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

VOL. XXXII DECEMBER, 1949 No. 352

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 156 Motor Life-boats 1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to December 31st, 1949 ... 76,724

Into the Dragon's Mouth IN the afternoon of the 13th of Sept- life-boat's fuel was getting low, a wire- ember, 1949, the Jersey airport rang up less message from St. Helier recalled her the St. Helier life-boat station and and she set her course for home. At asked that the life-boat should help in midnight she passed the beacon Demie the search for a French military aero- de Pas. She was then less than two plane which had come down in the sea miles from St. Helier. She had been to the south-east of St. Helier. Just out for nearly nine hours. Her crew before half past three she put out. were very weary; they had been She was the life-boat Hearts of Oak, knocked about a lot in those heavy from the reserve fleet, doing temporary seas; but they were expecting, in less duty at the station. Coxswain Thomas than half an hour, to be home. King was in command, and Mr. L. P. Stevens, the honorary secretary of the A Yacht in Grave Peril station, went as a member of the crew. A fresh westerly wind was blowing, They had just passed the beacon with heavy squalls. There were heavy when another wireless message came. showers of rain. The sea was rough. A light had been seen near Demie de The St. Peter Port, Guernsey, life-boat Pas. The life-boat turned about at also went out. once to search for it. Though her crew did not know it A Long Search until later, the light was on board a The life-boat travelled some twenty St. Helier yacht, the Maurice Georges. miles south-east of St. Helier. She She was a 10-ton cutter with an searched a wide area, hampered by the auxiliary engine, and she had four on rain squalL and by fog, which at times board. She had left St. Malo that prevented her from seeing more than day for St. Helier on her engine. At 400 yards. She searched for six hours, dusk, when she was off the Demi de but found nothing. Later it was learnt Pas beacon, the engine had failed. She that the aeroplane had come down in anchored there, off a lee shore. It was the area where she was searching, and the only thing that she could do, but had sunk immediately, taking down six in the heavy seas the cable very soon of the crew with her. Three others got parted, and before she could get out a ashore on the French island of Chausey. second anchor she was right among Shortly after half past nine, when the the rocks. There her second anchor 878 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 held for a little, but it would not hold that it would be a rather smaller risk for long, and when it failed it would not to try to tow her out than to venture be many minutes before the yacht was further in. As he passed her a tow- broken into pieces on the rocks. Such rope, her men made it fast, and cut was her position and her plight when the their own cable; the life-boat towed life-boat turned about to look for her. her out. Again all the odds were that life-boat, or yacht, or both would run Into The Dragon's Mouth on the rocks, but they both came into It was not easy to pick up her light, the open sea without touching them. deep among the rocks, and when at last The rescue had taken only fifteen the life-boat saw it, everyone on board minutes, but every minute they had her realised at once into what a terrible been on the edge of destruction. If place they were to go. The chart the life-boat had grounded on a rock gives some idea of its perils. But on in those heavy seas—and all on board the chart the rocks are plain to see. knew it—that would almost certainly- On this very dark night nothing could have been the end of her, and her crew be seen, except the light from the yacht. would have been beaten to death The coxswain could not be certain between the seas.and the rocks. where he was. His knowledge of the Half an hour after midnight the life- coast went for nothing. The strong boat entered St. Helier. She had west wind was blowing against the been out for nine hours. tide, making a very rough sea, and the When the district inspector went in sea was breaking heavily among the the life-boat to the scene of the wreck, rocks, so that from moment to moment it was a flat, calm sea. They lay about the rocks were changing, some out of a mile off. The inspector asked the the water, some awash, some beneath coxswain to get him a bit closer so that it. The tide was ebbing, and the rocks he might see exa'tly where the life- each moment -became more dangerous. boat found the yacht. On this lovely To go among them was to go blindfold, day the coxswain answered: "Oh, no, right into the dragon's mouth. sir, I wouldn't like to go in there now. We might hit something." All the Odds Against Them It added to the dangers that the The Rewards Hearts of Oak, unlike the double- For this most gallant and reso- engined Queen Victoria, had one engine lute service, carried out against the and one screw. But the coxswain did gravest perils by a crew already weary not hesitate. He put men in the bows from a long-and heavy strain, the Insti- of the life-boat with the searchlight to tution has made the following awards: warn him of such rocks as could be seen, To Coxswain THOMAS J. KING, the and went straight in. He well knew gold medal, which is given only for con- the risks; and he took them. He went spicuous gallantry, with a copy of the in faith, trusting to the strong build of vote inscribed on vellum and framed. the life-boat to save him and his crew, This is the first gold medal to be if she should hit anything. All the awarded since 1944; odds were that she would. To each of the seven members of the As he came near the lights of the crew, PHILIP BOITELL, acting-second yacht, he turned her up to throw a line coxswain, KENNETH S. GUBBEY, on board the yacht, and at that moment reserve motor mechanic, B. TALBOT, a very big sea took hold of the life-boat acting assistant mechanic, C. KING, G. and washed her right over a ledge of STAPLEY, R. J. NICOLLE, life-boatmen, rock; but the only remark made was and Mr. J. P. STEVENS, honorary sec-- by one of the crew: "That's one of the retary of the station, the bronze medal, . . . passed anyhow." with a copy of the vote inscribed on The line was thrown, and was seized vellum and framed; by the men on the yacht. The normal To the coxswain and crew a special course would then have been for the reward of £5 each, in addition to the life-boat to stand in close enough to reward of £2 15*. on the ordinary scale; the yacht to be able to take the men ordinary rewards, £18 3s.; additional off her. But the coxswain decided rewards, £40; total rewards, £58 3*. DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 879

