Services by the Life-boats of the Institution, by Shore-boats and by Auxiliary Rescue- boats during 1942

During the year life-boats were launched 443 times. Of these launches 244 were to vessels and aeroplanes in distress through attack by the enemy or from other causes due to the war.

The Record Month by Month

Vessels Lives Number Lives which Lives Rescued of Rescued Life-boats Rescued by 1942 Life-boat by Saved or by Auxiliary Launches Life-boats Helped Shore-boats Rescue to Save Boats

January 88 253 8 28 -

February 37 3 1 2 -

March 63 75 6 62 -

April 25 32 7 7 -

May 22 17 1 8

June 17 - - 8 -

July 17 7 3 66 -

August 22 18 4 - -

September 37 74 4 18 -

October 32 31 4 12 3 I November 22 7 2 6 -

December 61 79 5 14 -

Totals 443 596 45 231 3

1 Thirty-eight Medals for Gallantry

PLYMOUTH, DEVON

On the 13th January, 1942, the Plymouth life-boat saved a Sunderland Flying Boat of the Royal Australian Air Force and rescued her crew of two. COXSWAIN WALTER D. CROWTHER was awarded the bronze medal.

CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE

On the 19th January, 1942, the Campbeltown life-boat rescued forty-four of the crew of the motor vessel Mobeka, of Antwerp. COXSWAIN JAMES THOMSON was awarded the silver medal. SECOND COXSWAIN DUNCAN NEWLANDS was awarded the bronze medal. BOWMAN DUNCAN BLACK was awarded the bronze medal. MOTOR MECHANIC HUBERT LISTER was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN JOSEPH McGEACHY was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN DUNCAN MCLEAN was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN NEIL SPEED was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN JAMES LANG was awarded the bronze medal.

NEWCASTLE, CO. DOWN

On the 21st January, 1942, the Newcastle life-boat rescued thirty-nine of the crew of the S.S. Browning, of Liverpool. COXSWAIN PATRICK MURPHY was awarded the gold medal. SECOND COXSWAIN WILLIAM MURPHY was awarded the silver medal. MOTOR MECHANIC ROBERT AGNEW was awarded the silver medal. BOWMAN WILLIAM J. LENAGHAN was awarded the bronze medal. ASSISTANT MOTOR MECHANIC THOMAS McCLELLAND was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN PATRICK McCLELLAND was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN PATRICK ROONEY was awarded the bronze medal.

PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE

On the 23rd-26th January, 1942, the Peterhead life-boat rescued the crew of forty-four of the S.S. Runswick, the crew of twenty-six of the S.S. Fidra, and thirty-six of the crew of the S.S. Saltwick. COXSWAIN JOHN B. McLEAN was awarded the gold medal. MOTOR MECHANIC DAVID F. WISEMAN was awarded the silver medal. LIFE-BOATMAN ALEXANDER W. HEPBURN, acting as second coxswain, was awarded the bronze medal. 2 SERVICES 1942 3

LIFE-BOATMAN WILLIAM STRACHAN, acting as bowman, was awarded the bronze medal. ASSISTANT MOTOR MECHANIC WILLIAM SUMMERS was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN ALEXANDER GOWANS was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN ALEXANDER STRACHAN was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN GEORGE CORDINER was awarded the bronze medal.

HARTLEPOOL, DURHAM

On the 26th January, 1942, the Hartlepool life-boat rescued five of the crew of the S.S. Hawkwood, of London. LIEUT. WILLIAM H. BENNISON, C.G.M., R.N.V.R., coxswain of the life- boat, was awarded the gold medal. MOTOR MECHANIC HERBERT W. JEFFERSON was awarded the silver medal. BOWMAN THOMAS GILCHRIST was awarded the bronze medal. ASSISTANT MOTOR MECHANIC ROBERT HORSLEY was awarded the bronze medal. EMERGENCY MOTOR MECHANIC EDWARD WALLACE was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN RICHARD COULSON was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN WILLIAM HORSLEY was awarded the bronze medal. LIFE-BOATMAN HERBERT PEARSON was awarded the bronze medal.

WICK, CAITHNESS-SHIRE

On the 21st September, 1942, the Wick life-boat rescued thirty-one people from the steam tug St. Olaves, and the motor vessel Gold Crown. COXSWAIN NEIL STEWART, jun. was awarded the bronze medal.

PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE

On the 15th December, 1942, the Peterhead life-boat rescued the crew of twelve of the steam trawler Loch Wasdale, of Aberdeen. CAPTAIN JAMES WINTER, harbour master, acting as coxswain, was awarded the bronze medal.

BALLYCOTTON. CO. CORK

On the 23rd December, 1942, the Ballycotton life-boat rescued the crew of thirty-five of the S.S. Irish Ash, of Dublin. COXSWAIN PATRICK SLINEY was awarded the silver medal. SECOND COXSWAIN MICHAEL L. WALSH was awarded the bronze medal. MOTOR MECHANIC THOMAS SLINEY was awarded the bronze medal. ASSISTANT MOTOR MECHANIC WILLIAM SLINEY was awarded a clasp to his bronze medal.

Accounts of Services by Life-boats

JANUARY of London. She was at anchor and leaking, and her master asked the life-boat to stand Launches 88. Lives rescued 253. by. He also said that another life-boat had gone to the tug which was two miles E. by N. JANUARY 5TH. - AITH, SHETLANDS. The life-boat stood by until another tug At 5.10 P.M. the coastguard reported distress signals a mile west of Eshaness Point, and arrived and took the steamer in tow, and the motor life-boat The Rankin was launched then returned to her station at 3.25 A.M. At Skegness, at 4.30 in the afternoon, the coast- at 5.45 P.M. A strong northerly gale was blowing, with a heavy sea and squalls of guard reported SOS signals from a steamer snow. The life-boat found the Norwegian eight miles S.E. by E. At 5.10 P.M. the motor motor vessel Nansen, with her engine and life-boat Anne Allen put out. She found the steering gear broken down, her fuel tanks tug Arcadia and the S.S. Eastwood. Both empty, her anchor lost, and her crew of nine were damaged, one as the result of a mine, exhausted. They had been without food and and neither was able to go on her way, but water for several days. After some man- both crews refused to leave their vessels and oeuvring the life-boat took her in tow, and at said that they would stay on board until a tug came. The life-boat stood by until early 3.15 A.M. next morning brought her into Aith. - Property salvage case. morning. She then took the Arcadia in tow in an unsuccessful attempt to get her into deeper water. After 40 minutes she gave up JANUARY 6TH - 7TH. - BARMOUTH, the attempt and returned to her station, MERIONETHSHIRE, AND PWLLHELI, arriving at 2.40 A.M. - Rewards : Wells, CAERNARVONSHIRE. During the £23 12s. ; Skegness, £19 17s. evening information was received from the coastguard that a British aeroplane had come JANUARY 9TH. - LYTHAM - ST. ANNE’S, down in the sea about six miles south-west LANCASHIRE, AND NEW BRIGHTON, of Llanbedrog. A light northerly wind was CHESHIRE. At 8.30 A.M. a message came blowing, with a moderate sea. The Bar- from the Hoylake coastguard asking that the mouth motor life-boat Lawrence Arden, life-boat should go to an aeroplane reported Stockport was launched at 6.20 P.M. and the down off Formby Point, and at 8.40 the Pwllheli motor life-boat C. and S. at 7 P.M. Lytham - St. Anne’s motor life-boat Dunleary Aeroplanes and a naval launch also took part was launched. A strong N.W. breeze was in the search, but nothing was found, and both blowing, with heavy gusts, and the sea was life-boats returned to their stations a few rough. On her way down the River Ribble, minutes after midnight. On the following the life-boat saw H.M. Seilestier aground on morning the Pwllheli life-boat put out again the south wall, between the thirteenth and at 10.5 A.M., as what was thought to be a fourteenth mile, with a crew of six. It was rubber dinghy had been seen some four miles then ahout 9.15 in the morning. The tide west of Mochras Point. On her way he was falling, and the Seilestier would be in no found an aeroplane, an Anson trainer. As danger until the flood, so the life-boat went she was settling, the life-boat attached a on to the position given to look for the buoy and line to her. She soon disappeared, aeroplane. Meanwhile, at 8.10 the Hoylake but the buoy made it possible to find and coastguard had reported to the New Brighton salve her later. The life-boat then searched station that two Spitfires had crashed off for the missing crew until a Spitfire aeroplane Formby, and the crew of the No. 2 motor signalled to her that, after being in their life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson was dinghy all night, they had been rescued. assembled. As soon as more precise informa- The life-boat returned to her station at tion had been received about the position of 1.30 P.M. - Rewards : Barmouth, £16 5s. 6d. ; the aeroplanes the motor life-boat was Pwllheli, £13 2s. 6d. and £5 14s. launched. It was then 8.38 in the morning. (See Criccieth, “ Services by Shore-boats,” She searched from Formby Point to South- page 63.) port and met and spoke the Lytham- St. Anne’s life-boat off Ainsdale. Neither JANUARY 9TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK, life-boat could find any trace of the aero- AND SKEGNESS LINCOLNSHIRE. planes, and the New Brighton life-boat gave Information was received at Wells from the up the search at 12.15 in the afternoon and coastguard at about 4.48 PM. that a tug was returned to her station, arriving at 2.10. showing flares off Scolt Head. A strong The Lytham-St. Anne’s life-boat returned to northerly wind was blowing, with a rough the Seilestier. It was now flood tide, but the sea and snow squalls. The tide was low and Seilestier was still aground. The life-boat the motor life-boat Royal Silver Jubilee 1910- went alongside her and made fast, but while 1935 had to be taken across three miles of she was there the Seilestier’s dinghy broke sand before she could be launched at 6.20 P.M. adrift, so the life-boat cast off and picked She found nothing at the position given, but her up. She then went alongside again, she saw lights a long way off in the same passed a veering line to the Seilestier and direction, and found the collier S.S. Eastwood, towed her off. As she was towing her up 10 SERVICES 1942 11 channel the veering line parted, but the broken down, but she was able to get into Seilestier now had one engine working, and harbour, escorted by the life-boat. They was able to continue under her own power. arrived there at 5.30 P.M.. - Rewards, £12 15s. The life-boat returned to her station at 2 in the afternoon. - Rewards : Lytham-St. Anne’s, £7 5s. and property salvage case ; New Brighton, £8 2s. BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE AT PLYMOUTH .JANUARY 10TH. - PORT ST. MARY, ISLE OF MAN. At 7.45 P.M. the lights were JANUARY 13TH. - PLYMOUTH, seen of a ship ashore on Gansey Point, about DEVON. At eight minutes past half a mile N.E. of Port St. Mary breakwater, and the motor life-boat Sir Heath Harrison three in the morning a message came was launched at 8.30 P.M. A light easterly from the King’s Harbour Master that wind was blowing and the sea was smooth, distress flares had been seen in Jenny- but the night was very dark, with showers of cliffe Bay, and at 3.38 the motor life- sleet. The life-boat found that the stranded ship was the S.S. Speke, of Liverpool, bound, boat Robert and Marcella Beck left her laden, for Belfast from Liverpool. She had moorings. The wind was from south to a crew of seven. The life-boat took them off south-west, with a very rough sea and and landed them at 9.10 P.M. At 4.30 A.M. heavy squalls of rain. At four o’clock the following morning the life-boat took the seven men back to the Speke, and they re- the life-boat found a Sunderland flying floated her under her own power as the tide boat, belonging to the Royal Australian rose, at about 5.20 A.M. She came into Port Air Force, with two men on board. St. Mary harbour, and the life-boat returned She had been at anchor. A coastal to her station at 6 A.M. - Rewards, £27 17s. vessel had anchored near her, had JANUARY 12TH. - NEW BRIGHTON, dragged her anchor in the rough seas, CHESHIRE. At 5 P.M. the life-boat cos- collided with the flying boat, and swain received information that the fishing carried her on to the rocks. She was boat Never Mind, of Liverpool, was missing, aground between the cliffs and the and that signals of distress had been seen off the Burbo Bank, and the No. 1 motor life-boat pier. It was just high water and the William and Kate Johnston put out at seas were rebounding heavily from the 5.25 P.M. A strong S.E. wind was blowing, cliffs. The flying boat was in great with a moderate sea. Half-way down the danger. She was almost certain to Rock Channel the life-boat found the fishing boat with her engine broken down and her break up in those seas, and the two crew of two exhausted. The life-boat took men on board to be drowned. the men on hoard and, with the Never Mind The life-boat reported by wireless in tow, returned to her station, arriving at to the naval authorities, who sent back 6.15 P.M. A letter of thanks and a donation were received from the rescued men.- a message asking the life-boat, if Rewards, £13 12s. 6d. possible, to tow the flying boat clear, and, if that, were not possible, to stand JANUARY 12TH. - LONGHOPE, ORK- by her. The life-boat found it very NEYS. At 9.34 P.M. the Kirkwall coastguard difficult, to communicate with the two reported a vessel ashore on the east side of Stroma, and the motor life-boat Thomas men on the flying boat,, so she returned McCunn was launched at 10.15 P.M. A S.S.E. to Mount Batten and picked up an air gale was blowing, with a very rough sea, and force officer. The night was very dark, the night was very dark. The life-boat found with the rain squalls, but the search- that the vessel was the S.S. Empire Parsons. Part of' her crew had been rescued from the light was turned on from the shore, shore by the coastguard life-saving apparatus, and by its light the life-boat went in and the remainder were in no immediate to the rescue. Three times she fired danger. The life-boat stood by the steamer her line-throwing gun, but two of the until daylight and then returned to her station, arriving at 11.15 A.M. - Rewards, lines parted, and in the rough seas the £32 9s. 6d. two men on the flying boat were unable to get hold of the third. There was JANUARY 12TH. - BALTIMORE, CO. very little room to manoeuvre in the CORK. Five local fishing boats were several narrow space, but the coxswain took miles out, line-fishing, and as a strong breeze got up from the S.W. four of them returned the life-boat, closer in to attempt to at 2 P.M. The wind increased, the sea get a line aboard the flying boat by became very rough, and as the fourth boat, throwing the heaving cane. He had the Eibhlin Og, with a crew of four, had not to go in several times, and the second- returned, the motor life-boat Shamrock was launched at 3.57 P.M. She found the fishing coxswain and one of the crew were boat two miles from land, with her engine nearly washed overboard, but in the 12 SERVICES 1942 end the two men on the flying boat Air-Vice Marshal and Officers of the succeeded in seizing and making fast R.A.F., representatives from the the line, and the life-boat towed the squadron of the Royal Australian flying boat to safety in the Cattewater Air Force to which the flying boat with her crew on board. She arrived belonged, the Garrison Commander back at her station at 7.12 in the at Plymouth, the Lady Mayoress morning. (The Viscountess Astor) and the The life-boat had been very skilfully Deputy Lord Mayor. The Lord and courageously handled, in very Mayor himself was prevented by difficult circumstances, and the Air illness from being present. Officer Commanding at Mount Batten This was the Duke of Kent’s last sent the following message to the service to the Institution. Seven King’s Harbour Master : “ Very many weeks later, on August the 25th, he was thanks for your valuable assistance killed in an air accident on active last night. The prompt action and service. skill of the life-boat’s crew, with the assistance of searchlights, undoubtedly JANUARY 13TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, saved a valuable aircraft from be- ESSEX. At 11.14 A.M. the coastguard reported a sailing barge aground on the coming a complete wreck. Would Gunfleet Sands, four miles S.E. of Clacton greatly appreciate it if you would pier. A moderate S.S.W. wind was blowing, convey my thanks to all concerned.” with a rather rough sea. The motor life- To this the King’s Harbour Master boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched at 11.45 A.M. and found the barge Glenmore, of replied : “ Very many thanks for your Rochester, laden with maize. She was high message, which is much appreciated. and dry. The life-boat stood by, and when This message is being passed to Ply- the ride rose the life-boat towed the barge mouth life-boat, to whose excellent into deep water. It was then 7.43 in the evening. Two life-boatmen were put aboard work I consider that all credit is due.” the barge to help the crew of two, and the The Institution made the following life-boat continued to tow until 9 P.M., when awards : she and the barge anchored until daylight. The life-boat then towed the Glenmore to OXSWAIN ALTER To C W D. Brightlingsea, arriving at 12.15 P.M. and got CROWTHER, the bronze medal for back to her station at 4 P.M. She had been gallantry, with a copy of the vote out for over twenty-eight hours. - Property inscribed on vellum ; salvage case. To the eight members of his crew, ALBERT E. SLEEMAN, second-coxswain, JANUARY 16TH - 26TH. - BARRA ISLAND, W. F. LILLICRAP, bowman, ARTHUR HEBRIDES. At nine in the evening of the 15th the Kyle coastguard telephoned that a WILLIAM BANHAM, motor-mechanic, vessel was ashore two miles N.W. by W. of REGINALD A. FOOTE, assistant motor- Barra Head, and the life-boat crew were mechanic, FOSTER L. G. HOLMES, assembled. Shortly afterwards another mes- second assistant mechanic, and sage came that the vessel had been able to go on her way. A gale of exceptional violence E. CURTISS, G. STANBURY and was blowing from the south-east, and the F. FOWLER, life-boatmen, the thanks night was very dark, with squalls of rain and of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; sleet. A very heavy sea was running into the harbour at Castlebay, and it was breaking To the coxswain and each of the on the beach with such force that it would eight members of the crew, a money have been impossible to launch the boarding reward of £1 in addition to the boat to go out to the motor life-boat Lloyd’s ordinary reward on the standard scale at her moorings. The crew continued to stand by, and at eleven o’clock a message of £2 7s. Rewards on the standard came from the Leanish coastguard that a scale, £18 16s. ; additional rewards, vessel was ashore near Leanish Point. The £9 ; total rewards, £27 16s. coxswain, motor-mechanic and signalman On July 11th H.R.H. The Duke of went to Leanish Point, and were able to make out the vessel. She was the steamer Kent, K.G., President of the Institu- R. J. Cullen, of St. John’s, New Brunswick. tion, presented the medals and vellums She was hard on a platform of rock, on an in the Guild Hall Square at Plymouth. even keel, and tremendous seas were breaking Among those who were present were over her. It would have been impossible in such seas to get near her, and a signal was Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles made to the steamer’s crew to stay on board Forbes, G.C.B., D.S.O., Commander: and not attempt to use their boats. The in-Chief, Plymouth, Lady Forbes, the reply came back that they would stay, but SERVICES 1942 13 that the steamer was being badly battered. by means of a pilot ladder to rescue her whole It was the unanimous opinion that it would crew of 47 men. be madness to attempt a rescue until the Next morning, the 18th, the master of the weather moderated. Empire Homer asked if the life-boat could go Half an hour after midnight another mes- to Sandray Island again to bring ashore some sage came that a vessel was ashore on the of the Empire Homer’s equipment, and at east side of Mingulay, and a later message 10 o’clock the life-boat set out, taking with said that she was breaking up. She was the her the Empire Homer’s master, mates, S.S. Empire Homer, of Greenock. The life- engineers and wireless officers. She found boat’s crew continued to stand by, waiting the steamer with her bow high above the for a lull in the gale, and at four o’clock water and her stern broken off near the after another message came from Kyle advising the hatchway. The officers filled one of the ship’s life-boat to leave the vessel on the rocks at boats with Lewis guns, wireless gear, and Leanish Point and to go to Mingulay. navigation instruments and the life-boat Just before daylight the weather seemed to towed it back, arriving at seven o’clock in ease a little and the crew went out in the the evening. She had been out for nine boarding-boat. It took them 15 minutes to hours. row the 150 yards to the life-boat. At nine At 10.45 the following night, the 19th, a in the morning the life-boat put to sea. It message came from Kyle that a vessel was was still blowing a gale from the S.E., and a ashore close to Barra Head, and at 11.20 the heavy cross sea was running. The life-boat life-boat again put out. A strong southerly took heavy water on board. She passed the wind was blowing, and the sea was moderate, R. J. Cullen, saw that for the present she but there was a heavy swell. The night was was all right, and went on to Mingulay, but pitch dark and it was snowing heavily. The though she searched the whole coast she life-boat went right round the islands, using could see no trace of the Empire Homer. She her searchlight, and passed two destroyers, then returned to the R. J. Cullen, but she which also seemed to be searching, but she found that the reefs, and the heavy seas found no vessel in distress, and arrived back breaking on them, prevented her from getting at her station at 7.30 next morning, the 20th. nearer than half a mile away, and that She had been out for eight hours. This vessel, nothing could be done until the weather it was thought, must have been the Norwegian moderated. The steamer was still well up steamer Ingrid which had gone ashore, not on the rocks, and the life-boat again advised close to Barra Head, but on Tiree, some 30 the master to stay on board. She then miles to the east, in the Inner Hebrides. returned to her station where she arrived at At nine o’clock the following morning, the 3.30 in the afternoon of the 16th. The crew 21st, a message came from the coastguard at had then been on duty for 18 hours. It was Leanish Point that another vessel had gone still blowing a gale, with hard squalls of rain ashore off the point, and the life-boat put and sleet. out at 10.50. A strong wind was blowing, The crew remained in touch with the coast- and there was a very rough sea at Leanish. guard throughout the night, and at eight The life-boat arrived at the point at 11.40 o’clock next morning, the 17th, the life-boat and found the Greek steamer Eugenie S. again put out to search for the Empire Homer, Embiricos, of Andros, on the rocks close to still reported to be on Mingulay. The weather the R. J. Cullen. Again she found it impos- had now moderated, but there was a heavy sible, on account of the reefs, and the heavy swell. The life-boat again could find no trace seas breaking over them, to get near the of the steamer, and was turning away when wreck. She stood by all day, hoping that the she saw a rocket go up, apparently from the weather would moderate. It did not, and west coast of Sandray Island, some five miles, she returned to her station, arriving at six in as the crow flies, from Mingulay. As the the evening. She had been out for seven hours. life-boat drew near she saw a crowd of men on The crew stood by at the station until 11.15 the shore, but no sign of any vessel. This that night and then put out again, taking the was the crew of the Empire Homer, who had boarding boat with them. They waited until got ashore. The steamer herself was hidden daylight on the 22nd, and then went close behind the south-east point of Sandray to the steamer, but the wind was now blowing Island. After going near enough to shout to a gale, and the coxswain felt that it was the men to wait, the life-boat put back to impossible to use the boarding boat, in that Castlebay, and came out again with her sea, so the life-boat took it to Breivig Bay. boarding boat. With this boat she brought She returned to the steamer, but could not off all the 49 men, and landed them at get alongside. She then saw that the steamer Castlebay at two in the afternoon. She had was launching a boat, so she lay where the been out for six hours. boat could drop down to her. When she had Meanwhile the honorary secretary of the taken the men off her, she towed the empty life-boat station, not knowing how long the boat to windward, so that it could drop down life-boat would be away, and anxious to take to the steamer again. In this way, in three advantage of the lull in the weather, got the trips, 28 of the steamer’s crew were rescued. fishing vessel St. Margaret to go to the help Two had swum ashore during the night, and of the R. J. Cullen. Her skipper took with the master and three others remained on him a fisherman who was used to catching board. The life-boat returned to her station, lobsters at Leanish Point and thoroughly arriving at two in the afternoon. She had been knew the rocks. There was still a high sea out for nearly fifteen hours. and swell, but the St. Margaret was able to After the life-boat had landed the steamer’s go under the quarter of the R. J. Cullen and crew at the pier, and had been refuelled, she 14 SERVICES 1942 was taken to her moorings. Her own board- lighthouse just after four in the afternoon ing boat was still at Breivig Bay, but her crew and landed the doctor and the two officers. borrowed a boat in which to come ashore. At 5.30 in the evening they came on board As the last man got into it, a wave struck it again, bringing with them the patient, who and it capsized. All the men were thrown was a woman of over 60, and two of her into the water, but all got ashore or back into relatives. The life-boat then made for Vidlin. the life-boat. On the way she sent a wireless message The captain of the steamer, and the three asking that a small boat might be ready to men who had stayed aboard with him, were put out to meet her, and an ambulance brought ashore next day, the 23rd, by a waiting on shore. The life-boat arrived at fishing boat, and on the 26th the life-boat Vidlin at about eight in the evening where the went to Breivig Bay to fetch her boarding woman, the doctor and the two relatives were boat. The sea was moderate, with a wind landed, and then returned to her station, from the N.W. At the request of the arriving shortly before midnight. It was a steamer’s master the life-boat also brought difficult journey without any coast lights. ashore from the steamer 16 live sheep and The woman died two days later. - Rewards. some provisions. She was out from midday £19 19s. 6d. until 3.30 in the afternoon. Thus ended this succession of services lasting twelve days. SILVER MEDAL SERVICE One of the crew, J. MacNeil, was taken ill as a result of being thrown into the sea from AT CAMPBELTOWN the boarding boat, and two months later he JANUARY 19TH. - CAMPBLE- died of pneumonia. The Institution paid the expenses of his illness and funeral, pensioned TOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE, AND his widow from the day of his death, and PORTPATRICK, WIGTOWN- made her a weekly allowance for her son SHIRE. At seven minutes to eight until he should reach the age of sixteen. This pension and allowance were the same as if in the morning a message came from MacNeil had been a sailor, soldier or airman the coastguard at Southend that a killed in action. ship was ashore in front of the watch The ordinary rewards on the standard scale hut in Carskiey Bay. Five minutes were £9 5s. to each man, and the Institution gave an extra reward to each man of £3. later a second message came that It also gave an extra reward of £1 10s. to a another vessel had just stranded west fisherman, who took part in three of the of Carskiey Bay. At 8.45 the motor services, in addition to the ordinary rewards life-boat Duke of Connaught, on tem- on the standard scale of £5 4s. It made a reward of £3, and sent a letter of porary duty at the station, put out. thanks to Miss MacLeod, the sister of the She had before her a journey of 25 honorary secretary, who not only gave her miles. A strong south-south-east wind brother valuable help throughout the twelve was blowing, with increasing force, days, but for several days nursed the sick life-boatman. and a rising sea. She had only just Rewards were also made to the staff of the left harbour when the rudder was post office and telephone exchange for their damaged by the seas. It was tem- help in maintaining communications. porarily repaired, and fighting her A letter of thanks was sent to Dr. S. Bart- lett, J.P., and his sons for the use of their car way against a strong tide, the life- and for help in other ways. boat arrived in Carskiey Bay about Ordinary rewards on the standard scale, eleven o’clock. £91 15s. ; extra rewards, £30 10s. ; total rewards, £122 5s. In addition, £47 15s. 6d. The first of the two vessels to come was paid in allowances, funeral and other ashore was the Belgian fishing boat expenses in connexion with the illness and Anna Maria, with a crew of six. She death of J. MacNeil. was being pounded on the rocks by (See Barra Island, “ Services by Shore- boats,” page 63.) the heavy seas. The coastguard life- saving apparatus fired a line to her, but JANUARY 18TH. - LERWICK, SHET- the fishing boat had heeled over, and LANDS. At 12.37 in the afternoon the her crew were too numbed to haul in coastguard telephoned that a German aero- plane had bombed the Out Skerries Light- the breeches buoy. They jumped into house, that one of the people on the light- the sea, but only one of them reached house had been wounded, and that the patient shore. ought to be taken immediately to hospital. A The second vessel was the m.v. gale was blowing from the S.E., with a very rough sea, and no other boat was available. Mobeka, of Antwerp, with a crew of 53. At 1.24 in the afternoon the motor life-boat She was ashore about half a mile away Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched, from the fishing boat. The life-saving taking with her a doctor and two army apparatus had fired a line to her. A officers from the Shetland Defence who wished to go to Skerries to examine the damage done raft and a boat from the Mobeka came by the bombing. The life-boat reached the ashore. Both were smashed, but nine SERVICES 1942 15 men of the crew were rescued. Soon afterwards the Campbeltown life-boat arrived. The wind and sea were still rising, and there were showers of sleet and snow. In the heavy breaking seas, with a damaged rudder, it was a perilous business to attempt to go alongside, but the coxswain anchored to windward, and dropping down towards the ship on his cable took the life-boat round the bows of the steamer to the leeside where he was able to get some shelter. The ship was bumping heavily ; the life-boat was tossing violently in the heavy seas ; and, to add to the dangers, the life-boat’s 16 SERVICES 1942

