5.4 knots. to get into the harbour. Instead we put into Berwick-on-Tweed, where we 561 Miles. arrived at 4.30. We had run fifty-three It was then five days since we had miles at an average speed of 5.5 knots. left Tynemouth. We had travelled 148 miles against head winds. For a greater part of the journey the life-boat Storm-bound. had been heavily punished by the heavy Next day, and again the next day, a seas. She had stood up to them well. full north-east gale was blowing, with She had averaged 5.5 knots, making a very heavy sea and fierce squalls of two knots less than her maximum speed hail and snow. For those two days we on trials in smooth water, but she had lay at Berwick waiting for the weather had the tide against her much more to moderate, and although we were glad often than with her. not to be at sea in these conditions, we Since she had left Cowes, ten days were very impatient at the delay. At before, the life-boat had travelled 561 8.30 in the morning of the 28th October miles, and her crew were highly pleased we put out. A heavy sea was breaking with the behaviour and seaworthiness right across Berwick Bar which the of their little boat, and with the life-boat took very well. Once only she reliability of her engine. It did not filled herself. A moderate gale was give a moment's trouble during the blowing. A confused, lumpy sea was whole of this long passage. running. The weather was fine but The men themselves had stood it very intensely cold. We passed St. Abb's cheerfully, but by the time they Head an hour and fifty minutes after arrived they were all exhausted, and starting, and thereafter we had to steer two of them were suffering very much by distant land-marks. In that con- from exposure. Their faces were very fused sea the compass was turning swollen, cut and bleeding. During my somersaults all the time. In the after- three days in the boat I could make no noon the weather got worse, the wind notes, for she was under a continuous backing to the north and freshening. deluge of water, and my hands were too The sea from the east-north-east was swollen from exposure to be able to increasing. All day the boat was being write.
Portrait on the Cover. THE portrait on the cover is of Cox- January 1913 to March 1919, and then swain William Henry Glendewar, of as coxswain until January 1939, when St. Helier, Jersey. He was an officer he retired. On his retirement he was of the life-boat for twenty-six years, awarded a pension and a certificate of serving as second-coxswain from service. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 193 Services of the Life-boats. Reported to the September and October Meetings of the Committee of Management. Launches 123. Lives rescued 253, Services to vessels in distress through enemy action are marked • •• Other services arising out of the war are marked •. September Meeting. was blowing, with a slight sea. The Petertead, Aberdeenshire. — At 2.25 motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was P.M. on the 13th July, 1939, a mess- launched at 6.45 P.M. with the honorary age was received from the Rattray secretary, Mr. J. S. Potter, on board. Head coastguard, through the Peter- She found the auxiliary yacht Marosa, head coastguard, stating that a steam of West Mersea, with a crew of two, on drifter was ashore at Rattray Head. passage to Sudbury, Suffolk. The life- A light E.N.E. breeze was blowing, boat spoke to her and was informed that with a slight sea, and the visibility was help was not needed. The life-boat very poor. The new motor life-boat stood by until the Marosa refloated, Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow, was and returned to her station at 9.50 launched at 2.30 P.M. She found the P.M.—Rewards, £10 14s. steam drifter Ocean Harvest of Great Yarmouth, with a crew of ten and 100 Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. — At 4.15 crans of herrings on board. She was A.M. on the 16th July, 1939, a rolling, and striking very heavily on her message was received from the coast- port side. The life-boat stood by the guard that a vessel had gone ashore at drifter until about 5 P.M. when it was North Head. A light N.E. breeze was evident that she would not refloat with blowing, with a slight sea, and there the flood tide. The life-boat then took was a thick fog. The motor life-boat aboard her crew, with their personal Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow, was belongings, and returned to her station launched at 4.25 A.M. She found the at 6.30 P.M.—Rewards, £4 11*. s.s. St. Ninian, of Aberdeen, on passage from Wick to Leith, with passengers Lynmoutb, Devon.—At about 7.30 and crew numbering thirty-four and a P.M. on the 13th July, 1939, a motor general cargo. As she was lying in a yacht was seen flying a distress signal. dangerous position and the tide was A squally southerly wind was blowing, ebbing the life-boat, at her captain's with a choppy sea. The pulling and request, took off eighteen passengers sailing life-boat Prichard Frederick and three of the crew. She landed Gainer was launched at 7.50 P.M. She them at Peterhead at 5.10 A.M. and found the motor yacht Doric, of Upton- then returned and stood by until the on-Severn, a quarter of a mile off St. Ninian refloated. The life-boat Lynmouth beach, with a crew of three escorted her until it was known on board. One of her engines had what water she was making. When her broken down and the dinghy that she captain was satisfied that she could go was towing had been swamped. A on her way in safety, the life-boat life-boatman was put on board her and returned to her station, arriving at her engine was started. The life-boat 11.45 A.M. The owners of the steamer, then escorted her into Lynmouth and the North of Scotland & Orkney & returned to her station at 8.45 P.M. Shetland Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., The owner of the Doric, who was 021 sent a donation of £20 in gratitude for board her, has made a donation to the this service.—Rewards, £6 14s. 6d. Institution's funds.—Rewards, £30 14s. Stromness, Orkney.—At about 6.10 Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—During the P.M. on the 16th July, 1939, a message evening of the 15th July, 1939, a was received from the Broughness message was received from the coast- coastguard that distress signals had guard that a yacht was ashore on the been heard in the Pentland Firth. This Buxey Sands, but was not showing any was confirmed by a wireless message distress signals. A gentle S.E. breeze from a trawler saying that she was 194 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. ashore in the firth. A light N.E. breeze the-life-boat took on board her crew of •was blowing, with a moderate sea. eleven. She landed them at Seahouses There was a dense fog. The motor and returned to her station at 7 A.M.— life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched at Rewards, £12 18s. 6.30 P.M. Owing to the fog she was guided by wireless. She found the The Humber, Yorkshire.—While re- steam trawler Lynx, of Grimsby, an- turning to Hull after a visit to Spurn chored near Swona. She had refloated on the 23rd July, the small sailing after going ashore and had lost her yacht Pinta, of Hull, manned by five propeller blades. The steam trawler sea scouts, was forced to put back by Beaumaris Castle was standing by her. a rising wind. The sea was moderate, The life-boat stood by until midnight but a fresh westerly breeze was blowing when the Beaumaris Castle took the with heavy gusts. The scouts were in Lynx in tow. The life-boat escorted difficulties with the sails so they the two trawlers to safety and returned dropped anchor, but the anchor dragged to her station at 3 A.M.—Rewards, and the yacht was in danger of going £11 17*. ashore. At 1.45 P.M. the motor life- boat City of Bradford II was launched, Lowestoft, Suffolk.—At 8.21 P.M. and towed the yacht to Grimsby, which on the 17th July, 1939, a message was was reached at 3.25 P.M. After her received from the coastguard that a crew had been given a meal by the canoe, with a boy on board, had Royal National Mission for Deep Sea capsized off Ness Point. A gentle S.W. Fishermen the life-boat returned, breeze was blowing, but the sea was arriving at 8.80 P.M. Thanks and rough. The reserve motor life-boat John donations were sent to the Institution. and Mary Meiklam of Glads wood, on —Permanent paid crew: Rewards, 9*. temporary duty at the station, was launched at 8.20 P.M. Within seven Walmer, Kent.—At 1 P.M. on the minutes the life-boat reached the canoe 29th July, 1939, the coastguard in- and found that a young woman had formed the life-boat station that the swum out to the boy, who could not South Goodwin Lightvessel had re- swim, and was holding him up. They ported a small open boat with a crew of were hanging on to the bottom of the two, drifting on to the Goodwin Sands. canoe, both exhausted and suffering A strong S.W. wind was blowing and from shock and cold. The life-boat took the sea was rough. The motor life-boat them on board, recovered the canoe Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 2) -was and returned to her station at 9.10 P.M. launched at 1.10 P.M. and going towards The Royal Humane Society awarded the South Goodwin saw the boat near the young woman, Miss Ethel Steward, the "race" over old wrecks on the its bronze medal and certificate.— sands. Before the life-boat could reach Rewards, £25 2*. 6d. her she capsized. She had two men on board and the life-boat rescued them Holy Island, Northumberland. - - At from the sea. Then she took in tow X.15 P.M. on the 19th July, 1939, a their boat, the Lou Mani and got back message was received from the Sea- to her station at 3.25 P.M. The two houses coastguard that distress signals men were reported to be German had been heard from the direction of refugees who had set out to row to Longstone Lighthouse. A light England from Belgium.—Rewards, easterly breeze was blowing, with a £9 13.9. 6d. smooth sea and fog. The motor life- boat Milburn was launched at 8.25 Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—-At 1.20 P.M. P.M. She found the s.s. Helmsdale, of on the 30th July, 1939, a man re- Ipswich, loaded with 750 tons of ported to the life-boat coxswain that cement, on passage from Greenhithe the motor fishing boat Point Girl, of to Aberdeen, aground on the Crumstone Ballycotton, which was out with Rock. The life-boat stood by for a anglers, was flying a distress signal while to see if the Helmsdale could be about two miles S.W. of Ballycotton refloated, but as she was half sunk the Light. The motor life-boat Mary Stan- captain decided to abandon her and ford was launched at V .'<$!• V.M. She DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 195
OLD AND NEW.
By courtesy of] [/. Smailes & Son, Rhvl A TUBULAR LIFE-BOAT. The " Caroline Richardson " stationed at Rhyl from 1896 to 1939. She was the third and last of this type, which was designed in 1850. All three were at Rhyl. This type had a double hull, consisting of two floats, meeting at each end, with a grating deck in between.
• •
By courtesy of] [/. Smailes & Son, Rhyl THE "GORDEN WARREN." A motor life-boat of the 32-feet surf type which replaced the tubular life-boat at Rhyl in 1939. 196 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. found the boat, with her propeller fouled August, 1939, the coastguard informed by a rope, drifting to sea and shipping the life-boat station at Swanage that a water. She had a crew of four. As a sailing yacht had capsized off Christ- strong westerly breeze was blowing, church Ledge Buoy, and the motor life- with a rough sea, it was not considered boat Thomas Markby was launched at safe to take the life-boat alongside, so 6.34 P.M. The sea was rough, with a a rope was passed to the Point Girl and strong W.S.W. breeze blowing. The the life-boat towed her into harbour, life-boat found the sailing dinghy arriving at 3.10 P.M.—Rewards, £5 10*. Thais empty, and took her to Swanage. Her crew of two had been picked up Moelfre, Anglesey.—On the 1st August, before the life-boat arrived. The life- 1939, three men, visitors to Moelfre, boat reached Swanage again at eleven who were out in a rowing boat, got into o'clock. difficulties in the strong tide. They Information of the launching of signalled for help. The weather was the Swanage life-boat was sent to fine, with a moderate S.W. wind and a Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, but was mis- slight sea. At 1.30 P.M. the motor understood, and the motor life-boat life-boat G.W. was launched, picked up S.G.E. put out at 7.15 P.M. Her the boat when she was about one mile services were not needed and she off Moelfre Island, and brought her returned • at 8.35 P.M.—Rewards: into safety at 2.30 P.M.—Rewards, Swanage, £8 14s.; Yarmouth, £7 Ws. £5 '5s. 6d. Peel, Isle of Man.—Shortly before six Galway Bay, Galway.—At 6 P.M. on on the evening of the 9th August, the 1st August, 1939, a message was 1939, information was received through received from Inishere that a Conne- the coastguard that the sailing yacht mara boatman had reported that he Annie Alice, of Port Erin, had been had passed an upturned curragh half a making signals for help about seven mile north of Sandhead. A moderate miles to the S.W. of Peel. A strong S.W. breeze was blowing, with a S.S.W. wind was blowing, with a rough choppy sea. The motor life-boat sea. The motor life-boat Helen Sutton K.E.C.F. was launched at 6.30 P.M. was launched at 6.10 P.M. and found the She found the curragh, took it in tow, Annie Alice, with a crew of five, lying and made a wide search for the three at anchor. Two life-boatmen were put men believed to have been on board, on board and the life-boat towed her but could not find them. She returned into Peel Harbour, arriving at 9.15 P.M. to her station at 8 P.M.—Rewards, —Rewards, £15 3s. 6d. £5 14*. Minehead, Somerset. — During the Tobermory, Isle of Mull.---On the evening of the 9th August, 1939, a evening of the 5th August, 1939, a message was received from the Hurle- doctor asked for the life-boat to take a stone Point coastguard that the motor woman to Oban, to be sent thence to yacht Viking was on fire six miles north the Maternity Hospital, Glasgow. No of Porlock Weir and that the motor steamer was available and he was yacht Loch Maree, of Greenock, was afraid that she would bleed to death. standing by- A strong S.W. breeze The motor life-boat Sir Arthur Rose was blowing, with a very rough sea. left at 6.45 P.M., and, after a smooth The new motor life-boat Kate Greatorex passage, reached Oban at 9.45, arriving was launched at 7 P.M. with the second- back at her station at 1.40 A.M. next coxswain in command. She found the morning. A nurse, who went with the motor yacht Loch Maree, but the Viking patient, stated that everything was had sunk and the six people who had satisfactory, and the latest report been on board her had been taken off received was that the woman was as by the Lock Maree. The Loch Maree well as could be expected.