for the tugs got the Glendenning safely into life-boat to give them any help, and port at midday. The life-boat returned to her she lay off until daybreak. She then station at 12.30 P.M. - Rewards, £6 7s. 6d. went to each of the ships to see which JANUARY 20TH. - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE. required help, but the tide had ebbed At 11.43 A.M. a report was received from the and, except for one, they had been left police, through the coastguard, that a fishing high and dry and their crews appeared boat was in need of help about two miles to be in no danger. One ship only was north of the harbour, and the motor life-boat Lily Glen, Glasgow was launched at 12.15 P.M. in sufficient water for the life-boat to A light southerly breeze was blowing, with a get to her. She was the Orminster, of moderate sea and snow. The life-boat found London, with 68 on board, Her cap- the fishing boat Cheerful, of Fraserburgh. tain asked the coxswain to stand by, as She had been fishing from Stranraer with a crew of five, had been badly holed, and was he thought he might be able to get off sinking. The fishermen were so numb that at high tide and wanted the life-boat they could not help themselves, so two life- to pilot her out. To this the coxswain boatmen boarded the Cheerful, and the life- agreed, but the attempt to refloat the boat towed her into Girvan harbour, where she was beached. - Rewards, £6 17s. 6d. steamer failed. The captain then allowed some of his crew to go aboard the life-boat, but afterwards ordered them to return, with the exception of GOLD MEDAL SERVICE two who remained on the life-boat. AT NEWCASTLE There was now nothing more to be JANUARY 21ST. - NEWCASTLE, done, and the life-boat returned to AND CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. At her station, arriving at five that 12.45 in the morning a message came afternoon. to Cloughey from the coastguard that Three-quarters of an hour after the a steamer was ashore half a mile off Cloughey life-boat had been called out Ballyquinton, and at 1.40 the life-boat that morning, the coastguard rang up Herbert John was launched. A gale the neighbouring station at Newcastle, was then blowing from the south-east, to the south, to say that Cloughey with a very heavy sea, sleet and rain. had been called out, but might not As the life-boat was launching another be able to launch. The Newcastle message came from the coastguard to crew and launchers were assembled. warn the coxswain that the steamer That was at 1.30 in the morning. was in a very rocky part and to say Three hours later the coastguard again that the coastguard life-saving appara- rang up the station to say that four tus was also going to her help. The ships had gone ashore off Ballyquinton life-boat reached the steamer at 3.30 Point. It was decided to launch, and in the morning. She was now high up at 5.5 the motor life-boat L.P. and on the rocks and it was impossible for St. Helen cleared the harbour. She the life-boat to get near her, but for had a journey of over twenty miles. the present her crew was safe. The A very strong gale was blowing from coxswain intended to stand by, but he the south-south-east, with increasing saw ships to the north, apparently off force. A very rough sea was running, their course and heading towards the and the night was very dark, with shore. He at once went towards them, rain and sleet. Sometimes the coxswain but found that several had already could see for half a mile, at other gone ashore, and two others were times less than the length of the about to strike. They were evidently boat. part of a convoy. The life-boat flashed The life-boat had to cross the her lamp. A destroyer, which was also Strangford Bar, where a nine-knot, tide heading inshore, put up star rockets was running out against the gale, and when she saw by their light that making a mass of jumbled seas, break- it was the life-boat which had signalled, ing in every direction. When the cox- she turned and headed out to sea, swain got into this tideway, he went apparently towards the rest of the with it, steaming out against the gale, convoy. dodging the seas, and at every oppor- Seven ships had gone on the rocks, tunity edging the boat out to the but they were too far inshore for the north. He had to steam against the SERVICES 1942 17 gale in this way for six miles, and it that channel, waited for his moment, took him over an hour to clear the bar. and called on his mechanic for full Then, with his drogue out, he made speed. At its widest the channel was his way back towards the land. Day little more than twenty feet; at its was now beginning to break. narrowest sixteen ; and the life-boat At 10.30 he reached the scene and was nearly nine feet broad; but he found not four but seven ships ashore. brought her through unscathed. Six were close inshore, but one of them, He now found himself in a little the Browning, of Liverpool, was lying lagoon of calm water under the farther out, with her stern on a reef of steamer’s lee. It was easy to come rocks. Earlier in the morning the alongside, and he had soon taken off Cloughey life-boat had asked her if she 29 of the steamer’s crew. That was wanted help, but at that time her one more than the number which this captain did not wish to be taken off. type of life-boat could carry in rough Since then the life-saving apparatus weather, and there were still ten men had rescued from the shore seventeen on board the steamer. The coxswain of the 56 men who were on board, but knew the risk that he would run in to get near enough to work their taking them. They would be an apparatus the men had had to added three-quarters of a ton for the scramble out on to the rocks. The tide life-boat to carry. They would bring was rising, and by the time they had her deck almost awash. In that over- rescued those seventeen men it had loaded boat he would have many risen to their shoulders. It drove miles to travel. At the same time them back, and they could rescue no he knew that it would be impossible more. On board the steamer were a to return. He accepted the risk, and number of horses, bloodstock stallions. took them. They had gone wild with fear and had broken loose. The captain had had to ACROSS THE ROCKS give orders for them to be shot, and in the confusion the seaman who did it Some of the rescued men were far put two bullets through his own spent, and they were huddled away hand. wherever they could be packed. At This was the position when the New- the coxswain’s request the captain told castle life-boat arrived. The coxswain all who could to lie down, and to lie anchored to windward of the steamer still. The lagoon where the life-boat and tried to drop down to her on his lay under the steamer’s lee was so cable, but the gale was now blowing small that there was no room to turn its hardest, and the seas were breaking her, and it was impossible to go out right over her. To go alongside her stern first through the narrow channel was like trying to go alongside a between the bow and the rocks. The breakwater. At one moment the life- only other way was to take the life- boat was lifted by the seas as high as boat right across the reef on which the the steamer’s rail, and but for the steamer’s stern lay. It was a most cable would have been flung on her hazardous thing to attempt, for be- deck. The next moment she was tween the seas there was very little caught in their backwash and whirled water on the reef. Had any mistake away. Three times the coxswain been made in crossing it the life-boat dropped anchor and attempted to go would have stranded, the next wave alongside, but after an hour he had would have capsized her, and all on to give it up as impossible. He then board would have been thrown into hailed the steamer and asked if there the sea. The coxswain chose his time was any water on the lee side where the well. He was lucky enough to get life-boat could float. The steamer’s three big seas one after the other. captain answered that there was. Then he put the boat at full speed and But the steamer’s bow was very close crossed the reef without touching it. to rocks, and the life-boat would have No one on board knew what he to go by the narrow channel between intended, and when the mate of the the two. The coxswain laid her for Browning saw what he had done, 18 SERVICES 1942 he said, had he known, he would never To each of the helpers a reward of have left the wreck. 10s. in addition to the ordinary reward The life-boat had crossed the reef on the standard scale of 8s. ; but she was still not out of danger. Standard rewards to crew and Newcastle was twenty miles away and helpers, £39 17s. ; additional rewards it was impossible to return there to crew and helpers, £55 ; rewards to against the gale with the overloaded crew and helpers for bringing back the boat. Instead the coxswain ran north- life-boat from Portavogie, £17 9s. ; wards before the gale, through un- total rewards, £112 6s. familiar waters, feeling his way, for he To the coxswain and six members could see little, among rocks and reefs. of the Cloughey crew a reward of £3 He had the drogue out all the time to in addition to the ordinary reward on keep the overloaded boat steady before the standard scale of £3 6s., making a the heavy following sea, and his rail reward to each man of £6 6s. ; was often rolling right under. To each of the seventeen helpers a At 2.30 in the afternoon, nine hours reward of 10s. in addition to the after setting out from Newcastle, he ordinary reward on the standard scale brought the life-boat safely into the of 15s. 9d. each ; harbour of the small fishing village of Standard rewards, £37 14s. 6d. ; Portavogie. There the rescued men additional rewards, £29 10s. ; total were landed. Six were sent at once to rewards, £67 4s. 6d. hospital twelve miles away. The rest were taken in by the villagers. The JANUARY 21ST. - PORTPATRICK, WIG- TOWNSHIRE. At 5.40 A.M. information life-boat could not return to her station came from the coastguard that a vessel had against the gale, and her crew went been reported ashore near Crammagh. He home by road. They arrived at 10.30 asked that the life-boat should stand by. that night, exhausted and wet to the A S.E. gale was blowing, with snow, and there was a heavy swell. Another message, skin. Two days later, when the gale at 7 P.M., gave the position of the vessel as had moderated, they returned to near Port Logan, and asked that the life-boat Portavogie for the life-boat. should be launched. There had been a heavy It was a service of the greatest fall of snow, and considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the crew together, but hazards, in which the coxswain showed at 8.10 A.M. the motor life-boat Ethel Day reckless daring, great coolness and Cardwell, on temporary duty at the station, superb seamanship. The Institution got away. The life-boat found that the made the following awards : stranded vessel was the S.S. Marklyn, of Newport, Monmouthshire, bound for Barrow- To COXSWAIN PATRICK MURPHY, the in-Furness from Belfast. She had a crew of gold medal for conspicuous gallantry, thirty-nine. They were in no immediate with a copy of the vote inscribed on danger and were waiting for a tug. The life- boat helped by transferring officers, in the vellum. He was also awarded the heavy swell, from a naval patrol vessel to British Empire Medal ; the steamer, and then returned to her station, To SECOND-COXSWAIN WILLIAM arriving at 2.20 P.M. - Rewards, £8 16s. MURPHY and the motor-mechanic JANUARY 21ST. - BARRA ISLAND, ROBERT AGNEW, the silver medal for HEBRIDES. The life-boat rescued twenty- gallantry, with a copy of the vote eight people from the Greek steamer inscribed on vellum ; Eugenie S. Embiricos on January 22nd and ILLIAM ENAGHAN landed sheep and provisions on January To W J. L , bowman, 26th. For details, see January 10th, page 12. THOMAS MCCLELLAND, assistant motor- mechanic, and PATRICK MCCLELLAND and PATRICK ROONEY, life-boatmen, GOLD MEDAL SERVICE the bronze medal for gallantry, with a AT PETERHEAD copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; To the coxswain and each of the six JANUARY 23RD - 26TH. - PE'I'ER- members of the crew a money reward of HEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. At £5 in addition to the ordinary reward 6.40 in the morning of the 23rd, a on the standard scale of £1 8s. 6d. message came from the coastguard To the signalman a reward of £1 in that the S.S. Runswick, of Whitby, addition to the ordinary reward on the had been in collision, and the life- standard scale of 16s. boat crew were asked to stand by SERVICES 1942 19 until more information could be got. fell on the seas, and when she swung At 7.5 another message came that the alongside, scrambled down the pilot steamer was eight miles east-north-east ladder and were grabbed and dragged of Peterhead, and the motor life-boat aboard by the waiting life-boatmen. Julia Park Barry of Glasgow put out The work was all the more difficult at 7.50. A strong wind was blow- because the men were exhausted, but ing from south-south-east and there the whole crew of 44 were rescued. The was heavy rain. At 8.40 the life-boat life-boat returned to harbour, guided found the Runswick, which had been by the leading lights which were turned severely damaged about the bows, and on for her, and arrived at 3.5 that escorted her into Peterhead Bay. Two morning, Saturday the 24th. other steamers, the S.S. Saltwick, of The life-boat’s crew had now been Whitby, which had also been damaged, on duty for 19 hours. They went to and the S.S. Fidra, of Glasgow, followed bed, but at nine in the morning the to seek shelter. They arrived at 12.30 coxswain was on watch again, and he, and anchored in the bay under the the second-coxswain and the motor- direction of the harbour master. mechanic remained on watch for another The weather was getting worse, and eighteen hours, through the Saturday an anxious watch was kept on the and the greater part of the night. three steamers, for if their anchors failed to hold they would go straight GUSTS AT 105 MILES on the rocks. For twelve hours after bringing them in the life-boat’s crew The gale was increasing, but the stood by, ready to go to the rescue. anchors of the other two steamers still At 12.30 on the Saturday morning held, and early on the Sunday morning they heard and saw signals of distress, the coxswain again snatched a few and the life-boat put out at 12.50. hours’ sleep. It was now the third day The wind had risen ; the temperature of the gale, and the wind was at its had fallen. It was now blowing a gale, fiercest. It was blowing, with gusts with a blinding snow-storm. As the at 105 miles an hour, right into the lifeboat left the harbour for the bay, bay, and the seas had washed away seas filled her cockpits. In the dark- 100 feet of the 300-feet breakwater. ness and the snow the coxswain could At eight o’clock that morning, see no farther than the length of his Sunday the 25th, the coxswain was boat. He felt his way across the once more on watch, and at ten o’clock stormy bay to where he knew the a second steamer, the Saltwick, went steamer must be. Then the steamer ashore. She was close in, and the switched on her searchlight, and the coastguard’s life-saving apparatus went coxswain could see her. She was the to her help. It succeeded in firing Runswick. She was already on the a rocket across her, but the lines rocks, lying on her port side, with the fouled and could not. be got clear. The seas breaking over her. The life-boat Saltwick’s crew were not in serious went under her quarter, threw a rope danger, and were told to stay on board to the crew and hung on with great until the weather improved, but during difficulty in the huge swell, Four the forenoon a boat, manned by naval times the rope broke, and in the end men, went out and brought four of them ropes had to he thrown from the ashore. Six of the Saltwick’s crew then steamer to the life-boat. She made four launched a raft. It tossed about be- of them fast at the bow and one at the tween the steamer and the shore for an stern, but the coxswain had to keep hour, when at last it touched the beach. the engines running astern all the time The six men were thrown into the to relieve the tremendous strain on heavy surf. Men from minesweepers, the ropes, and all the time seas were who were watching, went in to their breaking over the steamer and the rescue, and after an exhausting struggle life-boat. The steamer’s crew had put succeeded in seizing all six and bring- a pilot ladder over the side and were ing them ashore, but two of them were on the after shelter deck. There they dead. This was in front of the house watched the life-boat as she rose and of the honorary secretary of the life- 20 SERVICES 1942 boat station, and he and his wife took the whole crew of 26 men were the men - some of whom were delirious huddled. The rise and fall of the seas, - into the house, gave them hot baths, the coxswain said, was terrific, and as food and clothes, and did everything each sea lifted the life-boat it was possible for them until they could be “ like a nightmare to keep her from taken to the infirmary. being flung on to the steamer “. But Meanwhile the life-boat’s crew stood he kept her clear, and each time as she by all day, occasionally running home swung close, one or two or three men for food and warm clothes. jumped aboard her. One man had At four that afternoon the third sprained his ankle and could not jump, steamer, the Fidra, went ashore, and but as the life-boat swung against the at seven in the evening she began to steamer, life-boatmen snatched him sound the SOS call on her siren. All off her. The life-boat was alongside day the men of the L.S.A. had been for fifty minutes and then, with the trying to clear their gear. They now whole crew of 26 men rescued, she left the Saltwick and went to help the returned to harbour. Its entrance Fidra. The life-boat’s crew continued lights were switched on to guide her, to stand by. They had been standing and she came in at 3.15 in the morning. by that day for sixteen hours when, at The crew moored her and went home midnight, a message came from the for dry clothing, but they returned at coastguard that the men of the L.S.A. once to stand by again in case the were collapsing with exhaustion. They Saltwick should want their help. It could do no more, and suggested that was then four in the morning. the life-boat should go out. The coxswain went on foot - a hard THE THIRD RESCUE struggle against wind and snow - to see the Fidra from the shore, and make At 8.30 a message came from certain of her position before he put the senior naval officer asking the to sea. In the darkness he could just life-boat to go out to save the Salt- see the loom of the steamer, which had wick’s crew from further exposure. shifted a good deal since she had first She had then been on the rocks for gone ashore. A naval signalman was over 22 hours and all her fires were out. keeping in touch with her, and he It was now light, and the steamer received a message from her master could be seen lying on the beach, on that she was breaking up, and that, her starboard side, with the seas break- unless help came at once, he and his ing right over her. The only way to crew would all be dead. The answer approach her was to go between her was sent back that the life-boat was and the shore and come up on her on her way, and at two in the morning lee side. The life-boat went round her of Monday the 26th she put out. The bow. There was a ridge of rock close harbour’s defence searchlight was to it, and this the life-boat struck. As turned on to help her. The wind had she did so a great sea came in, lifted eased a little, but the weather was her almost out of the water, and then still very bad. flung her on the rock. As she hit it The life-boat reached the Fidra in a the sea struck her again, washed the quarter of an hour and found her second-coxswain from stern to bow, almost submerged. She was lying and nearly carried him and several head on to the seas, with her anchors other members of the crew overboard. out, and had no lee to give the life- The coxswain went full speed astern boat. The life-boat went towards the to clear the rock, and, with the seas shore and turned so as to come up striking her at the same time, she was alongside the steamer head on to the carried round the steamer’s bow to the seas. As she did so a very heavy sea shoreward side. Here the coxswain came in, breaking over the steamer, found deeper water. He was sheltered and nearly took the life-boat with it, now from wind and sea, and was able but the coxswain succeeded in holding to come alongside and make fast. her off. He then got a line on board Thirty-six of the Saltwick’s crew were the steamer’s midship boat-deck, where rescued, but, the master and three SERVICES 1942 21 officers remained on board. As there To A. HEPBURN, acting second- appeared to be more water at the coxswain, W. SUMMERS, assistant steamer’s stern than at her bow, the motor-mechanic, and A. GOWANS and life-boat came out that way. Twice ALEXANDER STRACHAN, life-boatmen, she struck on rocks, but she got clear who went out on all four services, the and came safely into harbour. bronze medal for gallantry, with a It was then eleven o’clock in the copy of the vote inscribed on vellum ; morning of Monday the 26th, just 75 To G. CORDINER, life-boatman, who hours and 27 minutes since she had went out on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th first gone out to the Runswick on the services, the bronze medal for gal- Friday morning. During the last 27 lantry, with a copy of the vote in- hours her crew had been able to get scribed on vellum ; three changes into dry clothes, but To W. STRACHAN, acting-bowman, they had had very little food and no who went out on the lst, 3rd and 4th rest. Altogether in those seventy-five services, the bronze medal for gal- hours they had had less than 12 hours lantry, with a copy of the vote in- of rest. They had been standing by scribed on vellum ; for 54 hours, and they had been at To A. DAVIDSON, who went out on sea 9 hours and 40 minutes. They had the second service as acting-bowman, been out in that gale and bitter cold the Institution’s thanks inscribed on three times, twice in pitch darkness vellum. and blinding snow ; and they had The ordinary money rewards on the rescued 106 lives. Only two men of standard scale for the four services those three crews were lost, and they were 19s. for the first service, 37s. 6d. would have been saved if they had for the second service, 37s. 6d. for the stayed on board their ship. third service and 19s. for the fourth The life-boat herself had been service. In addition to these rewards damaged, first against the Fidra and special rewards were made, varying then, more severely, on the rocks from 10s. in the case of a man who among which the Saltwick lay. Three went out on the first service only, to planks of the outer skin had been £5 to each man who went out on all stove in on each side, and on one side four services, making a total reward the inner skin had also been damaged. to each man who went out on all four Six feet of her fender had been de- services of £10 13s. stroyed and another four feet of the A reward of 10s., in addition to the fender-facings. Two of her stanchions ordinary reward on the standard scale had been broken right off, another four for the four launches of £1 7s., was had been bent, and damage done to made to each of the four helpers. lights, guard chain, gunwale and life- Rewards on the standard scale to line. Altogether the repair of the crew and helpers, £39 6s. ; additional damage cost £200. rewards to crew and helpers, £42 ; It was a series of most arduous and total rewards, £81 6s. exhausting services in which great The owners of the Saltwick and risks were run, and high courage, Runswick, Messrs. Headlam and Son, splendid seamanship and great deter- made a donation of £50, and the owners mination and endurance were shown. of the Fidra, the Glen Shipping Co., The Institution made the following gave £25. awards : OXSWAIN OHN C EAN JANUARY 23RD. - GREAT YARMOUTH To C J R. M L , AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At who went out on all four services, the 8.15 P.M. flag officer in charge Great Yar- gold medal for conspicuous gallantry, mouth asked, through the coastguard, for with a copy of the vote inscribed on the services of the life-boat for R.A.F. High Speed Launch 124, which was aground on vellum ; Scroby Sands north of the Scroby Elbow To DAVID F. WISEMAN, motor- buoy. The Gorleston life-boat was preferred mechanic, who went out on all four to the Caister boat as she was fitted with services, the silver medal for gallantry, wireless. A S.S.W. gale was blowing, with a rough sea, rain and snow. The motor life- with a copy of the vote inscribed on boat Louise Stephens was launched at vellum ; 8.35 P.M. and found the launch on Caister 22 SERVICES 1942

Shoal. In trying to get alongside the life- pool in a direct line, the life-boat had boat touched ground and had to back away. a longer journey, as she had to go sea- She then got into position to fire her line- throwing gun, but at that moment a heavy ward in order to keep clear of various sea knocked the launch afloat, and the tide unlighted buoys, wrecks and coast being now on the flow the life-boat was able defences. Then, when she was off the to go alongside her. She then escorted her entrance to the Tees, she stood in- to Great Yarmouth, sending a wireless mes- sage for the harbour lights to be switched on shore and, at 8.30, as day was as they came in. The launch got safely in, breaking, she found the wreck about and the life-boat then returned to her station half a mile north of the Tees North and was ready for service again at 11.40 P.M. Gare Jetty, the S.S Hawkwood, of On the following morning a message of thanks was received from the flag officer in charge. London, with a crew of 23 on board. - Rewards, £14 16s. 6d. She had broken in two immediately abaft her bridge. The stern part, on JANUARY 24TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE. which several men could be seen, was Four of the Filey motor fishing boats, Peggy, right in shore in very shallow water off June and Ann, Barbara and Joan, and Joan and Mary, were out fishing. A strong wind got the sandy beach. The fore part, on up from the S.E., with a heavy swell, and at which men could also be seen, was 12.25 in the afternoon the motor life-boat 200 yards farther out, but it too was The Cuttle was launched to stand by the boats in very shallow water. After studying as they came in. The sea was now very rough. It was breaking on board the life-boat, and the wreck for some time the coxswain the coxswain was at times waist deep in water. decided that both ends were in water One of the four fishing boats made land, too shallow for the life-boat to get to unaided, between Arndale and Filey Brigg. them, and, as the crew were not in The life-boat escorted in the other three, giving out life-belts to the crews of two of immediate danger, he decided to them. All got in safely, and the life-boat return to Hartlepool, and to attempt a returned to her station at 3.35 P.M. - rescue at high water. He arrived at Rewards, £11 7s. 6d. Hartlepool at 9.50. The life-boat set out a second time JANUARY 24TH. - SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. The motor life-boat Herbert at 11.35 and reached the wreck at Joy II was launched at 12.35 P.M. in a strong 12.15 in the afternoon. The gale was S.E. wind, with a rough sea, to go to the still blowing as strongly, with fierce help of seven local fishing boats, the Alex, squalls of snow and a very rough sea. North Star, Thankful, Dahlia, Chrystalite, B. S. Colling, and Sceptre. She escorted them Where the stern of the steamer lay all into harbour, and returned to her station the water was still too shallow for the at 3.30 P.M. - Rewards, £19 12s. 6d. life-boat to get near, but the coxswain made for the fore part. It was being swept by heavy seas, and the five men on board it were now so exhausted GOLD MEDAL SERVICE AT HARTLEPOOL that they could not have held on for much longer. The coxswain handled JANUARY 26TH. - HARTLEPOOL, the life-boat very skilfully, brought DURHAM, AND TEESMOUTH, her alongside and, with his engines YORKSHIRE. At 6.55 in the morning working, held her there while the five word came from the coastguard that he men, watching their opportunity, had seen rockets from a vessel off Sea- jumped aboard. Heavy seas were ton Carew. The life-boat was called out continually breaking in the life-boat, at once, but there was a slight delay, and they were so violent that at times as the ferry boat in which the crew she was almost standing on end. had to cross the harbour to the life- The coxswain could see that the boat station was packed with work- coastguard life-saving apparatus was men. The motor life-boat The Princess now attempting to fire a line from the Royal (Civil Service No. 7) got away shore to the stern part of the steamer, at 7.35. An easterly gale was blowing, and as there was nothing more that with fierce squalls of snow. A very the life-boat could do at the moment, rough sea was running, breaking far he returned to Hartlepool, sending a from the shore, and it was still very request by wireless to the naval base dark. Although the vessel in distress for an ambulance to meet the life-boat. was only three miles south of Hartle- It was there when the life-boat reached SERVICES 1942 23

Hartlepool at 1.30 in the afternoon, of the crew, T. GILCHRIST, bowman, and the five men were at once taken R. HORSLEY, assistant motor-mechanic, to hospital. E. WALLACE, emergency mechanic, The gale now appeared to moderate, and R. COULSON, W. HORSLEY and and the life-boat put out to sea for the H. PEARSON, life-boatmen, the bronze third time at 2.35 to attempt the rescue medal for gallantry, with a copy of the of the men on the stern part. She vote inscribed on vellum; reached it at 3.15, but the heavy To SECOND-COXSWAIN J. S. STOR- breaking seas and the shallow water ROW, who went out only on the third still prevented her from going close. trip, and to S. REAY, life-boatman, The coxswain used oil, but it would not who went out on the first and third flatten the seas. He then anchored and trips, but not on the second, the thanks dropped down on the cable towards the of the Institution inscribed on vellum ; wreck, hoping to come near enough to To the coxswain and each of the fire a line from the line-throwing gun men a reward of £3 in addition to the and rescue the men by means of the ordinary reward on the standard scale breeches buoy, but the life-boat still of £1 8s. 6d., for the three trips ; to could not get close enough. Though the four helpers a reward of 5s. in she was still out of range of the wreck addition to the ordinary reward on the she touched the sandy bottom, and a standard scale of 6s. 9d. Rewards on sea breaking over her stern flooded the standard scale, £14 3s. 6d. ; the after cockpit, stunned the motor- additional rewards, £31 ; total rewards, mechanic and slightly injured another £45 3s. 6d. member of the crew. The master of the Hawkwood, in a The coxswain could see that the letter of thanks to the honorary men on the wreck were sheltering secretary of the station, said : behind the deck house and were com- “ We would like you to know that paratively safe for the present, so he we will always remember the fearless decided to return to harbour and make and persistent determination displayed another attempt at high water that by the crew of the life-boat under the night. The life-boat reached Hartle- gallant command of the coxswain, pool at 5.20. She did not have to put Lieut. W. H. Bennison, R.N.V.R., who out for a fourth time, for at low water showed such indomitable courage, that evening the coastguard reported initiative and superb seamanship. that they had at last managed to get “ We all deeply appreciate that we a rocket to the wreck, and a second owe our lives to these men, who would message said that all the men on board have been fully justified (and felt that had been rescued. they had done their duty) after their Throughout the three attempts the first attempt to approach the wreck, coxswain had handled the life-boat to have made no further effort. But with great judgment, and in the actual it was apparent that these men were rescue of the five men had shown wholly fearless and inspired by the courage, skill and determination. spirit of self-sacrifice and determina- Through a long and arduous day, and tion not to be beaten by the tremen- extremely bad weather, he had been dous odds against them.“’ ably supported by the crew, and par- ticularly the motor-mechanic. The In- stitution made the following awards : THE TEESMOUTH LAUNCH To the coxswain, LIEUTENANT At seven in the morning the Tees- WILLIAM H. BENNISON, C.G.M., mouth station was told by the port R.N.V.R., the gold medal for con- war signal station that there was a ship spicuous gallantry, with a copy of the ashore on Seaton Sands and that the vote inscribed on vellum ; Hartlepool life-boat was launching. To H. W. JEFFERSON, motor- At 8.55 came another message that mechanic, the silver medal for gal- the Hartlepool boat had not been seen lantry, with a copy of the vote in- since launching at 7.35, and that Tees- scribed on vellum ; mouth should launch, as the ship To each of the six other members seemed to be breaking up, but before 24 SERVICES 1942 the boat put out Hartlepool was rung Point, with her back broken and no sign of life on board her. She was so far up on the up and it was found that the Hartlepool rocks that it was impossible to get near her. life-boat had returned and that it was The life-boat turned back for her station. She impossible to approach the ship. At now had the seas on her port beam. It was 11.5, as it was then known that the not possible to use the drogue as the water was too shallow and the rocks too near. ship had broken in two, the Tees- Instead the coxswain used a starboard oar to mouth motor life-boat J. W. Archer help to steady the life-boat. Several times was launched. Three pilots volun- the boat was thrown heavily on her side, teered to go with her as well as her and when she was about half-way back to her station, a mile north of the River Ythan, crew. The life-boat reached the and between three and four hundred yards wreck to find that Hartlepool had off the shore, a huge sea struck her and she already rescued the men from the fore turned right over, throwing five of her crew into the sea. The other two were caught part, and the Teesmouth life-boat beneath the boat when she turned over, and returned to her station. - Rewards, had to force themselves under water to escape. £12 15s. The men were wearing their life-belts, and the seas carried them towards the beach. They were washed up about a quarter of an hour JANUARY 26TH. - NEWBURGH, AND after the life-boat had capsized. Fortunately ABERDEEN, ABERDEENSHIRE. On a man from Newburgh had seen the accident the 25th January a very heavy storm of and, running along the beach, was ready to wind and snow broke on the coast. All drag them clear of the sea as they were roads and railways became blocked with washed in. Two of the seven men were un- snow, making traffic impossible, and tele- conscious, George Whyte, the assistant motor- phone wires were broken. At 4.20 in the mechanic, and James Walker, one of the morning of the 26th the auxiliary coastguard, crew. It is probable that they had struck unable to telephone, left his post and went something when they were thrown over- to the house of the life-boat coxswain to tell board. The honorary secretary of the station, him that he had seen flares to the north. a policeman and an auxiliary coastguard The honorary secretary called out the crew, arrived shortly afterwards, followed by two but as the report was rather vague he tried doctors. For an hour they attempted to to get further information by telephone. revive the two men by artificial respiration, When he found that be could not do this, he but without success. The other five men, sent three men to the observer post to see if although exhausted and very cold, were they could get in touch with the senior naval able to go to their homes without help. officer, Aberdeen. At 5 o’clock a message came The tide was falling and the boat was from the senior naval officer that a ship was washed up on to the soft sand of the beach, ashore in Cruden Bay, about seven miles bottom up. It was found that some slight away, and that, as the coastguard life-saving damage had been done to the upper structure, rocket apparatus had gone to her help, there but the hull was unhurt. Two days later the was no need for the life-boat to put out. At crew were sufficiently well to take the tractor 5.45 the life-boat was secured and the crew to the beach where the boat lay, get her on were dismissed. to her carriage and bring her back to the One of the three life-boatmen sent to the beach opposite the boat shed. There she was observer post was George Whyte, the assistant launched and anchored. motor-mechanic, and when he returned, he On April 14th a public enquiry was held said that he had seen flares which seemed to at Aberdeen in the Sheriff’s Court. The him to be nearer than those from the vessel Institution was legally represented by Mr. reported ashore by the senior naval officer. George Alexander, the honorary secretary of His impression was that there was a vessel its Aberdeen branch, and it was attended by ashore somewhere about Hackley Head. the chief inspector of life-boats, Captain between two and three miles away. On E. S. Carver, R.D., R.N.R., the district hearing this the coxswain and the second- inspector, and members of the Newburgh coxswain went along the coast, wading crew. The coxswain, the motor-mechanic through deep drifts of snow, and though it and members of the crew, who gave evidence, was very dark when they reached Hackley said that they had full confidence in the life- Head, and the snow was still falling, they boat. The sheriff found that the cause of the could dimly see below them the shape of a accident was due to a risk of the sea in very vessel which was being dashed about on the severe weather, that no blame attached to rocks by the heavy seas. She was, it was the coxswain or any other members of the learned later, the S.S. Lesrix, of London. crew, and that the evidence abundantly The coxswain returned to Newburgh, the showed their gallantry and devotion to life-boat crew was called out again, and at duty. 8.40 in the morning the life-boat John Ryburn George Whyte left a widow, but no family. was launched. She made for Hackley Head, He had been married only ten months. going close inshore. A strong S.E. gale was James Walker was unmarried, but he had blowing and a heavy sea was breaking over been the sole support of his aunt, the widow the shoals right on to the beach. The life. of a former coxswain. The Institution paid boat, however, only shipped heavy spray, all funeral expenses and pensioned the widow She found the vessel on the rocks at Hackley and the aunt, from the day of the accident, SERVICES 1942 25 as if the two men had been sailors, soldiers of food to the village of Pennan, ten miles or airmen killed in action. along the coast. As the village was com- The Institution also made the following pletely cut off it was not known what was rewards : happening there, but it was feared that the To COXSWAIN ALEXANDER RABB and each people would be short of food. The life-boat of the six members of the crew, a reward of put out at 2 P.M. and returned at 5.30 P.M. £5 in addition to the ordinary reward on the Bailie John Dunbar, at whose request the standard scale of £1 10s. ; life-boat went, contributed £5 towards the To WILLIAM GALL, the man who saw the expenses. - Rewards, £10 19s. 9d. life-boat capsize, went into the sea and On the same day a representative of the dragged the men up the beach, £5 and a Grampian Electricity Company asked if the letter of thanks ; life-boat could go to Aberdour, seven miles To POLICE. CONSTABLE W. GILMOUR and along the coast, to bring from there to Fraser- AUXILIARY COASTGUARD G. GREY, who burgh six of their electricians who were unable helped in the attempts to revive the two life- to come by road. They were needed as the boatmen, a letter of thanks ; electric plant in Fraserburgh had broken To MR. ALEXANDER A. CRUICKSHANK, the down and work was being held up at a honorary secretary of the station, a letter of munition factory. At eight o’clock next thanks ; morning, the 27th, an official of the Ministry To the two doctors, SURGEON LIEUTENANT of Productions urgently made the same COMMANDER GERRARD, R.N.V.R., and DR. request, and at 10 A.M. the life-boat was MARTIN, letters of thanks ; launched. She arrived back with the elec- To AUXILIARY COASTGUARD J. LAING, who tricians at 2 P.M. Expenses paid by the first brought to the coxswain the news of the Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Co., who also signals of distress, a letter of thanks. made a donation of £4. Ordinary rewards on the standard scale, On 29th January the life-boat again took £14 9s. ; extra rewards £42 . total rewards food to Pennan at the request of the county £56 9s. In addition, £47 19s. 6d. was paid authority which said that the population were in allowances, funeral and other expenses in dire need. The life-boat left at 10 A.M. and arising out of the accident. returned at 2 P.M. - Expenses paid by the County Council. The Aberdeen No. 1 life-boat Emma On 30th January the life-boat went to Constance was also launched at two in the Pennan for the third time. This time she afternoon, to investigate, after her crew had went at the request of Mr. Joseph Noble to been assembled and had stood by from 1.15 take to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin to 3.15 in the morning. When she was at Noble, the news that four of the family had sea a message was sent to her that there was been killed in an air-raid on a village near no one alive on board the Lesrix, and she Fraserburgh. The life-boat left at 11 A.M. was asked to go and investigate another and returned at 2 P.M. Mr. Benjamin Noble wreck, the S.S. Empire Pilgrim, the crew of gave £5 to the station to pay the rewards, which had been taken off by the life-saving and cost of fuel. - Rewards, £4 9s. 6d. rocket apparatus, while the officers had At 8.13 in the evening of the same day, remained on board. The life-boat found the 30th January, a message came from the steamer in a little cove made by the headland coastguard that a vessel was in distress half called Blindman, where she was completely a mile N.E. from Rosehearty, and her crew sheltered from the weather. The life-boat could be heard shouting for help. A second returned to her station at 6.15 in the evening. message said that she was ashore. The life- - Rewards for assembly and launch, boat put out at 8.40. A fresh breeze was £12 11s. 3d. then blowing, with a moderate sea and heavy JANUARY 26TH. - MOELFRE, ANGLE- showers of snow. At 9.10 the life-boat found SEY. A message from the coastguard the steam trawler Marlborough, of Grimsby. reported an aeroplane in the sea off Red She was bumping heavily on the ground and Wharf, and the motor life-boat G.W. was her crew had abandoned her. A morse launched at 1.30 P.M. The sea was moderate, message from the shore asked the life-boat to with a moderate easterly wind. Only some look for the ship’s boat, and while she was things belonging to an R.A.F. aeroplane looking a second message came that the crew were picked up, and it was thought that the had landed safely in the boat. The life- aeroplane had dived into the sea, and the spot boat returned to the trawler, and put two was marked by the Navy. The life-boat men on board her. They found that she was returned to her station at 5 P.M. - Rewards, £8. making very little water and at 11 P.M. the life- boat started to tow her off. In this she was JANUARY 26TH - 30TH and FEBRUARY 5TH. successful, and she brought the trawler into - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. harbour at 12.30 A.M. next day. - Rewards, During these days the Fraserburgh life-boat £15 14s. 6d. performed a number of unusual services The last of this series of services was five because of a very severe snow storm, which days later, on 5th February. The roads were continued for several days, had blocked roads still impassable because of the snow, and at and railways, broken down telegraph and the request of the Provost of Fraserburgh the telephone wires, and made all communication life-boat took a doctor to New Aberdour, by land impossible. seven miles along the coast, to attend an The first of these services was in the after- urgent case. The life-boat left at 4.50 P.M. noon of 26th January when the motor life- and arrived back at her station at 7.50 P.M. boat John and Charles Kennedy took a supply - Rewards, £8 2s. 9d. 26 SERVICES 1942

JANUARY 29TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE. inshore and found one of the minesweeper’s During the morning, while thirteen Filey crew in the sea. He was very much ex- fishing cobles were at sea, a strong N.E. hausted and the life-boat put straight back to wind sprang up. All the regular life-boat port with him. There she took on board a crew were out fishing, but ex-coxswain naval officer and returned at once to the R. C. Jenkinson volunteered to take out the scene of the accident. There she found a life-boat, and collected a scratch crew of second man, an officer, and with difficulty fishermen, and at 11.20 A.M. the motor life- got him on board. He was not only ex- boat The Cuttle was launched. She escorted hausted but seemed to have had a blow on 13 cobles through very heavy seas, handing the head. She hurried back to harbour with out life-belts to two of them, and returned to him, but he died later. The life-boat went her station at 2.30 P.M. - Rewards, £11 7s. 6d. out again, but found no more survivors, and returned to her station at 2.15 P.M. Mean- JANUARY 29TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. while the R.A.F. speed boat rescued four During the afternoon the motor life-boat men and the pilot cutter one, but eight had George Shee was launched for exercise in a been lost. A letter of appreciation was N.N.W. gale, with a rough sea. As she received from the naval authorities.- returned to her moorings at about 3.30 P.M. Rewards, £6 7s. 6d. she saw two men on board the Brixham motor trawler Boy Charlie waving for help. JANUARY 30TH - 1ST FEBRUARY. SHER- A mooring rope had fouled the propeller of INGHAM, NORFOLK. An aeroplane had the trawler and she was only two hundred been reported down in the sea, and with the and fifty yards from a lee shore. The life- help of fifty soldiers the motor life-boat boat towed her into Brixham inner harbour, Foresters Centenary was launched at 12.6 P.M. and returned to her station at 3.50 P.M.- A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a slight Rewards, £5 4s. swell. Later a fishing boat was sent out to give fresh information to the lifeboat and JANUARY 29TH. - SCARBOROUGH, to help in the search. An aeroplane was also YORKSHIRE. During the morning nine sent out. The aeroplane was found off local fishing vessels were out and as a strong Weybourne by the fishing boat as she was easterly wind had got up, with a rough sea, returning at 4.15 P.M. The life-boat continued the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II was the search for the airmen, but found nothing, launched at 10.30 A.M. She escorted the and returned at 7.40 P.M. Two days later nine boats into harbour, the North Star, the life-boat was asked to go and and see if Chrystalite, Sceptre, Evelyn Margaret, Thank- the aeroplane could he salved. She put out ful, Premier, B. S. Colling, Alex, and Courage, at 12.25 P.M., with men from Weybourne and returned to her station at 4 P.M- Camp on board, accompanied by a fishing Rewards, £19 1s. 6d. boat. Nothing could bc seen at the place where the aeroplane had sunk, which was JANUARY 29TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. marked by a float, but using a wire sweep the At 9.31 A.M. the naval base at Great Yar- life-boat and the fishing boat found what was mouth reported, through the coastguard, thought to be the engine. Then, on the beach that an airman could be seen in a dinghy at Salthouses, a mile away, the life-boatmen to the N.N.E. A light wind was then saw the greater part of the aeroplane, without blowing from E.N.E., but it increased to a the engine. It was pulled out to the life-boat strong wind, with a rough sea and snow which brought it back to Sheringham, squalls. At 9.45 the No. 1. motor life-boat arriving at 5 P.M. - Rewards : First, service, H. F. Bailey was launched and searched life-boat £36, shore boat, f16 19s. : second without success. Then at 12.13 P.M. she re- service, life-boat, £24 6s. 9d., shore boat, ceived a wireless message that a Spitfire was £7 2s. 6d. circling over the dinghy, and that it was seven miles north of Cley. At the same time The following life-boats were launched, bnt another Spitfire circled over the life-boat and no services were rendered for the reasons guided her to the place. There the life-boat given : found and rescued the airman, but the weather was too rough for her to get back JANUARY 3RD. - THE LIZARD, CORN- on the slipway at Cromer, so she made for WALL. A British Halifax bomber had been Great Yarmouth, arriving at 6.20 P.M. A reported down in the Channel, but nothing letter of thanks was received from the was found. - Rewards, £27 15s. 6d. Director - General of Aircraft Safety.- Rewards, £33 1s. JANUARY 4TH. - EASTBOURNE, SUS- SEX A Spitfire aeroplane had crashed into JANUARY 31ST. - BLYTH, NORTH- the sea, but the life-boat was recalled as the UMBERLAND. At about 12.25 P.M. the airman had been drowned. - Rewards, £14. coastguard telephoned that a vessel had capsized outside the piers. She was H.M. JANUARY 4TH. - FRASERBURGH, Minesweeper Unicity, with a crew of fifteen. ABERDEENSHIRE. A motor vessel had A light N.E. wind was blowing, with a burned flares as her engine had broken down, moderate swell, and it was very cold. The but she was able to make Buckie under sail. motor life-boat Joseph Adlam was launched - Rewards, £10 19s. 9d. at 12.35 P.M., and 500 yards south of Blyth West Pier found a pilot cutter and an R.A.F. JANUARY 5TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLE- speed boat already on the scene. She went SEY. A steamer had been seen flying a SERVICES 1942 27 distress signal, but this was a mistake as she in distress, with a trawler standing by, but did not need help. - Rewards, £2 17s. the life-boat arrived to find the trawler gone and no one on board the fishing boat. It JANUARY 5TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLE- was learned later that her crew had landed SEY. A British Beaufighter aeroplane had at Buckie. - Rewards, £4 17s. 6d. been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £11 5s. JANUARY 15TH. - TEESMOUTH, YORK- SHIRE. A vessel which had been bombed JANUARY 5TH. - THE HUMBER, YORK- was reported to be in need of immediate help, SHIRE. A steamer had gone ashore ten but her crew had been rescued by a tug and a days before, one of the salvage vessels had pilot cutter. - Rewards, £9 13s. 6d. also gone ashore, and the life-boat was asked to take the naval salvage officer from a tug JANUARY 15TH. - ABERDEEN. Four to this vessel, but the seas were so heavy fishing boats had been reported to be over- that the life-boat might have been damaged, due, but three of them returned unaided. and the coxswain would not take the risk as No trace of the fourth, with a crew of two, lives were not in danger. - Paid permanent could be found. - Rewards, £10 6s. 3d. crew. JANUARY 16TH. - HOWTH, CO. DUBLIN. JANUARY 6TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. The motor vessel Empire Jonquil, flying the ANTRIM. An aeroplane had been reported Dutch flag, had gone ashore, but her captain down in the sea thirteen miles N.N.E. of declined the services of the life-boat.- Ramore Head, but nothing was found.- Rewards, £7 2s. Rewards, £11 6s. 6d. JANUARY 18TH. - HELVICK HEAD, CO. JANUARY 7TH. - NEWQUAY, CORN- WATERFORD, AND BALLYCOTTON, CO. WALL. A British aeroplane had been re- CORK. Flares had been reported, but the ported in the sea, but her crew of three had life-boats found nothing, although a Lowestoft been rescued by a fishing boat before the drifter said that she had seen an aeroplane life-boat arrived. - Rewards, £13 2s. dropping flares. - Rewards : Helvick Head, (See Newquay, “ Services by Shore-boats,” £15 18s. ; Ballycotton, £13 11s. 6d. page 63.) JANUARY 18TH. - BARROW, LANCA- JANUARY 7TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL. SHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported At the request of the naval authorities the down in the sea, but nothing was found.- life-boat went to a spot where a Coastal Rewards, £7 11s. Command aeroplane was reported to be circling over either an aeroplane or bodies JANUARY 19TH. - PORT ASKAIG, in the sea, but she found nothing. - Rewards, ARGYLLSHIRE. An SOS had been inter- £10 14s. 6d. cepted from a vessel ashore on Islay, but her crew had landed in the ship’s boat.- JANUARY 7TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL. Rewards, £21 9s. 6d. A motor rescue launch had gone ashore, but the life-boat found her high on the beach and JANUARY 19TH. - TOBERMORY, her crew had got ashore. - Rewards, ARGYLLSHIRE. A vessel had been re- £15 19s. 3d. ported ashore on Tiree Island, but the life- boat’s help was not needed and the call was JANUARY 9TH. - SCARBOROUGH, cancelled. Her crew were three short, and YORKSHIRE. A British Beaufighter aero- these places were filled by three naval men. plane had been reported flying low and was - Rewards, £15 9s. thought to have hit the water, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £18 6s. JANUARY 20TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. DOWN. A raft with two men on board had JANUARY 9TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- been reported missing after a motor vessel FOLK. An aeroplane had been reported had been sunk in collision, but nothing was down in the sea off Dunwich, but the life- found. - Rewards, £6 17s. boat was recalled as a Southwold motor boat had gone to the rescue. - Rewards, £20 4s. 6d. JANUARY 20TH. - PORT ST. MARY, ISLE OF MAN. A steam trawler had gone JANUARY 10TH. - BARROW, LANCA- ashore, but the crew had got ashore on a raft. SHIRE. The life-boat was called out for - Rewards, £24. an aeroplane, but it had crashed on land- Rewards, £5 13s. JANUARY 2lST. - FILEY, AND SCAR- BOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. A British JANUARY 15TH - HARTLEPOOL, aeroplane had been reported down in the DURHAM. Distress signals had been re- sea, but nothing was found except a big ported, thought to be from an enemy aero- floating mine which was reported by the plane which had come down after being hit Scarborough life-boat. - Rewards : Filey, during an attack on shipping, but nothing £11 12s.; Scarborough, £19 17s. was found. - Rewards, £18 2s. JANUARY 21ST. - PORT ASKAIG, JANUARY 15TH. - WICK, CAITHNESS- ARGYLLSHIRE. A ship had been re- SHIRE. A fishing boat had been reported ported in distress to the south-east of 28 SERVICES 1942

Ardmore Point, Islay, but nothing was Bailey which was launched at 9.55 A.M. A found, and later it was learned that the moderate S.E. wind was blowing, with a vessel was not in immediate danger and did moderate ground swell. The life-boat found not need the help of the life-boat. - Rewards, the m.v. Sedulity, of London. She had been £17 18s. attacked by a German Heinkel aeroplane, which had attacked her with machine-guns, JANUARY 21ST. - PORT ERIN, ISLE OF cannon and bombs, and her anti-aircraft MAN. An unknown vessel had been re- gunner had been wounded. The life-boat ported ashore, but the life-boat was recalled brought him ashore, and returned to her by the coastguard as the position of the station at 11.20 A.M. - Rewards, £12 7s. 6d. vessel had been wrongly given. - Rewards, £13 5s. 6d. FEBRUARY 5TH. - DUNMORE EAST, CO. WATERFORD. At 11.20 on the night of JANUARY 21ST. - PORTRUSH, CO. the 4th February, the coastwatcher at ANTRIM. A vessel had been reported in Brownstown Head reported that a steam distress off Torr Head, but nothing was found. trawler was aground on a sandbank on the - Rewards, £22 6s. east side of Tramore Bay, and was showing flares. The weather had been foggy but was JANUARY 22ND. - TROON, AYRSHIRE. then clear, and it was very cold, with a strong A steamer had been reported ashore, but a N.E. breeze and a slight ground sea. The second message asked that the life-boat motor life-boat Annie Blanche Smith was should be recalled as she was not needed.- launched at 12.30 in the morning, and found Rewards, £11 14s. the steam trawler Gozo, of Milford, with a crew of eight. She was returning to Milford JANUARY 25TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- from fishing. It was nearly low water, and FOLK. A British Spitfire aeroplane had the life-boat was unable to get alongside the been reported down in the sea, but nothing Gozo, but with the help of the trawler’s boat was found. - Rewards, £19 11s. 6d. she ran out a kedge, and then anchored to wait for high water, which would be at nine JANUARY 26TH. - TOBERMORY, in the morning. As the trawler did not come ARGYLLSHIRE. A steamer had been off at high water the life-boat took her captain reported ashore on Tiree, but the wind on board, and returned to her station for was at hurricane force and compelled the more help. She arrived there at 11.15. The life-boat to heave to, and later she returned services of a herring drifter were obtained and to Tobermory, as the weather was getting at five in the afternoon the life-boat went worse. The life-boat made a second attempt, out again with her. They put men aboard but the weather was worse, rescue was impos- the Gozo to help her crew in lightening her sible, and the life-boat was recalled. The stern, which was on the sandbank, by moving crew of the steamer were all rescued from the coal forward, and in the end they refloated shore by the coastguard life-saving rocket her. It was then found that she had a rope apparatus at Tiree. - Rewards, £20 9s. round her propeller, and the drifter had to tow her to Dunmore. The life-boat reached JANUARY 26TH.. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, her station again at 12.40 in the morning of ESSEX. A steamer had been reported the 6th February, just twenty-four hours ashore, but before the life-boat could reach since she had first gone out. - Property her a signal was received that the steamer salvage case. had refloated. When the life-boat returned she was one mass of ice. - Rewards, £7 1s. FEBRUARY 5TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. The life-boat took a JANUARY 26TH. - COVERACK, CORN- doctor to Aberdour. This service was the WALL. A British aeroplane was reported last of several unusual services carried out to have crashed off The Manacles, and the by the life-boat over a period of several days. life-boat got away in three minutes, but she For details, see January 26th. found nothing. - Rewards, £11 14s. 3d. FEBRUARY 9TH. - LOWESTOFT, SUF- JANUARY 29TH. - CADGWITH, CORN- FOLK. At 8.45 A.M. the naval base reported WALL. The naval authorities asked the a vessel in difficulties off the harbour entrance. life-boat to investigate a vessel reported to The weather was foggy, with a light northerly be to the S.S.E., but she found nothing.- wind, and the sea was calm. At 9 A.M. Rewards, £28 8s. 6d. the motor life-boat Michael Stephens was launched. The coxswain was ill with gastric influenza, but he took command. The life- boat found H.M. Drifter Golden News, with FEBRUARY a crew of fifteen, stranded on the edge of the Launches 37. Lives rescued 3. Newcome Sands, and rolling heavily in a ground swell. At the request of her master, FEBRUARY 2ND. - CROMER, NORFOLK. the life-boat stood by until a tug refloated At 9.37 A.M. the Cromer coastguard tele- the drifter. With the life-boat in attendance phoned that a vessel, about one and a half she reached port at 10.30 A.M. - Rewards, £7. miles north of Cromer, had reported that she had a man on board dangerously ill. The FEBRUARY 10TH. - DOUGLAS, ISLE OF coastguard also telephoned a doctor, and he MAN. At 3.30 P.M. a fisherman returned to went with the No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. port and reported to the harbour master that SERVICES 1942 29 the motor fishing boat Peveril, of Douglas, FEBRUARY 20TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. with a crew of three, was still at sea. As DOWN. At 4.55 A.M. the Tara coastguard half a gale of wind was blowing from the N.E., telephoned that a steamer was ashore in with a rough sea, he was very doubtful if she Knockinelder Bay, and the motor life-boat could make harbour without help. As the Herbert John was launched at 6 A.M. A fishing boat had not returned by 6 P.M. the light south-easterly wind was blowing, with motor life-boat Manchester and Salford was a smooth sea. The life-boat found the launched, and found the Peveril about four S.S. Sard, of Glasgow, with a crew of thirteen. miles S.E. by S. of Douglas Head. She was They were in no immediate danger, and the able to make progress and, escorted by the life-boat brought the captain ashore to tele- life-boat, she reached harbour at 6.30 P.M.- phone to his owners about a tug. This done, Rewards, £11 13s. 3d. the life-boat put him on board the steamer again, and returned to her station at FEBRUARY 10TH. - RUNSWICK, YORK- 12.25 P.M. The steamer was towed off by a SHIRE. Four Staithes fishing boats were tug at high tide. - Rewards, £16 3s. 3d. caught by a northerly gale, with a very rough sea, while out fishing, and the motor life-boat FEBRUARY 22ND. - LOWESTOFT, SUF- Robert Patton - The Always Ready was FOLK. At 11.20 A.M. the coastguard asked launched at 1.10 P.M. She escorted the four for the life-boat’s services for a vessel off the boats into Staithes and returned to her East Cross Sand Buoy, six miles east of station at 3 P.M. - Rewards, £9 11s. Caister, and the motor life-boat Michael Stephens was launched at 11.35 A.M. A light northerly wind was blowing, with a ground FEBRUARY 10TH. - DONAGHADEE, CO. swell. The life-boat found two ship’s boats DOWN. At about 11.20 A.M. information five miles N.E. of Caister. They contained came from the look-out that a motor fishing twenty-five survivors from the S.S. Enseign boat had broken down at The Rig, off the Marie Saint-Germain, of Newport, Mon- Copeland Islands, four miles from Donagha- mouthshire, which had been mined while dee. A westerly wind was blowing, with a bound in convoy for the Tyne. The life-boat choppy sea. The motor life-boat Civil took them on board and landed them at Service No. 5 was launched at 11.40 A.M. Yarmouth at 3 P.M. Here she learned, at and found the motor fishing boat Laura, of 4.30 P.M., that another boat, with more sur- Donaghadee, with a crew of three. The vivors, had gone back to their ship, and that Laura succeeded in restarting her engine and she was in tow. The life-boat put out, spoke the life-boat escorted her into harbour, the ship, and finding that the remainder of arriving at 12.35 P.M. - Rewards, £4 19s. her crew were safe aboard her, returned to her station at 6.45 P.M. - Rewards, £9 0s. 3d. FEBRUARY 13TH. - THURSO, CAITH- NESS-SHIRE. At 2.50 A.M. the Wick coast- FEBRUARY 22ND. - GREAT YARMOUTH guard reported by telephone that signals of AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At distress had been seen in Scrabster Bay, and 4 A.M. Great Yarmouth coastguard reported at 3.30 A.M. the motor life-boat H.C.J. was that the Caister life-boat had been called out launched. A strong N.N.E. gale was blowing, by rockets north of Winterton, but that the with a very heavy sea and snow. The life- Caister life-boat could not get away owing boat found the steam trawler Sanserit, of to a defective carriage track, and at 4.50 A.M. Aberdeen, with a crew of eleven, half-way the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston motor between Scrabster and Thurso. She had life-boat Louise Stephens was launched. A dragged her anchor and driven ashore in light N.E. wind was blowing, with a moderate shallow water. The sea was so heavy that swell and snow. Off Caister the life-boat ran the life-boat could not get alongside, and the into a heavy snowstorm and had to stop snow so thick that her crew could not see, so until it had passed. Going north she found she stood by until daylight. By that time a ship on Winterton Beach, but the water the trawler was much closer inshore, and with was too shallow for the life-boat to get along- great difficulty eight of the crew were rescued side her. Her captain said that she was the from the shore by the Scrabster coastguard S.S. Yewkyle, of Glasgow, and that he needed life-saving apparatus. The other three a tug. The life-boat sent a wireless message members of the crew had been washed over- ashore for a tug and stood by. At 10.30 A.M. board and drowned. The life-boat returned the tug Diversion arrived, but her ropes were to her station at 12.30 P.M. - Rewards, £23 4s. too short. Another wireless call was sent, asking for longer ropes, and at 2 P.M. a FEBRUARY 17TH. - PORT ASKAIG, trawler arrived, but the tide was now falling, ARGYLLSHIRE. On the 16th February it was impossible to get ropes to the steamer a request was received by telephone from a and the tug had to move off into deeper water. doctor and the minister on the Island of The life-boat then asked the steamer’s cap- Colonsay for the help of the life-boat to bring tain if he intended to stay aboard her, and a sick woman to Islay, whence she could be as he did the life-boat returned to her station, taken by air ambulance to the mainland. arriving at 4 P.M. - Rewards, £17 1s. 6d. A strong easterly wind was blowing, with a rough sea, and no other boat could make the FEBRUARY 27TH. - MARGATE, KENT. passage. The motor life-boat Charlotte At 3.40 P.M. an aeroplane crashed in the sea Elizabeth was launched at 5.35 A.M., brought about two miles N.E. of the life-boat station, the woman from Colonsay, and returned to and life-boatmen standing by at the boat- her station at 10 A.M. - Rewards, £9 3s. house saw part of it above water. Seven 30 SERVICES 1942 minutes later the motor life-boat The Lord FEBRUARY 13TH. - BARROW, LANCA- Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was SHIRE. A British Anson aeroplane had launched. A light E. wind was blowing and been reported overdue, but nothing was the sea was smooth. The life-boat found found. - Rewards, £16 16s. 6d. three airmen clinging to two rubber dinghies, rescued them and gave them brandy. She FEBRUARY 14TH. - LYTHAM - ST. then searched for a missing sergeant gunner, ANNE’S, LANCASHIRE. A naval pinnace but could not find him, and returned to her was adrift and on fire at night with no one station at 4.35 P.M. Two air-sea rescue boats on board, but nothing was found. - Expenses also searched, but the missing man was not paid by the Admiralty. found. - Rewards, £7 12s.

The following life-boats were launched, but FEBRUARY 14TH. - BUCKIE, BANFF- no services were rendered for the reasons SHIRE, AND CROMARTY. A British given : aeroplane had got into difficulties and her crew had baled out, but nothing was seen.- FEBRUARY 2ND. - MOELFRE, ANGLE- Rewards : Buckie, £11 8s. ; Cromarty, SEY. An aeroplane was reported to have £4 15s. crashed into the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £12. FEBRUARY 15TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK. An aeroplane had been reported in the sea FEBRUARY 3RD. - NEW BRIGHTON, off Brancaster, but nothing was found.- CHESHIRE. A barge was reported to have Rewards, £25 10s. sunk in the Mersey, and her crew of two were reported adrift on a raft, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £7 3s. FEBRUARY 15TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, ESSEX. An aeroplane had FEBRUARY 4TH. - ABERDEEN. A vessel been reported down in the sea, but nothing had been heard sounding her siren con- was found. - Rewards, £28 16s. tinuously, but she could not be found in the darkness, and at daylight she got into port FEBRUARY 18TH. - MARYPORT, CUM- unaided. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d. BERLAND. A British Hudson bomber aeroplane had crashed, but nothing except a FEBRUARY 5TH. - KILMORE, CO. WEX- large patch of oil was found. - Rewards, FORD. A trawler had been attacked by £7 19s. German aeroplanes, with bombs and machine- guns, but the life-boat found nothing, and the Coningbeg Lightship reported that the FEBRUARY 18TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. trawler had gone on her way. - Rewards, DOWN. A British aeroplane had come down £34 5s. 6d. in the sea, but it was found by an R.A.F. rescue launch. - Rewards, £21 13s. 6d. FEBRUARY 6TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. DONEGAL. Coastwatchers had reported FEBRUARY 22ND. - GIRVAN AYR- an explosion and a ship on fire, but nothing SHIRE. A keeper at Turnberry Lighthouse was found, and later it was learned that an had reported a small object on fire, but aeroplane had crashed and caught fire.- nothing was found. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d. Rewards, £23 4s. 6d. FEBRUARY 24TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR- FEBRUARY 8TH. - WHITBY, YORK- FOLK. An aeroplane had been reported SHIRE. A red light had been reported and down in the sea, but no trace of it was found. the life-boat was launched and stood by in The life-boat saw a paravane and reported it readiness, but she was not required to go to the coastguard. - Rewards, £19 12s. out as a convoy was passing and its escort vessels were asked to investigate the red light. - Rewards £4 10s. FEBRUARY 27TH. - GOURDON, KIN- CARDINESHIRE. An R.A.F. aeroplane FEBRUARY 10TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. had been reported down in the sea, but DOWN. A Spitfire aeroplane had come down nothing was found. - Rewards, £23 2s. 9d. in the sea, but the life-boat could find nothing. - Rewards, £10 9s. 6d. FEBRUARY 27TH. - WICK, CAITHNESS- SHIRE. White Very lights had been re- FEBRUARY 10TH. - ST. IVES, CORN- ported, but nothing was found. - Rewards, WALL. A steamer had been damaged in £15. an air raid, but all the injured were taken ashore by a speed boat and the steamer FEBRUARY 28TH. - CROMER, AND herself was taken in tow by a tug. - Rewards, SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK. A British £21 18s. 6d. aeroplane coming towards land was heard to strike the water. Aeroplanes and launches, FEBRUARY 12TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- as well as the life-boats, made a long search FOLK. A Wellington bomber aeroplane had but all that was found was one body, by a been reported in the sea some miles east of launch, and a parachute, by the Sheringham Southwold, but nothing was found.- life-boat. - Rewards : Cromer, £39 8s. 6d. ; Rewards, £45 14s. Sheringham, £39 16s. SERVICES 1942 31

MARCH MARCH 8TH. - GOURDON, KINCAR- DINESHIRE. The Gourdon coastguard Launches 63. Lives rescued 75. reported a small boat adrift off Johns- haven, and at 11.10 A.M.. the motor life-boat MARCH 3RD. - THE HUMBER, YORK- Margaret Dawson was launched. A light SHIRE. At about 5 P.M. an army officer southerly wind was blowing, but there was and two non-commissioned officers launched a heavy ground swell. The life-boat found an old boat, intending to punt in shallow the boat, but it was empty and she towed it water. They had not allowed for the strong to Gourdon, arriving at 12.30 P.M. The ebbing tide and a fresh S.E. wind and, owners of the boat, which came from Mont- having no oars, were soon drifting away. The rose, made a gift to the Institution and life-boat’s boarding boat put out at 5.45 P.M. another to the life-boat crew. - Rewards, She found that the boat was leaking badly and £16 16s. that the men were baling all the time to pre- vent her from sinking. She towed her to the MARCH 12TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. beach, and returned to her station at 6.45 CORK. At 8.45 A.M. a local man out in a P.M. - Paid permanent crew. small boat saw what he took to be another small boat drifting about a mile and a half MARCH 3RD. - NEW BRIGHTON, N.E. of the Ballycotton light. He came CHESHIRE. At 6.25 P.M. the Hoylake ashore and reported it to the life-boat cox- coastguard reported a motor boat in diffi- swain. A moderate southerly wind was culties on Burbo Bank, and the No. 2 motor blowing and the sea was slight, but there life-boat Edmund and Mary Robinson left her was thick fog. The motor life-boat Mary moorings at 6.45 P.M. A moderate S.E. wind Stanford was launched at 9.15 A.M. and found was blowing, with a moderate sea and rain. a ship’s raft, which appeared to have been The life-boat found the R.A.F. rescue launch damaged by shrapnel or bomb splinters. No. 164 aground half a mile W.N.W. of She towed it in, returning to her station at C.10 Red Buoy. She had a crew of seven on 10 A.M. - Rewards, £7 4s. 6d. board, and she had lost her propellers. The life-boat put men on board to help her get MARCH 12TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. off and then towed her to a Mersey Docks At 10.40 P.M. the coastguard reported a vessel and Harbour Board vessel lying in the main burning flares one and a half miles N.W. by channel. The life-boat returned to her W., and the motor life-boat K.B.M. was station at 11 P.M.. - Rewards, £15 10s. launched at 11.30. A strong southerly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea and snow MARCH 6TH. - HARTLEPOOL, DUR- showers. About five miles N.W. of Buckie HAM. At 8.20 A.M. the coastguard reported the life-boat found the steam drifters a message from the S.S. High Wear that she Morning Rays, of Fraserburgh, and Amity, was coming in with her engine-room flooded, of Buckie. The Morning Rays had been that she was making water, and that a pilot towing the Amity, which had no one on should be ready. A few minutes later the board, but the rope had fouled her propeller, motor life-boat The Princess Royal (Civil and the two trawlers were drifting helplessly. Service No. 7) put out in a fresh S.E. wind, At the request of the skipper of the Morning with a very rough sea and snow. At the Rays the life-boat found the steam trawler request of the naval authorities a pilot went Copieux, and she took both drifters in tow with her. She found the steamer in Tees Bay. while the life-boat stood by. Then the tow She was laden and drawing eighteen feet, rope between the two drifters broke and which made it impossible to bring her into came clear of the Morning Rays’ propeller, Hartlepool. With the life-boat guiding her and the life-boat returned to her station, the High Wear went into the River Tees, arriving at 2 A.M. - Rewards, £15 9s. and the life-boat returned to her station at 11 A.M. - Rewards, £6 17s. 6d. MARCH 13TH - 14TH. - BLYTH, NORTH- UMBERLAND. At 7.20 P.M. the Blyth MARCH 7TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. coastguard telephoned that the S.S. Brian, At 4.45 A.M.. the coastguard reported signals of Sunderland, which had just left port, from a vessel to the N.E. by E., and the motor laden with coal, had driven ashore to the life-boat K.B.M. was launched at 6.30 A.M. west of the West Pier. A moderate E.S.E. A light southerly wind was blowing, with a gale was blowing, with heavy seas, and it ground swell. The life-boat saw a search- was very cold. At 7.45 the motor life-boat light shining on to the land, and going in- Joseph Adlam put out, got alongside the shore she found that it was on board H.M. steamer, and rescued nine of the crew in spite Trawler Sheldon, which was aground on tbe of the heavy seas. The remaining ten had landward side of Craigenroan Rock, with no got away a little earlier in the ship’s boat, one on board. Shouting was heard from the and had landed on the beach. As the life- shore, and the life-boat learnt that the crew boat was leaving the Brian the coastguard were safe. She then went to the trawler, life-saving apparatus, which was attempting turned off her searchlight and dynamo, and to reach the steamer from the shore, fired a returned to harbour at 7.45 A.M. Half an line which fell across steamer and life-boat. hour later an officer of the trawler asked if The slack of the line got foul of the life-boat’s she could put out again to bring ashore papers propeller, her engine stopped, and she drifted and clothing. As no other boat was available, on to the beach. After a very anxious time the life-boat went out and returned again at the assistant motor-mechanic got the engine 9.35 A.M. - Rewards, £10 6s. 3d. started again sufficiently to enable the boat 32 SERVICES 1942 to get off the beach without help. The line Girvan £17 0s. 3d. ; Campbeltown, was cut clear of the life-boat, and with the £19 15s;. 6d. engines running cautiously she got back about 10.30 P.M. and landed the men at the naval MARCH 15TH. - CROMER, AND SHERING- base. She was then hauled up on the slipway HAM, NORFOLK. On the night of the and twenty more feet of rocket line were cut 14th March and in the morning of the 15th, away from the propeller. On the following a convoy was attacked by enemy E-boats. day it was found that the rudder had been The E-boats in turn were attacked by twisted and cracked, but this did not prevent destroyers and by H.M.S. Vortigern, which her from being launched again at 10.30 that sank three of them and damaged two more, morning, the 14th March, when the naval but H.M. Vortigern was hit by two torpedoes authorities asked if she could go out to pass and sank. At 7.38 A.M. on the 15th March tow ropes from the S.S. Brian to a salvage tug. the Cromer coastguard passed a message She took six riggers with her and put them from the flag officer in charge at Great Yar- on board the steamer. The ropes were passed, mouth to the Cromer life-boat station that but they broke and the steamer remained two vessels had sunk ten miles N.E. by N. aground. The tide had turned, operations from Cromer. A light S.W. wind was blow- had to be suspended, and the life-boat ing and the sea was smooth. The Cromer returned at 4.15 P.M., bringing ashore the No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was steamer’s crew of fifteen and the six riggers. launched at 7.57 A.M., and by 9.43 A.M. had In recognition of the way in which all on reached the position. A number of other board carried out their work when the pro- rescue boats were there. The life-boat found peller was fouled, and got the life-boat out of a lot of wreckage, and picked up eleven a tight corner in the darkness, an increase in bodies. She continued the search until the usual money awards on the standard 1.25 P.M. but found no one alive, and returned scale was made to each member of the crew. to her station at 3 P.M. Standard rewards to crew and helpers, The Sheringham station had received a £18 4s. 6d. ; additional rewards to the crew, call at 7.40 A.M., and the motor life-boat £6 15s. ; total rewards, £24 19s. 6d. Foresters Centenary was away at 8.2 A.M She found one body and a barrage balloon. MARCH 15TH. - PETERHEAD, ABER- She returned to her station at 4.15. Both DEENSHIRE. At 9.30 A.M. the coastguard life-boats transferred the bodies to a motor reported a vessel ashore on outer Scotstoun boat which took them to Lowestoft, and both Head, and the motor life-boat John Russell, returned to their stations smothered in crude on temporary duty at the station, was oil. Rewards : Cromer, £13 6s. 6d. ; Shering- launched at 9.55 A.M. A strong S.E. wind ham, £19 12s. was blowing, with a heavy sea, and there was fog. The life-boat found the steam trawler MARCH 15TH. - ABERDEEN. At 6.25 in Danearn, of Aberdeen, with a crew of ten the evening information came from the flag and a catch of fish on board. She had officer in charge at Aberdeen, through the washed over the outer reef and was near the coastguard, that H.M. Corvette Hyderbad had beach. The coastguard life-saving appara- gone aground on the north breakwater in tus had fired a line to the trawler, and Navigation Channel and the No. 1 motor the life-boat stood by until all the crew had life-boat Emma Constance was launched at been rescued from the shore, returning to her 6.40. A moderate southerly wind was blow- station at 3.10 P.M. - Rewards, £6 14s. 6d. ing, with a heavy ground swell. The life- boat stood by the corvette, while the steam MARCH 15TH. - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE, tug Bruno, with a crew of ten, came out to AND CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE. try and tow her off, but she too went aground, At 3.50 P.M. the coastguard telephoned to on the west side of the old south breakwater. Girvan that a ship was ashore on Ailsa Craig It was then 8.40. Leaving the Hyderbad the A moderate southerly wind was blowing, with life-boat got a line from the Bruno, which a moderate sea. The life-boat Lily Glen - was rolling and pounding heavily in the surf, Glasgow was launched at 4.20 P.M., but she and started to tow her off. At 9.15 the tug found nothing and returned at 8.20 P.M refloated. She came off quickly and struck News of the launching of the Girvan life-boat the life-boat, damaging her port quarter. reached the Campbeltown station from the The tug had lost her rudder and the life-boat Portpatrick coastguard at 5.15 P.M., but towed her to her berth. Meanwhile, at 9.20, another message said that radio bearings put the Hyderbad herself had refloated and re- the ship near the Mull of Kintyre, and the turned to her berth. The life-boat got back Campbeltown motor life-boat City of Glasgow to her station at eleven o’clock. - Rewards, was launched at 5.45 P.M. At 7.30 P.M. she £13 11s. 6d. found the S.S. Tanafjord, of Oslo, on Boiler Reef to the S.W. of Sanda Island. She was MARCH 17TH. - REDCAR, YORKSHIRE. fast on the rocks. A wireless message told At about 9.50 A.M the coastguard reported the life-boat that a tug was coming and she that an R.A.F. Lockheed Hudson aeroplane went to find her, escorted her to the steamer was down in the sea about two miles north and ran ropes between the two during the of Redcar look-out, and the motor life-boat night. A second tug had been summoned Louisa Polden was launched at 10.37 A.M. but at 10.52 the following morning the first A moderate southerly wind was blowing and tug got the steamer off, and the life-boat the sea was smooth. All she found was a returned to her station, arriving at 1.15 P.M dead body. An R.A.F. speed boat and a She had been 18 1/2 hours at sea. - Rewards motor boat also went out and found several SERVICES 1942 33 bodies. The life-boat returned to her station the Ebro was ashore 1 1/2 miles off Rattray at 12.45 P.M. - Rewards, £10 9s. 6d. Head, and with this more precise information (See Teesmouth, “ Services by shore-boats,” she put out again at 6.15. This time she page 64.) found the wreck. She also found the Peter- head life-boat, which had arrived some time MARCH 17TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, before, but in the darkness, made worse by ARGYLLSHIRE. At 1.51 in the afternoon hail showers, had not been able to see the information came from the naval authorities wreck. The Ebro was lying on the sands that H.M. Rescue Tug Adept, with a crew of broadside on to the sea, and partly sub- thirty, was aground on Paterson’s Rock, east merged. The sea was so heavy that the life- of Sanda Island, and the motor life-boat boats were unable to get near her. They City of Glasgow was launched at 2.16. The stood by for some time, and at 8.15 the Peter- weather was calm, but there was a bank of head life-boat set out again for her station, fog, and the tide race was raising a very rough leaving the work of rescue to the Fraserburgh sea at Paterson’s Rock. The tug had struck life-boat. She arrived back at Peterhead at the rock at high water and was right on top ten in the morning. of it. Another tug had been sent for, and At 8.45 the Fraserburgh life-boat again the life-boat stood by, waiting for her, but returned to her station to refuel. The sea was as the tide ebbed the Adept seemed in danger breaking so heavily over the Ebro that it of slipping off at any moment, so the life-boat seemed impossible to approach her, but the rescued her crew and then put them on board coxswain hoped that with the change of tide the tug Zwarte Zee which had now arrived. conditions would improve. The life-boat The tug and the life-boat then tried, without reached harbour at 9.45, and in forty minutes success, to tow off the Adept. The fog now had refuelled and was on her way out for the became dense, and the tug and the life-boat third time. This time, at the request of the both anchored. They remained there through coxswain and the motor-mechanic, Captain the night, intending to make another attempt Andrew Stephen, joint honorary secretary of in daylight. By morning the weather had the station and the harbour master, went cleared, but as the life-boat then learned that with her. Meanwhile, about 9.20, eighteen a salvage ship was on her way she returned of the Ebro’s crew of thirty men had got to her station, towing a boat from the Adept away in one of the ship’s boats from her with some gear in it. She reached her station lee side, and although the boat was constantly again at 11.10 in the morning of the 18th, flooded as she went through the surf, they having been out for 21 hours. This was her came ashore safely. There were still twelve second long service, with only a day between men on board. When the life-boat reached them. - Rewards, £26 8s. 6d. the wreck for the third time at 11.30 she found that the seas were now washing right MARCH 18TH. - FRASERBURGH, AND over her. It was clear that the only hope of PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. Just rescuing the twelve men was to take the before nine o’clock in the evening the coast- life-boat between the Ebro and the shore. guard at Kinnaird Head reported that a white This meant gradually working the boat rocket had been seen off Rattray Head, and towards the beach through the heavy surf, at 9.20 the Fraserburgh motor life-boat John and at the same time keeping her head on to and Charles Kennedy was launched. The the breaking seas. For over two hours the wind was light, but a heavy sea was running life-boat was manoeuvring to come alongside, and the night was pitch dark. Not a thing and twice she had to put out to sea again could be seen. The life-boat went to the when she saw exceptionally heavy breakers position given, and searched for eight hours, coming in. At last she got into position but she could find no trace of a vessel in north of the wreck and signalled to her, “ We distress, and after that first rocket no flare are going to make a dash alongside. Be or light was seen. Just before one o’clock ready “. Everything was secured on the next morning, during this unsuccessful search life-boat’s deck and the crew were ordered by the life-boat, a wireless message was to take shelter. Then, at full speed, the received on shore from the vessel in distress. life-boat went under the lee of the Ebro. She was the steamer Ebro, of London, with Here she found much wreckage. Heavy a crew of thirty, and the message said she logs, washed overboard from the wreck, were was breaking up and was anxious to know bumping alongside and threatening to crush where the life-boat was. The resident naval the life-boat. There was the added difficulty officer, on receiving this message, tried to get that the Ebro’s davit tackles were hanging in touch with the life-boat by wireless. over the side, and all the time the seas Failing to do this he sent a message to the breaking over the Ebro were falling into the Peterhead station and the Peterhead motor life-boat. In spite of this the life-boat passed life-boat John Russell was launched at 1.50. lines from her bow and stern to the vessel At 3.49, while the Peterhead life-boat was on and held alongside while the twelve members her way to Rattray Head, a wireless mes- of the crew, who had taken shelter in the sage came from the Fraserburgh boat that bridge deck house, watching their oppor- she was waiting until daylight. Shortly tunity, made a dash for the life-boat. Some before daylight her coxswain decided to jumped into her, and others slipped down return to harbour, and when he got near to ropes and the pilot ladder. All twelve were the shore he signalled by lamp for the lights rescued. to be put on. At 5.50 the life-boat entered The life-boat had damaged both her stem harbour, having then been out for 8 1/2 hours. and her rudder, but she was under control, She now learned from the coastguard that and watching carefully to avoid the heavier 34 SERVICES 1942

breakers, the coxswain brought her out again plane had sunk. One of the airmen had hurt into the open sea. The life-boat got back his leg, and all four had cuts, mostly about again to Fraserburgh at three in the after- the head. The life-boat brought them in at noon. It was then nearly eighteen hours once, arriving at 11.50. The station was since she had first put out. The captain of thanked by the Director General of Aircraft the Ebro was full of gratitude and spoke of Safety, by the pilot of the aeroplane and by the splendid way in which the life-boat had his aerodrome. - Rewards, £7 6s. 6d. been handled. It had been a long and very trying service, and the Institution made a reward of £3 to MARCH 25TH - 26TH. - BARMOUTH, the coxswain and each member of the crew MERIONETHSHIRE, AND PWLLHELI, in addition to the ordinary reward on the CAERNARVONSHIRE. SOS flashes had standard scale of £2 16s. 6d. Rewards to the been seen by the coastguard about six miles Fraserburgh crew and launchers on the east of Cilan Head on the evening of March standard scale, £22 15s. ; additional rewards 25th, and at 9.45 the Pwllheli motor life-boat to the Fraserburgh crew, £27 ; total rewards Ministre Anseele, on temporary duty at the to the Fraserburgh crew and launchers, station, put out and searched for a long time, £49 15s. Rewards to Peterhead, £l9 13s. but found nothing. The wind was slight and the sea smooth. She then approached the MARCH 20TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABER- Abersoch coastguard station and signalled DEENSHIRE. The motor life-boat John for further information. She was told that and Charles Kennedy, which had been moored news had just been received that an aeroplane in the harbour after the service the day had come down in the sea off Mochras Point, and she went at once to her help. Meanwhile before, put out at 3 P.M. and took a pilot out to a vessel, as the weather was too rough at 2.10 next morning the Barmouth motor for the pilot boat to go out. She returned life-boat Lawrence Ardern, Stockport had been at 3.35. - Rewards, £2 17s. launched in answer to a message from the coastguard that a Stirling bomber had MARCH 2lST. - GIRVAN. AYRSHIRE. crashed in the sea. She reached the aero- plane at 3.45, and shortly afterwards At 9.45 P.M. the police reported that a vessel was ashore about one mile south of Turn- the Pwllheli life-boat also arrived. They berry Lighthouse and was showing flares. found the aeroplane’s hatches open and The weather was calm but there was a dense the crew gone. The life-boats cruised about until daylight, and as they could see a rubber fog. At 10.10 A.M. the motor life-boat Lily Glen - Glasgow was ready to go out, but the dinghy on shore, they presumed that the tide was low and she had to wait an hour airmen had landed safely, and returned to before going. About one mile south of Turn- their stations, the Pwllheli life-boat arriving berry Lighthouse she found the sailing ship at nine o’clock and the Barmouth life-boat Ellie Park, of Dublin, aground inside the at 9.30. On the way back the Barmouth life- Brest Rocks. The ship had a crew of three boat saw a mine floating near St. Patrick’s and was on her way from Belfast to Ardros- Causeway and reported it to the coastguard. san with scrap iron. Her crew were in no At four o’clock in the afternoon the life-boat immediate danger and the master asked the was again launched, with the mine disposal life-boat to stand by in order to help the ship officer on board. The mine was found again get off when the tide had risen. About and sunk, and the life-boat returned to her Rewards : 4 A.M. the life-boat towed her off and took station at ten o’clock that night. her through the channel into the safety of Barmouth, £25 17s. for the first launch ; the the open sea. She returned to her station at cost of the second launch was paid by the 4.50 A.M. - Rewards, £15 9s. Admiralty ; Pwllheli, £14 13s. 3d.