—No expense herself now needed help as her engines to the Institution. had become overheated and the owner had been overcome by the fumes. Two Swanage, Dorset, and Yarmouth, Isle life-boatmen boarded the Loch Maree, of Wight.—At 6.10 P.M. on the 6th and the life-boat towed her to Minehead, DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 197 landing her crew of two and the six stem overhanging the water. The life- people from the Viking, at 9.30 P.M.— boat stood by until she refloated with Rewards, £13 8s. the next tide, and returned to her station at 5.45 A.M.—Rewards, Portrush, Co. Antrim.—At about £15 3*. Qd. 4 P.M. on the llth August, 1939, the second coxswain of the life-boat re- Blackpool, Lancashire.—At 7.30 P.M. ported that the motor fishing boat 011 the 20th August, 1939, a message Dunluce, of Portrush, with a crew of was received from the police stating four on board, was in need of help off that some boys in an open boat were Curran Point. A moderate westerly missing and had been last seen drifting wind was blowing, with a choppy sea to sea. A moderate E.N.E. breeze and strong ebbing tide. The reserve was blowing. The sea was smooth. motor life-boat Duke of Connaught, on The motor life-boat Sarah Ann Austin temporary duty at the station, was was launched at 7.45 P.M. and found launched at 4.is P.M., and found the the boat with four boys on board. She boat with her engine broken down. took off the boys and towed in the boat, She towed her into the salmon fishing arriving at Blackpool at 9.50 P.M. harbour.—Rewards, £3 11s. Qd. Learning that a pleasure boat, which had also put out to help the boys, had Swanage, Dorset.— At 9.5 P.M. on the not returned the life-boat set out again, 14th August, 1939, a message was and found the boat returning. They received from the coastguard that a got back at 10.30 P.M.—Rewards, small speed-boat was showing distress £11 13s. signals off the Anvil Point Lighthouse. The weather was fine and the sea was The Humber, Yorkshire. — At 2.20 smooth. The motor life-boat Thomas A.M. on the 22nd August, 1939, the Markby was launched at 9.27 P.M., and watchman reported that a trawler had found the speed-boat with one man on gone ashore on the Inner Binks. A board. She took her in tow and light N.N.W. breeze was blowing, with arrived back at Swanage at 9.51 P.M.— a slight swell, and the weather was Rewards, £11 4s. foggy. The motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched at 2.45 A.M. Weymouth, Dorset.—At 2 A.M. on the She found that the steam trawler Cape 16th August, 1939, a message was Palliser, of Hull, with a crew of received from the Wyke Regis coast- eighteen, had gone aground while guard that a small yacht was showing returning to Hull from Bear Island. red flares a quarter of a mile east of The life-boat coxswain advised the Portland Bill. The weather was fine Cape Palliser and stood by until she and the sea calm. The motor life-boat had been refloated by a tug and was William and Clara Ryland was launched out of danger. She returned to her at 2.25 A.M. She found the motor station at 9.30 A.M.—Permanent paid yacht Jane, of Poole, with a crew of two, crew: Rewards, 18s. her engine broken down. She took her in tow and returned to Weymouth at Peterfcead, Aber^eenshire.—At 12.30 5.30 A.M.— Rewards, £10. A.M. on the 26th August, 1939, a message was received from the relatives North Sunderland, Northumberland.— of two men on board the motor fishing During the evening of the 17th August, boat Sarah Ross, of Peterhead, that they 1939, a message was received from the were overdue. A light N.W. breeze coastguard that the steam drifter Excel was blowing, with a ground swell, and IV was aground on Gun Rock, Fame the weather was very foggy. As the Islands. A light S.E. breeze was fog was clearing it was decided to wait blowing. The sea was smooth. The and see whether the Sarah Ross could motor life-boat W.It.A. was launched make harbour, but as she was still at 7.15 P.M., and found the Excel IV in missing at 2 A.M. the motor life-boat a dangerous position on a submerged Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow, was rock. At low tide she was left lying on launched. She was unable to find any- the rock amidships with her stern and thing, and returned to harbour at 6.45 198 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
A.M. The boat had not arrived. The September, 1939. Information reached life-boat left again at 7.30 A.M., and this the life-boat station at 3.20 P.M. from time found the missing boat, with her the coastguard, and seventeen minutes engine broken down, eight miles south later the motor life-boat was on her of Buchanness. She towed her to way. The sea was smooth,with a light harbour, arriving at 11 A.M.—Rewards, S.W. wind. The life-boat found three £12 19s. steamers standing by the Magdapur, which was sinking, with her back Anstruther, Fifeshire.—At 3.10 A.M. broken. The water round her was on the 29th August, 1939, the coast- covered with black oil. Some twelve guard reported a vessel ashore on May survivors, most of them injured, Island. The weather was very thick, were first rescued from the sea with with a light easterly breeze and a the help of the ship's boat. The re- smooth sea. The motor life-boat Nellie mainder were then taken on board the and Charlie was launched at 3.31 A.M. life-boat from the steamers. The in- and found the s.s. Hilda, of Luvia, jured were treated, and artificial res- Finland, ashore on North Ness. The piration given by two of the life-boat- crew of seventeen wished to remain on men. The honorary secretary, Mr. board, so the life-boat took the mate Walter Riggs, watched the rescue from ashore to communicate with the vessel's the shore and when he saw the life-boat brokers. She then returned to the returning with a large number on board, Hilda and stood by. An Admiralty he at once arranged for first-aid tug failed to refloat the Hilda, but at help. Dr. Robin Acheson, honorary about 2.30 P.M. she got off under her surgeon to the branch, took charge own power. She was holed and had a when the boat reached the shore, and list, but the captain said that he needed with the able and willing help of the no help, so the life-boat left and reached St. John Ambulance, the Shipwrecked her station again at 3.30 P.M.—Rewards, Mariners' Society and local first-aid £16 19s. organizations, gave help to all who needed it. Nine had to be brought ashore on stretchers. The others, Ilfracombe, Devon.—Shortly before 6 though much exhausted, were able to P.M. on the 3rd September, 1939, walk. information was received from the The rescued were 18 white men and police that a small boat was in diffi- 56 lascars. All were smothered from culties outside the breakers in Woolla- head to foot in black oil. The second combe Bay. A squally W. by S. wind officer was brought ashore dead. Five was blowing, with a heavy ground sea. other members of the crew were missing. The motor life-boat Rosabella was The service was carried out in fair launched at 6.11 P.M. and found the weather, but it was marked by the small boat with a man and two boys on prompt launching of the life-boat and board. They were keeping her afloat the efficient co-operation of all who by baling. All three were wet through, could in any way help. and the boys were distressed and ex- The life-boat returned to her station hausted. They had been out since at 5.30 P.M., two hours after putting ten in the morning. The life-boat took out. She was covered with oil and them on board and towed the boat to blood, but she was cleaned, refuelled, Ilfracombe, arriving at 8.40 P.M. The and ready for service by 8 P.M. rescue was witnessed from the shore at A letter of thanks was sent to Dr. Woollacombe by a large crowd of Robin Acheson, and in view of the fact visitors and residents.—Rewards, that the life-boat crew's clothes were £19 6.T. badly damaged by oil, an increase in THE FIRST WAR SERVICE. the usual money award on the standard scale was granted to each member of Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—While bound for the crew. Standard rewards to the Newcastle the oil tanker Magdapur, crew, £16 3*.; additional rewards to of Liverpool, a vessel of 8,640 tons, crew, £5; total rewards, £21 3s. carrying a crew of eighty, was sunk by enemy action off Aldeburgh on 10th The following life-boats were DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 199 launched but no services were rendered dense fog to the help of a trawler which for the reasons given: was reported to have struck Sibyl Head and to be making for Blasket Sound in a Newhaven, Sussex.—9th July, 1939. sinking condition. Mr. T. Barrett, A canoe had capsized with two people the honorary secretary, was on board on board, but the police rescued them the life-boat. A later message said from the shore with lines.—Rewards, that the trawler was making for £5 13*. Valentia, but it was not possible to recall the life-boat until she reached Margate, Kent.—13th July, 1939. Sibyl Head. She arrived back at her All aeroplane was reported as having station at five o'clock next morning come down in the sea a few miles out, having had a very difficult passage in but though the life-boat searched over the fog. The trawler sank before a wide area she could find nothing.— reaching Valentia and her crew were Rewards, £6 4*. rescued by another trawler.-—Rewards, £10 6s. Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.— 13th July, 1939. Signals of distress Sunderland, Co. Durham.—21st July, were heard, but the life-boat could find 1939. A vessel had gone ashore, but nothing.—Permanent paid crew: Re- she refloated without needing help and wards, £4 7s. went on her way.—Rewards, £12 18s. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, and Walton and Torbay, Devon.—22nd July, 1339. Frinton. Essex.—17th July, 1939. A A motor launch with a number of message had been received from the passengers on board was overdue, but coastguard that an aeroplane had she was towed in by a motor trawler.— crashed into the sea between Walton Rewards, £4 13s. Pier and Gunfleet Lighthouse and that a man had come down from it by Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—23rd July, parachute. Royal Air Force speed- 1939. A message had been received boats and aeroplanes also took part in that a yacht was flying distress signals the search, and the pilot was picked two miles off the Nore Light Vessel, but up alive by one of the aeroplanes. A no yacht in distress could be found.—• letter of thanks was received from the Rewards, £6 10s. Royal Air Force.—Rewards: Clacton- on-Sea, £5 13s.; Walton and Frinton, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. — 23rd £7 2*. 6rf. July, 1939. News had been received that an up-turned boat could be seen Dunbar, Haddingtonshire.—19th July, on Stert Flats, apparently drifting out 1939. A steamer had stranded on to sea, with two people clinging to her. the South Carr Rock in a fog, but The boat, however, grounded on a mud she got off at high water and went on bank and the two men on board got her way.—Rewards, £5 10*. ashore.—Rewards, £5 8s. 6d. Eye mouth, Berwickshire.—23rd Whitby, Yorkshire.—20th July, July, 1939. A raft with two boys on 1939. News had been received from board was drifting seawards, but one of the coastguard that a trawler was in the boys succeeded in swimming ashore. distress twenty-eight miles away, but The other was drowned, and his body she was picked up by another steamer. recovered by another boat.—Rewards, —Rewards, £16 10s. £10 lls. 6d. Thurso, Caithness-shire. — 21st July, Dungeness, Kent.—23rd July, 1939. 1939. Distress signals had been re- A small yacht had capsized, but her ported between Stroma and Pentland crew of two were rescued by a motor Skerries, but the life-boat could find boat from Rye Harbour.—Rewards, nothing.—Rewards, £9 11s. £11 3s. 6d. Fenit, Co. Kerry.—21st July, 1939. Holyhead, Anglesey. — 23rd July, The life-boat put out at 8.45 P.M. in a 1939. A small yacht had gone aground 200 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
THE PRICE OF WAR;
By courtesy of] [Photo Service, Ltd., Cliftonrille COMING ASHORE. One of the four survivors of a steamer which was blown up on 15th November, 1939, and sank in a few minutes with her crew of thirteen. Nine were drowned. Four were picked up from the sea by another steamer, three of them badly injured, and were brought ashore by the Margate life-boat. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 201
TWO SCENES AT MARGATE