MARCH 25TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE. MARCH 27TH. - EYEMOUTH, BERWICK- At 10.55 in the morning the coastguard tele- SHIRE. At 9.10 A.M. the coastguard tele- phoned that an aeroplane had come down in phoned that a trawler was showing signals the sea one mile off Sandsend and that her for medical aid. A light southerly wind was crew had taken to their rubber dinghy. All blowing with a rough sea. The motor life- the fishing boats were at sea, and the life- boat Frank and William Oates was launched boat’s coxswain, second-coxswain and crew at 9.20 A.M. and found the steam trawler were out with them, but the motor-mechanic Earl of Buchan about a mile east of Eyemouth. and the winchman quickly got together a A member of ,he crew was suffering from crew. Ex-coxswain Thomas W. Welham, 71 acute rupture. The life-boat brought him years old, who had retired from the life-boat ashore at 9.50 A.M., and the trawler went on over six years before, took command, with her way. - Rewards, £11 3s. 6d. T. Peart, aged 60, as acting second-coxswain, and the other six members of the crew were the motor-mechanic himself and five boys, The following life-boats were launched, but sixteen years old. At 11.5, ten minutes after no services were rendered for the reasons the call had been received, the motor life- given: boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. There were patches of fog, but the life-boat MARCH 2ND. - KIRKCUDBRIGHT. The soon found a coloured patch in the water. R.A.F. reported that an aeroplane was down Shortly afterwards she found the rubber in the sea and that it was too rough for their dinghy itself, with four airmen on board, speed boat, but the life-boat found nothing. about half a mile off Sandsend. The aero- - Rewards, £18 18s. SERVICES 1942 35

MARCH 2ND. - RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN. nothing. On the following morning a ship’s An aeroplane had been reported missing, and boat was reported south-east of Collieston, it was thought that she might have come and the Aberdeen No. 1 motor life-boat put down at sea, but she had crashed on the out, but found nothing. - Rewards : beach. - Rewards, £12 9s. Arbroath, £19 16s. 6d. ; Montrose, £20 7s. 9d.; Aberdeen, £6 17s. 6d. MARCH 2ND. - PLYMOUTH, DEVON. A British Sunderland flying boat was reported MARCH 13TH. - SELSEY, SUSSEX. A to have been forced down, but the life-boat British aeroplane had been reported down in was recalled by wireless as another aeroplane the sea, but only a patch of oil was found.- had gone to her help. - Rewards, £6 13s. Rewards, £17 12s. 6d.

MARCH 3RD. - BLYTH, NORTHUMBER- MARCH 13TH. - THURSO, AND WICK, LAND. An unknown steamer had been CAITHNESS-SHIRE. A British aeroplane reported heading for rocks east of the har- was expected to come down, probably at bour, but she seemed to get clear and then sea, but it reached land before crashing.- was lost in the darkness. - Rewards, Rewards : Thurso, £21 9s. ; Wick, £8 13s. £14 9s. 6d. MARCH 13TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. MARCH 5TH. - HARTLEPOOL, DUR- A British bombing aeroplane had crashed, HAM. Two laden steamers, the Norwegian but nothing was found, and the coastguard S.S. Royal and the British S.S. Yewdale, were reported that the crew baled out and all were lying off Hartlepool in a very rough sea, with safe. - Rewards, £15 9s. a strong easterly wind blowing, and heavy snow storms, and the naval authorities wanted MARCH 14TH. - FENIT, CO. KERRY. the steamers in harbour. The life-boat went A fishing boat had been reported in diffi- out to pilot them in, but could not find them. culties off Smerwick Harbour, but the life- Later they were able to enter the Tees.- boat found her abandoned. Her crew had Rewards, £18 14s. got ashore. - Rewards, £20 9s.

MARCH 6TH. - SUNDERLAND, DUR- MARCH 14TH. - WICK, CAITHNESS- HAM. A motor vessel had gone ashore at SHIRE. The ex-Norwegian fishing vessel Whitburn Point, but she was too far inshore H.13A.F., with a naval crew on board, for the life-boat to be able to get near her.- appeared to be out of control, and her crew Rewards, £7 11s. were waving a white sheet, but she was got under control again and went on her way.- MARCH 7TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, Rewards, £6 13s. ARGYLLSHIRE. A vwssel had been re- ported ashore, but nothing was found, MARCH 15TH. - RHYL, FLINTSHIRE. although a Dutch coasting vessel was seen A British Hurricane aeroplane had crashed under way. - Rewards, £6 13s. and was found on East Hoyle Sandbank, but there was no trace of her crew. - Rewards, MARCH 10TH. - PLYMOUTH, DEVON. £21 17s. A damaged aeroplane was expected to come MARCH 15TH. - TENBY, PEMBROKE- down in the sea and the life-boat went out SHIRE. The Belgian fishing vessel Grace of to stand by, but she was recalled by wireless God was in distress, but her crew were as the aeroplane had landed elsewhere.- rescued by a naval vessel. - Rewards, £19 1s. Rewards, £9 19s. 6d. MARCH 16TH. - SCARBOROUGH, YORK- MARCH 11TH. - ARBROATH, AND SHIRE. A British Spitfire aeroplane had BROUGHTY FERRY, ANGUS. An been reported down in the sea, but nothing R.N.A.S. aeroplane had been reported down was found. - Rewards, £19 4s. in the sea, but nothing was found except two wheels, one by the Arbroath life-boat MARCH 17TH. - ST. DAVID’S, PEM- and one by an R.A.F. launch. - Rewards : BROKESHIRE. An aeroplane had been Arbroath, £16 18s. 3d. ; Broughty Ferry, reported down in the sea, but nothing could £11 13s. be found. - Rewards, £11 3s. 6d.

MARCH 11TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- MARCH 20TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL. FOLK. Airmen had been reported down A British aeroplane had crashed and sank in the sea, but a high-speed launch was out immediately. Trawlers nearby picked up searching and the coastguard recalled the two landing wheels and an airman’s cap, but life-boat by wireless as she was not needed. the life-boat and a rescue launch found - Rewards, £39 18s. nothing. - Rewards, £26 10s. 3d.

MARCH 12TH. - ARBROATH, MONT- MARCH 24TH. - ST. DAVID’S, PEM- ROSE, ANGUS, AND ABERDEEN. On BROKESHIRE. A steamer had been re- the afternoon of the 12th information was ported in distress north of the South Bishop received at Arbroath and Montrose that an Lighthouse, but no vessel in need of help was unknown vessel was in distress about twenty found. - Rewards, £6 12s. miles eastward of Arbroath.. A later message reported survivors in boats, but Arbroath MARCH 24TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. and Montrose No. 1 motor life-boats found CORK. The military reported an attack ten 36 SERVICES 1942 miles south of Flat Head, but when the life- APRIL 7TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, boat reached the position, three and a half ESSEX. At 6.25 P.M. the naval control hours later, she found nothing. After she had asked for the help of the life-boat with a returned explosions and gunfire were heard national fire service float which was in diffi- further away and it was assumed that a culties at the loading pier. A S.W. gale was convoy had been attacked but had moved blowing, with a very rough sea. The motor life- on before the life-boat arrived. - Rewards, boat J. B. Proudfoot* was launched at 6.45 £13 3s. 3d. P.M., and found the float, not only damaging herself, but likely to do a lot of damage to the MARCH 25TH. - PEEL, ISLE OF MAN. pier. She had seven men on board. The A dinghy with a man on board had been life-boat anchored, got a rope to the float reported drifting towards Peel, but nothing and towed her clear of the pier with the help was found. - Rewards, £22 16s. 6d. of the float’s own power. The life-boat stood by until the fire float was safely moored and MARCH 27TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. A vessel coming in reported that she had found then returned to her station, arriving at a small fishing boat and a dinghy with no 9 P.M. - Rewards, £7 1s. one on board, and the life-boat made a wide search for her crew, but found nothing.- APRIL 8TH. - KILMORE, CO. WEX- Rewards, £4 5s. FORD. At 8.20 P.M. a telephone request was received for the services of the life-boat MARCH 27TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. to take off a sick man from the Coningbeg A vessel had been reported on fire, but nothing Lightship. The message had been trans- could be found, and it was learned later there mitted to Rosslare by the S.S. Rockabill, which had been a small moorland fire on the had got it from the lightship. The motor Sutherland coast across the Moray Firth.- life-boat Ann Isabella Pyemont was launched Rewards, £15 9s. at 8.45 P.M. A strong S.S.W. gale was blow- ing, with a heavy sea, and the life-boat had MARCH 27TH. - DOUGLAS, AND RAM- great difficulty in taking off the man. He SEY, ISLE OF MAN. An aeroplane was had to be lowered into her in his hammock. reported to have come down in the sea, but On her way back the life-boat signalled for a nothing was found. - Rewards : Douglas, doctor to meet her, and arrived at 12.5 A.M. £15 7s. 6d. ; Ramsey, £24 7s. The man was found to have a duodenal ulcer, MARCH 27TH. - WICK, CAITHNESS- and it is probable that he would have died if SHIRE. A fishing boat’s engine had broken he had not been brought ashore. - Rewards, down, but it was repaired and the help of £21 13s. the life-boat was not needed. - Rewards, £9 19s. 6d. APRIL 11TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. At 3.35 A.M. information was received from MARCH 29TH. - LLANDUDNO, CAER- the R.A.F. at Coltishall that an aeroplane NARVONSHIRE, AND RHYL, FLINT- had crashed about four miles N.N.W. of SHIRE. Airmen were reported to have Cromer, and the No. 1 motor life-boat baled out over the sea, but the life-boats H. F. Bailey was launched at 3.58 A.M. A found nothing. - Rewards : Llandudno, light westerly wind was blowing and the sea £21 13s. 6d. ; Rhyl, £27 9s. 6d. was smooth. The life-boat found six Polish airmen in a dinghy, three of them wounded. MARCH 31ST. - WICK, CAITHNESS- A trawler arrived at the same time. Lines SHIRE. A British aeroplane had been were thrown, and the first line caught by the reported down in the sea, but nothing was airmen was from the trawler, and they were found. - Rewards, £6 13s. taken aboard her. She transferred them to MARCH 31ST. - TROON, AYRSHIRE. A the life-boat, which landed them at Cromer vessel had been reported ashore, but nothing at 5.14 A.M. The Director General of Air- was found. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d. craft Safety sent a letter of thanks.- Rewards, £17 10s. 6d. APRIL APRIL 17TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. Launches 25. Lives rescued 32. During the afternoon the naval base reported a fishing boat in difficulties off Foreness APRIL 2ND. - CLACTON-ON-SEA, Point, and the motor life-boat Agnes Cross, ESSEX. At 11.12 A.M. the military on temporary duty at the station, was authorities reported, through the coast- launched at 3.50 P.M. A light N.E. wind was guard, that a soldier was adrift in a small blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat rowing boat, without oars, about four found the motor fishing boat New Skylark, hundred yards off Butlin’s Camp. A of Ramsgate, at anchor, flying a distress moderately strong N.W. wind was blowing, signal. She was leaking badly, her pump was with a moderate swell. The motor life-boat not working, and her crew of two were baling. The Brothers, on temporary duty at the A life-boatman was put on board to help station, was launched at 11.43 A.M., found them. The life-boat then took the fishing the boat and the soldier, and brought them boat in tow and made for Margate, where back, arriving at her station at 12.37 P.M. The officers of the unit to which the soldier * This boat was on duty at the station, in belonged sent their thanks. - Rewards, place of the Greater London, from December, £3 19s. 6d. 1941, to February, 1945. SERVICES 1942 37 she arrived at 5 P.M. She got back to her safe anchorage at Southend at 4.30 in the station at 6 P.M. A letter of thanks was afternoon. - Property salvage case. received from the rescued men. - Rewards, £5 3s. APRIL 29TH. - SALCOMBE, DEVON. At 12.25 in the afternoon the coastguard at APRIL 19TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT. At Hope Cove reported that eight men in a 3.30 P.M. the naval base reported a fishing 16-feet boat had stranded on Book Rock boat, off the North Foreland, in need of a near Thurlestone. An E.S.E. gale was blow- tow into harbour. She was the Boy Eric, ing, with a rough sea, and the men, who were of Lowestoft, on voyage, with a crew of two, employed on the wreck of the Louis Shied to Ramsgate for repairs. A light S.W. wind which had stranded in December, 1939, could was blowing and the sea was smooth, but as not reach shore under oars. The rock is the naval authorities wished the boat to be about a mile from the shore, and is awash at got in quickly and no other suitable boat was half-tide. It was low water. As no other available, the motor life-boat Agnes Cross, suitable boat was available the motor life- on temporary duty at the station, was boat Samuel and Marie Parkhouse was launched at 4.50 P.M., and returned with the launched at 12.45. She reached the rock Boy Eric in tow at 6.40 P.M. - Rewards, at 1.45, rescued the men and, with their £2 13s. boat in tow, took them to Hope Cove. She returned to her station at 4.20 in the after- APRIL 24TH. - PENLEE, CORNWALL. At noon. An increase in the usual money awards 6.30 A.M. the coastguard reported a fishing boat on the standard scale was given to each in distress S.W. of Penzer Point, and the motor member of the crew. - Standard rewards to life-boat W. and S. was launched at 6.50 A.M. crew, £5 ; additional rewards to crew, £2 5s. ; An E.S.E. gale was blowing, with a rough sea. total rewards, £7 5s. The life-boat found the boat about three hundred yards from the shore and took her The following life-boats were launched, but in tow. As she passed Penzer Point the coast- no services were rendered for the reasons guard signalled to her that another boat was given : in difficulties off Treen. After towing the first boat to safety, the life-boat returned to APRIL 1ST. - PETERHEAD, ABER- the help of the second boat, but on the way DEENSHIRE. A British bombing aero- saw a third boat in a very dangerous position plane had crashed into the sea, but another near the Runnel Stone Rocks. She went to boat picked up two survivors and a dead her at once, found that her engine had broken body. - Rewards, £8 16s. 6d. down, and took her in tow. She then picked (See Peterhead, “ Services by Shore-boats,” up the second boat and towed them both into page 64.) Newlyn Harbour, where she arrived at 1 P.M. The three rescues had taken over APRIL 7TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABER- six hours. The fishing boats, which all DEENSHIRE. An aeroplane had been re- belonged to Newlyn, were the Margaret, ported down in the sea and later a red rocket Boy Don and Alsace Lorraine, and they were was seen, but on receiving a wireless signal manned by French refugees, twelve in that none of our aeroplanes was missing the number. An increase in the usual money life-boat returned. - Rewards, £9 13s. award on the standard scale was granted to each member of the crew and to each helper. APRIL 8TH. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNAR- - Standard rewards to crew and helpers, VONSHIRE. An aeroplane had come down £8 1s. 6d. ; additional rewards to crew and in the sea, but the airmen were picked up by helpers, £4 7s. ; total rewards, £12 8s. 6d. a motor boat from Colwyn Bay. - Rewards, £9 4s. APRIL 27TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ES- (See Colwyn Bay, “ Services by Shore- SEX. At 11.45 in the morning the coastguard boats,” page 65.) at Warden Point, Isle of Sheppey, reported that a barge was drifting towards the APRIL 10TH. - LYTHAM - ST. ANNES, targets of the Royal Air Force off Leysdown, LANCASHIRE. A Spitfire aeroplane had and at 11.55 the motor life-boat J. B. Proud- been reported down off Lytham, but nothing foot, on temporary duty at the station, was was found. - Rewards, £8 1s. 6d. launched. A strong wind from the E.N.E. was blowing, rising to the force of a gale at APRIL 11TH. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE. times, and a big sea was running. The life- The naval authorities had reported a Spitfire boat started out with her motors, but she aeroplane down in the sea off Seascale, but had to go through channels which had not nothing could be found. - Rewards, been swept of mines, and there she cut off her £11 12s. 6d. engines, for fear of acoustic mines, and went on under sail. The barge was the Emma, of APRIL 12TH. - NEWQUAY, CORNWALL. Rochester, in ballast, with only one man on The pilot of a British Spitfire aeroplane was board, and the life-boat reached her when reported to have baled out off Perranporth, she was already within 200 yards of the but he had been drowned and the life-boat targets. Her sprit was broken and her sails found nothing. - Rewards, £17 5s. were in ribands. The coxswain put some members of his own crew on board the APRIL 13TH. - BARROW, LANCASHIRE. Emma, took her in tow, got her out into the A British aeroplane had been reported down swept channels and then brought her to a in the sea, but her crew were picked up by a 38 SERVICES 1942 trawler about twenty miles N.W. of More- station. At 1.30 P.M., when the tide had cambe Bay lightship and the life-boat was turned, the life-boat went out again and recalled by wireless. - Rewards, £6 12s. brought her into harbour, returning to her station at 3.30 P.M. - Property salvage case. APRIL 14TH. - CROMARTY. A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, MAY 9TH. - DUNMORE EAST, CO. but it was learned later that the crew had WATERFORD. The S.S. Tartar, of Sligo, reached the shore unaided. - Rewards, £5. had stopped off Dunmore for examination. She had not dropped anchor, but drifted to APRIL 15TH. - HOYLAKE, CHESHIRE. the S.W. round the headland. She was kept It had been reported that an R.A.F. pilot under observation, and was seen to anchor was in a rubber dinghy in the Dee Estuary, and then to fly a distress signal. At 7.20 P.M. but nothing was found. - Rewards, £18 18s. the motor life-boat Annie Blanche Smith was launched. A fresh easterly wind was blow- APRIL 17TH. - LERWICK, SHETLANDS. ing, with a slight sea. The life-boat found Red flares had been reported south of Foula, the steamer about one hundred yards off but nothing could be found. - Rewards, shore and in danger of going aground if the £11 5s. wind shifted to the south. The life-boat stood by, and some of her crew boarded the APRIL 20TH. - FRASERBURGH, ABER- Tartar. The steamer was being brought DEENSHIRE. A Hudson aeroplane was from Dublin to Waterford by the head of reported to have crashed in the sea, but the Dublin Navigation School and seven nothing was found. - Rewards, £10 18s. students from the school, but owing to bad coal the steam pressure had dropped. The APRIL 23RD. - BOULMER, NORTH- anchor had been let go, but it jammed, and UMBERLAND. A small boat had been the steamer had drifted into danger before reported by an aeroplane to be in distress, it could be cleared. By feeding the furnaces but it was found to be a false alarm.- with wood from the superstructure and fit- Rewards £5 9s tings the crew of the life-boat raised steam and the steamer came into Dunmore Harbour APRIL 24TH. - COURTMACSHERRY, CO. under her own power, escorted by the life- CORK. An object had been reported in the boat. The life-boat returned to her station sea off Seven Heads, but nothing was found. at 9.30 P.M. - Rewards, £8 13s. Later it was learned that it was part of a barrage balloon. - Rewards, £11 15s. 6d. MAY 11TH. - SCARBOROUGH, YORK- SHIRE. Cobles were out fishing, and at APRIL 26TH. - BARMOUTH, MERION- 11.45 in the morning, as a strong easterly ETHSHIRE. The motor vessel Barendsz, wind was blowing, with a rough sea, the of Rotterdam, was flying a four-flag signal, life-boat coxswain decided that it was not but it was found to be her name in code and safe for them to come in unescorted, and she had only come in close for shelter in an launched the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II. easterly gale. Two days later smoke signals She found the cobles about a mile and a half were seen from the same vessel, but by the N.E. of Scarborough Castle. They were the time the life-boat reached her the gale had Evelyn and Margaret moderated and she did not then need help.- Rewards, £11 16s. and £11 15s.

APRIL 30TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLE- SEY. A British aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found.- Rewards, £3 18s. 6d.

MAY Launches 22. Lives rescued 17.

MAY 4TH.. - FRASERBURGH, ABER- DEENSHIRE. Early in the morning, information was received from the coast- guard that signals had been seen seven to eight miles N.N.W. of Kinnaird Head, and at 3.20 A.M. the motor life-boat John and Charles Kennedy was launched. The weather was overcast, with light airs and a moderate swell. The life-boat found the S.S. Dunvegan Head, of Leith, with a crew of fourteen. Her engine had broken down, she was drifting with the tide, and was a good target for enemy aeroplanes. At the request of her captain the life-boat towed her into Fraser- burgh Bay. There she anchored to wait for the tide, and the life-boat returned to her SERVICES 1942 39

The life-boat found the body of a sergeant launched. Some of the regular crew were of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and brought not available, but a crew of five, including it back, arriving at 5.15 P.M. - Rewards, the honorary secretary, Captain D. L. Low- £5 14s. 6d. den, took her out. She found that the Golden West’s engine had broken down, and MAY 17TH. - FERRYSIDE, CARMAR- passed a rope on board. She had soon THENSHIRE. At 8.30 A.M. the coxswain refloated the yawl and took her up river received information from the Pembrey into dock, and then returned to her station, coastguard that a vessel was in difficulties arriving at 3 P.M. - Rewards, £2 10s. on the Cefn Sidan Sands, and at 9.25 A.M. the motor life-boat William Maynard was The following life-boats were launched, but launched. A strong southerly wind was no services were rendered for the reasons blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat given : found the motor vessel Narwal, formerly of MAY 2ND. - WICKLOW. Flares had been Delfzijl, Holland, ashore near Pembrey aero- seen, but nothing was found. - Rewards, drome, with a crew of nine aboard. She was £13 7s. 6d. in ballast and bound from Hayle for Port Talbot. The life-boat stood by until it was MAY 3RD. - BLACKPOOL, AND FLEET- clear that the crew were in no danger, and WOOD, LANCASHIRE. A British aero- then returned to her station, arriving at plane had been reported down in the sea noon. In case the position of the vessel should six miles west of Blackpool. The Blackpool become dangerous on the nest tide the life- life-boat could not launch at once as the boat crew stood by from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M., tractor was engaged in an attempt to salve but their services were not needed as the another aeroplane at St. Anne’s, so the Fleet- vessel refloated and went on her way.- wood life-boat was launched instead, and Rewards, £10 10s. 6d. later the Blackpool boat also put out, but the pilot of the aeroplane, a Spitfire, had been MAY 25TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. rescued by a steamer. - Rewards, Blackpool, While the auxiliary yacht Betty was on her £5 3s. 6d. ; Fleetwood, £4 8s. 6d. way from Lynn to Gorleston her engine broke down. A strong S.S.W. wind was MAY 5TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, CAER- blowing, and as she was unable to beat round NARVONSHIRE. Signals at sea level to Cromer under sail she anchored off flashing SOS had been reported, but the Sheringham. Her crew of three got ashore, life-boat was recalled by wireless as she was and the owner telephoned to Cromer at not needed. - Rewards, £7 13s. 6d. 5.10 P.M. asking for a tow. At 5.45 the No. 1 motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched MAY 6TH. - BLACKPOOL, LANCA- and towed the Betty to Gorleston, arriving at SHIRE. A British aeroplane had crashed midnight. She left again at 5.30 A.M. next in the sea, but the pilot was rescued by a morning and arrived at Cromer at 9.30 A.M. trawler. - Rewards, £5 3s. 6d. - Property salvage case ; rewards, £2 6s. MAY 8TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. MAY 25TH. - GOURDON, KINCARDINE- Two men had reported to the life-boat cox- SHIRE. At 1.15 in the afternoon the swain that they had seen an aeroplane crash harbour master reported that the motor into the sea, but nothing was found.- fishing boat Silver Cloud, of Gourdon, return- Rewards, £4 10s. 6d. ing from the fishing ground, had been hit by a big sea and her engine had failed. A MAY 12TH. - DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. southerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea A small yacht which had left the Cumberland and heavy rain, and the Silver Cloud, which coast for the Isle of Man was overdue, but had a crew of three, started drifting towards got into Douglas without help. - Rewards, the shore to the south-east of the coastguard £9 1s. station, but, before she went ashore, her anchor held. At 1.30 the motor life-boat MAY 17TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. An Margaret Dawson was launched, rescued the aeroplane had come down in the sea, and a three men and arrived back at her station minesweeper which had seen the crash found at 2.20. Later in the day a fishing boat wreckage, but no survivors were found.- went out and brought in the Silver Cloud.- Rewards, £16 5s. 6d. Rewards, £10 9s. 6d. (See Sheringham, “ Services by Shore- boats,” page 65.) MAY 30TH. - BERWICK - ON - TWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND. At noon the coast- MAY 18TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, guard reported that the naval authorities had ESSEX. A British Spitfire aeroplane had asked for help for the motor fishing yawl crashed into the sea, but the pilot was picked Golden West, of Wick, which was on up by a trawler. - Rewards, £8 16s. Admiralty service, with a crew of three, and had gone ashore on Spittal Point. A light MAY 26TH. - TORBAY, DEVON. A boy westerly wind was blowing, with only a slight had fallen over the cliff at Berry Head and sea, and as the tide was then four hours’ was too badly injured to be hauled up, but flood it was decided not to send out the life- before the life-boat could reach the scene a boat until high tide, two hours later. At 2 P.M. passing tug had been signalled, had put in to the reserve motor life-boat Elizabeth Newton, shore and had taken the boy on board.- on temporary duty at the station, was Rewards, £5 18s. 40 SERVICES 1942

MAY 27TH. - BALTIMORE, CO. CORK. JUNE 10TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, An aeroplane was reported to have crashed, CAERNARVONSHIRE. An Anson aero- but nothing could be found. - Rewards, plane had crashed into the sea, but the crew £5 12s. were drowned before the life-boat and a motor launch could reach the spot.- MAY 27TH. - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE. An Rewards, £7 13s. 6d. aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, JUNE 12TH. - DUNMORE EAST, CO. £9 1s. WATERFORD. An aeroplane had been seen falling into the sea, but nothing was MAY 27TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, CAER- found. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d. NARVONSHIRE. A small pulling boat was in difficulties, but the two men aboard JUNE 14TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY. managed to get to land without help.- Two men had been reported in difficulties Rewards, £6 8s. on some rocks, but no one was found there and probably seals had been mistaken for JUNE men. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. Launches 17. Lives rescued Nil JUNE 17TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, JUNE 3RD. - BERWICK - ON - TWEED, ARGYLLSHIRE. A trawler ashore on the NORTHUMBERLAND. At 11.20 A.M. it Mull of Kintyre had been reported by coast- was reported by telephone that a small guards on the Irish coast, but it was found fishing boat was in distress to the south of that, she was a trawler which had been ashore Berwick pier, and the motor life-boat since January, and owing to the extra- Elizabeth Newton, on temporary duty at the ordinarily clear air she was seen that day station, was launched at 11.30 A.M. A from the Irish coast for the first time.- strong westerly wind was blowing, with a Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. moderate sea. The life-boat found the motor JUNE. 17TH. - ABERYSTWYTH, CAR- fishing boat Ruby, of Berwick-on-Tweed, DIGANSHIRE. An auxiliary smack had with her engine broken down. She had a been reported in distress, but she was towed crew of three. The life-boat towed her into into Aberdovey by a motor boat. - Rewards, harbour, and returned to her station at £16 l6s. 12.20 P.M. - Rewards, £1 17s. 6d. JUNE 20TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. A JUNE. 10TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. Spitfire aeroplane had crashed, but no airman At 11.30 P.M. the coastguard telephoned that was found, and the life-boat’s efforts to tow they had been watching a vessel since 6 P.M. in the aeroplane were unsuccessful. - She was under sail, but making little head- Rewards, £11 8s. 6d. way, and appeared to be flying a two-flag (See Sheringham, “ Services by Shore- signal. The wind was slight, from the N.N.E., boats,” page 67.) but the sea was rough. The motor life-boat K.B.M. was launched at 11.55 P.M., and found JUNE 20TH. - ARKLOW, CO. WICKLOW. the seine net fishing vessel Quest, of Cullen, Flares had been reported, probably from an with a crew of four, three miles N. from aeroplane, but nothing could be found.- Buckie. She had left Wick at 10 A.M., but Rewards, £14 0s. 6d. her engine had broken down. The life-boat towed her into harbour, arriving at 12.45 A.M. JUNE 2lST. - KILMORE, CO. WEX- - Rewards, £9 1s. FORD. A steamer, damaged by striking a rock or wreckage, had been beached, but The following life-boats were launched, but she did not need the help of the life-boat.- no services were rendered for the reasons Rewards, £31 12s. 6d. given : JUNE 26TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. A JUNE 2ND. - ARBROATH, ANGUS. A small fishing boat had drifted ashore, but Wellington bombing aeroplane had crashed her crew got off her without help. - Rewards, into the sea, but her crew were picked up by £10 7s. a patrol boat. - Rewards, £12 7s. 6d. JUNE 29TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. JUNE 3RD. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, ESSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down, but A Spitfire aeroplane had been seen to dive the life-boat could find nothing and later was into the sea, but nothing was found.- recalled by wireless. - Rewards, £11 5s. Rewards, £6 17s. 6d.

JUNE 4TH. - WALTON AND FRINTON, JULY ESSEX. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea and the life-boat and her Launches 17. Lives rescued 7. motor boarding boat searched, but they found nothing, and later were recalled by JULY 13TH. - COURTMACSHERRY wireless. - Rewards, £8 16s. HARBOUR, CO. CORK. At 5.30 A.M. the coastwatchers reported that a small boat was JUNE 6TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUFFOLK. in distress about five miles S.E. of Oyster- Signals of distress had been reported 10 miles haven, and the motor life-boat City of away, but the life-boat was recalled, as a Bradford 1, on temporary duty at the station, destroyer had picked up the crew of an was launched at 5.50 A.M. A moderate westerly aeroplane. - Rewards, £18 10s. wind was blowing and the sea was smooth, but SERVICES 1942 41 there was fog. After a long search the life-boat JULY 20TH. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE. In found the motor launch Shirken, of Oyster- the early morning the motor fishing boat haven. Only one man was on board and he Joan and Mary had gone out with a crew of was exhausted. Two other men had been on three. As by evening she had not returned board the launch, but they had put off in her and no news had been received of another dinghy to get help and been unable to return. boat which had gone out to look for her, the The life-boat took the man off, towed the motor life-boat The Cuttle was launched at launch to Oysterhaven, and returned to her 7.32 P.M. A light westerly wind was blowing, station, arriving at 1.35 P.M. - Rewards, with a slight swell. The life-boat found the £7 2s. Joan and Mary, which had had trouble with her engine, and towed her in, arriving at 10 P.M. - Rewards, £14 15s. JULY 14TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK. At 5.39 A.M. a message was received from the JULY 21ST. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE. At coastguard that an aeroplane had crashed into the sea three miles away. She was a 7.10 P.M. the life-boat coxswain was told by Lancaster bomber. At 5.52 came another the coastguard that the small outboard motor message asking the life-boat to launch, and fishing boat Ivy, with a crew of two, was the motor life-boat Royal Silver Jubilee, 1910- making signals of distress. A fresh W.S.W. 1935 was afloat at 6.15. Dr. E. W. Hicks, wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. the honorary secretary of the station, went The motor life-boat The Cuttle was launched with her. A freshening wind was blowing at 7.40 P.M. and found the Ivy two miles from the north, with a moderate sea. The N.E. of Filey Brigg. Her crew were ex- life-boat found the aeroplane standing on hausted. A life-boatman jumped into the her nose, with her tail and part of her port small boat and helped them into the life- wing blown away. One airman, almost boat. She took the Ivy in tow and returned pulseless, but still conscious and moaning to Filey, arriving at 8.45 P.M. - Rewards, £13 5s. with pain, was clinging to the underside of the port wing. He was lifted into the life- JULY 30TH. - CROMER, NORFOLK. At boat. There was no sign of any other member of the crew, so the coxswain hoisted himself 6.1 P.M. the flag officer in charge at Great on to the edge of the wing and walked along Yarmouth telephoned, through the Cromer it to the fuselage. Its top had been blown coastguard, asking that the life-boat should away and he climbed inside to search for the be sent to help a Walrus aeroplane which rest of the crew, who might still be aboard, had come down in the sea about six miles injured and helpless. At any moment the N.E. of Cromer, and the No. 1 motor life- aeroplane might have turned over, or sunk, boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 6.10 P.M. and the coxswain would have been trapped The sea was smooth and a light S.E. wind inside her. He searched but found no one, was blowing. The life-boat reached the aero- and the life-boat put back to Wells, where plane in half an hour, passed a rope to the she arrived at 7.30. The injured man was aeroplane, which had a crew of four, and landed and taken to hospital, but later be towed her to the life-boat slipway. Before died. The life-boat then returned to the she arrived the life-boat had had a wireless aeroplane and made a further search. She message saying that the aeroplane was to be found nothing except a rubber dinghy, about kept afloat to await an expert. When he a mile away. At 8.40 the aeroplane sank. arrived the life-boat put him on board her. An Air-Sea Rescue launch, with the help of She then cut away some drogue ropes which aeroplanes, began a wider search, and the were foul under water, and took off three of life-boat returned to her station, where she the airmen. The pilot and expert then got arrived at 9.15. Some of the bodies of the the aeroplane into the air again and the life- other six men of the bomber, all of whom boat was rehoused at 8.18 P.M. The three lost their lives, were recovered later. airmen returned, by lorry, to their station.- In recognition of his gallantry in going on Rewards, £10 9s. 6d. board the aeroplane, the Institution awarded JULY 30TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR- its thanks inscribed on vellum to COXSWAIN FOLK. At 1.47 A.M. a local resident tele- THEODOR T. L. NEILSEN. - Rewards, £8 10s. 3d. phoned that an aeroplane had come down in flames off Cley, and the motor life-boat Foresters Centenary was launched at 3.42 A.M. JULY 18TH. - WHITBY, YORKSIIIRE. The sea was smooth and a light W.S.W. wind During the morning the fishing fleet had was blowing. The life-boat found that it returned, as the weather was getting rough, was a German aeroplane and the airman with the exception of one coble, Freda, and had been picked up by a small boat. On her at 12.50 in the afternoon, by which time the way back the life-boat picked up the body wind was blowing strongly from the N.N.E., of a British airman, which had been in the with a very rough sea, the motor life-boat sea for some time. - Rewards, £26 0s. 6d. Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. She found the Freda three miles E.N.E. of Whitby, The following life-boats were launched, but with her crew of three pumping and baling no services were rendered for the reasons to keep her afloat. The life-boat kept on given : the weather side of the coble to protect her from the seas, and thus escorted the coble JULY 1ST. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE, got safely into harbour at 2 o’clock in the AND FRASERBURGH, ABERDEEN- afternoon. - Rewards, £4 19s. 6d. SHIRE. An aeroplane had been reported 42 SERVICES 1942 down in the sea, but the Buckie life-boat Point, Castletown, coastguard reported a reached the position to find that an R.A.F. vessel aground a quarter of a mile from rescue launch had picked up the body of Castletown breakwater. A strong southerly an airman. The Fraserburgh life-boat was wind of almost gale force was blowing, with recalled. - Rewards : Buckie, £4 10s. 6d. ; a heavy swell. At 4.15 A.M. the coastguard Fraserburgh, £8 15s. asked for the life-boat, and at 5.5 A.M. the motor life-boat Sir Heath Harrison was JULY 3RD. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE. launched. She found the S.S. Gorsefield, of An aeroplane had crashed into the sea, but Liverpool, with a crew of eleven, bound light her crew of seven, who had taken to their from Dublin to Silloth. She had been carried dinghy, were picked up by a fishing boat.- off her course by a strong ebb tide, and had Rewards, £5 10s. 6d. grounded on a submerged rock. The life- boat stood by until the Gorsefield got off on JULY 11TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. the flowing tide, and returned to her station DONEGAL. A ship’s boat was drifting, but at 7.10 A.M. - Rewards, £11 17s. 6d. no one was on board. - Rewards, £5 9s. 6d. AUGUST 10TH. - DUN LAOGHAIRE, CO. JULY 19TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. DUBLIN. Shortly after 3 P.M. a small An aeroplane had been reported down in yacht about three miles east of the harbour the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, was seen trying to beat into harbour against £9 10s. 6d. a westerly gale and a rough sea. She was kept in view by the life-boat coxswain, and JULY 21ST. - DONAGHADEE, CO. when he saw that she was not making head- DOWN. A canoe with two boys was missing way, but was being blown out to sea, he from Groomsport and the life-boat searched called out the crew, and at 4.10 P.M. the motor with the help of searchlights from shore life-boat Dunleary II was launched. She batteries, but found nothing. - Rewards, found the yacht Brunette of Dun Laoghaire, £8 18s. 6d. with two men and three children aboard. She had lost her rudder and damaged her JULY 23RD. - MARYPORT, CUMBER- mainsail, and she was then about two miles LAND. An aeroplane had been reported north-east of the Muglins Rock. The life- down in the sea, but nothing was found.- boat towed her in, arriving at 5.45 P.M.- Rewards, £15 3s. Rewards, £4 13s. 6d. AUGUST 11TH. - PORT ASKAIG, JULY 25TH. - BARMOUTH, MERION- ARGYLLSHIRE. At the request of the ETHSHIRE. A British aeroplane had been doctor on the Island of Colonsay the motor reported down in the sea, but the life-boat life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth was launched at found nothing. - Rewards, £5 14s. 6d. 11.45 A.M. in a strong westerly wind, and brought from Colonsay to Islay an expectant JULY 26TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK. A mother who was dangerously ill. The life- British aeroplane had been reported down boat returned to her station at 7 P.M. Her in the sea, but only a patch of oil was found. help saved the life of the patient, who was - Rewards, £20 18s. 9d. kept in hospital until her baby was born. A relative of the patient made a gift of money JULY 27TH. - MOELFRE, ANGLESEY. A minesweeper had gone ashore on the rocks to the life-boat crew. - Rewards, £4 17s. 6d. in Moelfre Bay, but her crew were rescued AUGUST 11TH. - FLEETWOOD, LANCA- by the coastguard life-saving apparatus.- SHIRE. At 11 P.M. the naval officer in Rewards, £5 16s. 6d. command asked for the life-boat to go out to a vessel aground on Pilling Sands. She was the trawler River Ythan, of Fleetwood, AUGUST loaded with fish and carrying a crew of Launches 22. Lives rescued 18. twelve. She had been attacked by German aeroplanes off the Faroe Islands. The motor AUGUST 5TH. - CLOVELLY, DEVON. life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched at At 4.15 A.M. the naval officer in command 11.20 P.M. A moderate W.N.W. wind was at Appledore said that the life-boat was blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat wanted four miles W.N.W. from Hartland found that the trawler had refloated, put Point, and the motor life-boat City of Not- one of her own men on board as pilot and tingham was launched at 4.50 A.M. A fresh escorted her into port, arriving at 12.50 A.M. northerly wind was blowing, with a moderate - Rewards, £12 10s. sea. On the way the life-boat saw flares and, reaching the position two hours after launch- AUGUST 11TH. - CLOGHER HEAD, CO. ing, found a rubber dinghy with three LOUTH. At 12.20 in the afternoon the German airmen aboard. Two others had Clogher coastwatching station reported, lost their lives when the aeroplane crashed. through the Civic Guard, that the sailing On her way back her engine failed and she boat Lalzi, of Port Oriel, was in difficulty set sail, but at 11 A.M. an R.A.F. rescue to the S.E. of Port Oriel. On board her were boat came up and towed the life-boat in, the Rev. Father MacCooey, the owner of the arriving at 11.50 A.M. - Rewards, £25 6s. 6d. boat and the honorary secretary of the Clogher Head life-boat station, and two AUGUST 8TH. - PORT ST. MARY, ISLE other men. The motor life-boat Mary Ann OF MAN. At about 3.40 A.M. the Scarlet Blunt was launched at 12.45. A westerly SERVICES 1942 43 gale was blowing with a heavy sea. When AUGUST 20TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLE- the life-boat came up with the boat she found SEY. At 3.27 P.M. the coastguard reported that her mast had been carried away in a that a British aeroplane had crashed, and squall, that the men were trying to row her the Belgian motor life-boat Ministre Anseele, in, but were unable to make any headway from the reserve fleet, on temporary duty at against a strong ebb tide, and that the boat the station, was launched at 3.40 P.M. A was drifting out to sea. The life-boat took strong S.W. wind was blowing, with a rough two of the men on board, the other remained sea. The life-boat found the wreckage of an in the Lalzi. The life-boat then took the aeroplane off the South Stack, and the Lalzi in tow, brought her safely into Port bodies of two airmen. She took them on Oriel, and returned to her station at 4.15 P.M. board, and arrived back at her station at - Rewards, £5 15s. 6.15 P.M. - Rewards, £2 10s.

AUGUST 15TH. - STROMNESS, ORK- AUGUST 3lST. - KILMORE, CO. WEX- NEYS. At 4.15 P.M. coastwatchers reported FORD. At 10 P.M. lamp signals were seen by telephone that the motor fishing boat from a position two miles E.S.E. of Small Excelsior, of Stromness, with a crew of three, Saltee Island, and the motor life-boat Ann was overdue, and had last been seen three Isabella Pyemont was launched at 11.15 P.M. miles off. The weather was thick, with very A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing, with a heavy rain, and a strong S.E. wind was rather rough sea. The life-boat found that blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life- the boat in distress was the fishing boat boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched at 4.30 P.M., Guillemot, of Kilmore Quay, with the life- and found the Excelsior off Yesnaby. Her boat coxswain and two other men on board. engine had failed. The life-boat towed her A lobster pot line had fouled her propeller in, arriving at 6.45 P.M. - Rewards, £4 4s. and the men could not get it clear, although one of them had been over the side twice in AUGUST 15TH. - FRASERBURGH, attempting to remove it. The Guillemot had ABERDEENSHIRE. At 6.37 A.M. a mes- no oars or sails and the life-boat towed her in, sage was received from the coastguard at arriving at 11.35 P.M. - Rewards, £18 1s. Kinnaird Head that a small motor boat was ashore three-quarters of a mile south of AUGUST 31ST. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, Inzie Head, and that another boat was CO. WEXFORD. At about midnight the standing by and attempting to tow her off. life-boat watchman saw a red flare, and on The boats were kept under observation, and making enquiries of incoming boats he found at 12.5 P.M. the motor life-boat John and that the motor fishing boat Onward, of Ross- Charles Kennedy was launched. The weather lare Harbour, which had been fishing at was fine, but foggy. The life-boat found Tuskar, had been disabled by the failure of that the boats were the Aksel and Arthur, her engine. The motor life-boat Mable both of the Norwegian navy. The boat which Marion Thompson was launched at 12.15 A.M., had been stranded was now afloat and being with the honorary secretary, Mr. W. J. B. towed by the other, but she was leaking Moncas, on board. A moderate S.W. wind badly and had a good deal of water in her was blowing, with a slight sea. The life-boat engine-room and hold. The life-boat helped found the Onward near Wexford Bar buoy. to tow her into harbour. There a fire engine She had repaired her engine and was coming pumped her dry, and she was put in dry in. The life-boat escorted her, and they dock. The life-boat returned to her station arrived at 1.15 A.M. - Rewards, partly paid at 1.30 P.M. - Property salvage case. permanent crew, £4 7s.

AUGUST 19TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX. The following life-boats were launched, but At 11.30 in the morning a message came from no services were rendered for the reasons the Fairlight coastguard that what he thought given : was a rubber dinghy had been dropped from an aeroplane flying from west to east, and AUGUST 5TH. - ROSSLARE HARBOUR, that he was trying to get into touch with CO. WEXFORD. A schooner had gone patrol boats. Half an hour later another aground, but her crew got her off and she message came asking that the life-boat should was able to go on her way. - Partly paid put out, and at 12.22 in the afternoon the permanent crew. Rewards, £2 5s. 6d. motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian Bishop was launched. There was a shortage of launchers AUGUST 6TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, and 25 soldiers from one of the shore batteries ESSEX. A British aeroplane had come down helped. The honorary secretary of the in the sea, but only patches of oil were found. station, Commander W. Highfield, O.B.E., - Rewards, £7 17s. 6d. R.N., was on board. A S.W. breeze was blowing, with a slight swell. The life-boat AUGUST 7TH. - CLOUGHEY, AND NEW- went to the position which had been given CASTLE, CO. DOWN. An upturned boat her, 1 1/4 miles to the S.S.W. from Hastings, had been reported fifteen miles south-east and when she had travelled just over a mile of Tara, but nothing was found. - Rewards : picked up a petrol tank. The life-boat Cloughey, £14 14s. ; Newcastle, £22 11s. then made a sweep round, saw another object to the westward, found that it was a AUGUST 7TH. - THE HUMBER, YORK- paravane, picked it up and returned to her SHIRE. At 5.20 in the morning the life- station, arriving at 1.15 in the afternoon.- boat watchman saw a large bombing aero- Rewards, £13 13s. plane come down on fire near the gate vessel. 44 SERVICES 1942

The sea was ablaze with burning petrol. The reported that a parachute had been seen to coxswain rang up the Royal Naval Shore drop twelve miles to the S.W., and at 10.23 Signal Station and was told that two steel the motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian Bishop boats had been ordered out to search for the was launched. Commander W. Highfield, aeroplane’s crew. Permission to launch the O.B.E., R.N., honorary secretary of the life-boat was refused until after the flames station, went with her. A moderate S.W. had begun to die down, as she was a wooden wind was blowing, with a slight sea. An vessel. At 5.40 the life-boat put out, but aeroplane was also searching, and the life- found nothing except wreckage. The whole boat went to a spot where she had dropped crew of the bomber, believed to be nine, had a smoke bomb. She found nothing there or lost their lives, and four bodies were re- at the position first given by the coastguard, covered by one of the patrol vessels. The but on her way back to the station she coxswain of the station later had a talk with picked up a German parachute and the petrol the naval officer in charge, and the naval tank of a British aeroplane. A motor boat officer agreed for the future to leave it had also put out, manned by two men, but entirely to the coxswain to decide whether she found nothing. The life-boat returned or not it was advisable to launch the life- to her station at 2.5 in the afternoon.- boat. - Paid permanent crew. Rewards, £15 4s. 6d.

AUGUST 9TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, SEPTEMBER 2ND. - DUN LAOGHAIRE, CAERNARVONSHIRE. An R.A.F. Anson CO. DUBLIN. At 6.15 P.M. the assistant trainer aeroplane had come down off Llan- mechanic reported that a rowing boat had dwrog, but the life-boat could find nothing.- been in difficulties about two miles off the Rewards, £10 4s. 6d. east pier at 5.30 P.M., and although she was now getting closer she would not make the AUGUST 12TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- harbour against the S.W. wind and ebbing FOLK. An aeroplane had been reported tide. At 7.10 P.M. the motor life-boat down in the sea, but nothing was found.- Dunleary II was launched and towed the Rewards, £19 12s. 6d. rowing boat into harbour at 8 P.M. - Rewards, £9 13s. AUGUST 15TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK. An aeroplane had reported what appeared SEPTEMBER 3RD. - PETERHEAD, ABER- to be an upturned dinghy, but nothing was DEENSHIRE. At about 6 A.M. the naval found. - Rewards, £12 3s. barge 390 was leaving harbour when she AUGUST 20TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, stranded across the life-boat slipway. A CAERNARVONSHIRE. An aeroplane had strong southerly wind was blowing and the been reported down in the sea over thirty sea was rough. As the position of the miles away, but the life-boat was recalled by barge made it impossible to launch the motor wireless before reaching the position.- life-boat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow, the Rewards, £11 8s. life-boatmen used the life-boat’s life-saving apparatus from the shore, and by this means AUGUST 30TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, rescued the barge’s crew of seventeen.- CAERNARVONSHIRE. A motor boat had Rewards, £3 15s. broken down, but it was learned later that her crew had landed in their small boat, and SEPTEMBER 3RD. - NEWHAVEN, SUS- the life-boat was recalled by wireless- SEX. At 3 P.M. the naval authorities asked Rewards, £5 17s. 6d. for the life-boat to be launched as lifting craft No. 17 had broken loose from moorings at the mouth of the harbour, where she was SEPTEMBER being used on salvage work. The sea was rough, with a strong S.W. wind. The motor Launches 37. Lives rescued 14. life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott was SEPTEMBER 1ST. - DUNMORE EAST, CO. launched at 3.15 P.M. and got a rope from the WATERFORD. During the morning news lifting craft to a tug, which towed her into was received by wireless from the S.S. Irish harbour, with the life-boat standing by. The Willow that she had on board forty-seven life-boat returned to her station at 5 P.M.- survivors from the S.S. Empire Breeze, which Rewards, £5 19s. had been torpedoed in mid-Atlantic on the 22nd August, and that she proposed to land SEPTEMBER 5TH. - YOUGHAL, CO. them at Dunmore East. At 1.30 P.M. the CORK. The honorary secretary heard a motor life-boat Annie Blanche Smith was shout for help from a man swimming a long launched, with doctors and ambulance men way from the shore in heavy breakers, and on board. A light S.W. wind was blowing the motor life-boat Laurana Sarah Blunt and the sea was smooth. In two trips the was launched at 1.27 P.M. When she reached life-boat landed the forty-seven men, and the swimmer, one of the life-boatmen, George after being given food they left for Dublin. Kay, dived overboard and held the man up The life-boat returned to her station at until both were taken into the life-boat. 3.45 P.M. The owners of the Empire Breeze Artificial respiration was applied to the made a donation to the Institution.- rescued man until he was landed and handed Rewards, £4 7s. 6d. over to the care of a doctor, but he died later. A letter of appreciation and an additional SEPTEMBER 2ND. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX. monetary reward were sent by the Institution At 9.58 in the morning the coast-guard to George Kay. - Rewards, £6 7s. SERVICES 1942 45

SEPTEMBER 6TH. - BERWICK - ON - six miles N.E. of Ramsey. She had had TWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 11.41 trouble with her engine. The life-boat in the morning the coastguard telephoned escorted her home, arriving at 7.15 P.M.- that a small pulling boat was in difficulties Rewards, £12 8s. 2 1/2 miles S.E. from Berwick Pier, and the motor life-boat J. and W. was launched at SEPTEMBER 15TH. - RHYL, FLINT- 11.45. A strong squally wind from the SHIRE. During the afternoon it was learned W.N.W. was blowing, with a moderate sea. from the coastguard that the local fishing The life-boat found that the boat belonged smack Golden Arrow, which had gone out to No. 310 coastal battery, at Spittal. She the previous evening with a crew of two, had six men on board, and had been laying had not been seen since, and after un- targets for gunnery practice. The life-boat successful enquiries had been made the motor took the six men on board, and with their life-boat The Gordon Warren was launched small boat in tow, returned to Berwick, where at 7.10 P.M. A strong W.N.W. wind was she arrived at one in the afternoon.- blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat Rewards, £4 4s. found the Golden Arrow five miles W.N.W. of Rhyl. She had lost her propeller, and her SEPTEMBER 10TH. - GIRVAN, AYR- sails had been carried away. The life-boat SHIRE, AND PORT PATRICK, WIG- rescued the two men on board her and TOWNSHIRE. At 1.10 in the afternoon returned to her station, arriving at 8.25 P.M. the coastguard reported to the Girvan life- - Rewards, £10 19s. boat station that a naval pinnace was flying a distress signal off Ballantrae. The cox- SEPTEMBER 15TH. - BUCKIE, BANFF- swain and second-coxswain were out fishing, SHIRE. At 8.53 at night the coastguard and another member of the crew took charge. reported that the R.A.F. high speed launch There was some delay in launching the life- 170 was ashore on the rocks under Buckie boat as the motor-mechanic was engaged coastguard station. A strong squally W.N.W. five miles away, and at 2.5 the Port Patrick wind was blowing, with a heavy sea. The station was asked to launch. The Port tide was one hour from low water, and the Patrick motor life-boat Jeanie Speirs got night was dark but clear. The motor life- away at 2.20 P.M. and the Girvan motor life- boat K.B.M. was launched at 9.30 P.M. and boat Lily Glen - Glasgow at 2.45 P.M. A reached the launch ten minutes later. The moderate S.W. wind was blowing, with a life-boatmen could see her by the light of moderate sea. The Girvan life-boat found the coastguard’s Aldis lamp from the shore, the pinnace four miles N. by E. of Ballantrae with the seas breaking over her stern and her at 4.30 in the afternoon. She had three men crew crowded into the bow. The coastguard on board, and her engine had broken down. life-saving apparatus was on the shore, and The life-boat took her in tow and reached was attempting to take off the crew. It had Girvan again at 6.45 P.M. Meanwhile the got a line aboard the launch, so the life-boat Port Patrick life-boat had been recalled by held off. The apparatus rescued one man wireless and reached her station at 4 P.M.- by hauling him through the heavy seas and Rewards : Girvan, £9 1s. ; Port Patrick, over sharp rocks, at great risk to himself, £3 15s. and the rest of the crew then called for the life-boat to come to their help. The launch SEPTEMBER 12TH. - SENNEN COVE, was now well up on the rocks, and pounding CORNWALL. At 10.3 P.M. the coastguard heavily as each sea came over her. The life- reported that an aeroplane had crashed about boat made for her stern, but wind, sea and four miles N.W. of Cape Cornwall, and the tide carried her away. She made a second motor life-boat The Newbons was launched at attempt to go alongside, but, as she was 10.45 P.M. The sea was calm, with a light getting near the launch, a heavy sea struck E.N.E. wind. All the life-boat found was her and lifted her towards the rocks. As it burning oil and pieces of the aeroplane, and receded she crashed heavily on them and she returned to Sennen Cove at 12.45 A.M.- one of her crew was thrown overboard by Rewards, £13 4s. the shock. The coxswain went full speed astern and picked him up. The man was SEPTEMBER 14TH. - MOELFRE, ANGLE- little the worse, but a line which the life- SEY. During the afternoon a man and a saving apparatus had fired got round the woman in a rowing boat from Benllech were life-boat’s propeller and the engine stopped. rarried out to sea by the tide and a strong It was started again and the line was snapped. S.W. wind, and the motor life-boat G.W. was The coxswain then took the life-boat to launched at 3.30 P.M. She picked up the windward of the launch, and this time he boat about three miles N.E. of Moelfre Island anchored and dropped down towards her on and towed her in, arriving at 4.40 P.M. A his cable. The life-boat again struck heavily letter of thanks was received from the on the rocks, and the coxswain took her out rescued. - Rewards, £4 13s. into deeper water. He transferred the cable to the stern, and again dropped down on it, SEPTEMBER 14TH. - RAMSEY, ISLE OF this time bow first, and came near enough to MAN. During the afternoon the local motor the launch to throw his grappling iron to her. fishing boat Caribou was reported to be The life-boat was now right over the rocks overdue, and at 4.30 P.M. the motor life-boat and as each wave receded she crashed on Lady Harrison was launched. A fresh them, but, in spite of the risk of smashing squally S.W. wind was blowing, with a her up, the coxswain gradually worked her moderate sea. The life-boat found the Caribou close to the launch, and the nine waiting men 46 SERVICES 1942 jumped aboard. Then, hauling on his cable which came down without ceasing, and working his engine, the coxswain brought the life-boat off the rocks again. The cox- and in the darkness and rain the cox- swain was standing in water, and he knew swain could see nothing. He had no that her bottom was holed, but she was still clear information about the position seaworthy, and came safely back to harbour of the wreck. All that he knew was with the rescued men at 10.38. It was then found that her bottom had been badly that she was on the rocks inside smashed. The whole boat was flooded except Duncansby Head, fifteen miles away, for the engine-room and petrol compartments, and he made for the Head, steering by and she was kept afloat only by her air cases. compass. When, by the estimated It was a service carried out with great skill and courage, and the Institution awarded speed of his boat, he thought that he its thanks on vellum to COXSWAIN FRANCIS must be off the Head, he sent out a MAIR. It also awarded £1 to the coxswain wireless message asking that the light- and each member of the crew, in addition to house’s light might be turned on. The the ordinary award on the standard scale of £1 5s. - Rewards on the standard scale, answer came back that the light had £10 6s. ; additional rewards to crew, £8 ; been on since one in the morning, and total rewards, £18 6s. that the wreck was on the Ness at Duncansby. The lifeboat’s crew could SEPTEMBER 19TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. At 6.40 in the evening the Tara see nothing of the light until at last, coastguard reported a steamer on the Long at 5.45, a faint glimmer appeared Rock, at South Rock, and the motor life- through the rain, and they realised boat Herbert John was launched at 7.8 P.M. that all the time they had been right The coxswain was asked to find out if the steamer wanted a tug, and if there was any alongside the lighthouse. With that possibility of refloating her. An E.S.E. glimmer to guide her the life-boat made breeze was blowing, with a moderately rough for the Ness and reached it as the first sea and a heavy swell. At 7.35 the life-boat streak of daylight appeared. It was found the steamer Moelfre Rose, of Liver- pool, an 800-ton collier, bound in ballast from just after six in the morning. The Dublin to the Clyde. She then returned to life-boatmen could then just make out her station, and her coxswain reported that two vessels ashore, a motor barge right the collier was in a precarious position. Her up on the Ness, and a tug astern of her. after part was on the rocks, but her bows were off it for about 15 feet, and he thought As the life-boat drew closer they could there was a risk that she might break her see a large group of men on the barge. back when the tide left her. He asked that The sea was very heavy, and the cox- helpers should stand by during the night, in swain was uncertain of the depth of case the collier’s crew wanted to be taken off, and then returned to stand by her until next the water, or the condition of the sea tide. At high water in the morning the bottom, but, without hesitation, he master of the Moelfre Rose, advised by the took the life-boat straight in to the life-boat coxswain, was able to get her off barge. Handling her very boldly and the rock. Although she was damaged and making water he decided to go on his way. skilfully he brought her alongside. The collier was surrounded by rocks, but the Ropes were thrown ; the life-boat was life-boat piloted her out of danger, and after made fast ; and the 27 men waiting escorting her for some miles, returned to her on the barge jumped on board her. station, arriving at 8.30 in the morning.- Rewards, £24 3s. Four men had already got ashore on a raft, but there were still another four on the tug. Again by bold seaman- BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE ship, the coxswain came alongside the AT WICK tug, and the four men jumped into SEPTEMBER 21ST. - WICK, CAITH- the life-boat. The 31 rescued men NESS-SHIRE. At 2.25 in the were all very cold and exhausted, but morning a message came from the the life-boatmen revived them with coastguard that a vessel was ashore rum, and the life-boat made for Wick, on the rocks inside Duncansby Head where she arrived just after nine in the and in need of immediate help, and morning. She had then been out for at five minutes past three the motor six hours. life-boat City of Edinburgh was It was a brave and skilful rescue, launched. It was dead low water. and the Institution awarded its bronze A north-easterly gale was blowing, medal for gallantry, with a copy of the with a very high sea and a dangerous vote inscribed on vellum, to COX- cross swell. There was torrential rain SWAIN NEIL STEWART, Junior ; its SERVICES 1942 47 thanks on vellum to the motor The following life-boats were launched, but mechanic, WILLIAM J. MOWATT, and no services were rendered for the reasons given : a reward of £1, in addition to the ordinary reward on the standard scale SEPTEMBER 3RD. - PEEL, ISLE OF MAN. of £1 17s. 6d., to each man. The A fishing boat had been disabled by nets fouling her propeller, but another fishing boat Institution also sent a lcttcr of thanks towed her into harbour. - Rewards, £8 7s. 6d. to Mr. John S. Duncan, the honorary secretary of the station. Standard SEPTEMBER 5TH. - TOBERMORY, rewards, £11 14s. ; additional rewards ARGYLLSHIRE. An aeroplane had beenWEXFORD. Rockets had been reported, to crew, £7 ; total rewards, £18 14s. but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £21 5s.

SEPTEMBER 23RD. - APPLEDORE, SEPTEMBER 11TH. - CLACTON - ON - SEA, DEVON. The French life-boat Jean Charcot, ESSEX. A Wellington aeroplane had been now in the service of the Institution, was on reported down in the sea, but nothing was passage from Padstow to Milford Haven, but found. - Rewards, £9 18s. as a strong westerly wind was blowing, with a rough sea, the life-boat was unable to make SEPTEMBER 14TH. - TROON, AYRSHIRE. Milford that day, and her coxswain decided Red flares had been reported, but nothing to put into Appledore for the night. She could be found. - Rewards, £9 1s. signalled Appledore, and as very heavy seas were breaking on the bar the Appledore motor SEPTEMBER 15TH. - ILFRACOMBE, life-boat Violet Armstrong went out at 2 P.M., DEVON. A small, unknown vessel had been met the Jean Charcot and escorted her over reported derelict or drifting, but nothing the bar, returning to her station at 4 PM- could be found. - Rewards, £8 8s. 6d. Rewards £5 4s. SEPTEMBER 17TH. - ARKLOW, CO. SEPTEMBER 29TH. - BALTIMORE, CO. WICKLOW. Red lights had been reported, CORK. At 8.30 P.M. the owner of the but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £10. Skibbereen motor fishing boat Safe Return reported that his boat, with a crew of three, SEPTEMBER 21ST. APPLEDORE, was five hours overdue, and the motor life- DEVON. An aeroplane was reported to boat Shamrock was launched at 9.5 P.M. A have crashed eight miles north of Hartland N.E. wind was blowing, with a rough sea, and Point, and at four in the afternoon the motor the night was dark, with rain. The life-boat life-boat Violet Armstrong was launched. A found the fishing boat six miles S.W. of squally N.W. by W. wind was blowing, with Baltimore harbour. Her engine had failed, a rough sea, and visibility was poor. The and with an auxiliary sail she was trying to life-boat searched, but found nothing, and at make port against a head wind. The life-boat 5.25 she was recalled by wireless by the naval towed her in, arriving at 11.15 P.M.- officer in charge. As darkness would soon Rewards, £11 4s. come, and the weather was bad, the coxswain decided to shelter in Lundy Roads for the night. It was not possible for the crew to SEPTEMBER 30TH. - WHITEHILLS, land, and they remained on board the life- BANFFSHIRE. At 2.35 P.M. the coastguard boat, without food. The life-boat did not reported that a small motor cargo vessel one get back to her station until four in the mile N. by E. of Sandend had stopped and afternoon of the following day, 24 hours after was firing coloured rockets. A light southerly setting out. An increase in the usual money wind was blowing, with a moderate sea and reward on the standard scale was made to heavy rain. The motor life-boat Civil Service No. 4 was launched at 2.55 P.M. and two miles north of Cullen Head she found the motor vessel Benguela, of London. Her engine had broken down, but she had made temporary repairs and was able to go very slowly. The life-boat escorted her several miles on her way to Buckie, and then returned to Whitehills, arriving at 6.10 P.M. - Rewards, £4 15s.

SEPTEMBER 30TH. - MARGATE KENT. At 5.35 P.M. information was received from the naval authorities that a fishing boat was in distress three miles west of Margate pier, and the motor life-boat The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was launched at 5.58 P.M. A slight S.S.W. wind was blowing and the sea was calm. The life-boat found the Providence, of Margate, with her engine broken down, and towed her into harbour, arriving at 6.50 P.M. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d. 48 SERVICES 1942

each member of the crew. - Standard rewards boat took them on board and her crew tried to crew and helpers, £17 4s. ; additional to revive them, but without success. The rewards to crew, £7 ; total rewards, £24 4s. life-boat also picked up a rubber dinghy dropped from the Lysander. At 5 P.M. the SEPTEMBER 22ND. - WALTON AND life-boat returned to Sennen Cove, but had FRINTON, ESSEX. Naval motor boats to anchor off and wait for the tide. She came had been reported in need of help, but with into harbour at 6.18 P.M., when the two bodies the help of a tug, and escorted by a motor were landed by a small boat. A letter was launch, they reached Harwich. - Rewards, received from the resident naval officer at £4 3s. Penzance thanking the crew. Information of the aeroplane’s crash had SEPTEMBER 24TH. - ILFRACOMBE, been received at St. Ives at 2.12 P.M., and the DEVON. An aeroplane had been reported motor life-boat Caroline Oates Aver and down in the sea, but nothing was found.- William Maine had been launched at Rewards, £21 7s. 6d. 2.50 P.M., but on reaching Pendeen she was recalled, and arrived back at her station at SEPTEMBER 25TH. - BLYTH, NORTH- 5.40 P.M. - Rewards : Sennen Cove, £17 19s. ; UMBERLAND. A barge had broken away St. Ives, £18 15s. 6d. from a tug, but the life-boat found that there was no one on board her. - Rewards, £9 13s. OCTOBER 12TH. - NEWQUAY, CORN- WALL. At 12.39 in the afternoon the coast- SEPTEMBER 26TH. - SKEGNESS, LIN- guard reported that an aeroplane had come COLNSHIRE. An aeroplane had dropped down in the sea 3 1/2 miles S.W. of Towan Head, into the sea in flames, but it was learned later and the motor life-boat Richard Silver Oliver that the airmen had been rescued and the was launched at one o’clock. A light S.W. life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, £6 17s. wind was blowing, with a slight ground swell. Mr. E. H. Trembath, the honorary secretary SEPTEMBER 26TH. - ST. IVES, CORN- of the station, went with her as signalman, WALL. An aeroplane had been reported and by morse lamp kept in touch with a down in the sea, but nothing was found.- Lysander aeroplane which was circling over Rewards, £14 2s. the spot where the aeroplane had come down. In 25 minutes the life-boat was on the spot, SEPTEMBER 27TH. - BARMOUTH, MER- and found six airmen in their dinghy. She IONETHSHIRE. An American aeroplane rescued them and brought them ashore at had come down in the sea, but the pilot 1.52 P.M. - Rewards, £23 6s. 6d. swam ashore. - Rewards, £10 1s. 6d. OCTOBER 17TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR- FOLK. At 4 P.M. the flag officer in charge OCTOBER at Great Yarmouth asked that the life-boat should take out a doctor to H.M. Trawler 677, Launches 32. Lives rescued 31. which was two miles N.E. of Sheringham. A moderate W.S.W. breeze was blowing, with OCTOBER 8TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. a slight swell. The motor life-boat Foresters DOWN. At 12.30 P.M. the Tara coastguard Centenary was ready for launching within reported that the motor boat Dawn, of fifteen minutes, but no doctor was available Glasgow, engaged on salvage work, was and, after waiting another fifteen minutes, showing signals of distress at the entrance the life-boat left without him. She found that to Strangford Lough. A strong westerly the master of the trawler insisted on the breeze was blowing, with squalls and heavy presence of a doctor before allowing the sick showers, and the sea was rough. At man to be moved, and returned to Shering- 12.50 P.M. the motor life-boat Herbert John ham. A doctor was now ready. He was put was launched and found the boat with her on board the life-boat by a fishing boat. At engine broken down. She had no sails or 6.15 P.M. the life-boat returned ashore, bringing oars, and the two men on board her were the sick man, and he was sent to Cromer helpless. The life-boat towed her to Porta- Hospital by ambulance. - Rewards, £24 11s. ferry Quay, and returned to her station at 4.45 P.M. - Rewards, £10 13s. OCTOBER 21ST. - CLOUGHEY, CO. DOWN. At 6.50 A.M. the Tara coastguard OCTOBER 8TH. - SENNEN COVE, AND reported a vessel on the rocks at the old ST. IVES, CORNWALL. At 2.23 P.M. lighthouse on South Rock, and the motor information was received at Sennen Cove life-boat Herbert John was launched at from the coastguard that an aeroplane was 7.30 A.M. A moderate westerly breeze was down in the sea two hundred yards off blowing, with a smooth sea. The life-boat Pendeen Lighthouse, and that two men from found H.M. Minesweeper Wedgeport getting her were drifting north-east. A strong clear of the rocks on the rising tide. Her squally N.W. wind was blowing, with a rough captain said that he was off his course, so the sea, and it had been decided to call out the life-boat coxswain went aboard the mine- life-boat instead of the R.A.F. rescue sweeper, piloted her to South Rock Light- launches. The Sennen Cove motor life-boat ship and put her on her course. She had sus- The Newbons was launched at 2.34 P.M. and tained some damage and was making water, was met by a Lysander aeroplane, which but her captain decided to go on his way, guided her to where two men in “ Mae West ” and the life-boat returned to her station, jackets were floating unconscious. The life- arriving at 9.5 A.M. - Rewards, £10 19s. SERVICES 1942 49