By courtesy of] [Photo Sen-ice, LU., Cliftonville RESCUED FROM A MINESWEEPER. An injured man on board the Margate life-boat. He was one of four of the crew of a minesweeper who were seriously injured when she was blown up and sank on 20th November, 1939. 202 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. in a dangerous position, but she re- New Brighton, Cheshire.—30th July, floated with the rising tide.—Rewards, 1939. A motor boat had been reported £7 10s. in distress, but she was picked up by a pilot boat.—Rewards, £7 15s. Hastings, Sussex.—24th July, 1939. An aeroplane had been reported to Maryport, Cumberland. — 30th July, have come down in the sea. Another 1939. A motor fishing boat had been aeroplane and a motor boat joined the reported in distress, but she made life-boat in the search, but nothing Whitehaven safely.—Rewards, £12 7*. could be found and no aeroplane was reported as being missing.—Rewards, Eastbourne, Sussex. — 30th July, £16 18s. Qd. 1939. A small sailing yacht with three people on board was reported as missing, Margate, Kent.—25th July, 1939. but she got in safely.—Rewards, A small rowing boat was drifting out £9 15*. 6d. with a boy in it, but before the life- boat arrived it was found by a motor Hoylake, Cheshire.—30th July, 1939. boat. The boy was exhausted and, A red flare had been reported by a after he had been given water and fisherman, but the life-boat could find chocolate from the life-boat, the motor nothing.—Rewards, £15 14*. 6d. boat took him to Herne Bay. (See "Shoreboat Services", Herne Bay.)— Scarborough, Yorkshire.—4th Rewards, £15 12s. August, 1939. A motor boat \vas seen flying a distress signal, but she was Falmouth, Cornwall. — 27th July, towed in by another boat.—Rewards, 1939. Two steamers had been in £13 12*. 6d.~ collision in the morning, one an oil tanker which had caught fire. Ten of St. Abbs, Berwickshire.—6th August, her crew lost their lives. The other 1939. A bather had been reported in twenty-four had been rescued by difficulties by the pilots, but the ?ife- another steamer. At 8 P.M. it was boat could find no sign of him. He reported by the coastguard that the was already drowned.—Rewards, tanker was still on fire, and the life-boat £5 11*. 6d. was launched, but she found no survivors.—Rewards, £9 1*. Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and Walton and Frinton, Essex.—8th August, 1939. A Newhaven, Sussex.—27th July, 1939. message had been received from the A yacht was on fire, but the people on Colchester Air Observers' Post, through board were rescued by a fishing boat.— the coastguard, that three Royal Air Rewards, £10 15s. 6d. Force aeroplanes had crashed into the sea, seven or eight miles S.E. of Fleetwood, Lancashire. — 28th July, Aldeburgh. Both life-boats searched a 1939. An aeroplane which had on wide area, but found nothing, and board the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley returned to their stations after infor- Wood, making for Belfast, was re- mation had been received that the ported as missing. She had last been search would be continued by Govern- seen out at sea three miles S.E.S. of ment vessels.—Rewards: Aldeburgh Walney Light. After searching for No. 1, £29 15*. 6d.; Walton and three and a half hours without success Frinton, £14 5*. the life-boat put into Heysham, and there learnt that the aeroplane, which Exmouth, Devon. — llth August, had been compelled to return by bad 1939. A ship had been reported by weather, had made a forced landing at the coastguard as apparently on fire, Kirby-in-Furness.—Rewards, £12 5*. but nothing could be found, and it was presumed that the ship had gone on her Ramsgate, Kent.—28th July, 1939. way.—Rewards, £17 17*. 6d. A'man who had put out in a speed-boat was reported as missing, but he had Coverack, Cornwall. — 14th August, returned safely.-—Rewards, £10 11*. 1939. A motor yacht was on fire a DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 203
mile E. by N. of Dollar Point, but when been seen, but the life-boats could find the life-boat arrived her crew of five nothing. On her way back the Humber had already taken to their boat and life-boat found the small racing yacht had been picked up by a fishing boat. Asia, of Brough, which had lost her The life-boat took the burning yacht in bearings, and towed her in.—Rewards: tow and beached her, but the fire could The Humber, permanent paid crew, not be extinguished as she was a wooden 12s.; Bridlington, £13. vessel, and she was completely burned. —Rewards, £10 6*. Kilmore, Co. Wexford.—26th August, 1939. Flares had been reported, but Penlee, and Coverack, Cornwall.—14th the life-boat could find nothing.— August, 1939. A French trawler Rewards, £20 11s. 6d. had been reported in difficulties off the Lizard, but neither life-boat could Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. — 28th find any sign of her.—Rewards: Penlee, August, 1939. A trawler had gone on £12 Is.; Coverack, £10 6s. the rocks, but she refloated unaided.— Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—16th August, Rewards, £4 11s. 1939. A dinghy, with two men on board, had been reported as being Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. — 2 81 h carried out to sea by the strong tide. August, 1939. A motor fishing boat The motor life-boat put out in charge had been reported ashore, and the life- of Captain Sir Charles Campbell, Bt., boat put out in a dense fog, but she in the absence of the coxswains, and was recalled as her help was not searched a wide area before she was needed.—Rewards, £9 13s. recalled by wireless, after a message had been received by the coastguard Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. that the dinghy had returned safely.— —29th August, 1939. Guns had been Rewards, £4 Os. 6d. heard in a fog, but the life-boat could find nothing. It was learnt later that Hythe, Kent.—18th August, 1939. a steam drifter had been sunk in a It had been reported that a canoe was collision, but the crew had been rescued being carried away by the wind and by another vessel.—Rewards, £7 13,y. tide, but the life-boat could find nothing, and it was learnt later that Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—31st August, the canoe had come safely ashore.— 1939. A small sailing yacht with two Rewards, £23 16s. men on board had broken adrift and Selsey, Sussex.—19th August, 1939. was being carried out to sea in a dense It had been reported that a rowing boat fog, but when the motor life-boat found was drifting out to sea with a man on her she was safely at anchor and did not board shouting for help, but the life- need help.—Rewards, £11 9s. boat could find nothing.—Rewards, £11 15s. Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—A bather had got into difficulties in a rough sea, Aith, Shetlands.—20th August, 1939. but the life-boat could find no sign of Rockets had been seen by the coast- him and he was believed to have been guard, and a message was received that drowned.—Rewards, £6 7s. 6d. a Royal Air Force aeroplane was missing, but the life-boat found nothing. October Meeting. —Rewards, £8 13,9. Wick, Caithness-shire.—At 6.36 A.M. Barry Dock, Glamorganshire. — 23rd on the 2nd September, 1939, the coast- August, 1939. It had been reported guard informed the life-boat authorities that an over-turned boat could be seen that the trawler Washington, of Grims- with someone clinging to it, but it was by, was ashore near Duncansby Head. found to be a tree trunk.—Rewards, The weather was very foggy, with a £5 11s. fresh southerly breeze and a rough sea. The motor life-boat City of Edinburgh The Humber, and Bridlington, Yorkshire. was launched at 7 A.M. and found the —26th August, 1939. Rockets had trawler, but she had already got off. 204 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1989. She was making a lot of water and the of Stroma. A later message said that skipper decided to make for Wick, the vessel was ashore on the Lowther accompanied by another trawler and Rock, South Ronaldshay. A strong the life-boat. The Washington was S.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate safely berthed at twelve noon.—Re- sea. The night was very dark, with wards, £4 105. 6d. rain. The motor life-boat Thomas McCunn put out at 10.45 P.M. The Wick, Caithness-shire. — At about skipper of the trawler asked her to 11.20 P.M. on the 2nd September, 1939, stand by until high water. She did so. information was received from the The trawler refloated and went on her coastguard that the trawler Navarre, way, and the life-boat returned to her of Grimsby, was ashore about five miles station, arriving at 8.30 A.M.—Rewards, south of Duncansby Head. A fresh £14 9s. 6d. southerly wind was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. The weather Hastings, Sussex, and Dungeness, was foggy. In the absence of the coxs- Kent.—At 9.29 P.M. on the 9th wain, who was ill, and second-coxswain, September, 1939, the coastguard at who was on naval service, a pilot took Fairlight reported that an aeroplane charge of the motor life-boat City of had come down in the sea a mile to the Edinburgh when she put out at 11.40 east. The weather was clear and the P.M. She found the Navarre on the sea was calm. At 9.35 the Dungeness rocks at Skirza Head. Another traw- life-boat station was told by the ler was attempting to get her off. This observer post at Dungeness that an was unsuccessful. The weather be- aeroplane had come down in the sea came worse and the trawler began to about seven miles W.S.W. of Dunge- break up. Her skipper signalled for ness. At 9.40 Mr. R. Cooke, volunteer- help and the life-boat immediately went in-charge of the life-saving corps at to her and took off nine of the crew of Pett, was told that an aeroplane had eleven. As the life-boat drew away, come down about one and a half miles she twice bumped -on sunken [rocks. south of Pett. The Hastings life-boat, The other two members of the crew Cyril and Lilian Bishop, was launched were rescued from the shore by the at 9.47 P.M. ; the Dungeness motor life- Board of Trade's life-saving rocket ap- boat, Charles Cooper Henderson, at paratus. The life-boat returned to her 9.45 P.M. Mr. Cooke called for a crew station at 5.40 A.M.—Rewards, £8 15s. to man his motor boat, and put out with three men. He was the first to Walton and Frinton, Essex.—At about find the aeroplane. Her crew, four in 4.10 A.M. on the 3rd September, 1939, number, were on the top of the machine.. it was reported that a vessel was Mr. Cooke landed them at Pett. At showing distress signals about one and 10.40 the Hastings life-boat found the a half miles south of Walton Pier. The aeroplane, abandoned by her crew, andt weather was clear with a strong breeze. towed it into Hastings, arriving at, The sea was rather rough. The motor 1.30 A.M. The Dungeness life-boat: lifeboat E.M.E.D. was launched at cruised about, using her searchlight,, 4.50 A.M. and found the barge Eureka, for an hour and a half, but found no- of Harwich, with three men on board. trace of the aeroplane. Later she: Her main sail was damaged and she learned from a destroyer that the crew was completely unmanageable. At her had been saved, and returned to her skipper's request, life-boatmen boarded station, arriving at 1 A.M.—Rewards: the Eureka. The life-boat then towed Hastings, £28 14s. 6d.; Dungeness, her to Harwich, arriving at 7.35 A.M. £22 2s.; the four men who manned the She arrived back at her station at 10.15 motor boat, £2, and 5s. for the use of the A.M.—Property Salvage Case. boat.
Longhope, Orkneys.—At 10 P.M. on Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. •— On the 7th September, 1989, the life-boat Sunday the 10th September, 1939, the station was informed by the coastguard coastguard reported that the sailing that the steam trawler Commander yacht Wisp, of Shoreham, had capsized Nasmith was ashore on the north side about one and a half miles to the south- DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 205 ward of the harbour entrance. A fresh previous day and that her crew had been westerly wind was blowing, with a picked up by the Norwegian vessel, rather rough sea. The motor life-boat Ida Bakke. The life-boat was asked Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn, was to meet the Ida Bakke off the Fastnet, launched at 5.21 P.M. and rescued the and bring the rescued crew ashore. crew of two. They were exhausted and The motor life-boat Sarah Ward and had to be revived. She then took the William David Croszveller was launched yacht in tow and brought her into at 4.30 A.M. A strong E. wind was Shoreham, arriving at 6.10 P.M.— blowing with a rough sea. The life- Rewards, £4 19*. 6d. boat fell in with Ida Bakke at 8.30 A.M., took on board the thirty-seven rescued ENEMY ACTION OFF THE IRISH men, and landed them at Baltimore, COAST. returning to her station at 4.55 P.M.—• _ _ Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork. Rewards, £14 16s. 6d. —A telephone message was re- ceived from the Superintendent of the Holy Island, Northumberland. •—• At Coast Life Saving Service at about 8.8 P.M. on the 22nd September, 1939, 6.30 A.M. on the 15th September, 1939, it was reported by the coastguard that asking that the life-boat should be sent a vessel was showing signals of distress out to meet the Norwegian motor vessel near the Plough Seat Rocks. A fresh Ida Bakke. which had on board the N.E. wind was blowing, with a heavy crew of a steamer which had been sunk swell. The motor life-boat Milburn by enemy action. The motor life-boat was launched at 8.18 P.M. and found the Sarah Ward and William David Cros- s.s. Miltrap, of Newcastle, with her iveller, was launched in a calm sea at engine broken down. The life-boat 6.45 A.M. and went to the Old Head of towed her to a safe anchorage in Holy Kinsale. There she took on board the Island Harbour, and returned to her crew of forty-two of the oil tanker station at 10.30 P.M.—Property Salvage British Influence, of London. She then Case. returned to her station and landed them The Humber, Yorkshire.—At 8.45 at Courtmacsherry at 10 A.M.—Re- P.M. on the 22nd September, 1939, wards, £4 10s. 6d. the signal station reported that red flares had been seen in an easterly Weymouth, Dorset.—At 7.20 P.M. direction. A fresh northerly wind was * on the 15th September, 1939, the blowing, with a very rough sea. At coastguards, telephoned that four boats 8.48 P.M. the motor life-boat City of were adrift near the Shambles Light- Bradford II was launched. The steam ship with the crew of a Belgian steamer trawler Kopenes, of Grimsby, was on board. The weather was fine. The found aground on the Middle Binks, motor life-boat William and Clara with a broken propeller. Signals were Ryland, was launched at 7.40 P.M., and made to the shore for a tug, and the found the s.s. Alex Van Opstal. of life-boat stood by until she arrived. Antwerp, which had been sunk. Her The tug took the trawler in tow, and crew had got away in the ship's boats, the life-boat escorted her into safety, and the life-boat found them in tow returning to her station at 12.40 A.M.—- of a Greek steamer. She stood by Paid permanent crew: Rewards, 12s. the steamer until she reached a safe anchorage in Weymouth Bay and then 24 RESCUED FROM FRENCH returned to her station arriving 11.45 STEAMER. P.M.—Rewards, £8 15s. Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—A message was received from the coastguard _ _ Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork. — At at 8 A.M. on the 24th September, 1939, 3.20 A.M. on the 16th September, that a steamer was sinking through 1939, a telephone message was received enemy action, three or four miles from the Superintendent of the Coast E. by N. from the look-out. A N.W. Life-Saving Service that the motor breeze was blowing, with a heavy swell. vessel Cheyenne, a tanker of Newcastle, The motor life-boat Abdy Beauclerk was had been sunk by enemy action, 200 got away in nine minutes. In the miles off the Fastnet Lighthouse, on the meantime the crew of the steamer, 206 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBEH, 1939.