OCTOBER 21ST. - GREAT YARMOUTH away from it, and had allowed the wreck to AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 9.51 take the bottom there. As soon as the life- in the evening the coastguard reported an boat left the slipway, her engine had to be aeroplane down in Yarmouth Roads to the put full speed astern to check her way and east of Nelson’s Column. The aeroplane was to prevent her from running into them. The a bomber which, by mistake, had been shot coxswain decided to go first to the vessel down by our own anti-aircraft fire. The which was sending out the SOS as he motor life-boat Louise Stephens was launched thought that the other two would be in no at ten past ten. A light westerly wind was immediate danger. A southerly gale was blowing, with a moderate sea, and there was blowing, with a rough sea, and the night mist and rain. The life-boat searched until was dark, with mist. He searched the edge 11.35, but though she found some of the of the sands, to the east of the pier, and at equipment of the aeroplane, and picked it up, about 8.25 found the converted yacht she found no sign of the crew, and she was Thoma II, in the service of the Port of recalled by a wireless message from the naval London Authority. She was aground a base. She was back at her station by 12.30 quarter of a mile west of the West Shoebury next morning. - Rewards, £20 7s. Buoy and about one and a half miles east of the pier. She was lying broadside on to the OCTOBER 22ND. - BARROW, LANCA- seas, which were breaking aboard her, and SHIRE. At 12.50 P.M. the naval officer in she was rolling heavily. charge at Barrow reported a boat in distress The tide was low, and there was not enough off Ravenglass harbour, and the motor life- water for the life-boat to go under the lee boat N.T. was launched at 1 P.M. A fresh of the wreck, so the coxswain anchored to S.W. wind was blowing, with a heavy swell. seaward and dropped down towards her When five miles N.N.E. of the Selker buoy on his cable. When she was about thirty the life-boat found the motor fishing boat feet away, the life-boat grounded on a Meta, of Ravenglass, with a crew of two. sand bank herself. Like the yacht she was Her engine had broken down. The life-boat broadside on to the seas and began to roll towed her to Barrow, arriving at 10.15 P.M. heavily, with the seas breaking over her all - Rewards, £23 7s. 6d. the time. In spite of this her crew threw the heaving cane aboard the yacht, with a line OCTOBER 23RD. - BUCKIE, BANFF- attached, rigged the breeches buoy, and SHIRE. At 11.30 A.M. the coastguard hauled the crew of the yacht through the reported a vessel five or six miles N.E. by N. surf into the life-boat. There were eight of of Buckie, burning what appeared to be them and their rescue took about half an distress signals, and the motor life-boat hour. There was nothing to do then, but to K.B.M. was launched at 11.55 A.M. A stiff wait for the tide to rise. When it did the W. by N. breeze was blowing, with a choppy life-boat refloated and arrived back at sea. In three-quarters of an hour the life- Southend pier, where she landed the rescued boat found the ex-Danish fishing boat Vester- men about 10.15 that night. land, with a crew of four. She was bound for A quarter of an hour later she cast off Buckie from the fishing grounds, had broken again and went to the help of the tug and down and, before the life-boat arrived, had the fire-float which were on the sands a been taken in tow by H.M. Drifter Archi- mile east of the pier. She reached them medes. The life-boat escorted them to Buckie in a few minutes and found that another tug harbour, arriving at 1.40 P.M. - Rewards, was helping the tug, which had lost her £7 18s. propeller, so the coxswain went to the help of the fire-float. She was lying on the sands OCTOBER 25TH. - FENIT, CO. KERRY. in about a fathom of water. He ran out a At 5 P.M. the Kerryhead look-out reported spare anchor, with a rope cable attached to it, that a raft was floating in Tralee Bay, about passed the cable to the fire-float, and put two miles south of the head, and the motor aboard her three of his own crew. They put life-boat City of Bradford I, on temporary the cable round a small hand capstan and, duty at the station, was launched at 5.30 P.M. with the fire-float’s engine working, hauled Mr. Timothy F. Barrett, the honorary secre- her off the sands. The fire-float then returned tary, went out with her. A moderate S.W. to her tender under her own power, with the wind was blowing, with a heavy swell. At life-boat standing by. The life-boat got back 7.20 P.M. the life-boat found the raft, but to her station again at 1.30 in the morning. there was no one on board. The life-boat Both the launch and the rescue of the crew brought it back to Fenit, arriving at of the yacht were skilfully carried out in face 10.30 P.M. - Rewards, £13 14s. 6d. of considerable difficulty, and the Institution made the following awards : OCTOBER 26TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, To COXSWAIN SIDNEY PAGE, the thanks of ESSEX. At 7.45 in the evening the naval the Institution inscribed on vellum ; control asked the life-boat coxswain to To the coxswain and each member of the assemble his crew, as a vessel, somewhere in crew a reward of 30s. in addition to the the east anchorage, was sending out a wireless ordinary rewards on the standard scale of SOS, and a tug and a fire-float had gone £1 17s. 6d. for each of the services, making ashore east of the pier. The motor life-boat a total reward to each man of £5 5s. ; J. B. Proudfoot was launched at 8.5 with Standard rewards for the first service, some difficulty, for two wreck-lifting lighters, £16 1s.; standard rewards for the second which were bringing in a wreck, had moored service, £17 18s. 6d. ; additional rewards, across the end of the slipway only sixty feet £13 10s. ; total rewards, £47 9s. 6d. 50 SERVICES 1942

OCTOBER 29TH. - EYEMOUTH, BER- guard and the Director General of Aircraft WICKSHIRE. During the afternoon three Safety. - Rewards, £24 16s. 6d. local fishing boats in Eyemouth Bay were (See Sheringham, “ Services by Shore- seen making for harbour in a strong N.E. boats,” page 70.) gale, with a very heavy sea, and the motor life-boat Frank and William Oates was OCTOBER 3lST. - ARRANMORE, CO. launched at 3.45 P.M. She stood by the boats, DONEGAL. While a small fishing boat was and they all got in safely but at great risk. returning from the fishing grounds her engine She returned to her station at 5 P.M.- broke down, and the motor life-boat K.T.J.S. Rewards, £12 4s. was launched at 2.30 PM. to help her. A northerly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The life-boat found the fishing boat off OCTOBER 29TH - 30TH. - PORT ST. MARY, Arranmore and got her safely to harbour at ISLE OF MAN. The laden Norwegian 5.30 P.M. - Rewards, £13 14s. tanker Spenanger, of 7,248 tons, bound from Milford to the Clyde with an escort, got off her course and ran on the Carrick Rock, in The following life-boats were launched, but Port St. Mary Bay. The weather was hazy, no services were rendered for the reasons with a light E.N.E. wind and a slight sea. given : The coastguard reported the vessel aground OCTOBER 5TH. - THURSO, CAITHNESS- at 2.40 A.M. and twenty-five minutes later the motor life-boat Sir Heath Harrison put SHIRE. Red rockets had been reported, but out. The master of the tanker asked her to nothing was found, and later it was learned return ashore and ask for immediate help that a bombing aeroplane had come down on from the naval authorities. This the life-boat the land. - Rewards, £14 4s. 6d. did. She then returned to the Spenanger, and stood by until 7 A.M., when she returned OCTOBER 5TH. - ST. ABBS, BERWICK- to her station. The tanker discharged part SHIRE, AND DUNBAR, EAST LOTHIAN. of her cargo of crude oil, but a tug, which An R.A.F. aeroplane had crashed several arrived at noon, failed to get her off. At two miles inland. One of the crew was killed, but in the morning of the 30th the life-boat again the other had baled out. He was carried to put out and took a naval officer to the the coast and came down in the sea, but his Spenanger, as her stern had shifted. Another parachute became detached and he was tug now came, and the life-boat remained drowned. - Rewards : St. Abbs, £9 7s. ; standing by in case the tanker should capsize Dunbar, £5 14s. when an attempt was made to re-float her, (See Cockburnspath, “ Services by Shore- but the tugs got her safely off, and she was boats,” page 70.) able to go on her way escorted by the tugs. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving OCTOBER 11TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- at 3.30 A.M. - Rewards, £34 11s. and £28 1s. FOLK. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £43 5s. OCTOBER 30TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR- FOLK. At 6.49 A.M. the coastguard reported OCTOBER 12TH. - BERWICK - ON - that an aeroplane had crashed into the sea TWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND. An aero- about two miles east of Sheringham, and a plane was reported to have dived into the sea, few minutes later the coastguard rang up but nothing could be found. - Rewards, again to say that he could see men on the £11 3s. 6d. aeroplane, and that she was getting lower in the water. Soldiers helped in the launch, and with some of the launchers going in up OCTOBER 14TH. - NEW BRIGHTON, to their necks the motor life-boat Foresters CHESHIRE. A buoy had broken adrift with Centenary got away at 7.10. She found a four boys on board, but as the tide ebbed Halifax bomber, with her crew of six Polish they were able to get ashore. - Rewards, airmen all in one dinghy. The dinghy had £7 3s. drifted close to the shore, where there was a good deal of surf, and the men were thinking OCTOBER 14TH. - TOBERMORY, that they would attempt to swim in when ARGYLLSHIRE. During the previous fortunately the life-boat arrived. She took night two small boats with naval men aboard them and their dinghy on board and got back had drifted out of harbour, but they made to her station at 7.40 A.M. None of the land without help. - Rewards, £5 14s. rescued was seriously injured, and after hot baths, dry clothes, and breakfast, which OCTOBER 14TH. - MARYPORT, CUM- Mr. H. R. Johnson, the honorary secretary, BERLAND. A steamer had run ashore, and had arranged, they left at 8.30 for Langham the life-boat went out to stand by while an Aerodrome in an R.A.F. ambulance, which attempt was being made to refloat her, but had been sent for them. At the request of was signalled to return as she was not needed. Bomber Command the life-boat put out again - Rewards, £11 11s. at 7.52 to try and tow in the aeroplane, but she found it had drifted ashore, and returned OCTOBER 16TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR- to her station at 9.10 A.M. Messages of thanks FOLK. An aeroplane had been reported and congratulations were received from the down in the sea, but nothing could be found. R.A.F. Station, the Inspector of Coast- - Rewards, £41 6s. 6d. SERVICES 1942 51

OCTOBER 24TH. - ST. IVES, CORNWALL. the boats when returning. The motor life- A white light had been reported off Gurnards boat Robert Patton - The Always Ready was Head, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, launched at 2.15 P.M., and went to Staithes. £25 7s. 6d. She escorted all the boats into safety, and reached her station again at 4.30 P.M.- OCTOBER 27TH. - BALTIMORE, CO. Rewards, £9 16s. CORK. A steamer had been reported on the horizon apparently sinking, but nothing NOVEMBER 18TH. - CROMER, NOR- could be found. - Rewards, £29 0s. 6d. FOLK. At 7.20 P.M. information was received from the naval base at Great Yar- OCTOBER 29TH. - MINEHEAD, SOMER- mouth, through the Cromer coastguard, that SET. An American Liberator bombing a boat was in distress half a mile E. by N. aeroplane had crashed, but she had come of Eccles, and the motor life-boat H. F. Bailey down on land. - Rewards, £24 4s. was launched at 7.43 P.M. A squally northerly breeze was blowing, with a moderate ground OCTOBER 20TH. - ARRANMORE, CO. swell. The life-boat found the ex-Caister life- DONEGAL. Flares had been reported, but boat Charles Burton, now the motor fishing nothing could be found. - Rewards, £17 18s. boat Silver Queen, of Lowestoft, with a crew of two. Her engine had broken down and OCTOBER 30TH. - ST. MARY’S, SCILLY she was leaking through the stern gland. The ISLES. A Whitley bombing aeroplane had life-boat towed her to Great Yarmouth, been reported down 40 miles S.W. of Bishop arriving at 3 A.M., and got back to her Rock, but the life-boat returned, after going station at mid-day. - Property salvage case. over thirty miles, as it was learned that motor launches had searched the area and found NOVEMBER 24TH. - CROMER, NOR- nothing. - Rewards, £24 5s. 6d. FOLK. At about 6 P.M. the coxswain was told by the resident naval officer that the OCTOBER 3lST. - RHYL, FLINTSHIRE. life-boat might be required. A moderate The Royal Naval Walrus aeroplane W3097 northerly wind was blowing, with a ground had come down on the sea, but she taxied swell. The crew stood by, and at 7.45 P.M. ashore without help. - Rewards, £15 7s. news came that the life-boat was to go to an Admiralty trawler. At 8 P.M. the No. 2 life-boat Harriot Dixon was launched, and found the trawler about six miles off shore NOVEMBER at 9.35 P.M. Her master handed the cox- Launches 22. Lives rescued 7. swain a parcel and some papers for the resident naval officer and the life-boat reached NOVEMBER 6TH. - ARKLOW, CO. WICK- her station again at 10.30 P.M. - Rewards, LOW. During the afternoon the motor £29 14s. 6d. fishing boat Dan O’Connell, of Arklow, with a crew of five, ran out of fuel as she was NOVEMBER 28TH. - HARTLEPOOL, coming in, and anchored. A strong S.W. DURHAM. At 9.30 A.M. it was learned wind was blowing, with a rough sea, and that the motor fishing vessel Dahlia, of Hull, though she made no signals, anxiety was felt with a crew of five, had not returned to port for her safety, and the motor life-boat Inbhear since the previous day. A light N.W. wind Mor was launched at 8.45 P.M., with a supply was blowing, with a rough sea. The coast- of fuel oil. She reached the Dan O’Connell guard and the naval base were informed and three miles N.E. of Arklow pier, and put the oil the life-boat crew assembled. At 11.12 A.M. on board. One of her crew jumped into the the Dahlia was seen one mile east of Heugh life-boat, which brought him ashore, arriving and a minute later the motor life-boat The at her station at 9.45 P.M. - Rewards, Princess Royal (Civil Service No. 7) was £15 10s. 6d. launched. She found that the fishing boat was having trouble with her engine, and towed NOVEMBER 10TH. - FRASERBURGH, her in, arriving at 11.48 A.M. - Property ABERDEENSHIRE. At 3.28 P.M. the salvage case. Kinnaird Head coastguard reported that a small motor boat had broken down off the The following life-boats were launched, but Beacon, and the motor life-boat John and no services were rendered for the reasons Charles Kennedy was launched at 4.12 P.M., given : A fresh N.W. wind was blowing, with a slight sea. The life-boat found the motor NOVEMBER 6TH. - ABERYSTWYTH, boat Maris Stella, of Fraserburgh, with a CARDIGANSHIRE, AND BARMOUTH, crew of five. She was bound from Maryport MERIONETHSHIRE. A British Anson for Fraserburgh and her engine had failed. aeroplane had crashed into the sea and both The life-boat towed her into Fraserburgh, life-boats were launched. The Aberystwyth arriving at 5 P.M. - Rewards, £7 11s. boat put out without waiting for the second- coxswain and assistant motor-mechanic, and NOVEMBER 18TH. - RUNSWICK, YORK- in addition to the five regular members of the SHIRE. The Staithes fishing boats Minnie, crew on board she took a police sergeant, and Flora and Star of Hope had put to sea at five men of the R.A.F. with signalling appa- 10 A.M. in fine weather, but by 1.45 PM. the ratus. A strong wind was blowing, with a N.W. wind had increased and the sea had rough sea. On her way out she passed a become very rough, making it dangerous for motor boat which told the coxswain that she 52 SERVICES 1942

had picked up three airmen, one alive and crew landed in their own boat. Men of the two dead. Two others were missing. The R.A.F. and R.A. helped in getting the life- Aberystwyth life-boat searched, but no trace boat launched and re-housed. - Rewards, of them could be found, and the Barmouth £25 5s. life-boat was recalled before she had gone far. Rewards, Aberystwyth, £14 11s. 6d. ; Bar- NOVEMBER 27TH. - BUCKIE, BANFF- mouth, £19 14s. 6d. SHIRE. An aeroplane had crashed into (See Aberystwyth, “ Services by Shore- the sea, but nothing was found except a body boats,” page 71.) and a rubber dinghy, which were picked up by an R.A.F. rescue launch. - Rewards, NOVEMBER 6TH. - BRIDLINGTON, £15 12s. YORKSHIRE. A naval vessel appeared to be in difficulties on the Smethic Sands, but NOVEMBER 28TH. - LONGHOPE, ORK- she went on her way before the life-boat NEYS. A Whitley aeroplane had been re- reached her. - Rewards, £9 18s. ported in distress off Duncansby Head, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £15 3s. 6d. NOVEMBER 6TH. - ST. DAVID’S, PEM- BROKESHIRE. A Lysander aeroplane had NOVEMBER 30TH. - WESTON - SUPER- crashed into a rough sea one mile east of MARE, SOMERSET. A man had been Porth Gain, but the life-boat found nothing reported to have dropped into the sea by and it was learned later that one airman had parachute, but nothing was found. - Rewards, got ashore in his dinghy and the other had £10 13s. been drowned. - Rewards, £13 13s.

NOVEMBER 6TH. - ST. IVES, CORN- DECEMBER WALL. An aeroplane had been reported down in the sea, but nothing was found.- Launches 61. Lives rescued 79. Rewards, £12 12s. DECEMBER 1ST. - WHITBY, YORK- NOVEMBER 8TH. - AITH, SHETLANDS. SHIRE. While the fishing fleet was out the A British Wellington bombing aeroplane had northerly wind increased until it was blowing come down in the sea, but the life-boat found strongly, with squalls, bringing a rough sea, nothing, and it was learned later that four which made the harbour entrance dangerous airmen had got ashore during the darkness for the returning boats, and at 11.15 A.M. in their rubber dinghy and two had been the motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was drowned. - Rewards, £20 4s. 6d. launched. She met three boats a mile beyond (See Walls, “ Services by Shore-boats,” the Rock Buoy and escorted them into 1943, page 57.) harbour. Putting out again she escorted in a further seven boats and returned to her NOVEMBER 9TH. - BUCKIE, BANFF- station at 3.15 P.M. - Rewards, £7 11s. SHIRE. An airman was reported to have baled out, but nothing was found. - Rewards, DECEMBER 1ST. - FLAMBOROUGH, £15 12s. YORKSHIRE. During the morning the wind increased, and the life-boat coxswain NOVEMBER 14TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK. who was out fishing returned. By eleven A flash had been reported, but nothing was o’clock a northerly gale was blowing, with a found. - Rewards, £27 9s. 9d. heavy sea and rain squalls, and as some of the fishing boats were still out the motor NOVEMBER 14TH. - THURSO, CAITH- life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was NESS-SHIRE. A steamer had called for launched at 11.25 A.M.. and went in the direc- help at night, but the life-boat could not find tion of the fishing grounds. She found the her, and it was learned later that she had four Flamborough cobles - Quest, Doreen been able to go slowly on her way. - Rewards, May, Imperialist, and Boy's Own - six miles £18 9s. E.N.E. of the station. The life-boat directed two to Bridlington, and escorted the other NOVEMBER 15TH. - BERWICK - ON - two to the shore at the north landing at TWEED, NORTHUMBERLAND. An aero- Flamborough. She returned to her station plane had been reported down in the sea, at 4.17 P.M. - Rewards, £12 3s. 6d. but nothing was found. - Rewards, £7 5s. DECEMBER 1ST. - RUNSWICK, YORK- NOVEMBER 15TH. - CROMER, NOR- SHIRE. The Runswick and Staithes cobles FOLK. An aeroplane had been reported were out fishing in a moderate wind, but down in the sea, but nothing could be found. during the morning the wind increased to a - Rewards, £10 2s. 6d. strong gale from the N.N.W., with a rough sea and heavy rain, and the motor life-boat NOVEMBER 16TH. - CLOUGHEY, CO. Robert Patton - The Always Ready was DOWN. A loud explosion had been heard launched at 11.35 A.M. The district inspector and a flash had been seen, but nothing could of life-boats, Commander T. G. Michelmore, be found. - Rewards, £10 7s. R.D., R.N.R., who was at the station, went out with her. Off Staithes the life-boat found NOVEMBER 2lST. - ABERYSTWYTH, two cobles of Runswick and three of Staithes, CARDIGANSHIRE. A fishing vessel had and as in that weather it was impossible to been reported in distress, and sank, but her make a landing at Staithes she escorted all SERVICES 1942 53 five into Runswick, and returned to her A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a station, arriving at 2.15 in the afternoon.- ground swell, and the weather was foggy. Rewards, £10 15s. At 5.30 A.M. the motor life-boat Elizabeth Wills Allen was launched and found that the DECEMBER 1ST. - FILEY, YORKSHIRE. vessel was the m.v. Rosedene, in ballast for While the local fishing cobles were out, wind Seaham. At her master’s request the life- and sea increased, and some of the boats boat took out an anchor, and then stood by returned, but five stayed out. By 1 P.M. a until the Rosedene had refloated. She re- strong N.W. wind was blowing, with a rough turned to her station at 10.55 A.M. - Property sea, and at 1.30 P.M. the motor life-boat The salvage case. Cuttle was launched. Some of the boats were a long way off, but the life-boat escorted them all home, and returned to her station at DECEMBER 7TH. - SHOREHAM HAR- 4.30 P.M. - Rewards, £12 9s. BOUR, SUSSEX. At 1 A.M. the coast- guard reported a message from the coast- DECEMBER 1ST. - LLANDUDNO CAER- watching post at Goring that it had seen red NARVONSHIRE. At 3 P.M. the coast- flares at sea about a mile away. A fresh S.W. guard reported a fishing boat in distress a wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. mile or two west of Great Ormes Head, and There was doubt whether or not a rescue the motor life-boat Thomas and Annie Wade launch would be sent and, after consultation Richards was launched at 3.30 P.M. A strong with the naval authorities, the motor life- N.N.E. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was The life-boat found the fishing vessel launched at 2.20 A.M. She found that a Margaret, of Conway, in tow of another rescue motor launch from Littlehampton fishing boat, and stood by until both boats had, in fact, gone out and had found that an had got into the lee of Puffin Island. At R.A.F. aeroplane had come down in the sea. 6 P.M. the master of the Margaret said he She had rescued three of the aeroplane’s wished to go to Conway, but the life-boat crew. The other two had been lost. The coxswain said he could not take the life-boat life-boat attempted to tow in a Carley float, there and advised him not to attempt it. but it broke adrift. She brought in some After remaining with him for some time the gear from the aeroplane, and returned to her life-boat returned to her station, arriving at station at 6.30 A.M. - Rewards, £16 2s. 6d. 8.30 P.M. - Rewards, £35 18s. 6d. DECEMBER 9TH. - FLAMBOROUGH, DECEMBER 2ND. - PORT ASKAIG, YORKSHIRE. About 5.45 P.M. it was ARGYLLSHIRE. At 3.11 A.M. the Kil- learned that the motor fishing coble Doris choman coastguard reported a vessel ashore had not returned. On board was the life- in the Sound of Islay. The weather was fine, boat coxswain, George Leng, with a crew of with a light S.W. wind and a calm sea. The three. It was very dark, with a rough sea motor life-boat Charlotte Elizabeth was and a strong southerly wind. The motor launched at 4.10 A.M. and found the steam life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was trawler Celtia, of Fleetwood, aground on the launched at 6.15 P.M. and found the Doris S.W. point of Jura. She had a crew of about one and a half miles away. Her engine twelve and was laden with fish for Fleetwood. had been disabled by heavy seas. The life- She was in no immediate danger, and another boat towed her in, and returned to her station Fleetwood trawler, the Toronto, was standing at 7.15 P.M - Rewards, £26 19s. 6d. by, but unable to go close inshore. The life-boat waited until daylight. She then piloted the Toronto inshore and also carried DECEMBER 12TH. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. a cable from her to the Celtia. On the high CORK. During the evening a strong tide the Toronto got the Celtia afloat and southerly gale was blowing, with a very heavy towed her into deep water. The life-boat sea, and a pilot launch and a port control returned to her station at 12.55 P.M. - Prop- launch, both of Cork, were swamped and erty salvage case. sunk in Cork Harbour when on their way to put a pilot and an examiner on a ship at the DECEMBER 2ND. - SCARBOROUGH, harbour mouth. Five lives were lost, and YORKSHIRE. At 11 A.M. the crew the news of the sinking was brought by assembled for an exercise, but as a strong one man from the pilot launch who swam N.N.W. wind was blowing, with a rough sea, ashore. It was then 8.30 in the evening, and and some fishing boats were out the launch the launches had sunk two hours before. was delayed and the crew stood by. In- The news reached the Ballycotton life-boat coming trawlers reported bad weather, and station, through the Civic Guard, at 9.20 P.M., at 12.20 P.M. the motor life-boat Herbert and the life-boat coxswain doubted the use- Joy II was launched. She went in a north- fulness of sending out the life-boat as she easterly direction and found nine boats, all would have nearly twenty miles to travel, of which she escorted to harbour. She re- and in that weather she could not reach the turned to her station at 4 P.M. - Rewards, scene until after midnight, nearly six hours £18 13s. since the launches had sunk. But the coxswain was told that the life-boat was wanted, and DECEMBER 4TH. - SEAHAM, DURHAM. the motor life-boat Mary Stanford put out About 4.40 A.M. the coastguard reported at 10 P.M. The night was very dark, with a vessel aground at Hawthorne Point, two squalls of rain and lightning, and the cox- miles south of Seaham coastguard look-out. swain described it as one of the worst 54 SERVICES 1942 southerly gales in his experience. In addition Hook. Other messages came confirming to the severe weather there was the danger this. The sea was coming right into the of mines. Going round Ballycotton Light- harbour, and up the slipway, and it was house the coxswain had to keep about four impossible to launch the life-boat, but the miles off the land owing to the breaking seas, crew stood by. They stood by all night, and and the life-boat shipped several heavy seas. at 7.50 the next morning, as day was break- She reached Cork Harbour at 12.40, and by ing, the motor life-boat Ann Isabella Pyemont the light of her own searchlight, and search- was launched with great difficulty. lights from the forts, she searched for the The Dunmore East lifeboat was also launches, but found nothing except pieces of launched again at daybreak, and the two wreckage, and went on to Queenstown, where life-boats found the vessel in distress at the she arrived at 3 A.M. on the 13th. The same time a mile south of Baginbun Head. weather was so bad that she was unable to She was the Admiralty trawler Moray, and return to her station for two days. the tug Empire Ned was standing by. The She left Queenstown at 9.10 in the morn- Dunmore East life-boat returned to her ing of the 15th and reached Ballycotton station, where she arrived again at 12.5 in at 12.30 that afternoon. There she went the afternoon, leaving the Kilmore life-boat alongside the steam trawler Dereske, of to give what help was needed. Milford Haven. Two hours before, the The trawler by this time had weighed her trawler had signalled to the shore that she anchor, and was trying to unshackle the wire was without water. Her captain now told from it, so that she could pass it to the tug the coxswain that they had been without for towing. The tug tried twice to get a fresh water for eight days, as salt water had heaving line on board the trawler but failed. got into the tanks, that they were melting The life-boat then passed the line for her, ice both for cooking and drinking, and that but the trawler was still trying to get her several of the crew were covered with boils wire unshackled, and after about twenty due to the chemicals in the ice water. He minutes the heaving line parted. Again the also said that he could not bring the vessel life-boat got the line on board the trawler, but into the harbour as the authorities would not this time it fouled the tug’s propeller. All give him permission. The life-boat went to this time the vessels were drifting towards her station and the honorary secretary rang Ingard Point, and the life-boat coxswain up the customs officer at Queenstown and then warned the trawler that she was getting got permission. The life-boat then returned to into shallow and dangerous water. The tug the trawler and put one of her crew on board, then asked for the help of a man with local and the trawler, with the life-boat in at- knowledge, and the life-boat put her second- tendance, came into harbour under her own coxswain on board. At last the trawler steam. The life-boat then returned to her got her wire unshackled from the anchor ; station, arriving at 3.30 in the afternoon. another line was passed to her by the life- It had been a long and arduous journey, boat ; the trawler’s wire was hauled on and the Institution gave a reward of 30s. to board the tug and shackled to her hawser ; each member of the crew in addition to the and the tug began to tow. The trawler by ordinary rewards: on the standard scale for this time was dangerously near the rocks, the two services of £4 15s. 6d., making a and the towing had started only just in time total reward to each man of £6 5s. ; rewards to save her. The life-boat stood by until on the standard scale and other payments, the tug and trawler were well clear of £41 10s. 6d. ; additional rewards, £12 ; total Baginbun Head, and then, at the tug’s rewards and other payments, £53 10s. 6d. request, went to Kilmore with a message for a pilot to be ready at Dunmore East to meet them as they came in. She returned to her DECEMBER 13TH - 14TH. - DUNMORE, station at two in the afternoon. EAST, CO. WATERFORD, AND KILMORE, At 3.15, when the tug and trawler were CO. WEXFORD. Just before half-past five seen to be coming into harbour at Dunmore in the evening the coast watcher at Hook East, the Dunmore East life-boat put off for Point telephoned to the Dunmore East a third time with a pilot on board. She went station that a vessel was off the Hook ahead of the tug until they were in sufficient showing flares. The honorary secretary was shelter for it to be possible to put the pilot about to call out the crew when he saw a aboard. The weather was so bad that the steamer coming round Hook Point and asked life-boat, on arriving at Passage East at 6.30 her by morse if she had seen any vessel in in the evening, remained there for the night, distress. The reply was no, and the honorary returning to her moorings at Dunmore East secretary decided not to send out the life- next morning. boat. At 9.15 another telephone message The Institution awarded its thanks in- came to say that the vessel was still there, scribed on vellum to COXSWAIN WILLIAM and the motor life-boat Annie Blanche Smith BLAKE, of Kilmore. No money awards were was launched at 10.15. A gale was blowing made to the Kilmore coxswain and crew as from the S.S.W., with a very heavy sea. The they were paid salvage by the owners of the life-boat searched for some hours, but found Moray. no sign of the vessel in distress and returned Rewards to Dunmore East, £13 2s. 6d., to her station at three in the morning. £5 14s., and £13 4s. 6d. Meanwhile the Kilmore station had received at eight in the evening a telephone DECEMBER 13TH. - DUNGENESS, KENT. message from the life-saving service that a At 4.20 A.M. a telephone message was ship was in distress 4 1/2 miles S.E. of the received from the naval authorities at Dover, SERVICES 1942 55 through the Lade coastguard, that three of The coxswain of the life-boat was ill, H.M. tank landing vessels were in difficulties. The night was very dark, with a strong and Captain James Winter, the har- southerly wind blowing and a rough sea. bour master, took command, but the At 4.40 A.M. the position of the vessels was coxswain left his sick bed, helped to given, and twenty minutes later the motor call the crew together and to launch life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson was launched. About two miles north-east of the life-boat, and remained at the Dungeness Lighthouse the life-boat found station until the life-boat returned. two of the vessels. Both were riding to The motor life-boat Julia Park Barry anchors and the life-boat went alongside and of Glasgow was launched at 4.20. spoke to them by megaphone saying she would remain by them until daylight. She There was a strong wind from the south- found the third vessel five miles N.E. by N. south-east, with a heavy sea. The night of the lighthouse. At daybreak, three mine- was very dark, with rain. The life- sweepers came up to escort the vessels to boat reached the trawler at 4.35 and harbour and the life-boat returned to her found that she was the Loch Wasdale, station, arriving at 8.30 A.M. - Rewards, £22 5s. 6d. of Aberdeen. She was lying on the Skerry Rocks, off Buchan Ness. Her DECEMBER 13TH. - WALMER, KENT. stern was right under water and heavy At 8.20 A.M. the Deal coastguard asked for the life-boat crew to be assembled. At seas were breaking over her. Her 9.18 A.M. a further message came that a crew were clinging to the forward vessel was over the Brake Sands, and the rigging and the deck. In the heavy motor life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service seas and the darkness it was very No. 2) was launched at 9.30 A.M. A moderate S.S.W. gale was blowing, with rain squalls difficult for Captain Winter to see and a heavy sea. The life-boat found the exactly how the trawler was lying, Admiralty L.C.T. 534 in a dangerous position and the best method to come along- with stern anchor down. She had a crew side her. He tried first to go under of twelve. The life-boat’s second-coxswain went aboard her, and at the request of her lee, but he could not come near the officer in charge the life-boat escorted because of the rocks, so he took the the vessel to the Downs. There an armed life-boat round to the windward side, trawler arrived and took over, and the life- and made straight for the trawler. boat reached her station again at 11.30 A.M. - Rewards, £15 14s. He knew that there was a great risk, for he could not tell if there was enough DECEMBER 14TH. - STORNOWAY, water, or if the life-boat would be ISLAND OF’ LEWIS. Shortly after mid- wrecked herself on the rocks. He took night the naval base reported that H.M. L.C.T. 398, a tank landing craft, was ashore the risk. on the S.E. corner of Goat Island in Storno- The life-boat went in on the top of a way Harbour, and that her crew of fifteen big sea, and her crew threw a line to had landed on the island and were in need of immediate help. As a strong southerly gale was the trawler and hauled the life-boat blowing, with a rough sea, and no small boat alongside. The trawler was lying on could go out, the motor life-boat William and her side and was lifted by every sea Harriot was launched at 1.35 A.M., taking a that came in. At one moment she rowing boat in tow. A few minutes later she reached the lee of the island, sent the rowing threatened to roll over and to crash boat to the beach, rescued the men, and on top of the life-boat. The next the returned to her station at 3.15 A.M. - life-boat was herself lifted by the seas Rewards, £9 7s. 6d. and in danger of being flung on top of the trawler. But Captain Winter BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE handled her with great courage and AT PETERHEAD skill, and, with his engines running, kept her alongside, while, one by one, DECEMBER 15TH. - PETERHEAD, the twelve men of the trawler jumped ABERDEENSHIRE. At 3.50 in the and were seized and hauled aboard the morning the coastguard reported to life-boat. One of them fell between the motor-mechanic of the life-boat the two boats, and was badly crushed, signals of distress from a vessel in the but he too was dragged aboard. Then, direction of Buchan Ness. The motor- just as the life-boat, with every man mechanic went at once to the life- rescued, drew away, the wreck turned boathouse. He could see the vessel in over and sank. Had the life-boat distress, with the coastal searchlights come only a few minutes later, or had on her. She appeared to be a trawler. Captain Winter hesitated to take her 56 SERVICES 1942 straight in to the rescue, the whole of DECEMBER 17TH. - ALDEBURGH, SUF- the trawler’s crew would have been FOLK. Shortly before 10 A.M. the coast- guard reported an object, apparently a boat, lost. At 5.15 the life-boat was back about one mile E.S.E. of Sizewell look-out, again at her station. She had been and the No. 1 motor life-boat Abdy Beauclerk away for only 55 minutes. The was launched at 10.20 A.M. A light southerly rescued men were loud in their praise, wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. Guided by smoke bombs dropped by an and the trawler’s chief engineer said aeroplane, the life-boat found, a quarter of a that he had thought that the life-boat mile off shore opposite Sizewell Gap, a could not possibly reach them. German aeroplane’s rubber dinghy, but there The success of the service was due was no one on board. The life-boat brought in the dinghy, arriving at 11.40 A.M. - Re- principally to the intrepid courage and wards, £24 1s. 6d. skill of Captain Winter, and his courage was all the greater as he had DECEMBER 20TH. - DUN LAOGHAIRE, not been at sea for some years, and CO. DUBLIN. During the afternoon two small fishing boats were seen off Bullock. he was 69 years old. The Institution A strong southerly wind was blowing, with made the following awards : a very choppy sea. One boat was seen to To CAPTAIN JAMES WINTER, the take the other in tow, but they could not acting coxswain, the bronze medal for make any headway in their attempt to row to the shore, and at 3.25 P.M. the motor life-boat gallantry, with a copy of the vote Dunleary II was launched. She towed the inscribed on vellum ; two boats to Bullock and returned to her To DAVID F. WISEMAN, the motor- station at 4.15 P.M. - Rewards, £7 11s. mechanic, the thanks of the Institu- tion inscribed on vellum ; SILVER MEDAL SERVICE To the acting coxswain and each of AT BALLYCOTTON the seven members of the crew a reward of £2 in addition to the ordinary DECEMBER 23RD. - BALLY- reward on the standard scale of COTTON, CO. CORK. At nine in £1 17s. 6d. ; the morning a message was received To Coxswain John McLean a special at the station that a vessel was in reward of £2 ; distress about five miles south of To Mrs. M. Craighead, acting as Power Head. She could be seen from honorary secretary in the absence of Ballycotton, but she was showing no her husband serving in the Royal Air signals of distress. A gale was blowing Force, who took an active part in from the south-south-west, with heavy mustering the crew, a letter of thanks ; squalls of rain and a rough sea. The Standard rewards, £15 18s. ; addi- gale grew steadily more violent ; the tional rewards, £18 ; total rewards, vessel was drifting fast ; and at 12.45 £33 18s. the motor life-boat Mary Stanford put out. The vessel was then about 4 1/2 DECEMBER 15TH. - DUNMORE EAST, miles south of Ballycotton Light- CO. WATERFORD. The S.S. Irish Beech house and was drifting towards the arrived off Dunmore East in a southerly gale, north-north-east. The life-boat reached with very heavy seas. The pilot boat had her about 1.30 in the afternoon and gone up the river for shelter and the pilot was unable to go out to the steamer. As no found her to be the steamer Irish Ash, other boat was available the motor life-boat of Dublin, with a crew of 35 men. Annie Blanche Smith was launched at 10.45 Her captain said that the circu- A.M. with the pilot aboard. She escorted lating pumps and the ballast pumps the Irish Beech to near Duncannon, and there was able to put the pilot aboard her. had broken down and that he would The life-boat returned to her station at 1 P.M. like the life-boat to stand by him. - Rewards, £6 13s. This she did, and about three in the afternoon the coxswain advised the DECEMBER 16TH. - FLAMBOROUGH, steamer’s captain to anchor. The YORKSHIRE. The motor life-boat Elizabeth and Albina Whitley was launched steamer was then about a mile south at 11.45 A.M. in a heavy S.S.E. gale, with a of Cape1 Island and was drifting fast rough sea, to the help of the local motor towards it. She let both anchors go, fishing coble Boy's Own. She found her six and they held. The captain had heard miles E.N.E. of Flamborough and escorted her home, arriving at 3 P.M. - Rewards, by wireless that a steamer was coming £14 0s. 6d. out to his help, but when she arrived SERVICES 1942 57 the captain said that he would wait for the message which she had failed to a more suitable ship to tow him off and deliver at Knockadoon. She reached that he thought that he might soon get Ballycotton at 1.45 in the morning his pumps working. In that case he of the 24th. Since nine the previous would try to go back to Queenstown morning her crew had had no food or under his own steam. The life-boat drink, except for half a bucket of tea then went to Knockadoon with a which the Irish Ash had lowered to message from the captain asking for them. The petrol tanks were refilled, engineers to be sent to him from the crew had a meal, and the life-boat Queenstown, but in the heavy seas put out again to the Irish Ash at 2.30. she could not go alongside the pier She found that she had dragged and returned to the Irish Ash again. another half a mile towards the shore She continued to stand by until after in the strong flood tide and was getting nine that night. By that time the near the Ballycrenane Rocks, but her repairs had been made and, with the captain still hoped to start his en- life-boat escorting her, the Irish Ash gines again and shortly after six in started to steam slowly towards the morning they were working. The Queenstown, but she had not gone far anchor was weighed, and the life-boat when her engines broke down again. led the steamer to a safe anchorage She was then four miles south of Bally- half a mile north-north-west of Bally- cotton Island. cotton light. The wind was still increasing, and a The life-boat again went ashore very heavy and confused sea was run- to see if the engineers had come from ning, made much worse by the ebb Queenstown, and as they had not the tide. The steamer’s head fell off, and, Irish Ash’s captain decided to go there rolling heavily and broadside on to under his own steam. The wind had the seas, she began to drift towards shifted to the north-west and there was the island at an alarming speed. Had a little shelter. The life-boat went with she struck she would have gone to her and they arrived at Queenstown pieces on the rocks in a few minutes, about 2.30 in the afternoon. The life- and there would have been very little boat left again at 4.30 and was back hope of rescuing her crew. It was at her station at 6.30 that evening. then 10.30 at night. If she and her It was then thirty hours since she had crew were to be saved the life-boat put out. Her crew were soaked to the must tow her head round so that she skin and exhausted. The coxswain’s would drift clear of the island. The wrists were swollen to twice their coxswain took the life-boat close under normal size and his voice had gone. her bows and shouted for a rope. At The two motor mechanics were com- the same time his men threw a line pletely worn out, for it had not been aboard the steamer. To this the possible for the life-boat to anchor at steamer’s crew attached a wire. The any time and they had been on their life-boat hauled it aboard, made it knees at the controls during the whole fast, and started to tow. A very heavy time. sea struck her and the wire broke. It was a very long and hard service, A second wire was made fast, but and the life-boat had been handled twice it broke. Then a rope was very skilfully and courageously. The made fast. With this the life-boat Institution made the following awards : succeeded in towing the steamer’s To COXSWAIN PATRICK SLINEY, the head round, and she drifted past Institution’s silver medal for gallantry, the island with less than half a with a copy of the vote inscribed on mile to spare. She was now in shal- vellum ; lower water, the seas were less vio- To MICHAEL L. WALSH, the second- lent, and the coxswain advised her coxswain, and THOMAS SLINEY, the to anchor again. This she did. After motor-mechanic, the bronze medal for standing by her for another half an gallantry, and to WILLIAM SLINEY, the hour, to be satisfied that the anchor assistant motor-mechanic, a clasp to would hold, the life-boat returned to his bronze medal, in each case with a Ballycotton to refuel and to deliver copy of the vote inscribed on vellum; 58 SERVICES 1942