some of them injured, had taken to the Walmer, and Ramsgate, Kent.—At ship's boats. She was the Phryne, of 6.45 A.M. on the 27th September, 1939, Caen, of 3,500 tons, bound from the Deal coastguard reported a motor Immingham to Bayonne, with coal, barge drifting ashore to the N.E. of and carrying a crew of twenty-four. their station. A heavy sea was running After taking on board the whole of the with a strong easterly wind. At 7.5 crew the life-boat took the two boats A.M., the motor life-boat Charles Dibdin in tow, and in response to a signal from (Civil Service No. 2) was launched. the shore made a good landing to lee- She found the motor barge Halcyon, of ward of the slipway which had been Hull, with a crew of three. She was badly scoured away. The life-boat was then gradually drawing away from the ashore at 9.40 A.M. and the injured shore, and the life-boat escorted her members of the Phryne''s crew were sent into deep water. The life-boat re- by ambulance to Ipswich Hospital. A turned to her station at 8.20 A.M. letter of thanks was received from the Eight minutes later another coastguard owners.—Rewards, £16 18*. message was received that the Halcyon was again drifting ashore. The life- Redcar, Yorkshire.—While home- boat put out a second time at 9 A.M. ward bound for Grimsby, on the morn- Six minutes later the Ramsgate motor ing of the 25th September, 1939, the life-boat Prudential, also put out in steam trawler Oswaldian, laden with response to a message from the coast- fish and carrying a crew of eleven, ran guard that the Halcyon was driving ashore on the Salt Scar Rocks off Red- ashore a mile north of Sandown Castle. car. The weather was hazy with a She found the barge striking the ground, heavy swell from the northward. She got ropes aboard her, with considerable burnt flares and the motor life-boat difficulty; and took her in tow. Shortly Louisa Polden was launched to her help afterwards the Walmer life-boat arrived at 9. P.M. She took off four members on the scene, but, as her help was not of her crew. Four of the remaining needed, she returned to her station, men were taken off and landed by a which she reached at 11.30 A.M. The boat which had put out from the shore, Ramsgate life-boat, with the barge in and the other three got away in their tow, reached Ramsgate at 10.57 A.M. own boat and made for the life-boat. —Rewards: Walmer, first launch, The life-boat then stood by for some £9 135. 6d., second launch, £9 13s. 6d.; hours, and as the weather had im- Ramsgate, Property Salvage Case. proved, she put the seven men on board the trawler again. At 1 A.M. The following life-boats were they were able to refloat her under her launched, but no services were rendered own steam, and the life-boat returned for the reasons given: to her station at 1.20 A.M.—Rewards, £14 4:8. Howth, Co. Dublin.—12th August, (See "Shorcboat Services," Redcar.) 1939. The civic guard had reported that a man was in the sea and was Stromness, Orkneys.—At 1.30 A.M. urgently in need of help. The life-boat on the 27th September, 1939, the Kirk- put out with Mr. H. McCracken. a wall coastguard reported that a Nor- member of the committee, on board, wegian steamer was ashore nearly fifty and in the absence of the officers of the miles away; The weather was fine, life-boat Patrick O'Connor, a member with a light N.E. wind blowing. The of the crew, took charge. The life-boat motor life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was however was recalled as the man had launched at 2.35 A.M., and found been picked up by another boat.— the motor vessel Sardinia, of Oslo at Rewards, £1 15*. 7.30 A.M. The life-boat stood by until the vessel refloated and said that she Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—31st August, did not need further help. The life- 1939. A cry for help had been heard boat set out on her return journey at by three boys from the Lydstep Caves. about 8.40 A.M., and reached her The motor life-boat was launched, and station again at 2 P.M.—Rewards, a coastguard search party went by car £14 18s. 6d. along the top of the cliff, and got down DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. it by the light of the life-boat's search- information was received that an air- light, but nothing could be found.— craft had dived into the sea three miles Rewards, £13 17*. ' N.E. of the North Carr Lightvessel. The life-boat found nothing, spoke the Sunderland, Co. Durham.—3rd Sep- lightvessel, and learned that the tember, 1939. A ship had gone ashore, position was four miles N.N.E. She but refloated under her own steam.— searched again, without success, and it Rewards, £10 5*. was not until day came that she found oil on the sea. It was assumed that the Longhope, Orkneys.—3rd September, aircraft had been lost. The life-boat 1939. A small vessel had been reported returned to her station at 8.40 next flying distress signals, and the life-boat morning.—Rewards, £13 Is. searched a wide area but found nothing. It was learned later that the vessel had Arklow, Co. Wicklow, and Rosslare Har- been taken in tow by a drifter.— bour, Co. Wexford.—8th September, Rewards, £4 11s. 6d. 1939. Shortly before midnight reports had been received that flares from a Appledore, Devonshire. — 4th Sep- vessel ashore on Blackwater Bank had tember, 1939. A motor boat had been been seen. Both life-boats searched reported on fire, but nothing could be without success, and the coxswains found.—Rewards, £7 17s. 9d. came to the conclusion that a mistake had been made in reporting flares.— Portrush, Co. Antrim.—5th Septem- Rewards: Arklow, £12 10s. 6d.; Rosslare ber, 1939. A small boat out fishing had Harbour, permanent paid crew, £4 13s. been kept under observation and, as the wind increased, the life-boat was Margate, Kent, and Southend-on- launched at 9.20 P.M., but in the dark- Sea, Essex.—9th September, 1939. ness failed to find the boat, which got in An aeroplane had been reported down unaided.—Rewards, £7 3s. in the sea off Leysdown. The Margate St. Helier, Jersey.—5th September, life-boat was launched just after eleven 1939. It was reported shortly after at night in a thick fog and reached eleven at night that Verey lights had Leysdown two hours and twenty been seen. The life-boat put out, with minutes later. Owing to the fog she Lieut.-Commander T. Le B. Pirouet, anchored until 5.15 in the morning and the honorary secretary, on board. She then made a search, but found nothing. made a wide search, but as nothing Meanwhile the Southend-on-Sea life- had been found by daybreak she re- boat had been launched at 11.30 and turned to her station, arriving at 9.15 had searched a wide area. The two next morning.—Rewards, £15 8s. 6d. life-boats met at 6.30 next morning. At 7.50 a morse signal from the R.A.F. Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — 6th was received to say that all were saved. September, 1939. Information had The Margate life-boat reached her been received that a steamer appeared station at 10.30 in the morning, and the to have blown up seven miles off Shore- Southend-on-Sea at 8.50.—Rewards: ham Harbour, but although the life- Margate, £18 12s.; Southend-on-Sea, boat made a wide search she found £18 3s. nothing.—Rewards, £7 Us. (See "Shoreboat Services," Herne Bay.) Great Yarmouth and Corleston, Norfolk. —6th September, 1939. An explosion Lytham-St. Annes, Lancashire. — 10th had been reported in the neighbourhood September, 1939. Information had of the Gorton Light-vessel, but the life- been received that a yacht was in diffi- boat found that the light-vessel itself culties on the North Bank and a small was all right, and there was no sign motor launch aground. Both vessels of any ship in distress.—Rewards, were on a lee shore, with a strong S.W. £6 10s. 6d. gale blowing, and a heavy sea. Before the life-boat arrived the yacht had Broughty'[Ferry, Angus.—7th Sep- bumped clear over the bank and no tember, 193'J. Shortly after 10 F.M. longer needed help, and when the life- 208 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. boat reached the motor boat she found At 2.30 A.M. the life-boat turned for that she had been abandoned.—Re- home, but when she was about fifty- wards, £9 11s. two miles S.E. of Mine Head her engine broke down. Nothing could be done Torbay, Devonshire.—10th Septem- in the way of temporary repairs, and ber, 1939. A small sailing dinghy, sail was set. The steam trawler Gwm- which had left Paignton at two in the aho was sighted at about 9.30 A.M., afternoon had not returned at ten that when the life-boat was thirty-two miles night, but it was learned later that she S. by E. of Ballycotton, and she towed had got in safely.—Rewards, £9 13s. the life-boat home. They arrived at Lowestoft, Suffolk, and Great Yar- 2 P.M., over twenty-one hours after the mouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.—13th life-boat had set out. The captain of September, 1939. Early in the morn- the trawler said that he would make no ing information was received that two claim for his services as he did not know vessels had been in collision off Lowes- when he might need a life-boat himself. toft. A N.E. gale was blowing with a Letters of thanks were sent to the rough sea, and it was very dark with captain of the trawler, to his owners heavy rain squalls. Both life-boats and to Dr. O'Connell, and an increase searched for some time and in the end in the usual money awards on the found a vessel badly damaged, but not standard scale was made to each then in any need of help.—Rewards: member of the crew.—Standard re- Lowestoft, £16 3s. 6d.; Great Yarmouth wards to crew, £18 10*.; additional and Gorleston, £18 195. 6d. rewards to crew, £12; total rewards, £30 10*. Ramsey, Isle of Man.—13th Septem- ber, 1939. A steamer had been re- Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. —• 15th ported ashore, but when the life-boat September, 1939. A message had arrived she found that she had refloated been received that a vessel was in dis- without help and was able to go on her tress through enemy action, but the way .—Rewards, £11 5s. life-boat found that her help was not required.—Rewards, £5 15s. 6d. TRAWLER'S HELP TO A LIFE-BOAT. Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—14th Sep- Margate, Kent.—16th September, ** tember, 1939. At 2.20 P.M. the 1939. A vessel had been reported civic guard at Cork reported that a man with a bad list, which was thought to be had picked up a wireless SOS call the result of enemy action, and the life- from the s.s. Vancouver City, of Bide- boat put out in charge of the bowman, ford. She was a vessel of about 5,000 as both the coxswain and second tons and had been sunk by enemy coxswain were at sea fishing, but action S.E. by S. of Ballycotton Light. nothing could be found.—Rewards, The position was outside the normal £6 4s. range for the reserve motor life-boat William Evans, which was on tem- Ramsgate, Kent.—16th September, porary duty at the station, but she 1939. The Italian steamer Liana had took a reserve supply of petrol been seen aground near the Goodwin on deck and set out. With her went Knoll, but by the time the life-boat Dr. Ted O'Connell, in case his services arrived she had refloated.-—Rewards, were needed. The life-boat picked up £5 3s. the coxswain, who was out fishing, four Torbay, Devonshire.—17th Septem- miles off, and went on until at 1.30 ber, 1939. A motor boat, with ten A.M. on the 15th the coxswain reckoned passengers on board, had not returned that he had reached the position given. and the life-boat put out to search for Several destroyers were in the neigh- her, but she got in without help.— bourhood. The life-boat could obtain Rewards, £9 7s. no definite news, but it was reported that several of the steamer's crew had Angle, Pembrokeshire.—18th Sep- been killed, and that the remaining tember, 1939. At one in the morn- thirty had been picked up by a Dutch ing it was reported that an aeroplane tanker. had crashed in the sea. She sank just DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 209 after the life-boat reached her. There Hastings, Sussex.—25th September, was no sign of her crew. The life-boat 1939. An aeroplane had been re- again searched in the daylight but found ported down in the channel between nothing except wreckage and this was Hastings and Le Treport. No position handed over to the R.A.F.—Rewards, was given. The life-boat and two £15 8s. 6d. aeroplanes searched for some time. In the meanwhile the distress call had been Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — 18th cancelled and the life-boat was recalled. September, 1939. A rowing boat with —Rewards, £12 12s. 6d. a boy and girl on board had been re- ported as missing and the life-boat put Sunderland, Co. Durham.—26th Sep- out, but was recalled as the boat had tember, 1939. A fishing coble had been been found.—Rewards £10 5s. reported in distress, but a pilot cutter took her in tow.—Rewards, £5 2s. 6d. Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—18th Sep- tember, 1939. An aeroplane had Newhaven, Sussex.—27th September, been reported down in the sea, but the 1939. A motor yacht had been re- life-boat was recalled by the coastguard ported broken down, but a tug took as her services were not needed.— her in tow.—Rewards, £5 16s. Rewards, £12 5s. Dover, Kent.—28th September, 1939. Court macsherry, Co. Cork.—24th A small boat had been reported as September, 1939. A message had capsized six miles from Dover in a been received that a steamer was in rough sea, but the life-boat could find distress, as a result of enemy action, nothing.—Partly permanent paid crew: about fifteen miles south of Fastnet Rewards, £1 17*. 6d. Lighthouse. She was the steamer Hazleside, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, bound Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.—1st Octo- from British Columbia to Garston with ber, 1939. A small trawler had been a crew of thirty-four. As the Balti- reported in a sinking condition fifty more motor life-boat was off service the miles away, but another vessel took her Courtmacsherry motor life-boat put out. in tow. The life-boat returned after She found nothing and put into Balti- being out for over nine hours.—Re- more. There she learned that a shore- wards, £16 2s. 9d. boat had two boats in tow. She put out again, with a local pilot on board, Ilfracombe, Devonshire.—3rd Octo- to help them, but by this time they had ber, 1939. A large lighter had been reached the Schull. After returning to reported broken away from her tow in a Baltimore for food and rest the life-boat heavy sea, with half a gale blowing. made for her station, arriving at 12.30 After two hours the life-boat came up on 25th September. She had then been with her, about twelve miles from out for over twenty hours.- Rewards, Ilfracombe, but found that there was £20 10s. no one on board.—Rewards, £34 3s. 5d.
A Fishing Fleet Calendar. MESSES. H. JENKINS, LTD., the photo- Fleet Calendar." It has fourteen graphers, of 2, Pier Terrace, Lowestoft, pages, with a different photograph on whose photographs will be well known each page, and it costs 3s., post free. to readers of The Life-boat, have, for All who enjoy beautiful pictures of the third year, issued "A Fishing ships and the sea should value it.
Doubled. THE Metropolitan Police contributed That is more than twice as much as £247 in 1939. in 1938. 210 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
Shoreboat Services. For which Rewards were given at the September and October Meetings of the Committee of Management. September Meeting. Robin Hood's Bay. The sea was Torbay, Devon.—At about 6 P.M. on smooth with no wind, although it was the 12th June, 1939, a sailing dinghy foggy, and it was decided that a life- capsized in Fishcombe Bay. The boat launch was unnecessary, but as a weather was fine with a N.W. breeze precaution the life-boat coxswain, Mr. and an almost smooth sea. The crew J. Murfield, put out in his own motor of three were seen clinging to the boat. He arrived to find that the keel. The call for help was given vessel had got off and gone on her way. by motorists from the Torbay Chalets —Rewards, £l for loss of business and Camp. Two motor boats put out fuel used. from Brixham Inner Harbour, and the Torbay life-boat also put out. The Barrow, Lancashire.—A pilot who motor boat Lady Mildred, manned by had been on the look-out reported to two men, rescued one, and the motor the life-boat coxswain at 1.45 P.M. on boat Winsome, manned by one man, the afternoon of Sunday the 23rd July, rescued the other two. The rescued that a sailing boat appeared to be in men had been in the water nearly difficulties in Morecambe Bay, with forty minutes and were exhausted.— something flying at half-mast. A Rewards, £l 2s. 6d. strong N.W. breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. A motor boat went out Ringstead, Weymouth, Dorset. — On with a crew of four. They found five the 29th June, 1939. two young sea-sick men on board the sailing boat, naval seamen, brothers, hired a rowing but they refused all help.—Rewards, boat from Portland and, accompanied £1 10s., and 3s. for fuel used. by two girls, rowed to Ringstead. When they were preparing to return Burnmouth (Eyemouth), Berwickshire. about 6.30 P.M., they were strongly •—At about six o'clock on the evening advised by a London police sergeant, of Sunday the 23rd July, 1939, two boy who was on holiday, not to attempt scouts drifted to sea on a raft from a to row back but to return by position about two miles south of bus. They ignored his advice and Burnmouth. The sea was smooth, with soon got into difficulties in a fresh a light westerly wind. The motor boats westerly wind, with a choppy sea. Bravo Lads and White Heather put out The sergeant (whose hobby is boating from Burnmouth manned by seven with the Ringstead fishermen when on fishermen and a visitor. Before they holiday) had kept the boat under close reached the raft the boys attempted to observation. When he saw that she swim to the shore. One succeeded; was in danger he raised the alarm, and the other failed. His body was picked himself put out with a local fisherman up by the White Heather, but it was and another visitor in a motor boat. impossible to revive him.—Rewards, When they reached the rowing boat £l 15s. they found the sailors nearly exhausted and the girls crying. They brought Hastings, Sussex.—On the afternoon them ashore.—Rewards. 25s. to the of the 24th July, 1939, information was fisherman for the use of his boat, and received through the police that an a letter to the Metropolitan Commiss- aeroplane had come down in the sea off ioner of Police strongly commending Ecclesbourne Glen, near Fairlight. The the initiative and action of Sergeant sea was slight, with a S.W. breeze King, B.63. blowing. The life-boat was launched and, at the request of the police, a Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 1.45 P.M. on speed-boat also put off from the pier, the afternoon of Sunday the 16th July, without waiting to disembark two 1939, the coastguard reported that a passengers. No trace of the aeroplane small vessel was ashore off North Cheek, could be found.—Rewards, £1. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 211
Herne Bay, Kent.—On the night of unfortunately, the other two were the 25th July, 1939, a boy on license drowned.—Rewards, 15s. to the two from Borstal took a boat belonging to men. the Whitstable Council, at Tankerton, and put off without oars. A fresh Runswick, Yorkshire.— On the after- southerly breeze was blowing, the sea noon of Sunday the 6th August, 1939, was choppy, and the boy got into diffi- two men visitors put out in a small culties. He was seen and heard by canoe. There was some sea running two boys, shouting for help, but the and they capsized. One man swam information did not reach the coast- ashore, but the other clung to the guard until 11.80. The Margate life- canoe. The life-boat second-coxswain boat put out, and Mr. A. Pressley, a and four other men put off in a rowing Herne Bay fisherman, also put out in boat and picked up the man who had a motor boat, and joined in the search. to be revived by artificial respiration.—• An aeroplane dropped Verey lights to Rewards, £2 10s. help them, but it was not until dawn that the boy was found by Mr. Pressley. Dfracombe, Devon.—At about 4.30 He was then exhausted. After giving P.M. on the afternoon of the 17th him water and chocolate from the life- August, 1939, information was received boat's stores Mr. Pressley then took from the coastguard that someone was the boy ashore. Mr. Pressley was out in difficulties on Torr Cliffs between for about four hours and covered over Ilfracombe and Lee. The life-boat's thirty miles.—Rewards, £1 5s., and 7s. honorary secretary sent off the me- for fuel used. chanic in his speed-boat, followed by the second-coxswain in his motor boat. Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—On the Two people were in difficulties, a man 26th July, 1939, it was reported that an and a woman. The man was hauled aeroplane had come down in the sea up the cliffs by the coastguard, the off Shoreham. A speed-boat put out woman was taken on board his boat by on the instructions of the honorary the second-coxswain.—Rewards, 15s. secretary of the life-boat station and the coastguard. She found nothing.— Swanage, Dorset.—At about 4.15 Rewards, £l. P.M. on the afternoon of Sunday, the 20th August, 1939, three small boats got into the tide-rip off Peveril Point in Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 9.30 P.M. on a strongly ebbing spring tide. One of the 27th July, 1939, a fisherman came the boats upset. At the request of ashore and reported to the life-boat the coastguard a boatman put out in coxswain that he had seen flares about his 20-feet open motor boat. He was four miles to the north. The sea was on the spot in about ten minutes and calm, with a light S.W. wind. The searched for an hour, but could find coxswain and three other men put out neither the boat nor the man who had in the motor coble Brighter Hope and been on board. He was able, however, found that the flares came from the to help the other two boats. One of motor coble Silver Line which had a them had lost a rowlock, and the other pleasure fishing party on board. Her could make no headway.—Rewards, £1. engine had broken down. The Brighter Hope towed her into Whity Harbour.— Walmer, Kent.—At 6.30 P.M. on the Rewards, £2, and 2s 6d. for fuel used. 26th August, 1939, information was received that two boys who had put Harwich, Essex. •— On the afternoon out in a home-made canoe at two in of the 4th August, 1939, four men, the afternoon, had not returned. The who were sailing in Harwich Harbour life-boat coxswain and six other men in a dinghy, capsized in a squally N.E. put off in a motor boat and found the wind. The sea was rough and the tide boys about three miles away near was ebbing strongly. A local water- Kingsdown. They were in no danger. man put out with another man in a The motor boat returned with them.—• motor boat. They succeeded in picking Rewards, £2 12s. 6d., and 5s. for fuel up two of the men in the water, but, used. 212 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. Llandudno, Caernarvonshire.—At about a local seaman noticed that a boat 6 P.M. on the 29th August, 1939, appeared to be on Arklow Bank, the coastguard reported to the life-boat several miles east from Arklow Harbour, coxswain that a man had fallen off for she did not move. The sea was Orme's Head. The weather was misty, rough, with a strong S.W. wind blowing. with a north-easterly wind and a The motor boat Willie Wag with a crew moderate sea. Four life-boatmen put of six put out at 8 P.M. and reached the out in a motor boat. They found that distressed boat two hours later. She the police had already arrived, but found her to be the French fishing boat stood by in case it was necessary to Java, of Camaret. Her crew of six take the man on board their boat. He had taken to the ship's boat. From was, however, hauled up the cliffs.— this the motor boat rescued them. Rewards, £1 105., and 3s. for fuel used. Half an hour later the Java which was full of water, slipped off the bank and October Meeting. sank.—Rewards, £7 10s., and 7s. for Ilfracombe, Devon. — At about 11 fuel used; also 7s. to the man who gave A.M. on the 12th June, 1939, informa- the first information. tion was received that a girl had fallen down the cliff at Hagginton Bea'ch, Littlehampton, Sussex. — At about Hele Bay. A strong N.N.W. inshore noon on the 22nd July, 1939, informa- wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. tion was received that the sailing boat A rowing boat put out manned by Mr. Idiofs Delight had capsized off Rusting- N. J. Lewis, a cafe proprietor, Mr. P. G. ton. The sea was choppy, with a fresh Burgess, beach attendant, and Mr. S.W. breeze. Manned by a crew of two W. H. Galliver. They found the girl, a the motor speed-boat Miss Little- seventeen-year-old visitor, unconscious hampton put off, but found the two at the foot of the cliffs, and another people from the sailing boat swimming girl about a hundred and twenty feet up. ashore. As they did not need help the The men then entered the sea, got speed-boat took the sailing boat in tow the unconscious girl aboard and re- and brought her to Littlehampton.—• turned to Hele. Putting off again they Rewards, 15s, £l for loss of business, went to the help of the girl on the cliffs, and 7s. for fuel used; also a letter of where Mr. Burgess and Mr. Galliver thanks to Mrs. Reed Peebles, who gave landed, Mr. Lewis remaining in the boat. first information of the accident. Eventually coastguardman Beer helped the girl to the cliff top. Mr. Lewis, Mr. Broughty Ferry, Angus.—While a Burgess and Mr. Galliver then returned party of three were boarding the dinghy to Hele at 12.40 P.M. wet through. belonging to the yacht Black Dragon At about 8 P.M. on the 1st July, Mr. at about 6 P.M. on the 1st August, 1939, Lewis and Mr. Galliver again put cut the dinghy capsized. A fresh westerly in a rowing boat on learning that two wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. visitors had been marooned on a rock, The tide was ebbing. Two men put at Hele Bay, by the tide. A moderate off in a motor boat. The dinghy was W.S.W. wind was blowing, with a about 200 yards away. They rescued choppy sea. They took their boat two of the three people—a father and close in and the two people were able daughter—but the son was missing. to jump into it. A few minutes later They searched for him. Meanwhile, the tide rose over the rock. the life-boat coxswain and motor Coastguardman Beer and Mr. Burgess, mechanic who were on the shore, saw the beach attendant, have received a body in the water. They went out testimonials from the Royal Humane in a rowing boat, brought it in and Society. Mr. Lewis has rendered simi- applied artificial respiration, but, un- lar services on many previous occasions fortunately, without result.—Rewards, —Rewards, A framed letter of thanks 15*. between the two rescuers, and to Mr. N. J. Lewis and 15s. to Mr. 2s 6d. for fuel used. W. H. Galliver. Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire. — At Arklow, Co. Wicklow.—At about 7 about 3.30 P.M. on the 15th August, P.M. on the night of the 12th July, 1939, 1939, a boatman, while out in his motor DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 213
boat, saw the sailing boat Snark, of Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—While out Nevin, capsize when about two miles fishing in the motor trawler Two from Nevin Bay. The weather was Brothers, in the afternoon of 15th fine and the sea smooth. The boatman September, 1939, two men saw a sailing hurried to the capsized boat, picked up boat in difficulties, about two miles off. the three men who had been on board, She had a party of five young people visitors from Manchester, and took on board. They did not know how to their boat in tow.—Rewards, 10*., and handle the boat. The sails had been 8s. for fuel used. blown away, and she was being carried out to sea. A fresh northerly wind was Blackpool, Lancashire.—At 4.30 P.M- blowing, and the sea was choppy with on the 22nd August, 1939, a boy who a very strong tide running. Heaving was bathing and was about 150 yards up their gear the two men went to her out, near the South Pier, got into diffi- help, rescued the five persons on board, culties. It was high water, with a and towed the boat into Tenby Road- S.W. breeze and a slight sea. Mr. stead.—Rewards, £1 5s. Edwin Smith, a member of the Black- Herne Bay, Kent.—At about 11.30, pool Town Council, who was out in his on the night of the 9th September, motor launch with a boatman and 1939, a British aircraft crashed in the passengers, hurried to the boy, took sea off Seasalter, and a number of boats, him on board and applied artificial including the Margate and Southend respiration. After being landed the boy life-boats, put out. The weather was recovered.—Rewards, A framed letter calm. The crew of the aeroplane were of thanks to Councillor Edwin Smith, safe, but one of the boats which had and 5s. to the boatman. gone to her help with two boys aboard, did not return and early in the morning Hastings, Sussex.—Mr. R. Cooke, of the 10th September, Mr. Pressley, a Volunteer-in-Charge of the Life- boatman, put out at the request of the saving Corps at Pett and three other coastguard. He did not find the boat, men, rescued the crew of four of an but she got back safely, unaided.— aeroplane on the 9th September, 1939. Reward, £1. The Hastings and Dungeness life- (See Margate and Southend-on-Sea boats also went out.—Rewards, £2, and "Services of the Life-boats.") 5s. for use of boat. Redcar, Yorkshire. — While home- (For a full account see "Life-boat ward bound for Grimsby the steam Services," Hastings, Sussex, and Dun- trawler Oswaldian ran ashore on the geness, Kent.) Salt Scar Rocks at about 8.30 P.M. on the 25th September, 1939. The weather Broughty Ferry, Angus.—Two boys was hazy, with a heavy swell. The in a sailing boat were seen to be in diffi- Redcar life-boat put out and also the culties about a mile west of the Tay motor fishing boat Mayflower, with a Bridge at 12.30 P.M. oil the llth crew of four. Four of the Oswaldiari's September, 1939. The coxswain, motor crew of eleven were landed by the mechanic and bowman, put off in a fishing boat and remained ashore. motor boat, picked up the boys, and The others after being taken on board towed their boat to Broughty Ferry. the life-boat returned to the trawler A boat was borrowed for the job, and which refloated later.—Rewards, £3, the Institution's petrol was used.— and Is 6d. for fuel used. Rewards, 7s 6d. to the bowman, and (See Redcar "Services of the Life- 10s. for the use of the boat. boats.")