To each of the other four members left at 2.45 P.M. and stood by until 6 P.M., of the crew, THOMAS F. WALSH, bow- by which time the Danish motor fishing vessel Vestarland had got into harbour and man, and BERTIE LYNCH, JAMES the other vessels had made for the Moray MCLEOD and MICHAEL C. WALSH, life- Firth for shelter. - Rewards, £10 8s. 6d. boatmen, the Institution’s thanks in- scribed on vellum ; The following life-boats were launched, but To the coxswain and each of the no services were rendered for the reasons seven members of the crew a reward given : of £3 in addition to the reward on the DECEMBER 1ST. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. standard scale of £5 13s., making a CORK. The engine of the Belgian motor total reward to each man of £8 13s. ; trawler Blauwvoet, formerly of Ostend, had Standard rewards to crew and broken down, but another Belgian trawler launchers, £42 7s. ; additional rewards came to her help. - Rewards, £6 19s. to crew, £24 ; total rewards, £66 7s. DECEMBER 3RD. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX. The owners, Irish Shipping Ltd., A rubber dinghy had been reported at sea, gave £100 to the crew of the life-boat. but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £22 7s. DECEMBER 29TH. - AMBLE, NORTH- UMBERLAND. At about 10 A.M. the local DECEMBER 5TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH fishing coble Treasure was seen to be in AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. An trouble trying to get into harbour, and at Admiralty trawler had been in collision, but 10.15 the motor life-boat Frederick and Emma she could not be found and she got in without was launched. A gale was blowing from the help. - Rewards, £13 11s. 6d. north, with a heavy sea. The life-boat stood by at the harbour entrance until the Treasure DECEMBER 6TH. - SHERINGHAM, NOR- had come into the harbour, and returned to FOLK. A flashing light had been reported, her station at 10.50 A.M. - Rewards, £7 12s. but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £32 16s. DECEMBER 29TH. - PADSTOW, CORN- WALL. At 11.45 A.M. a telephone message DECEMBER 7TH. - HARTLEPOOL, DUR- was received from the naval authorities HAM. A steamer had been in collision, but asking for the life-boat to stand by, as an a destroyer picked up the survivors.- R.A.F. rescue launch had gone to sea and Rewards, £10 7s. found the weather too heavy to return. A gale was blowing from the N.N.W., with a rough sea. The No. 1 motor life-boat DECEMBER 9TH. - PADSTOW, CORN- Princess Mary was launched at 12.24 P.M. WALL, CLOVELLY, AND APPLEDORE, and found the launch two miles west of DEVON. On the afternoon of the 9th Decem- Stepper Point. She stood by her and by ber Padstow No. 1 motor life-boat put out wireless directed her safely into harbour, where to the help of a Whitley bombing aeroplane the two boats arrived at 1.18 P.M. - Partly which had been reported down in the sea. paid permanent crew. Rewards, £4 2s. She searched throughout the night without result. On the following day an extensive search was made by the Clovelly and Apple- DECEMBER 29TH. - GREAT YARMOUTH dore life-boats, but they found nothing.- AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At about Rewards : Padstow, £9 14s. ; Clovelly, noon some small fishing boats were seen £25 9s. ; Appledore, £24 12s. 6d. south of the harbour. A strong north- westerly wind was blowing, with a very rough sea and snow squalls. The coastguard kept DECEMBER 10TH. - FENIT, CO. KERRY. them in view, saw that one of them was in An object had been seen, but it was found difficulties, and rang up the life-boat station. to be a large tree. The crew did not wish to At 1.12 P.M. the motor life-boat Louise be rewarded. Stephens was launched and found that the boat was the rowing boat Molly, of Gorleston, DECEMBER 11TH. - FILEY, YORK- with one man aboard. She was drifting with SHIRE. A British Halifax bombing aero- her anchor down. The life-boat towed her in, plane had crashed into the sea, but her crew reaching harbour at 1.40 P.M. - Rewards, were saved by a Filey fishing boat.- £5 12s. Rewards, £24 4s. 6d. (See Filey, “ Services by Shore-boats,” 1943, page 58.) DECEMBER 29TH. - BUCKIE, BANFF- SHIRE. At 2.35 P.M. the coastguard reported that a vessel was attempting to DECEMBER 12TH. - ROSSLARE HAR- enter harbour. A strong N.N.E. gale was BOUR, CO. WEXFORD. A fishing boat blowing, with a heavy sea. Other vessels was in difficulties, but another fishing boat could be seen outside, and it was decided to took her in tow. - Partly paid permanent send out the motor life-boat K.B.M. She crew. Rewards, £4 19s. SERVICES 1942 59

DECEMBER 13TH. - HASTINGS, SUSSEX. had been reported, but nothing could be A steamer showing a red light had been found. - Rewards, £22 19s. 3d. reported, but no vessel in need of help could be found. - Rewards, £43 15s. 6d. DECEMBER 23RD. - PORTHDINLLAEN, CAERNARVONSHIRE. Survivors of a DECEMBER 13TH. - WEYMOUTH, steamer which had been mined reported that DORSET. A small boat from a naval other survivors were adrift, but they gave drifter had been smashed on rocks, but the the wrong position, so the life-boat found only man aboard got ashore without help.- nothing, and another vessel rescued them.- Rewards, £6 13s. Rewards, £20 16s.

DECEMBER 13TH. - PORTPATRICK, DECEMBER 23RD. - CROMER, NOR- WIGTOWNSHIRE. A steamer had gone FOLK. An aeroplane had burst into flames ashore, but her crew were rescued by the and crashed into the sea, but only the blazing coastguard life-saving rocket apparatus.- petrol tank and wreckage were found.- Rewards, £6 19s. Rewards, £19 8s.

DECEMBER 13TH. - HOLYHEAD, DECEMBER 24TH. - SENNEN COVE, ANGLESEY. A vessel had been reported CORNWALL. A Whitley aeroplane had in distress off Rhoscolyn, but the only crashed into the sea, but four men from it steamer found was the Norwegian Nesttun, were rescued by a patrol trawler. The others and she was going on her way. - Rewards, were not found. - Rewards, £9 10s. £5 12s. DECEMBER 25TH. - PORTPATRICK, DECEMBER 15TH. - PENLEE, CORN- WIGTOWNSHIRE. A steamer was on fire, WALL. An aeroplane’s dinghy had been but a trawler had gone to her help.- reported showing a light south of the Wolf Rewards, £10 8s. 6d. Lighthouse, but nothing was found.- Rewards, £27 3s. DECEMBER 27TH. - WALTON AND FRIN- TON, ESSEX. A sailing barge had been DECEMBER 15TH. - PORTHDINLLAEN, blown up, but one of her crew was rescued CAERNARVONSHIRE. A British Anson by another barge and the other one was lost. aeroplane had come down in the sea, but her - Rewards, £9 3s. 6d. crew were rescued by a steamer. - Rewards, £8 4s. DECEMBER 27TH. - BARROW, LANCA- SHIRE. A Swordfish aeroplane had been DECEMBER 18TH. - ST. MARY’S, SCILLY reported down in the sea, but nothing was ISLES. An aeroplane’s dinghy had been found. - Rewards, £20 19s. reported some miles S.W. of the Bishop Rock, (See Millom, “Services by Auxiliary Rescue- but nothing was found. - Rewards, £12 4s. 6d. boats,” page 72.)

DECEMBER 18TH. - BEAUMARIS, DECEMBER 31ST. - SKEGNESS, LIN- ANGLESEY, AND LLANDUDNO, CAER- COLNSHIRE. Two Spitfire aeroplanes had NARVONSHIRE. An aeroplane had been collided over the sea, but nothing was found. reported down in the sea, but it was found - Rewards, £27 12s. 6d. to have crashed on land. - Rewards : Beau- maris, £15 ; Llandudno, £35 0S. 6d. DECEMBER 31ST. - BALLYCOTTON, CO. CORK. Signals of distress had been made DECEMBER 19TH. - SKEGNESS, LIN- by a vessel, but before the life-boat reached COLNSHIRE. An aeroplane had been her she signalled again that she did not need reported down in the sea, but the life-boat help and the life-boat was recalled. - Rewards, found nothing. Later a body was washed £13 2s. 6d. ashore. A letter of thanks was received from Air Commodore of the R.A.F. station at Cran- DECEMBER 31ST. - RHYL, FLINTSHIRE, well, for this and previous services.- AND HOYLAKE, CHESHIRE. A boat with Rewards, £18 17s. 6d. twenty men on board had been reported adrift in the Dee Channel, but nothing was DECEMBER 20TH. - WELLS, NORFOLK. found. - Rewards : Rhyl. £20 15s. ; Hoylake, A dinghy, assumed to belong to an aeroplane, £31 3s. 6d. Services by Shore-boats Thirteen Medals for Gallantry RHOSNEIGIR, ANGLESEY On the 28th August, 1941, determined efforts were made to rescue the crew of a British aeroplane which had crashed in the sea. MR. DERRICK H. BAYNHAM was awarded the silver medal. MR. JOHN L. S. WOOD was awarded the silver medal. SECOND LIEUTENANT PETER T. WHYSALL, R.A. was posthumously awarded the bronze medal BATTERY SERGEANT-MAJOR ALFRED W. MOGER, R.A. was post- humously awarded the bronze medal. GUNNER CLARENCE H. THORNTON, R.A. was posthumously awarded the bronze medal. GUNNER REGINALD EATON, R.A. was posthumously awarded the bronze medal. MR. ARTHUR J. OWEN, Second Officer, Mercantile Marine, was post- humously awarded the bronze medal. POLICE CONSTABLE GEORGE C. ARTHUR was posthumously awarded the bronze medal. SERGEANT C. JACKSON, R.A. was awarded the bronze medal. LANCE BOMBARDIER T. TAYLOR, R.A. was awarded the bronze medal. GUNNER J. W. PARKINSON, R.A. was awarded the bronze medal. COASTGUARD OFFICER EVAN JONES was posthumously awarded the bronze medal. AIRCRAFTSMAN 1st CLASS ALBERT E. ATKINSON was awarded the bronze medal. JANUARY MEETING the crew. The most gallant attempts SILVER MEDAL SERVICE at rescue were made by four shore AT RHOSNEIGIR boats, and by many people working from the beach, but all the efforts RHOSNEIGIR, ANGLESEY. About failed, and not only were the three 11.30 in the morning of the 28th of airmen lost, but eleven of the rescuers. August, 1941, a British bombing aero- The honorary secretary of the Holy- plane crashed in the sea off Rhosneigir. head life-boat station, who visited A gale was blowing from the south-west, Rhosneigir afterwards, said that these with a very heavy sea. The nearest gallant attempts must have been life-boat, the Holyhead motor life- hopeless from the start, for the seas boat, was at a shipyard for overhaul, that were driving on shore with the and her crew were away fetching a tide running out against them were not relief life-boat. The Porthdinllaen rolling in and breaking on the open motor life-boat was called out and beach in the usual way, but moving launched at 12.48 in the afternoon. like walls of water, with curling tops. She reached Rhosneigir about 2.30. Almost as soon as the aeroplane By that time there was nothing to be came down on the water two of her seen of the aeroplane, but even had crew were washed off her. The third the life-boat been able to arrive earlier clung to the fuselage. He was the aeroplane was in water so shallow seen by two boys of seventeen, that it would have been impossible for Mr. John L. S. Wood, of Chester, the life-boat to reach her and rescue and Mr. Derrick Baynham, of Walton- 60 SERVICES 1942 61 on-Thames. With a total disregard Meanwhile other, very gallant, for their own safety they at once efforts had been made to reach the launched a small dinghy and set out aeroplane. One man had put out in to the rescue. It took them three- a boat alone, but was forced by the quarters of an hour of hard rowing to heavy seas to turn back. Then nine reach the aeroplane, and they showed men put out in a whaler. Seven of wonderful seamanship in handling, them were soldiers and the other two and keeping afloat that small open were an officer of the merchant navy boat through the heavy seas. But and a police constable. They must as they turned it to go alongside have realised that they were making the aeroplane, a sea caught it broad- an almost hopeless attempt, at the side on and capsized it. Both the risk of their own lives, but they refused boys were thrown into the water, to listen to the warning of other people but both succeeded in clinging to the on the shore. They felt it their duty over-turned boat. Then they left it to make the attempt. They succeeded and swam to the aeroplane on which in rowing the whaler well out to sea, the airman was crouching. When but in trying to bring her under the they had regained their breath they lee of the aeroplane they were caught decided to make for their boat again. and capsized by a heavy sea, and were It was being driven shoreward and thrown into the water in all directions. they feared that at any moment the One of the nine men managed to aeroplane might sink. struggle ashore himself. Two, neither They persuaded the airman, a Pole, of whom could swim, clung to an oar. to go with them. He had been slightly A man swam out from the beach to injured in the crash, and was weak help them, and brought them in. from shock and exposure. He was They were only half conscious, but scarcely able to help himself, and was were revived. The other six men were supported by the two boys as, bat- all washed up, but it was impossible tered by the seas, they struggled to to revive them. keep their heads above water. The Yet a fourth boat put out with two aeroplane as well as the boat was men on board, a coastguard and an being carried shoreward, and in their aircraftsman. This boat too was cap- struggle they used anything they could sized. The coastguard was drowned, get hold of, an oar, the boat and the aircraftsman was saved. occasionally the aeroplane itself. In People on shore saw the capsize of this way they gradually drifted nearer the boats and the men on board them to the shore and one of the boys and thrown into the water, and fourteen the airman managed to seize a beach soldiers and airmen swam out to help defence post. It was not strong them. Four of these fourteen men lost enough to bear their combined weight, their lives. so the boy left the airman to hold on During these heroic efforts aero- to it, and again struck off towards the planes were flying low overhead and shore. Both the boys had now almost dropping life-belts to the rescuers given up hope of reaching another struggling in the water. defence post or the shore itself, but The Institution made the following people on the shore, who had watched awards to those who had attempted their splendid struggle, were preparing rescue with the use of boats : to go to their help. They formed a To JOHN L. S. WOOD and DERRICK human chain, reaching far out from BAYNHAM, each the silver medal for the shore, and this chain succeeded in gallantry, with a copy of the vote seizing and passing in the two boys. inscribed on vellum. They were also Unfortunately it was not able also to both awarded George Medals, and re- rescue the Polish airman. He was ceived money rewards from the Air actually then in his own depth as he Ministry, and silver cigarette-cases clung to the post, but he was so from General Sikorski, Commander-in- exhausted that he could not hold on. Chief of the Polish Forces, with his He lost his grip, was swept away and signature on them ; drowned. To SERGEANT C. JACKSON, LANCE 62 SERVICES 1942

BOMBARDIER T. TAYLOR and GUNNER from seawards saw it crash in flames near J. W. PARKINSON, the three survivors Herne Bay pier, and Beltinge observer post reported cries for help. These cries were of the nine men who manned the heard by two men, who jumped into a whaler, each the bronze medal for rowing boat, and rescued one man who had gallantry, with a copy of the vote come down by parachute. - Rewards, £2 10s. inscribed on vellum ; NEWQUAY, CORNWALL. At 4 in the after- To AIRCRAFTSMAN(1St Class) ALBERT noon of the 20th December, 1941, information E. ATKINSON the survivor of the two was received at the life-boat station that a men who manned the fourth boat, the British aeroplane was in the sea six miles N.W. of Penhale Point. The weather was bronze medal for gallantry, and a copy fine, with a smooth sea and a light N.E. wind. of the vote inscribed on vellum. At 4.25 P.M. a 26-feet motor boat - the Early The bronze medal for gallantry, Dawn - manned by the life-boat coxswain, with a copy of the vote inscribed the mechanic, the bowman and Mr. E. H. on vellum, was also posthumously Trembath, the honorary secretary, put out. They reached the spot, to find that four awarded to each of the seven men aeroplanes and an R.A.F. rescue launch were who lost their lives in the boats, already searching. A few minutes later the as follows : SECOND-LIEUTENANT launch picked up one survivor and then two PETER T. WHYSALL R. A. BATTERY bodies. The fourth airman was not found. - Rewards, £3 and 10s. for fuel used. SERGEANT-MAJOR ALFRED W. MOGER, GUNNER CLARENCE H. THORNTON, LYTHAM-ST. ANNE'S, LANCASHIRE. About SECOND MATE, MERCANTILE MARINE, 4.30 in the afternoon of 21st December, RTHUR WEN OLICE ONSTABLE 1941, a Lytham resident telephoned to the A J. O , P C honorary secretary of the life-boat station GEORGE C. ARTHUR, COASTGUARD that an aeroplane had crashed. About a OFFICER EVAN JONES and GUNNER quarter of a mile south of the pier, on the REGINALD EATON. bank by the ninth mile light, a British fighter aeroplane could be seen, burning fiercely. The Royal Humane Society re- A strong S.W. breeze was blowing, with a warded those who had made attempts moderate sea. As there was no water over at rescue by swimming. the south training wall the life-boat was not Fourteen men put out in boats. launched, but the life-boat coxswain and seven men manned the life-boat’s boarding Seven of them lost their lives. Fourteen boat, and the second-mechanic and another men swam out. Four of them lost man manned the mechanic’s punt. The their lives. motor mechanic remained on shore to stand (See Porthdinllaen “ Accounts of by the life-boat. As the boats were putting off, an Admiralty launch came alongside the Services by Life-boats,” 1941, page 67.) pier, and took them in tow. The honorary SANDAY, ORKNEYS. On the morning of secretary of the life-boat station went in the the 30th October, 1941, the Norwegian motor launch. The launch towed the two boats as vessel Anna went aground on a lee shore at far as it could, and when the water became Hyngreenie Point, Sanday. A light S. wind too shallow cast them off, leaving them to was blowing, with a slight sea. The coast- go to the burning plane while It searched guard informed the Stromness life-boat, but the river for any survivors. The life-boat she was not needed as two men had put off crew and volunteers landed from the board- from the shore in a small rowing boat and ing boat on the sandbank, but they found brought ashore the whole crew of eleven.- that the aeroplane had buried itself in the Rewards, £2. mud and quicksand to a depth of about five feet. They picked up parts of the aeroplane BALLYHALBERT, CO.. DOWN. On the afternoon of the 26th November, 1941, the and an airman’s helmet. As the aeroplane motor vessel Francois Tixier, of Bristol, with had crashed at full speed, there seemed to a crew of fourteen, was seen to be in distress be no hope of any survivors, and the boarding in Ballyhalbert Bay. She had sprung a leak, boat returned to her station, arriving at was listing heavily, and was circling round 6.30 P.M. The Admiralty launch, after her own anchor with her propeller out of the searching the river, had returned at 5.45 P.M. water. A fresh S.W. wind was blowing, with The naval authorities were thanked for the a rough sea. The Cloughey and Donaghadee help which they gave, and a letter of thanks life-boat crews were called out, but the boats was sent to the honorary secretary, Fergus were not launched as a boat, which was Dearden. - Rewards, £10. already at sea, went to the rescue. She was a 35-feet motor boat, with a crew of two, NEWQUAY, CORNWALL. At 11 in the and she rescued all the crew of the vessel morning of the 7th January, 1942, a British except one man, who was drowned. - Rewards, Avro Anson aeroplane was reported to he £2 and 10s. for fuel used. down in the sea. A moderately rough sea was running, with a fresh northerly wind. HERNE BAY, KENT. About 8 in the The motor fishing boat Bonny Girl, which had evening of 27th November, 1941, coast- just returned from sea, put out at once with guards watching an aeroplane coming in a crew of three and found the aeroplane SERVICES 1942 63 three hundred yards east of Goose Rock, BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. On the 22nd Pentire Point, and rescued the three airmen January, 1942, the Barra Island life-boat just as the aeroplane sank. They were suf- rescued twenty-eight of the crew of the fering from slight cuts and shock. The S.S. Eugenie S. Embiricos, which had been Newquay motor life-boat was launched after disabled and driven ashore, in a gale, at the fishing boat, but the fishing boat reached Leanish Point, on the S.E. side of Barra the aeroplane first. - Rewards, £3 and 5s. for Island. On the following morning the life-boat fuel used. coxswain arranged for the lobster fishing boat (See Newquay, “ Accounts of Services by Joy, from Earsary, which was about a mile Life-boats,” page 27.) from the wreck, to go and rescue four men who had remained on board. A moderate S.E. FEBRUARY MEETING wind was then blowing, with a rough sea. Four men manned the Joy, which was a CRICCIETH, CAERNARVONSHIRE. Shortly rowing boat, and, with some difficulty owing before 6 in the evening of the 6th January, to the reefs and rough sea, they rescued the 1942, it became known that an Anson trainer four men on the steamer. - Rewards, £3 16s. aeroplane had come down in the sea in (See Barra Island, “ Accounts of Services Tremadoc Ray. A light northerly wind was by Life-boats,” page 12.) blowing, with a moderate sea. A motor boat put out from Criccieth, manned by five men, PORTHCAWL, GLAMORGANSHIRE. At 3.10 and searched from 6.10 P.M. until midnight, P.M. on the 30th January, 1942, five airmen but found nothing. The Pwllheli and Bar- in a skiff belonging to the R.A.F. left Porth- mouth life-boats were also launched, but cawl to go to an R.A.F. motor launch lying found nothing that night. On the following at a buoy about 1,000 yards off the pier. morning the Pwllheli life-boat went out again, The skiff missed the launch and was swept found the aeroplane sinking and marked the towards the Tusker Rocks. It could be seen position with a buoy. The crew of the aero- that she was in very great danger, and at plane had been rescued from their dinghy 3.50 P.M. a motor boat, manned by the owner by a seaplane. - Rewards, £9 7s. 6d. and and the crew of four of the R.A.F. launch, 12s. 6d. for fuel used. went to the rescue. They boarded the launch, (See Barmouth and Pwllheli, “ Accounts of and in her followed the skiff, which they Services by Life-boats,” page 10.) picked up when she was only 100 yards from the Tuskcr Rocks. - Rewards, 10s. to the HASTINGS, SUSSEX. At 2.10 in the after- noon of the 30th January, 1942, the coast- owner of the motor boat and 2s. 6d. for fuel guard at Fairlight reported that, the fishing used. boat RX52 was towing another fishing boat, RX112, towards Hastings. The sea was VENTNOR, ISLE OF WIGHT. At 2.35 in the rough, with a strong S.W. wind. The boats afternoon of the 15th February, 1942, a were making steady progress, but the honorary member of the coast life-saving corps re- secretary of the life-boat station asked the ported what appeared to be a rubber dinghy coastguard to keep him informed in case the four miles S.S.E. of Woody Point. Three life-boat’s help should be needed. At 2.45 men put out at once in a pulling boat. The the coastguard reported that another boat, coastguards were told, and so too were the RX106, which was at sea, had gone to help, military in case the boat was not back by and the RX112, whose engine had broken sunset. An air/sea rescue launch also put down, was brought safely into Hastings at out, and a Walrus flying boat. The launch 3.15. - Rewards, £2 13s., with 7s. 6d. and 3s. rescued four airmen, whose aeroplane had for fuel used. come down in the sea at about 2.30 that morning, while returning from a raid on MARCH MEETING Mannheim. The launch towed the pulling boat back to Ventnor. - Rewards to the BARRA ISLAND, HEBRIDES. On the evening three men, £2 5s. of 16th January, 1942, the steamer R. J. Cullen, of St. John’s, Newfoundland, was CLACTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX. At about 3.30 blown ashore at Leanish Point, on the P.M. on the afternoon of the 15th February, S.E. side of Barra, by a S.E. gale, and on the 1942, a British Wellington bomber crashed 16th January, 1942, the Barra Island motor into the sea about 300 yards off the beach, life-boat had been unable to get near her. a quarter of a mile W. of Clacton Pier. A On the morning of the 17th January, when light N.N.W. wind was blowing, with a slight the gale had somewhat moderated, the life- sea. The life-boat motor-mechanic was on boat coxswain arranged for the motor fishing the pier, and he and three soldiers at once put boat St. Margaret, of Vatersay, to go to her off in two rowing boats. The mechanic had help, as the life-boat herself was at this time realised that time was vital and that it would going out to another ship ashore. Manned take too long to get the life-boat crew by her crew of six, the motor fishing boat left together. He took one soldier with him in Vatersay at 8 in the morning. In spite of the larger of the two rowing boats, the two numerous reefs and heavy swell, she got other soldiers manning the other. Under his alongside and rescued the crew of forty-seven. supervision the two boats picked up four She landed them at Castlebay and arrived men from the bomber and two Army officers back at Vatersay at 5 in the evening.- who had swum out to help and were in Rewards, £5 14s. and £3 10s. for fuel used. serious difficulty. Some of the rescued men (See Barra Island, “ Accounts of Services died later. The action of the two officers in by Life-boats,” page 12.) swimming out was reported to the Royal 64 SERVICES 1942