Life-boat Essay Competition. OWING to the fact that so many not to hold the Duke of Northumber- schools have been moved on account of land's Life-boat Essay Competition the war, it has been regretfully decided for Elementary Schools in 1940. 214 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
Naming Ceremonies of Motor Life-boats in 1939. ENGLAND. ELEVEN naming ceremonies of motor The boat was accepted by Sir life-boats were held during 1939, Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the seven in England, three in Scotland Institution, who very warmly thanked and one in Wales. Three other cere- Mrs. Robinson for her magnificent gift. monies, one in England, and two in He then formally handed the boat to Ireland, were cancelled owing to the the station on whose behalf she was outbreak of war. received by Mr. W. W. Harris, J.P., its vice-chairman and honorary secretary. New Brighton, Cheshire. The Rev. W. S. Coad, M.A., vicar of A second motor life-boat was sta- New Brighton, dedicated the life-boat. tioned at New Brighton in 1938. The A vote of thanks to Mrs. Robinson, station has a 60-feet Barnett cabin the Lord Mayor and Sir Godfrey Baring motor life-boat, the first of the type to was proposed by Col. J. G- B. Beazley, be built since 1923. The second M.C., T.D., J.P., deputy-chairman of motor life-boat has taken the place of the Port of Liverpool branch, and a pulling and sailing life-boat. The seconded by Mr. Stuart Deacon, J.P., new boat is of the Watson type, 41 feet chairman of the committee of the New by 11 feet 8 inches. On service, with Brighton station. crew and gear on board, she weighs just Mrs. Robinson then named the life- over 15 tons. She is divided into eight boat Edmund and Mary Robinson after water-tight compartments and is fitted her late husband and herself. with 156 air-cases. She has twin During the ceremony the Lord Mayor screws, driven by two 35 h.p. petrol presented the silver and bronze medals engines. The engine-room is a water- and the Institution's thanks inscribed tight compartment, and each engine is on vellum awarded by the Institution itself water-tight, so that it could to the coxswain and crew for the rescue continue running even if the engine- in the great gale of 23rd November, room were flooded. Her speed is just 1938, of the crew of the fishing boat under 8 knots, and she carries enough Progress, of Hoylake and the schooner petrol to be able to travel 114 miles, at Loch Ranza Castle of Annalong. full speed, without refuelling. She Nine months later, on 31st October, carries a crew of eight, and in rough Mrs. Robinson died. Her funeral was weather can take fifty people on board. attended by Mr. W. W. Harris, vice- She has two cock-pits, a line-throwing chairman and honorary secretary of gun and an electric searchlight, and is the station, the coxswain, and four lighted by electricity. members of the crew who acted as She has cost about £7,000 and has bearers of the coffin. been built out of a gift from Mrs. Mary Robinson of Liverpool. Selsey, Sussex. The naming ceremony took place on The motor life-boat, a gift from the 4th February, 1939, in the South West Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, Princes Dock, at Liverpool, with the which was stationed at Selsey in 1928. very kind help of the Mersey Docks' was destroyed in a fire at the builders' and Harbour Board Coast Lines Ltd. yard at Cowes in 1937, while being over- The Lord Mayor of Liverpool (Sir hauled. Another boat, to take her Sydney Jones), presided. place, was sent to the station in 1938. Mrs. Robinson, although eighty- She is of the same type, the Watson nine years old and in very delicate cabin, 46 feet by 12 feet 9 inches. On health, herself presented the life-boat to service, with crew and gear on board, the Institution. In doing so she said: she weighs 20 tons. She is divided into "The knowledge that I have done nine water-tight compartments, and is something to save a life—perhaps a fitted with 158 air-cases. She has twin soul—has filled me with a joy, present screws, and is driven by two 40 h.p. and abiding, which is to me without a Diesel engines. The engine-room is a parallel." water-tight compartment, and each DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 215
engine is itself water-tight, so that it She can travel 44 miles at full speed could continue running even if the without refuelling. She carries a crew engine-room were flooded. Her speed of seven and can take 15 people on is 8 knots, and she carries enough fuel board in rough weather. to be able to travel 212 miles, at full She has cost about £3,000 and has speed, without refuelling. She carries been built out of a legacy from the late a crew of eight, and in rough weather Mr. T. H. Kirk Wright, of Bourne- can take ninety-five people on board. mouth. Mr. Wright left nearly She has a line-throwing gun and an £50,000 to the general funds of the electric searchlight, and is lighted Institution, but as it was discovered throughout by electricity. She has after his death that he had wished to cost about £9,000. present a motor life-boat for Poole, The new boat was named by the part of his legacy has been used for Duchess of Norfolk on 30th May,"l939. this purpose and the boat has been Mr. E. G. Arnell, J.P., chairman of the named after him. Chichester Rural District Council, and The naming ceremony took place on chairman of the Selsey branch, presided. 7th June, 1939, with'the Mayor of Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of Poole presiding. Several members of the Institution, presented the life-boat Mr. Kirk Wright's family were present. to the branch on behalf of the Canadian Lieut.-Col. C. R. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., Pacific Steamship Company and the secretary of the Institution, presented Institution, and she was received by the life-boat to Poole on behalf of the Dr. A. Humphrys, a member of the donor and the Institution, and she was Selsey committee. received by Alderman F. Bacon, J.P., The Bishop of Chichester (the Right chairman of the branch. Rev. Dr. G. K. A. Bell, D.D.) conducted The Bishop of Salisbury (the Right a service of dedication at which the Rev. Dr. E. Neville Lovett, C.B.E., singing was led by the choir of St. D.D.) dedicated the life-boat, the Peter's, Selsey. A vote of thanks to singing at this service being accom- the Duchess of Norfolk was proposed by panied by the band of Dr. Barnardo's the Lord Leconfield, G.C.V.O., Lord Boys. Lieutenant of Sussex, and seconded bv Miss K. J. Johnston, a niece of the Major J. S. Courtauld, M.C., M.P', donor, then named the life-boat Thomas president of the branch. Kirk Wright. The platform party then went to the A vote of thanks to Miss Johnston boat-house, which is built over the sea, was proposed by Lieut.-Col. V. D. at the end of a long gangway. Here Stenhouse, honorary secretary of the ceremony was concluded, being Bournemouth, and seconded by Miss relayed by loud-speakers to the E. M. Lees, honorary organising sec- audience on the shore. The Bishop of retary of Poole. Chichester blessed the life-boat and the Duchess of Norfolk named her Canadian Newbiggin, Northumberland. Pacific. The life-boat was then The pulling and sailing life-boat at launched. Newbiggin was replaced in 1938 by a motor life-boat of the 32-feet surf type, Poole, Dorset. driven by Hotchkiss internal cone The pulling and sailing life-boat at propellers, as described in the account Poole was replaced in 1939 by a of the naming ceremony at Poole. motor life-boat of the new surf type. The new boat has cost about £3,000 She is 32 feet by 9 feet 3 inches, and on and has been built out of a legacy from service, with crew and gear on board, the late Miss E, A. Northey, of London. she weighs 4J tons. She is divided into The naming ceremony took place on three water-tight compartments and 24th June, 1989, with Mr. Adam has 83 air-cases. If a sea breaks on Storey, chairman of the Newbiggin board she can free hei-self in six seonds. branch, presiding. Lieut.-Col. C. R. She has two 12 h.p. engines in a water- Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the tight engine-room driving Hotchkiss Institution, presented the life-boat to internal cone propellers, and they give the branch on behalf of the donor and her a speed of 6| knots. the Institution. She was received bv 216 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. Captain F. Hollingsworth, honorary behalf of which she was received by secretary of the branch, and the Rev. Major Savile. C. F. Medd, M.A., president of the Miss A. I. Lumb, a niece of the donor, branch, thanked the donor and the then named the life-boat Jesse Lumb. Institution. The Bishop of Salisbury (the Right Lady Frances Osborne, president of Rev. Dr. Ernest Neville Lovett, C.B.E., the Berwick-on-Tweed branch and D.D.) dedicated the life-boat. Ladies' Life-boat Guild, then presented A vote of thanks to Miss A. I. Lumb the wrist-watch awarded by the Institu- and her family was proposed by Mr. tion in place of binoculars, to Captain W. Couldrey, J.P., honorary secretary F. Hollingsworth, honorary secretary of the branch. of the Newbiggin branch, the record of thanks awarded to Mr. T. Hindmarsh, Minehead, Somerset. late honorary financial secretary, and The Institution stationed at Mine- the certificates of service awarded to head in 1939 a motor life-boat of the Mr. William Armstrong, Mr. W. R. 32-feet surf type as described in the Armstrong and Mr. George Brown, account of the naming ceremony at members of the crew. Poole. This boat, however, is driven A vote of thanks to Lady Francis by Gill jet propulsion, and is the first Osborne was proposed by Colonel J. H. of the Institution's life-boats to be Nicholson, J.P., a member of the equipped with it. She has the same committee, and seconded by Councillor speed as the Poole boat, 6| knots, but Mrs. A. Hepple, chairman of the twice as great a range. She can travel Newbiggin Urban District Council. 88 miles at full speed without refuelling. The Bishop of Newcastle (the Right She has replaced a pulling and sailing Rev. Dr. H. E. Bilbrough, D.D.) life-boat. dedicated the life-boat, the singing at She has cost about £3,000 and has this service being led by St. Bar- been built out of a legacy from the late tholomew's Church of England choir and Miss K. Greatorex, of Mytton Hall, accompanied by the Newbiggin Colliery near Shrewsbury. Band. The naming ceremony was held on Lady Francis Osborne then named 26th July, 1939, with Mr. A. E. H. the life-boat Augustus and Laura, and Berry, J.P., chairman of the Minehead the boat was launched. Urban District Council, presiding. About 3,000 people were present. The ceremony began with the Bembridge, Isle of Wight. presentation by Lieutenant H. M. The Institution stationed at Bem- Brandram, R.N.R., chairman of the bridge in 1939 a motor life-boat of the branch, of the thanks of the Institution 46-feet Watson cabin type, as des- inscribed on vellum awarded to Mr. cribed in the account of the naming T. K. Ridler, late honorary secretary, ceremony at Selsey. This boat re- and the certificate of service awarded, placed a smaller and less powerful with a pension to ex-Coxswain R. motor life-boat of the self-righting type. Martin. She has cost about £9,000 and has Mr. A. C. Reed, M.P., for Exeter, been built out of a legacy from the late and a member of the committee of Miss A. Lumb of Huddersfield. Her management of the Institution, then line-throwing gun is the gift of the presented the life-boat to the branch Southampton Ladies' Life-boat Guild. on behalf of the donor and the Institu- The naming ceremony was held on tion, and she was received by Mr. A. F. 21st July, 1939, Major R. S. Savile, J.P., Luttrell, J.P., D.L., president of the chairman of the branch, presiding. branch. Several members of Miss Lumb's family The life-boat was dedicated by the were present. Rev. C. W. C. Ingles, D.D., R.N. (ret.), Mr. J. Lumb, a nephew of the donor, late Chaplain of the Fleet. The Rev. presented the life-boat to the Institution G. E. Knapp Fisher, M.A., vicar of and she was received by Sir Godfrey, Minehead, and the Rev. A. F. Bland- Baring, Bt., chairman of the Institution, ford, B.A., took part in the service. who then handed her to the branch on The singing was led by the choir of St. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 217
Michael's Church, Minehead, and was 26th July, 1939, with the Mayor of accompanied by the Minehead Town Fleetwood presiding. Lieut.-Col. C. R. Band. Satterthwaite, O.B.E., secretary of the Mrs. G. F. Luttrell then named the Institution, presented the life-boat to life-boat Kate Greatorex. the branch on behalf of the donor and A vote of thanks was proposed by the Institution, and she was received Mr. Vernon Bartlett, M.P. for the by Mr. J. Wood, chairman of the Bridgwater Division of Somerset. branch. Fleetwood, Lancashire. The Bishop of Lancaster (the Right Rev. Benjamin Pollard, M.Sc., B.D.) The Institution stationed at Fleet- dedicated the life-boat assisted by the wood in 1939 a motor life-boat of the Rev. S. G. Stanton, M.A., vicar of 41-feet Watson type, as described in Fleetwood. the account of the naming ceremony at New Brighton. This boat has re- Lady Stanley then named the life- placed a smaller motor life-boat of the boat Ann Letitia Russell. self-righting type. A vote of thanks to Lady Stanley She cost about £7,000 and has been was proposed by Mr. J. W'ignall built out of a legacy from the late Miss Hodson, L.L.B., a patron of the branch, A. L. Russell, of Manchester. and seconded by Mr. R. Forrester The naming ceremony was held on Addie, a member of the committee.
SCOTLAND. Tobermory, Argyllshire. The naming ceremony was held on At the beginning of 1937 the In- llth August, 1939. Colonel Bryce Allan, stitution decided to establish an O.B.E., T.D., D.L., Provost of Tober- additional station on the west coast of mory and chairman of the branch, Scotland. Tobermory, in the Isle of presided, and Sir Alfred H. Read, J.P. Mull, was found to be the only place welcomed the guests. There was an where a life-boat could be placed and audience of about 1,200 people and a crew found, and a 46-feet Watson several members of Sir Arthur Rose's cabin life-boat as described in the family were present. Music was played account of the Selscy naming ceremony by the Anti-Tank Battery Pipe Band was laid down. This boat, which has from Oban. cost about £8,000, was built out of a The Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O., gift from Miss Margaret Lithgow, of V.D., L.L.D., chairman of the Scottish Tobermory, and at her wish it has been Life-boat Council and a vice-president .named after her friend Sir Arthur Rose, of the Institution, presented the life- Bt., D.S.O., who commanded the 15th boat to the branch on behalf of the Battalion of the Royal Scots in the donor and the Institution. She was war of 1914 to 1918, and was Com- received by Colonel Bryce Allan. missioner for Scotland under the The Rev. J. M. Menzies, M.A., and Special Areas Act. the Rev. K. S. MacLean, J.P., con- The life-boat was completed in the ducted a service of dedication at which spring of 1938 and was the chief exhibit the singing was led by a joint choir in the Institution's pavilion at the of the United Churches. Empire Exhibition held at Bellahouston Mrs. F. C. Laing, the daughter of Park, Glasgow, from May to the end of Sir Arthur Rose then named the life- October, 1938. The station was opened boat Sir Arthur Rose. on 12th October, 3938, when a reserve A vote of thanks to Mrs. Laing was life-boat was placed there, and the new proposed by Mr. James Bryce Allan, a life-boat arrived at Tobermory on 25th member of the committee of manage- November. ment of the Institution, and Sir Hugh Neither Miss Lithgow nor Sir Arthur Rose, Bt., the son of Sir Arthur Rose, Rose lived to see the station opened. replied. A vote of thanks to the Duke Sir Arthur Rose died in 1937 and Miss of Montrose, Colonel Bryce Allan and Lithgow in June 1938. others taking part in the ceremony 218 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939. was proposed by Lord Strathcona, and to the chairman and others taking part the Mull Anthem and the National in the ceremony was proposed by Mr. Anthem were sung. James Sutherland, a member of the committee. Wick, Caithness-shire. The Institution stationed a motor Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. life-boat of the 46-feet Watson cabin, The Institution, stationed at Peter- type, as described in the account of head in 1939 a 46-feet Watson cabin the Selsey naming ceremony, at Wick motor life-boat as described in the in 1938. She replaced another Watson account of the Selsey naming ceremony. motor life-boat of a less powerful type. The new boat lias replaced a Watson The new boat, which has cost about motor life-boat of a less powerful type. £9,000, has been built out of the general She has cost about £9,000 and has funds of the Institution and has been been built out of a gift from Mrs. Park named by it City of Edinburgh in Barry, of Glasgow, who died in March, gratitude for the generous support 1939, five months after making the gift. given to the Institution by the people The naming ceremony was held on of Scotland, who have nearly trebled 30th August, 1939. Provost Max J. L. their contributions in the last thirteen Schultze, J.P., chairman of the branch years. presided, several hundreds of people The naming ceremony was held on were present, and the motor life-boat 19th August, 1939. Commander Gore- from Fraserburgh lay alongside the Brown-Henderson, R.N., chairman of new boat. the branch, presided, and among those The Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O.. supporting him were Lieut.-Col. J. V.D., LL.D., chairman of the Scottish Benskin, D.S.O., O.B.E., a member of Life-boat Council and a vice-president the committee of management of the of the Institution, presented the life- Institution and Mrs. Benskin, C.B.E. boat to the branch on behalf of the About 2,000 people were present, and donor and the Institution, and she was music was played by the Wick Pipe received by Provost Schultze. The Band. Rev. H. Douglas Swan, B.D., dedicated Lord Saltoun, M.C., vice-chairman the life-boat, the singing at this service of the Scottish Life-boat Council, pre- being led by a joint choir of the United sented the life-boat to the branch on Churches and accompanied by the band behalf of the Institution, and she was of the 221st Battery, Royal Artillery. received by the Duke of Portland, K.G., Miss Julia Douglas-Reid, a grand- P.C., G.C.V.O., a vice-president of the daughter of Mrs. Park Barry, then Institution and president of the branch. named the life-boat Julia Park Barry, The Rev. M. Moore dedicated the of Glasgow. life-boat, the singing at the service A vote of thanks to Miss Julia being led by a choir under the direction Douglas-Reid was proposed by the of Mr. Alexander M. Small and accom- Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair, panied by the Wick Salvation Army O.B.E., J.P., a vote of thanks to the Band. Duke of Montrose by Mr. Alexander The Lady Provost of Edinburgh, Davidson, J.P., and a vote of thanks Mrs. Henry Steele, then named the to the Provost and others taking part life-boat City of Edinburgh. in the ceremony by the Earl of Caith- A vote of thanks to the Lady Provost ness, C.B.E., LL.D., D.L. was proposed by Major the Right Hon. Sir Archibald Sinclair, of Ulster, P.C., An account of the naming ceremony C.M.G., M.P., and the Lord Provost of at Barmouth, will be published in the Edinburgh replied. A vote of thanks next issue.
Threepenny Bits for Fifty Years. THE Institution has received a gift of collecting threepenny-bits for 50 years, 60 threepenny bits from a lady in all of which she has sent to the Institu- Jarrow. She writes that she has been tion or put in life-boat collecting boxes. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 219
Summary of the Meetings of the Committee of Management. Thursday, 31st August, 1939. Fraserburgh, Holyhead, Johnshaven, The Paid £31,992 16s. 6d. for the total charges Mumbles, New Brighton, Newhaven, Pad- of the Institution during the month, includ- stow, Port St. Mary, Ramsgate, Rhoscolyn, ing rewards for services, payments for the Runswick, Rye Harbour, St. Andrews, construction of life-boats, life-boathouses and St. Ives, Troon and Whitby. slipways and the maintenance of life-boat £89 7s. 6d. to men for injury in the life-boat stations. service at Blackpool, Buckie, Caister, Among the payments made were:— Fethard, Moelfre, Newhaven, and Port St. £204 15s. Sd. on account of pensions Mary. already granted to the dependent relatives of Voted £5 on account of additional rewards men who had lost their lives in the life-boat to the crew of the Aldeburgh life-boat. service at Cullercoats and Rye Harbour, Granted £100 to Miss Abel, sister of the and the increases in accordance with the motor mechanic of the Cullercoats life-boat terms of the Admiralty Order as reported to who lost his life in the disaster to the life-boat the July meeting of the Committee of while on exercise on the 22nd April, 1939. Management. Voted £22 Os. 6d. to pay the rewards for £9 10s. medical expenses of a man injured the Barrow, Eyemouth, Harwich, Hastings, in the Cullercoats life-boat disaster on Herne Bay, Ilfracombe, Llandudno, Runs- the 22nd April, 1939. wick, Shoreham Harbour, Swanage, Torbay, Walmer, Weymouth and Whitby shoreboat services, accounts of which appear on pages Thursday, 14th September, 1939. 210 to 212. Sir GODFREY BARING, Bt., in the chair. Reported the removal of the Headquarters Thursday, 12th October, 1939. of the Institution from Grosvenor Gardens to the new life-boat depot. Sir GODFREY BARING, Bt., in the chair. Appointed Captain E. S. Carver, R.D., Produced a letter from the Ministry of R.N.R., superintendent of depot, to be chief Industry and Commerce, Dublin, promising inspector of life-boats during the absence the co-operation of the government of Eire on war service of Lieut.-Commander P. E. in the maintenance of the life-boat service Vaux, D.S.C., R.N., chief inspector, and of on the Irish coast during the war. Capt. R. L. Hamer, R.N., deputy chief Paid £39,362 12s. 9d. for the total charges inspector. of the Institution during the month, including Appointed Commander E. D. Drury, rewards for services, payments for the con- O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., late chief inspector, struction of life-boats, life-boathouses and and Captain H. G. Innes, R.N., late deputy slipwaj^s, and the maintenance of life-boat chief inspector, to be temporary district stations. inspectors of life-boats during the absence on Among payments which have been made war service of two of the permanent district were:— inspectors. £145 17s. Od. to pay the rewards for life- Paid £24,452 Os. Id. for the total charges of boat services. the Institution during the month, including £418 8s. lid. to pay the rewards for life-boat rewards for services, payments for the con- launches. struction of life-boats, life-boathouses and (Accounts of these services and launches slipways, and the maintenance of life-boat appear on pages 203 to 209); stations. £22 Is. Od. for the assemblies of crews, etc.; Among payments which have been made £23 12s. 8d. on account of pensions already were:— granted to the dependent relatives of men £27017s. 6d. to pay the rewards for life-boat who had lost their lives in the life-boat service services; at Rye Harbour; £499 11s. 6d. to pay the rewards for life- £46 lls. 6d. to men for injury in the life- boat launches. boat service at Cullercoats, Hastings and (Accounts of these services and launches Lynmouth. appear on pages 193 to 203); £12 on account of additional rewards to the £18 7s. 6d. for assemblies of crews, etc.; crew of the Ballycotton life-boat. £3 4s. Od. additional rewards for services Voted £18 5s. 6d. to pay the rewards for already reported; the Arklow, Blackpool, Broughty Ferry, £588 9s. lid. on account of pensions already Hastings, Herne Bay, Ilfracombe, Little- granted to the dependent relatives of men hampton, Porthdinllaen, Redcar and Tenby who had lost their lives in the life-boat shoreboat services, accounts of which appear service at Aldeburgh, Caister, Fethard, Filey, on pages 212 and 213.
"Literature of the Life-boat.' THERE are still some copies left of Lit- in 1936 and 1937 as supplements to this erature of the Life-boat by Sir John journal. A copy of the two supple- Gumming, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., a vice- ments bound together will be sent on ap- president of the Institution, published plication, to any reader of The Life-boat. 220 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
News from the Branches. 1st August to 31st October, 1939. Greater London. PRESTWICH.—Bring-and-buy sale at CLAPHAM.—Whist drives. the house of Miss F. Robinson. COVENT GARDEN.—The branch has MORECAMBE AND HEYSHAM.—Life- suffered a serious loss by the death of Mr. boat day. Dance, organized by the Ladies' Bert Monro, who had been its honorary Life-boat Guild. secretary for over twenty years. OLDHAM.—Special meeting of Ladies' HOUNSLOW, HESTON AND ISLE- Life-boat Guild, the Mayoress, president, in WORTH.—Whist drive. the chair. POTTERS BAR. — Mrs. Cunnington PEEL.—Life-boat day. appointed honorary secretary of South PORT ERIN.—Annual meeting on 30th Minims and Ridge. October, Mr. F. C. Lowcock, vice-president, ROMFORD.—Life-boat day. in the chair. Amount collected in 1939, £239. Life-boat day. ST. ALBANS.—Special collections in the cathedral and churches in lieu of life-boat day. PORT ST. MARY, RAMSEY, AND ST. ANNES-ON-THE-SEA.—Life-boat days. SOUTHEND AND DISTRICT.—Life-boat day in Canvey Island and South Benfleet. ST. HELENS.—Whist drive at the house of Dr. T. R. O'Keeffe. UPMINSTER.—Life-boat day. SEASCALE, SILLOTH, AND SILVER- DALE.—Life-boat days. North-West of England. TVLDESLEY.—Whist drive. BOLTON.—Ladies' bowling handicap. ULVERSTON.—Life-boat day. BREDBURY.—Annual meeting on 18th October, Mrs. P. Kenyon, president and honorary treasurer, in the chair. Amount North-East of England. collected in 1939, £44. ASHINGTON.—Whist drive. CARNFORTH.—Life-boat day. BRIGHOUSE.—Whist drive. CASTLETOWN.—Annual life-boat day DARLINGTON.—Bridge drives, garden and fete. fete. DOUGLAS, EARBY, FLEET WOOD, FILEY, GOOLE, HORNSEA, HUD- AND GRANGE-OVER-SANDS.—Life-boat DERSFIELD, AND HULL.—Life-boat days. days. RIPON.—Bridge drive. HEYWOOD.—Annual meeting on 26th SCARBOROUGH, AND SALTBURN.— October. The Mayoress, president, in the chair. Amount collected in 1939, £50. Life-boat days. INCE - IN - MAKERFIELD. — Special WASHINGTON.—Whist drive. meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. WEST HARTLEPOOL.—Annual guild meeting on 19th October. Mrs. Horsfall LANCASTER. — Annual house-to-house presiding. Efforts of the past year. Bridge collection. drives. Amount collected 1939, £70. LIVERPOOL & DISTRICT: WHITBY.—Life-boat day. HOYLAKE.—Annual life-boat service WITHERNSEA.—Life-boat day, dance. at St. Hildeburgh's Church, conducted by the vicar. Procession of members of the crew, officials of the branch and the Midlands. coastguard from the life-boat house to ALFORD, AND BARTON-ON-HUMBER. the church. —Life-boat days. WALLASEY.—Life-boat service at St. BIRMINGHAM.—Address to the Birming- James's Church. The Mayor of Wallasey, ham Co-operative Society. Collection at officials and friends of the Wallasey & Handsworth Horticultural Show. New Brighton committee, and the New CLEETHORPES.—Demonstration by the Brighton life-boat crew attended. Humber motor life-boat. LYTHAM.—Life-boat day. GRANTHAM.—Opening of Belton House MANCHESTER, SALFORD AND gardens by Lord Brownlow, D.L., J.P., DISTRICT.—The branch has suffered a patron of the branch. severe loss by the death of Alderman Sir HEANOR, KIDDERMINSTER (STOUR- William Davy, J.P., a former Lord Mayor, PORT), MALVERN, AND MARKET who had been its honorary treasurer for five years. RASEN.—Life-boat days. LEAMINGTON. — Annual meeting, CHORLTON - CUM - HARDY.—Special Colonel Harry N. Byass, C.M.G., chairman, meeting. presiding. Presentation by the Mayoress DENTON.—Annual meeting. of the records of thanks awarded by the DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 221
Institution to Mrs. Bkins and Miss Pratt. BRIGHTLINGSEA, BURNHAM - ON - Amount collected in 1939, £216. CROUCH, CAISTER - ON - SEA AND MATLOCK.—Presentation by Mr. F. DISTRICT, AND CHELMSFORD.—Life- Drabble, J.P., of a certificate won in the boat days. life-boat essay competition for elementary CLACTON-ON-SEA.—Life-boat day, and schools. church collections, arranged by the Ladies' NEWARK.—Presentation by the Provost Life-boat Guild. Life-saving demonstration of Southwell (the Very Rev. W. J. Cony- by the motor life-boat. beare), of the challenge shield for the Midlands COLCHESTER. -Life-boat day in country in the life-boat essay competition for ele- districts. mentary schools, won by Reginald Charles CROMER. Life-boat day. Wing, of Mount Senior Mixed School, Newark, and of two other prizes won in this com- DOVER AND DISTRICT.—Life-boat petition. day. Church collections at Eythorne. NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, NUN- DUNMOW.—Life-boat day. EATON, OLDBURY AND LANGLEY, EASTBOURNE AND DISTRICT.— SKEGNESS, SOUTH NORMANTON, Life-boat day at Hailsham. Collection at SPILSBY, AND STAMFORD.—Life-boat schools. days. EPPING.—Life-boat day. SUTTON-ON-SEA.—Ex-Coxswain John FAVERSHAM. — Life - boat day. Life - Wilyman, who has died at the age of 88, was an officer of the Sutton life-boat for 35 years. boat films ' Boats that Save Life ' and He served as second-coxswain for five years, ' The Story of the Life-boat ' shown. and then as'coxswain for 30 years, retiring GRAYS AND DISTRICT.—Life-boat in 1913, at the age of 62, when the station day. Life-boat film ' The Story of the Life- was closed. On his retirement he was boat ' shown at Tilbury. awarded a pension and a certificate of service. GREAT BENTLEY AND DISTRICT.— WORCESTER.—Life-boat day. Presen- Life-boat day. tation by Alderman R. R. Fairbairn, J.P., GREAT YARMOUTH AND GOR- chairman, of a certificate won in the life- LESTON.—Tennis tournament, arranged by boat essay competition for elementary the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. schools. HARLOW.—Life-boat day. HASBOROUGH AND DISTRICT.— South-East of England. Life-boat days at Bacton, Edingthorpe, ALDEBURGH AND DISTRICT. — Hasborough, Smallburgh and Stalham. Annual meeting. Efforts of the past year: HASTINGS AND ST. LEONARDS.— Life-boat days. Amount collected in 1939, Life-boat day. Life-boat Sunday. The £154. certificate of service awarded by the Institu- Life-boat days. tion to Coxswain William Curtis on his retirement, presented by Commander John AMPTHILL AND DISTRICT. — Life- Bray, V.D., R.N.V.R., chairman of the boat day. branch. ARUNDEL AND DISTRICT. — Life- HERNE BAY.—Life-boat day, with visit boat day, with visit of the Selsey motor of the Margate motor life-boat. life-boat. HUN ST ANTON, AND HYTHE AND BEXHILL - ON - SEA. — Annual meeting, DYMCHURCH.—Life-boat days. Rear-Admiral C. A. M. Sarel, O.B.E., ISLE OF SHEPPEY.—Life-boat tableau chairman, presiding. Efforts of the past in Sheerness carnival, arranged by the year: Life-boat day. Amount collected in Ladies' Life-boat Guild. 1939, £275, an increase of £136 on 1938. Life-boat day. LOWESTOFT, AND MARGATE.- Life- boat days. BIRCHINGTON.—Life-boat day. MISTLEY, MANNINGTREE AND BLAKENEY.—Life-boat day. DISTRICT.—House-to-house collection. Mr. George Long, who for 16 years was second-coxswain and for 24 years coxswain, NEWHAVEN.—Life-boat days at New- has died at the age of 83. When he retired haven and Peacehaven. in 1921 after 40 years' service as an officer NORWICH.—'Silent Appeal.' of the life-boat he was awarded a certificate of service and a pension. RYE AND WINCHELSEA.—Life-boat film ' The Story of the Life-boat ' shown with BOGNOR REGIS.—Life-boat day, with collections. visit of the Selsey motor life-boat. Address to the Rotary Club by Captain Basil Hall, SELSEY. — Life - boat day. Golf com- R.N. petition. BRAINTREE.—Life-boat day. SHERINGHAM.—Life-boat day. BRANCASTER. — Life-boat days at SOUTHBOROUGH AND DISTRICT.— Brancaster and Brancaster Staithe. House-to-house collections. 222 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBER, 1939.