Humane Society and two of the soldiers who the Spray at anchor, with her engine broken went out in the two boats, a captain and a down. She had two men on board. They battery sergeant-major, were thanked, but took her in tow and brought her into harbour. the third could not be traced. At the request - Rewards, £2 5s. and 4s. for fuel used. of the authorities the life-boat coxswain and assistant motor-mechanic put off in a boat MAY MEETING later in the day to take officers out to the aeroplane. These two men were engaged RINGFORD, Co. ANTRIM. Two men went from 7 P.M. until 9.30 P.M. - Rewards, out in a very small boat, on the 27th October, £2 2s. 6d. 1941, to lift lobster pots. A moderately strong and squally off-shore wind was blow- APRIL MEETING ing and the sea was choppy. Apparently the small boat got into difficulties and, for some MONTROSE, ANGUS. At about 10 in the unexplained reason, one of the men went morning of the 24th March, 1942, the life- overboard and attempted to swim to shore. boat coxswain and two other men were about The other man was unable to manage the to enter harbour in a motor boat, when they boat by himself.. Men on shore saw that he saw an aeroplane fall into the sea. The sea was in difficulties and signalled to a man was smooth and a light westerly wind was who was coming into Carnlough harbour in blowing. Putting about, the three men went his motor fishing boat. He went to the small to the spot where the aeroplane had crashed, boat and rescued the man. Then he searched one mile N.E. from Scurdyness Lighthouse, for the swimmer, but he had disappeared.- and found her partly submerged. They Rewards, 19s. and 4s. for fuel used. rescued the pilot, who was badly injured about the face, and semi-conscious, and HILBRE ISLAND, CHESHIRE. At about six brought him back to Montrose where he was in the evening of 13th March, 1942, a Hurricane taken to the R.A.F. hospital. - Rewards, aeroplane made a forced landing on the West £2 17s. Hoyle Bank. A moderate wind was blowing from the S.E., with a slight sea, but the tide TEIGNMOUTH, DEVON. At about mid-day was flowing and the bank would be covered on the 28th March, 1942, two men were out in two hours’ time. The lighthouse keeper in a small motor boat hauling lobster pots of Hilbre Island and an airman put off in a off the Ness Rocks, Teignmouth. An easterly rowing boat to the rescue. They had a hard wind was blowing, and their boat was caught row for about a mile and a half, but they in broken water and capsized. They were reached the bank in good time and rescued thrown into the sea and were in danger of the pilot. It was another hard row back, and drowning. Six men went out in a motor the night had come before they reached the ferry boat, crossed the harbour bar and lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper’s wife put rescued them. - Rewards, £3. up the rescued pilot for the night. - Rewards, £3. PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. At about 12.30 in the morning of 1st April, 1942, the ST. ANDREWS, FIFESHIRE. On the after- coastguard at Collieston saw a distress signal noon of the 15th March, 1942, two R.A.F. from an aeroplane, which had crashed a mile aircraftsmen hired a rowing boat. The sea S.E. of Cruden Bay. A light S.W. wind was was rough, with a stiff easterly breeze blow- blowing, with a moderate swell, and the ing, and the men were advised to keep in the weather was fine. Two motor boats, each harbour. After a time they took the boat manned by three men, put out from Cruden outside, and when about 350 yards from the Bay and one of them rescued two airmen. breakwater, they met rough water. They The three other members of the aeroplane’s turned back, but their boat capsized, crew were lost. The Peterhead life-boat was and they were thrown into the sea. They also launched, but she, and naval vessels managed to get back to the boat and to which joined in the search, found nothing.- hold on, although at times they had to let go Rewards, £6 and 9s. for fuel used. The six men as the boat turned over in the heavy seas. generously returned their rewards as a gift Two men put out in a small rowing boat and, to the Institution. Three of them wrote : with some difficulty and at some risk in the “ We don’t wish any gain for ourselves. We rough sea, rescued the two aircraftsmen. only tried to help the men who are risking They had then been in the water for about their lives day and night to keep our country 15 minutes. - Rewards, £1 18s. safe “. (See Peterhead, “Accounts of Services by TEESMOUTH, YORKSHIRE. Shortly before Life-boats,” page 37.) 10 in the morning of the 17th March, 1942, a Hudson aeroplane fell into the sea three WHITBY, YORKSHIRE. At 9.42 in the miles N.E. of Saltscar. It exploded and burst morning of the 8th April, 1942, the coast. into flames. A moderate southerly wind was guard reported that the motor fishing coble blowing, but the sea was smooth. The cox- Spray, of Whitby, was showing a distress swain of the Teesmouth life-boat put out signal one mile north of Whitby pier. A in his motor boat with his two sons, who were strong W.S.W. wind was blowing, with a naval ratings, and three unknown airmen. choppy sea. The life-boat coxswain decided They soon reached the scene and saw wreck- that the job could be done by a fishing coble, age floating and several bodies, but there and with two other men he put off in the were no survivors. An R.A.F. rescue launch motor fishing coble Rosamund. They found then arrived and took over the work, picking SERVICES 1942 65 up several bodies. The Redcar motor life- however, useless for her to come alongside boat also put out and picked up one body. the pier, as it had been cut in two to prevent Six airmen had lost their lives. - Rewards, it from being used in an invasion, and there £2 17s. to the coxswain and his sons and 4s. was no way of getting ashore except by boat. for fuel used. Realising this, the mechanic told the coast- (See Redcar, “Accounts of Services by guard, and it was decided not to launch the Life-boats,” page 32.) life-boat, but to make use of a rowing boat, although a fresh N.E. wind was blowing, with COLWYN BAY, DENBIGHSHIRE. Just after a nasty swell. The life-boat’s coxswain, the noon on the 8th April, 1942, a British aero- motor mechanic and the assistant motor plane came down in the sea half a mile off mechanic put off in a boat, and, at the Colwyn Bay pier. A strong S.S.W. wind was request of the naval officer-in-charge, gave blowing and the sea was rough. Three their help to the captain of the barge and the soldiers from a Colwyn Bay camp put out salvage party which he had on board. They at once in a rowing boat, found the rubber were engaged in this work from eight in the dinghy from the aeroplane, with four air- morning until six in the evening. - Rewards, men on board, off Llysfaen, and took it in £1 17s. 6d. tow ; but they could make no headway against the wind and sea, with the dinghy in HASTINGS, SUSSEX. At 1.18 in the after- tow, and had to give up the attempt to reach noon of the 17th May, 1942, the Fairlight the shore. A motor boat had also put out, coastguard reported that the local fishing manned by a special constable, his son and boat Good Luck had been machine-gunned by another man. They took over from the a German aeroplane about one and a half rowing boat the towing of the rubber dinghy miles S.E. of Hastings harbour. A light with the airmen, and landed them at 1.40 westerly wind was blowing and the sea was in the afternoon. The soldiers, with no smooth. It was nearly high water. On shore dinghy in tow, were able to row back to the there was an air-raid alert. The life-boat Shore. - Rewards to the crew of the motor coxswain and four other men put off in a boat, £1 17s. 6d. and 4s. for fuel used. The motor boat, met the Good Luck about half a soldiers could not be traced. mile out, and escorted her into harbour. No (See Llandudno, “ Accounts of Services by one on board was wounded, but the boat Life-boats,” page 37.) herself was holed and making water.- Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. to five men, £1 to ten WALMER, KENT. At 1.58 in the afternoon helpers and 1s. 6d. for fuel used. of the 12th April, 1942, the Deal coastguard reported to the Walmer life-boat station that SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK. At 11.30 at night a British aeroplane was down in the sea, and on the 17th May, 1942, the coastguard the airman afloat in a rubber dinghy about reported that an aeroplane had crashed about one mile east of Walmer Castle. A light S.E. two miles E. by N. of the coastguard station. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. At A light southerly wind was blowing and the 2.14 P.M. a motor fishing boat put out, manned sea was smooth. As the life-boat was having by the station officer of coastguard, the life- her annual overhaul, twelve life-boatmen put boat coxswain, mechanic, bowman and one off in two fishing boats at about 11.45 P.M. of the life-boat crew. When she was about A minesweeper, which had her searchlight two hundred yards off the airman the fishing on, reported that she had seen an aeroplane boat was passed by an R.A.F. rescue launch crash, and the military searchlight on shore which rescued the airman and took him to was also switched on, but the two boats Dover. A man also put out from Kingsdown, found nothing, although they searched until but he also did not reach the spot until after 2 next morning. The Cromer life-boat also the R.A.F. rescue launch. - Rewards, came out, and the fishing boats left her there £1 17s. 6d. to three of the men. The others, to continue the search. - Rewards, £10 and being Deal men, were rewarded by the Bevan 10s. for fuel used. Trustees of Deal and Broadstairs. (See Cromer, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 39.) BEER, DEVON. A few minutes before 11 at night of the 12th April, 1942, a Beau- JUNE MEETING fighter aeroplane was seen by the coastguard to crash into the sea. A light S.W. wind was PORTREATH, CORNWALL. At 9.10 in the blowing, with a moderate sea. The owner of morning of the 7th January, 1942, a coast- a motor fishing boat, with two other men guard saw a rubber dinghy in the sea one and two police constables, went out to the and a half miles N.W. of Portreath look-out. rescue. They picked up some parts of an A light northerly wind was blowing, with a aeroplane a mile or two south of Beer Head, moderate swell. The harbour company were but found no survivors, and returned at informed, and their motor boat went out, 3 o’clock - Rewards, £6 5s. and 8s. for fuel manned by the harbour master and three used. other men. They picked up one airman. The R.A.F. had been informed, one of its SWANAGE, DORSET. At about eight in the ambulances was waiting when the boat morning of 10th May, 1942, the life-boat returned, and the rescued man was in mechanic saw an invasion barge in difficulties hospital within one and a half hours of the in the bay, and endeavouring to come along- dinghy being sighted. - Rewards, £3 16s. side the pier. She had been badly damaged about the bows, had a lot of water in the GOURDON, KINCARDINESHIRE. At about hold, and could only move astern. It was, 2 in the afternoon of the 29th April, 1942, a 66 SERVICES 1942 small open boat was seen drifting between the Alpha that the aeroplane had come down Gourdon and Johnshaven. A fresh S.E. on land. The Alpha returned at 8.30 P.M.- wind was blowing, with a heavy swell. The Rewards, £5 14s. life-boat coxswain’s motor fishing boat was afloat in the harbour, and the coxswain and CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN. At about five other men put off in her to investigate. 4 in the afternoon of the 6th June, 1942, a They found the drifting boat empty.- small fishing boat had her sail blown away Rewards, £3 and 8s. for fuel used. in a squall in Castletown Bay, a mile from harbour, and drifted towards Langness SILLOTH, CUMBERLAND. While the motor Point. There was one man on board. The fishing boat Roamer, of Silloth, was returning accident was seen by Mr. W. F. Haworth, from fishing in Allonby Bay, at 12.13 in the who put off in a motor boat, but before he afternoon of the 6th May, 1942, her crew of could reach the sailing boat she had grounded five saw a Hudson aeroplane crash, about a near Langness Lighthouse and the man had mile south of Silloth Lighthouse. The sea got safely ashore. - Reward, a letter of thanks was calm. The motor boat went to the help to Mr. W. F. Haworth. of the airmen, and found that they were unhurt and had got on to a sandbank. They JULY MEETING waded from it to the boat, and were brought ashore. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. and 8s. 6d. for MEENLARAGH, Co. DONEGAL. At about fuel used. The rewards were returned as a four in the afternoon of 7th March, 1942, the donation. motor boat Pride of Drumcliffe, with a crew of six men, was returning to the mainland ABERYSTWYTH, CARDIGANSHIRE. At 5 in with mails from Tory Island. As she got the evening of the 10th May, 1942, the coast- near the island in Innishbofin Bay, she saw guard saw a rowing boat belonging to the schooner Loch Ryan, of Skibbereen, in Aberystwyth University in difficulties about difficulties. Her engine had broken down. a mile N.W. of the promenade. Then she The tide was at flood, and a strong S.E. wind filled with water and capsized. A fresh to was blowing, with a choppy sea. It was strong S.E. wind was blowing, with a swell. raining. The place where the schooner lay Prompt steps were taken by the coastguard, was full of reefs, with the water swirling police, life-boatmen, airmen and others, who among them, and no one without local manned three rowing boats and put out. knowledge could have ventured near. The The first boat away, manned by three men, six men in the motor boat made at once for saved four men who were clinging to the the schooner, rescued the crew and landed upturned boat. The two other boats, them. The schooner herself went ashore on manned by three and six men, reached the Innishdoe Island, in a heavy squall, and scene a little later and searched for two became a total loss. - Rewards, £6 and 12s. 6d. other men. One of the two had swum for fuel used. ashore. The other was drowned. - Rewards, £6 15s. LOCHBOISDALE, HEBRIDES. At about 2.20 in the afternoon of the 4th May, 1942, DYMCHURCH, KENT. At 2.24 in the after- a Sunderland flying boat crashed at Gasay noon of the 22nd May, 1942, a British fighter Island in coming to moorings. A light aeroplane was seen by the Dymchurch coast- southerly wind was blowing, with a moderate guard to fall into the sea about half a mile sea, and it was very cold. The sea transport east of the coastguard station and 200 yards officer called out two herring drifters, each from the shore. A light S.W. wind was with a crew of five. He went aboard one of blowing and the sea was calm, but there was them himself, with a party of six sappers some fog. A man put out alone in a small from the R.E. Docks Group. The flying rowing boat and searched for about an hour, boat had disappeared behind an island in but without success. He had considerable the middle of Lochboisdale, and when the difficulty in launching and getting ashore herring drifters reached it, six minutes after again owing to beach defences. - Reward, £1. the crash, they found twelve of the crew of fourteen, some on the wings of the aeroplane, NEW QUAY, CARDIGANSHIRE. At 5.26 in some on the rocks close by, and two or three the afternoon of the 26th May, 1942, the half in the water and clinging to the rocks. coastguard telephoned the life-boat station Most of the men were injured and suffering that information had been received from from cold and shock. One of the herring Fishguard that an aeroplane was down in drifters returned at once to harbour for the sea two miles N.W. of New Quay. The blankets and brought out additional helpers, position was in full view from New Quay, a clergyman, a police sergeant, a supervisor but from there nothing had been seen. The of the auxiliary coastguard and men of the motor vessel Alpha, belonging to the Lanca- R.A.F. Two crofters, who had seen the shire and Western Sea Fisheries, put out, accident, had also put out in their own open manned by three of her own crew and two motor boat. The three boats quickly brought life-boatmen. The second-coxswain stood the twelve airmen ashore. When the tide by on shore in case the life-boat should be fell, the bodies of the other two airmen were needed. A second message gave the position found in the wrecked flying boat. The as just West of Pen Cribach Head, and the officer commanding at the Royal Air Force motor vessel had to be recalled and given Station at Benbecula wrote that there could this information. A naval motor launch was be no doubt that it was due to the speed with also out searching, and later she signalled which the rescue had been organised and SERVICES 1942 67 carried out that more lives had not been lost. CLOVELLY, DEVON. In the early morning - Rewards to the crew of the three boats, £12, of the 14th June, 1942, a small Dutch steamer and £10 to one of the boats for compensation was bombed and sunk by enemy aeroplanes for gear which she lost. while in convoy some seven miles W. of Hartland Point. The weather was foggy, TIGHNABRUAICH, KYLES OF BUTE. At with a light S.W. wind and a smooth sea. 3.15 in the afternoon of the 21st May, 1942, The crew of the steamer took to their boats. a man was in his front garden when a Sword- The life-boat coxswain put out alone in his fish aeroplane hit the water 600 yards east of motor boat at 5.45 and towed one of the Tighnabruaich pier. The sea was calm, with steamer’s boats, with six Dutch and four a very light westerly wind. The man at once British sailors on board, into Clovelly.- got the help of his next-door neighbour, and Rewards, £2 and 2s. for fuel used. they rowed out to the Swordfish. They rescued the three men on board. All were SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK. At 6.15 in the injured, one badly, and it was only with diffi- evening of the 20th June, 1942, a Spitfire culty, and at some risk of capsizing their boat, aeroplane crashed into the sea half a mile that they got the injured airmen aboard. N.E. of the coastguard station. The weather Then they buoyed the aeroplane and brought was fine, with only a slight swell. The crash the airmen ashore. - Rewards, £1. was seen by the coastguard and by fishermen on the beach, and a rowing boat, with a crew LLANDDWYN, ANGLESEY. At 12.25 in the of five, was away within two minutes, afternoon of the 30th May, 1942, a Botha followed three minutes later by a motor aeroplane was seen to crash into the sea fishing boat, with a crew of eight. The boats about half a mile S.E. of Llanddwyn Island. found the aeroplane under water, but no The wind and sea were moderate, but there survivors. The Sheringham life-boat was was a heavy surf on the beach. Leaving a away for overhaul and the Cromer life-boat woman in charge of their post with instruc- was launched. She and the fishing boats tions to telephone for the R.A.F. rescue launch, tried to raise the aeroplane, but could not two auxiliary coastguards, one aged 59 and do it. - Rewards, £9 10s. and 5s. for fuel used. the other 63, put out in a small boat, which (See Cromer, “Accounts of Services by they launched with the help of visitors. Life-boats,” page 40.) Within twenty minutes of the crash they reached the aeroplane. Her wings were just awash. They found and rescued a badly SCARBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE. At 5.30 in the morning of the 26th June, 1942, three injured airman. The other airman had been men coming home in a motor fishing boat trapped inside and drowned. At one o’clock the R.A.F. rescue boat from Belan arrived saw an R.A.F. Halifax bomber crash on the rocks about a mile north of Scarborough. and took aboard the rescued man. - Rewards, The weather was fine. The airmen succeeded £2. in getting out of the aeroplane and into a dinghy with difficulty. The fishermen WALMER, KENT. At about 2.50 P.M. on changed their course, took the airmen aboard the 5th June, 1942, two aeroplanes collided, their boat, and brought them to Scarborough. caught fire and crashed into the sea a mile and three-quarters east of the life-boat - Rewards, £1 10s. and 2s. 6d. for fuel used. station. The sea was moderate, with a light northerly wind. The motor boat Terrier was NEWQUAY, CORNWALL. At 10.10 in the launched, manned by the life-boat’s second- morning of the 26th June, 1942, a Skua coxswain, assistant mechanic and a member aeroplane of the Fleet Air Arm crashed in of the crew. On nearing the spot they saw the sea three miles N.N.E. of Towan Head. an airman floating in the sea, and directed The weather was fine and the sea smooth. a speed boat to him, which very quickly The crew of two airmen got into their dinghy. rescued him. - Rewards, 12s. 6d. to one man; The aeroplane sank about half an hour later. the services of the others, being Deal men, A fisherman, in his motor boat, at once went were reported to the local Bevan Trustees. to the dinghy, took off the two airmen, and landed them at 10.55. - Rewards, 12s. 6d. NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. At about 4.45 and 2s. 6d. for fuel used. in the afternoon of 7th June, 1942, the life- boat coxswain saw a number of children ILFRACOMBE, DEVON. At 6 in the evening playing on a sandbank south of New Brighton of the 28th June, 1942, a fisherman and his landing stage. A moderate sea was running, two sons were returning from fishing in their with a fresh N.W. wind blowing, and the tide motor boat when they saw a man and a was rising. The coxswain warned the woman on Lee Cliffs. They were in bathing children, but they took no notice, and a little dresses and had been cut off by the tide later it was seen that they had been trapped after bathing. A light westerly wind was by the rising tide, and were in grave danger blowing and the sea was calm, but there was of being swept away and drowned. The cox- some wash among the rocks. As the fisher- swain, the assistant motor-mechanic, and men could not land from the motor boat they another life-boatman put out in the life-boat’s went to Ilfracombe for a rowing boat and motor boarding boat, and rescued the ropes. With the help of these they got the children. There were 25 of them, and by the man and woman down the cliff to the boats time the last had been taken on board the and then took them back to Lee. - Rewards, sandbank was nearly covered by the tide.- £2 17s. and 5s. for fuel used. A gift was also Rewards, £1 5s. received from the woman. 68 SERVICES 1942

SEPTEMBER MEETING N.N.W. wind was blowing. The boys could not make Castletown, and had anchored half FRASERBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. On the a mile to the south. Two men, Mr. Wm. Myl- 11th June, 1942, a Spitfire aeroplane was chreest and Mr. John Kellet, put out in a on a practice flight when the engine failed motor boat and towed the sailing boat into and the pilot landed on the sea. There was harbour. - Rewards, letter of thanks to the a slight swell with a light N.E. wind. The men, who had been rewarded by the father aeroplane sank at once and the pilot swam of the boys. for the shore. The accident had been seen from the shore and two men put out in a CADGWITH, CORNWALL. At about 10.38 motor boat. Guided by seagulls circling, the in the morning of the 19th July, 1942, an men went at once to the right spot and picked airman was seen to bale out of a Spitfire up the pilot. He was unable to speak, and aeroplane which had crashed into the sea the men cut away his collar and tie and gave about one and half miles S.E. of Cadgwith. him artificial respiration. - Rewards, £1. A moderate northerly wind was blowing, with a slight sea. Four men went out in a motor PETERHEAD, ABERDEENSHIRE. Shortly fishing boat and rescued the pilot, who was before 12.30 in the afternoon of the 28th in his rubber dinghy. - Rewards, £2 10s. and June, 1942, two boys (brothers) were playing 5s. for fuel used. on the shore at Burnhaven with a raft made of ship’s hatch covers and an old table. The WHITSTABLE, KENT. On the morning of tide was four hours flood, with a light the 22nd July, 1942, two men from the N.N.W. wind and a slight sea. Wind and R.A.F. range at Shellness put out in a small tide carried the raft seawards and the boys dinghy to attend a target 900 yards seawards. called for help. Three men put off in a While they were so engaged the tide turned, rowing boat and brought them ashore.- and the current coming down the Swale, Rewards, £1 10s. and 5s. for the use of the helped by a squall, drove the dinghy sea- boat. wards. She made no distress signals, but three men in a Whitstable motor fishing boat PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM. About 1 in the saw that the dinghy was in difficulties and afternoon of the 4th July, 1942, a small went to her help. It was then 10.30 in the pulling boat, with one man on board, was morning. They took the two airmen on seen to be in difficulties in a north-westerly board and brought them and their dinghy direction about two miles from Ramore Head. to Shellness. - Rewards, £1 17s. 6d. and 2s. 6d. A light but increasing southerly off-shore for fuel used. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. Four men put out in a motor boat, but they MABLETHORPE, LINCOLNSHIRE. At about ran out of fuel and had to return. Another 12.50 in the afternoon of 16th August, 1942, motor boat, with a crew of five, then put off, an aeroplane crashed into the sea between and towed the small boat, drifting some five Theddlethorpe and Saltfleet. Mr. C. Moun- miles off, to Portrush. - Rewards, £3 10s. and tain, Eastern Sea Fisheries Officer, and his 9s. for fuel used. assistant officer, Mr. H. West, put off in the Eastern Sea Fisheries boat. There were no PORT ST. MARY, ISLE OF MAN. At about survivors, but they found the aeroplane and 6.45 in the evening of the 10th July, 1942, rescued the bodies of the airmen. - Rewards, the sailing yacht Diana, of Castletown, was Letters of thanks to Mr. C. Mountain and seen to be in distress in Carrick Bay, near the Mr. H. West. Poolvaaish Rocks. A northerly gale was blowing, with a very choppy sea. The cox- BOULMER, NORTHUMBERLAND. At about swain and motor-mechanic of the life-boat 5.30 in the afternoon of the 18th August, met a motor boat. with three men on board, 1942, a Botha training aeroplane and a as she came in from a pleasure trip, returning Lysander, towing a target, collided in the air. on account of the bad weather, and asked the The Botha crashed into the sea about one and men if they would put out again to the rescue. a half miles N.E. of the life-boat station, and This they did, the coxswain and motor- the Lysander crash-landed in a field about mechanic going with them, and they came up half a mile S. of the station and burst into with the Diana when she was only 100 yards flames, but her crew of two got clear. A light from the rocks. She had two men on board, S.E. wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. and they had been fishing in Perwick Bay. Three fishing boats put out to the help of When the gale sprang up they had tried to the Botha, with eleven men on board, and a make harbour, but their mainsail was badly fourth boat, on her way home from fishing, torn. They were helpless, and were blown with a crew of three, changed course and also two and a half miles before they were went to the rescue. They found an empty rescued. Had the rescuers been a little later rubber dinghy, a dead body and a severely in reaching the yacht they would have found injured man, who died. - Rewards, £7 and her smashed against the rocks, and the two 10s. for fuel used. men in great danger of losing their lives.- Rewards, £5 and 5s. for fuel used. BARROW, LANCASHIRE. A Barrow motor pilot boat put out on the 20th August, 1942, CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN. At 4.30 in to help an aeroplane which had crashed.- the afternoon of the 18th July, 1942, a small Rewards, £5 and 12s. for fuel used. sailing boat was reported to be in difficulties. (See Barrow and Millom, “ Services by She had only boys on board. A strong Shore-boats, 1943,” page 56.) SERVICES 1942 69

NEW QUAY, CARDIGANSHIRE. At 12.12 in of the aeroplane. One swam ashore. The the afternoon of the 20th August, 1942, the boat picked up the other. Another airman coastguard saw that a rowing boat, with four had swum out to help, and he was also picked people on board, was in difficulties half a up by the boat. The two rescued men were mile east of New Quay pier. A strong transferred to a motor launch, which reached squally N.W. wind was blowing, with a the scene a few minutes later. - Rewards, moderately rough sea. A motor boat, with letters of thanks to Messrs. C. Stideford, H. a crew of two, which had just come in from Jenkins and William J. Guy, Junior. fishing, was sent off. She found that the people in the rowing boat were visitors. LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE. On the 20th They had lost an oar, and their boat was August, 1942, six men were fishing from the drifting rapidly away. The motor boat motor fishing boat Renown, of Lossiemouth, brought them in. - Rewards, £1 and 2s. for about three and a half miles off Lossiemouth, fuel used. when a Whitley bomber made a forced landing on the sea 500 yards away. The men CADGWITH, CORNWALL. At 9.40 in the buoyed their nets, went at once to the aero- evening of the 21st August, 1942, a Beau- plane, and rescued her crew of five from their fighter aeroplane crashed into the sea a quarter dinghy. - Rewards, £3. of a mile off Church Cove. A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a slight sea. The WOOLTACK POINT, PEMBROKESHIRE. At crash was heard, but not seen from the beach, 9.45 in the evening of the 1st September, and within eight minutes a motor boat with 1942, the coastguard watchman saw a a crew of four was away. Ten minutes later flashing white light about two miles away a second motor boat, also with a crew of four, to the north-west. Three-quarters of an put out. The first boat picked up a dead hour later it was still flashing. He thought airman off Church Cove, and the second boat that it was a vessel signalling, but the signals salved some wreckage. The first boat put were not understood, and three auxiliary out again, this time with a crew of six, coastguards, one of them a woman, put out including an R.A.F. doctor and a police in a motor boat to investigate. They made constable, and picked up some equipment. a thorough search, but found nothing, and A punt also went out, manned by four men, returned at one next morning. - Rewards, £3 but found nothing. - Rewards, £13 and 8s. and 5s. for fuel used. for fuel used. BLACKROCK, Co. CORK. On the afternoon WATCHET, SOMERSET. At 10.40 in the of the 6th September, 1942, John Duffy, a morning of the 29th August, 1942, an army boy of six, was playing in a boat moored in officer reported to the life-boat’s second- the River Lee, and he fell into the water. coxswain that a party of bathers was in David Hegarty aged ten, and Laurence Canny, difficulties near Helwell Point. A S.W. wind aged twelve, returning from blackberrying, was blowing, with some swell. The second- saw him in the water, clinging to the mooring coxswain and two other life-boatmen at rope of the boat from which he had fallen. once put off in a rowing boat and found ten These two boys hauled on the mooring rope soldiers on ledges of rock under the precipi- so as to keep him above water. Then one tous cliffs. One of them was being given first of them got into another boat. This boat the aid. The boat took him on board and six first boy pulled towards John Duffy, and the others and landed them in Helwell Bay. boy in it was able to catch hold of him and She then returned and rescued the other drag him ashore. The two boys took him three. - Rewards, £1 17s. 6d. to one of their homes, gave him tea and dry clothes, and then took him home. - Rewards, HASTINGS, SUSSEX. At 10.10 in the letters of appreciation to the two boys. morning of the 2nd September, 1942, a para- chute was seen to come down into the sea. BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE. At 12.50 P.M. A light S.W. wind was blowing, with a slight on the 12th September, 1942, the coast- swell. Two men put out in a motor boat. guard reported to the life-boat coxswain They did not find the parachute, but they that a man in a coble was waving his arms, picked up the canister of a smoke bomb and that the coble was in broken water off which had been dropped about eight miles Flamborough Head. A light easterly wind out to guide the Hastings life-boat, which was blowing, with a moderate sea. A watch was also searching. - Rewards, £1 5s. and 8s. was kept on the boat, and it was decided for fuel used. that, instead of the life-boat, a motor coble should put out as soon as the tide had risen OCTOBER MEETING sufficiently to launch her. At 3.25 P.M. the life-boat coxswain and two other men put PORTH HELLICK, SCILLY ISLES. At about out in a motor coble. They found that the 4 in the afternoon of the 4th June, 1942, a coble in distress had lost her propeller and Tiger Moth aeroplane, the engine of which was drifting under sail. The two men on had failed, fell into the sea about fifty yards board had intended to try and beach her. off the shore at Porth Hellick. The accident The motor coble towed her into Bridlington was seen by Mr. C. Stideford, who was at harbour. - Rewards, £1 17s. 6d. and 2s. 6d. work in a field two hundred yards away. He for fuel used. ran to his home, telephoned the coastguard and, with two other men, put off in a small MARGATE, KENT. At 7.45 in the morning rowing boat. The two airmen had got clear of 20th September, 1942, three men (aged 71, 70 SERVICES 1942

69 and 16) went out in their motor launch to sea was very choppy, but the weather was fish. The wind was light, but the sea was clear. Three men at once put off in a fishing choppy. As the men put out they saw a boat. The parachute was drifting fast with rescue launch on its way to look for a Stirling the wind and tide, but they picked it up bomber which had crashed three and a half about one and a half miles seaward of Red- miles out at sea. The three fishermen had hough Bay. No airman was found. The just got out their gear when they heard a life-boats at Dunbar and St. Abbs also took shout and saw three airmen in the water part in the search, but they found nothing. holding on to one another. The fishermen - Rewards, £2 17s. and 3s. for fuel used. got them on board their boat at once. One (See Dunbar and St. Abbs, “Accounts of of the men was unconscious and they tried services by Life-boats,” page 50.) to revive him, but he was dead. They then hauled in their net and brought the airmen NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. Shortly before into harbour, where they landed them at 9.30. 7 in the evening of the 18th October, 1942, The rescue launch picked up two other air- a man reported at the life-boat house that men. - Rewards, £3 and 10s. for fuel used. some boys in a boat, moored off Egremont stage, were waving for help. A moderate NOVEMBER MEETING N.W. wind was blowing. The sea was smooth, but the weather was misty. The life-boat LYNMOUTH, DEVON. At eight in the coxswain, second-coxswain and motor- evening of the 2nd September, 1942, a visitor mechanic put off in the life-boat’s motor reported that several people could be heard boarding boat. They searched all the boats shouting for help beneath the cliffs to the in the neighbourhood, but could find no trace east of the harbour. A light westerly wind of the boys. They returned at 8 P.M., and was blowing, but the sea was smooth and the then learned that an empty boat had been weather was fine. The honorary secretary picked up off Seacombe. Evidently the boys of the life-boat station, Mr. T. F. Bevan, the had climbed from this boat into the moored second-coxswain, a seaman and a policeman, boat, and then been taken off before the put out in a rowing boat. Dusk had fallen, boarding boat arrived. - Rewards, £1 10s. but the boat was guided by shouts, and found among the rocks two young men and two SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK. Shortly after young women and also two boys. The boys seven in the morning of 30th October, 1942, had climbed down the cliffs to reassure the a damaged Halifax bombing aeroplane others. The boat was taken in among the crashed into the sea east of Sheringham. rocks, and the six people waded out to her. A strong E.N.E. wind was blowing, with a She was only a 16-feet boat, and she now had moderate swell. Her crew of six Polish air- ten people on board her. She got back to men were rescued from their dinghy by the Lynmouth at ten o’clock. - Rewards, a letter Sheringham life-boat. A motor fishing boat, of thanks to Mr. T. F. Bevan and £2 15s. with six men on board, also put out to the given to the other three men. The rescued rescue, but she arrived just after the life- people also gave a reward. boat. The six men knew that the life-boat was putting out, but, seeing the airmen in MAIDENS, AYRSHIRE. Just after seven the water, being half a mile nearer to them o’clock in the morning of 11th September, than the life-boat station, and knowing that 1942, a British aeroplane crashed into the every moment was vital, they also went to sea. A light S.W. wind was blowing, and the the rescue. - Rewards, £3 and 2s. 6d. for fuel sea was smooth. She crashed near two boats used. which were fishing in Maidens Bay. They (See Sheringham, “ Accounts of Services were owned by Mr. A. MrCrindle and Mr. T. by Life-boats,” page 50.) Sloan. They went at once to the aeroplane, and Mr. MrCrindle rescued two airmen and GLENBARR, KINTYRE, ARGYLLSHIRE. At Mr. Sloan one, before the R.A.F. launch from about 8.15 in the evening of the 2nd Novem- Girvan arrived. One airman was lost.- ber, 1942, a Fleet Air Arm aeroplane engaged Rewards, letters of thanks to Mr. McCrindle on night flying exercises crashed into the sea and Mr. Sloan, who did not wish to have west of Glenecardoch Point, near Glenbarr, money rewards. Kintyre. Her crew of thrce succeeded in swimming to a rock off the shore, but were WESTON, DEVON. At 2.45 in the after- too exhausted to attempt to swim further. noon of 21st September, 1942, a Weston The news was telephoned to Campbeltown. watcher told the coastguard at Beer Head An aeroplane was sent to drop flares, and a that a bather was in difficulties about twenty rescue boat was summoned from Port Ellen yards off Weston Beach. A strong S.W. and a naval boat from Tarbert. Meanwhile, wind was blowing, with a slight sea. Four people who were nearest the scene sent for a men, one of them a police constable, put off man living about three miles further north. from Beer in a motor boat, but found nothing. His boat had been drawn up for the winter Later the body of the bather was washed but he quickly launched it, with another man, ashore. - Rewards, £5 and 3s. for fuel used. rowed to the aeroplane and rescued the three airmen who were slightly injured. On their COCKBURNSPATH, BERWICKSHIRE. About way home the rescuers met the rescue boat.- mid-day on the 5th October, 1942, an airman Rewards, £12 10s. dropped by parachute into the sea between Cockburnspath and Fast Castle. A very NEWQUAY, CORNWALL. Just after noon strong westerly wind was blowing, and the on the 3rd November, 1942, a Hudson aero- SERVICES 1942 71 plane struck the sea and blew up about six fresh wind. The master of the fishing boat miles west of Towan Head. The weather cut away and buoyed his gear, made for the was fine, with a light N.E. wind and a smooth aeroplane’s dinghy and rescued the crew of sea. A fishing boat, with two men on board, five airmen. He gave them a meal and took was within half a mile of the spot where the them to Ayr. - Rewards, £2 for fuel. aeroplane had crashed and went at once to the rescue, but all she found was the bodies FARA, ORKNEYS. At about 2.20 in the of three airmen. - Rewards, £2 10s. and 3s. afternoon of the 11th November, 1942, an for fuel used. aeroplane exploded in the air, and the pilot came down by parachute in Fara Sound. DECEMBER MEETING the accident was seen by the coastguard. A man put out in his motor boat about 2.45, GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE. At about 9.30 in rescued the pilot at 3 o’clock and landed him the mornmg of the 7th October, 1942, a on Fara. - Rewards, £1. military aeroplane crashed into the sea about four miles, N.N.W. of Girvan. The sea was BEER, DEVON. At 6.5 in the evening of calm, with a light westerly wind. The the 12th November, 1942, the Beer Head Fraserburgh motor fishing boat Primrose, coastguard learned that the motor fishing which was already at sea, picked up two boat Florence May, of Beer, with one man airmen. Two others were rescued by a aboard, had not returned. A light N.N.E. rescue launch. - Rewards, a letter of thanks wind was blowing, with a slight sea, and to the master of the Primrose, William Good- visibility was poor. The fishing boat Sylvia, brand, and his crew. with a crew of two, put out at 6.30, but could not find the missing boat, and returned at ST. AGNES, SCILLY ISLES. At about 10.45 8.50 P.M. An R.A.F. speed boat also searched in the morning of the 1st November, 1942, without success. A further search was a Hurricane aeroplane crashed into the sea arranged, and at daybreak the following about a quarter of a mile south by west from morning the Sylvia again put out and also Camper Drizzle Point, St. Agnes. Smoke the fishing boat Gem, with a crew of two. was seen pouring from it. The weather was Aeroplanes searched, but failed to see the fine and the sea smooth. Boats put out both missing boat, and the Gem found her at from St. Agnes and St. Mary’s, five in all, anchor, with a broken propeller shaft, ten manned by sixteen men. One of them miles S.S.E. of Beer, and towed her to Beer, rescued the pilot who was only half conscious. arriving at 12.20 P.M. - Rewards, £7 12s. 6d. It was then only ten minutes after the crash. Two of the boats which went out belonged to CLOVELLY, DEVON. At about 2 in the the war department, and were manned by afternoon of the 30th November, 1942, a their regular crews. To those no rewards small motor trawler, a mile to the north of were made. One of the men did not desire Clovelly, put up a distress signal. She was to have a money reward, and to him a letter The Pansy, on passage from Appledore to of thanks was sent. - Rewards to the remain- Padstow. She had been bought by the bow- ing men, £5 10s. and £1 14s. 6d. for fuel used. man of the Padstow life-boat, and he was taking her to Padstow with the help of two ABERYSTWYTH, CARDIGANSHIRE. At about other men. These two men were not sailors 4.15 in the afternoon of the 6th November, and were sea-sick. The engine had broken 1942, the coastguard saw an aeroplane crash down, and the anchor chain was not long into the sea half a mile off Wallog, some enough to allow the boat to anchor. A three miles N.N.E. of Aberystwyth Castle. squally fresh north wind was blowing. The A S.S.E. wind was blowing, with a rough sea. Clovelly life-boat coxswain and a former The coastguard ran and told the owner of second-mechanic put out in a rowing boat, the motor boat Emerald Star, which had just boarded The Pansy, got her engine going, returned from fishing. With a crew of four and brought her into Clovelly HIarbour.- the motor boat put out, and found the aero- Rewards, £1 18s. plane with her tail above water at 4.45 P.M. She picked up one airman and two bodies. CADGWITH, CORNWALL. At 3.40 in the The Aberystwyth and Barmouth life-boats morning of the 1st December, 1942, calls for both put out, but were not needed.- help were heard from the sea about half a Rewards, £5 14s. and 6s. for fuel used. mile south of Cadgwith Cove. The sea was (See Aberystwyth and Barmouth, “Ac- calm. A coastguard officer and another man counts of Services by Life-boats,” page 51.) put out in a rowing dinghy and found the fishing boat Willie, of Falmouth. Her crew AILSA CRAIG, AYRSHIRE. On the 7th were father and son. The father had col- November, 1942, the Buckie motor fishing lapsed. The coastguard officer at once boat Frugality was out fishing when an Anson returned ashore in the dinghy to get further aeroplane, whose engines had failed, circled help, and sent it out again with two other round her and came down in the sea one and men on board. The sick man was brought a half miles away, three miles E.S.E. of ashore and the doctor found that he had had Ailsa Craig. The sea was moderate with a a stroke. - Rewards, £4. Services by Auxiliary Rescue-boats

Launches 6 Lives rescued 3 COURTOWN, Co. WEXFORD. At 5.40 in the mast and flag. The buoy was towed ashore afternoon of the 22nd of October, 1942, the at 11.30 A.M. - Rewards, £3 16s. and 9s. 6d. honorary agent received information that the for fuel. local motor fishing boat St. Mary was in difficulties about three miles to the north of TEELIN, Co. DONEGAL. On the morning Courtown pier. A moderate to squally of the 14th of November, 1942, the Carrigean south-west wind was blowing and the sea was Head coastwatchers reported that there was unsettled. The skipper of the auxiliary something like a boat about two miles off rescue-boat was consulted and ten minutes the Head. The auxiliary rescue-boat was at later she left the harbour. She overhauled Killybegs and information was at once sent the fishing boat, which, with her engine to the skipper through the civic guard at broken down, was being driven farther north Carrick. The rescue-boat set out for the by wind and tide. The crew of three of the Head, fourteen miles distant, but when near- disabled fishing boat had been fishing all day. ing the position met another local boat. She They were cold and hungry. The rescue- had the thing in tow. It was a large tank. boat took them in tow and reached Courtown No rewards desired ; cost of fuel, 3s. 2d. again at 7.30 that evening. - Rewards, £5 12s. 6d. and 6s. 4d. for fuel used. SCALASAIG, COLONSAY, HEBRIDES. On the 2nd of December, 1942, a telephone message was received from the R.A.F. Oban, through DINGLE, Co. KERRY. About 8.30 in the the Colonsay coastguard, that a dinghy had evening of the 27th of October, 1942, the been seen in position 56 04 N. 06 20 W. The motor fishing boat Angelus Bell, of Dingle, sea was calm, with a light north-west wind. broke down off Blasket Strand, and a tele- It was thought that an aeroplane might have phone call from Blasket Island asked for a crashed, and it was uncertain if anyone was boat to tow her in. A light northerly wind in the dinghy. The auxiliary rescue-boat was blowing and the sea was calm. The put out at 3.55 P.M. and after making a wide auxiliary rescue-boat put out with a crew of but fruitless search returned at eight o’clock five and, off Ventry, found the Angelus Bell. that evening. Two aeroplanes were also out She had got her engine going again and made searching. - Rewards, £9 8s. ; cost of fuel, £1 Dingle under her own power. The rescue 7s. 6d. boat was out for about two hours. - No rewards desired ; cost of fuel 8s. MILLOM, CUMBERLAND. On the 27th of December, 1942, a Swordfish aeroplane had MALIN HEAD, Co. DONEGAL. At eight in been reported down in the sea in Millom Bay, the morning of the 2nd of November, 1942, and the auxiliary rescue-boat put out at about a report came from the lightkeeper at Inish- three in the afternoon, in a strong south- trahull that an object, which looked like a westerly wind, with a moderate sea. She boat, could be seen to the eastward. A light searched without success and returned at 1.30 southerly breeze was blowing and the sea was the following morning. The Barrow motor smooth. The auxiliary rescue-boat Jane was life-boat also took part in the search.- launched, manned by a crew of four. About Rewards, £4 14s. and 14s. 9d. for fuel. (See four miles east of Inishtrahull she found Barrow, “Accounts of Services by Life- a 16-feet zeppelin-shaped buoy with anchor, boats,” page 59.)