SOUTHWOLD AND DUNWICH.—Life- BURNHAM. — House - to - house col- boat day. lection at Highbridge. WALTON AND FRINTON.—Life-boat CADGWITH.—Life-boat day and dance. day. Life-boat film ' Boats that Save Life ' shown. Life-boat Sunday. Angling com- CLOVELLY.—Life-boat day. petition. COVERACK.—Life-boat day and launch WELLS - ON - SEA. — Annual meeting, of the motor life-boat, with the Falmouth Mr. F. Raven, J.P., chairman, presiding. and Penlee motor life-boats in attendance. Efforts of the past year: Life-boat day, life- Carnival and dance. boat cup competition, whist drive and dance. Presentations by Mr. M. P. Williams, Amount collected in 1939, £103. The president of the branch, to Commander resignation of the honorary secretary, Mr. E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., late H. E. Loynes, was received after 44 years chief inspector of life-boats, on his retirement, service. Mr. E. W. Rose appointed honorary and to Mr. Corin, ex-superintendent coxswain secretary. The resignation of the chairman, of the Coverack life-boat. Mr. F. Raven, was also received after 15 DARTMOUTH.—Life-boat day, and visit years service. Dr. E. W. Hicks appointed of the Torbay motor life-boat. chairman. Life-boat day. Dance. EXMOUTH. — Annual meeting, Com- mander L. C. Holmes, chairman of the WESTGATE - ON - SEA. -— Life - boat branch, presiding. Amount collected in day. Life-boat film ' The Story of the 1939, £515. Life-boat ' shown. Life-boat day and launch of the motor WISBECH.—Life-boat day. life-boat. Golf competition. FOWEY. — Life - boat day. House - to - Lectures were also given to the Women's house collection at Lostwithiel. Institutes at Betchworth, Great Totham and Wickham Bishops, High Cross, Rydes Hill GUERNSEY.—Life-boat day. and Watton-at-Stone. HELSTON.—Life-boat day. Life-boat days which were to have been ILFRACOMBE. — Annual meeting. held during September and October at Amount collected in 1939, £225. CHATTERIS, COLCHESTER, ELY, ISLE OF WIGHT.—Life-boat day at FELIXSTOWE, FOLKESTONE, LITTLE- Bembridge, Brading, Brooke, Cowes, East HAMPTON, PEVENSEY AND DISTRICT Cowes, Freshwater, Newport, Ryde, Sandown (by Eastbourne branch), RAMSEY (by and Lake, Shanklin, Sea View, St. Helens, Huntingdon branch), ST. IVES, SAND~- Ventnor, Yarmouth, and all villages. WICH, SUDBURY, SUTTON BRIDGE (by Wisbech branch), and WELWYN GARDEN YARMOUTH. — Annual meeting. CITY had to be cancelled owing to the Amount collected in 1939, £38. Mr. Rupert outbreak of war. Simpson elected chairman in succession to Major H. Mansford, O.B.E. Other events and special efforts which LIZARD.—Life-boat day at The Lizard had to be cancelled included a works col- and Mullion. lection at DUNSTABLE, a garden meet- LOOE.—Life-boat day at Looe and ing at HARPENDEN, a whist drive at Polperro. HITCHIN, a house-to-house collection at SITTINGBOURNE, the naming ceremony LYME REGIS.—Life-boat day. at GREAT YARMOUTH AND GOR- LYMINGTON. — Life - boat day at LESTON and a number of lectures to Lymington, New Milton, Barton-on-Sea and Women's Institutes. Milford-on-Sea. Life-boat film shown. LYNMOUTH.—Life-boat day. South-West of England. MEVAGISSEY. — Life - boat day at AXMINSTER.—Life-boat day at Colyton. Mevagissey, St. Austell and district. BATH.—Life-boat day at Midsomer MINEHEAD. — Life - boat day, and Norton and Radstock. launch of the new motor life-boat. NEWQUAY.—Life-boat day. BASINGSTOKE. — House - to - house collection at Hook. NEWTON ABBOT. — Life - boat day at Haytor, Moretonhampstead and North Bovey. BIDEFORD. — Life - boat day at Apple- PADSTOW. — Life - boat day in Pad- dore, and in Bideford and district. stow, Wadebridge and district. Launch of BLANDFORD, AND BOURNEMOUTH. the two life-boats, with a ' wreck ' and life- —Life-boat days. saving demonstration. Exhibition of Cornish BRIDPORT.—Annual meeting, Rear- wresting. Display by the 2nd East Wickham Admiral C. H. Fox, C.B., president, in the (Kent) Scouts, and treasure hunt. Jumble chair. Speaker: The district organizing Sale. secretary. Amount collected in 1939, £91. PENZANCE. — Life - boatjday. Life-boat day in Bridport and district. PLYMOUTH. — House - to - house col- BUDE.—Life-boat day. lection at South Brent. DECEMBER, 1939.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 223
POOLE.—Gardens of Compton Acres GOUROCK.—Steamer collection. opened to the public. ISLE OF ARRAN.—Annual concert at PORT ISAAC.—Life-boat day. Whiting Bay arranged by Mrs. Charles PORTHLEVEN. — Life - boat day in Graham, a vice-president of the Ladies' Life- Porthleven and villages. boat Guild, the Duke of Montrose, C.B., I* Ex-Coxswain John Russell, who has died C.V.O., V.D., LL.D., chairman of the at the age of 58, was coxswain of the life- Scottish Life-boat Council and a vice- boat from 1915 until 1929, when he retired president of the Institution, presiding. on the closing of the station. He was KILSYTH, AND KIRKCUDBRIGHT.— awarded a pension and a certificate of service. Life-boat days. SALCOMBE.—Life-boat day in Salcombe, LARGS.—Life-boat day. Steamer col- Hope Cove, Kingsbridge and district. Life- lection at Wemyss Bay. boat film shown. LONGHOPE.—The branch has lost a SALISBURY. — House - to - house col- distinguished ex-coxswain by the death of lection in Fordingbridge and villages. Coxswain John Swanson. (An account of SCILLY ISLES, SEATON, SENNEN, his work appeared in the last issue of The SHAFTESBURY, AND SIDMOUTH.— Life-boat.) Life-boat days. LOCKERBIE.—Life-boat day. SOUTHAMPTON.—Whist drive. METHIL, AND NAIRN.—Life-boat days. ST. IVES, AND SWANAGE.—Life-boat NORTH BERWICK. — Life - boat day days. and visit of Anstruther motor life-boat. TEIGNMOUTH.—Life-boat day in Teign- Golf competitions. mouth and villages. Launch of the life-boat. OBAN.—Life-boat days at Taynuilt and TRURO.—Life-boat day at Chacewater, Connel F'erry. Perranporth and St. Agnes. PETERHEAD.—Naming ceremony of the WANTAGE.—Life-boat day at Didcot. new motor life-boat (see special account on page -218). WATCHET.—Life-boat day, with launch of the life-boat and aquatic programme. PORT LOGAN.—Coxswain Adam Gallo- Sacred concert by the Salvation Army. way, who died in August at the age of 74, served as second coxswain and then coxswain WEYMOUTH.—Life-boat day at Wey- for 41 years, retiring in 1931 with a pension mouth, Portland and Lulworth. and a certificate of service. WINCHESTER. — Life - boat day and stall at Butter Cross. SELKIRK, STIRLING, TARBERT, AND THURSO.—Life-boat days. YEOVIL.—Life-boat day in South Pether- ton and villages. TOBERMORY.—Naming ceremony of the new motor life-boat (see special account on page 217). Scotland. WICK.—Naming ceremony of the new ARBROATH.—Meeting of the executive motor life-boat (see special account on committee of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild in page 218). place of the annual meeting. Lady Chapel, president, in the chair. Efforts of the past year: Concert and cinema entertainment, Ireland. and life-boat day. BAGENALSTOWN, BALLYCOTTON, CAMPBELTOWN. — Golf competitions AND BALTIMORE.—Life-boat days. at Carradale and Machrihanish. BIRR.—Golf competition. COWDENBEATH, CARDENDEN, AND BRAY.—Life-boat day. CROMARTY.—Life-boat days. CASTLEDERG.—Presentation of the CULLEN.—Visit of Whitehills motor life- challenge shield for Ireland in the life-boat boat. essay competition for elementary schools, DUNBAR AND SKATERAW.—The won by Fred Guy Kerrigan, of the Garvetagh branch has lost a distinguished ex-coxswain Public Elementary School, Castlederg. by the death of Coxswain Walter Fairbairn. CASTLETOWNSHEND AND DISTRICT, (An account of his work appeared in the last; ( LOUCHEY, CORK, AND COURTMAC- issue of The Life-boat.) SHERRY.—Life-boat days. DUNFERMLINE AND ROSYTH. Life-boat day at Dunfermline; house-to- DUNDALK.—Golf competition. house collection at Rosyth. DUN LAOGHAIRE, DUNMORE EAST, DUNOON.—Life-boat day and visit of ENNIS, AND GALWAY.—Life-boat days. Troon motor life-boat. GREENCASTLE.-—Golf competition. EASTER ROSS.—Life-boat day. GREYSTONES.—Life-boat day followed ELIE.—Life-boat day and visit of Anstru- by dance. ther motor life-boat. HOWTH.—Life-boat day and golf com- KHASERBURGIL—Life-boat day and petition. country market. KILKENNY.—Golf competition. 224 THE LIFE-BOAT. [DECEMBEK, 1939.
KILMORE.—Life-boat day. Wales. KINSALE. — Life - boat collection at Including Herefordshire, Monmouthshire regatta. and Shropshire. LAYTOWN AND BETTYSTOWN.— ABERDARON, ABERDOVEY, ABER- Golf competition. YSTWYTH, AND AMLWCH.—Life-boat days. LIMERICK.—Golf competition and life- BARMOUTH.—Naming ceremony of new boat day. motor life-boat (a special report will appear NEWCASTLE (DUNDRUM). — Dance. in the next issue of The Life-boat). Life-boat day. PORTRUSH.—Life-boat day. BANGOR, BEAUMARIS, BETTWS-Y- ROSSLARE.—Life-boat day. Golf com- COED, BORTH, BRIDGNORTH, CAER- petition. NARVON, CARDIFF, CHWILOG, COL- SKERRIES.—Life-boat day. Golf com- WYN BAY, CRICCIETH, EDEYRN petition. AND PORTHDINLLAEN, FISHGUARD AND GOODWICK, KINGTON, AND STRABANE, TRAMORE, AND TUAM.— LLANBEDROG.—Life-boat days. Life-boat days. LLANDUDNO. — House - to - house col- ^yICKLOW.—Life-boat day. Golf com- lection. Hotel collection. petitions. LLANFAIRFECHAN, LLANGRANOG, YOUGHAL.—Benefit night at Barker's MENAI BRIDGE, MORFA NEVIN, NEW- Amusements. TOWN, NEVIN, PENDINE, PENMAEN- MAWR, PORTHCAWL, PORTMADOC, Presentations of prizes in the life-boat PRESTATYN, PWLLHELI, RHYL, SARN essay competition for elementary schools AND BOTTWNOG, ST. DAVIDS, TENBY, were also made at Ballymena, Ballynure, TOWYN, TREVOR AND CLYNNOG, AND Greencastle, Lisburn and Newry. TYDWEILIOG.—Life-boat days.
Id. For Each Life Rescued. THE Herts Advertiser of St. Albans, The paper continues: writes that one of the honorary workers "I hope many will emulate this life- for the St. Albans branch, when she boat worker's example, not only now read the record of lives rescued by life- but in succeeding months. The Herts boats during the first month of the war, Advertiser will keep them informed as gave to the branch one penny for each to the total number of rescues month life. by month."
Notice. THE LIFE-BOAT is published quarterly and is sent free to all honorary secretaries of branches and the Ladies'1 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 will 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 E LIFE-BOAT will be published in April, 19-10.