ST. HELIER SERVICE TO THE MAURICE GEORGES, 13th 14th SEPTEMBER, 1949

Scale: 1J inches to the mile 380 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

A Bronze Medal Service at Holyhead ON the night of the 25th of October, head to wind and held her there while 1949, a whole northerly gale was blow- seven of the steamer's crew jumped in ing at Holyhead with violent squalls at her. forty and fifty miles an hour. The sea The chief engineer of the Mayflower was very rough; the night dark with was still drawing his fires, and the heavy squalls of rain. master would not leave him. As the A small Liverpool steamer, the May- tide was falling, and as the coastguard flower, with a crew of seven, had had rigged a breeches buoy on shore, anchored off Salt Island Point. The the life-boat did not wait, but left the gale was then blowing from the north- steamer about a quarter to three, and west, but it flew round to the north- the master and engineer were rescued east. The Mayflower was riding to a later by the coastguard. single anchor and when the wind It was a rescue carried out with changed it began to drag. At 1.40 great skill in a heavy gale, and the in the morning the coastguard rang up Institution made the following rewards: the life-boat station. The Mayflower To COXSWAIN RICHARD JONES, a had gone ashore on Salt Island Point. clasp to the bronze medal, which he At five minutes past two the reserve won in 1943, with a copy of the vote life-boat M.O.Y.E., on temporary duty inscribed on vellum and framed; at the station, was launched, and in ten To MAcDoNALD HADDOW, reserve minutes she reached the Mayflower and motor mechanic, who had been in the found her on the rocky spit of Salt service of the Institution only three Island with her stern to the gale. The and a half months and in charge of the coastguard at the look-out turned his engines of this life-boat only one searchlight on the steamer, and in its month, the thanks of the Institution light the life-boat moved in to the inscribed on vellum; steamer. The steamer gave her no To the coxswain and each member lee to shelter in, and with the tide of the crew a special reward of one ebbing, it was increasingly dangerous pound in addition to the reward of so near the rocks, but the coxswain one pound on the ordinary scale; ordin- took the life-boat right alongside her, ary rewards: £7 10s.; special rewards, turning the life-boat so that she lay £7; total rewards, £14 10s.

A Brave Schoolgirl A Holiday at Skipsea looked too. Her mother was right. LAST summer a fifteen-year-old school- There was a large orange-coloured girl was holidaying at Skipsea, near R.A.F. dinghy containing a slight Bridlington. Her home was at Baildon boyish figure, drifting rapidly towards near Shipley, and she was staying with Flamborough Head. The youngster her parents at Sea Cabin Bungalow, was trying to paddle shorewards with Green Lane, which stood near the sea- his hands, but his craft was too large shore. They had taken it so that she for such a small reservoir of strength. could play there with the home-made The dinghy drifted on. Indeed once, raft her father had made for her. Her as they watched, the boy fell back name was Patricia Ann Huntington. exhausted out of sight and it was only The 29th of August was a Monday, when he reappeared to renew his the start to what she fully expected to paddling that they were reassured that be another week of seaside romping and he had not fallen into the sea. fun. She had just finished lunch when her mother, who was at the window, The Raft is Launched said she could see what appeared to be Patricia lost no more time. She a yellow dinghy with a small boy on hurried down to the shore, where a man board, drifting out to sea. Patricia and a youth were already starting to DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 881 launch her improvised raft. It was her raft; and one of them telephoned built of half a dozen five-gallon oil for help. Skipsea control tower re- drums fastened together in two rows layed the message to an R.A.F. rescue of three by a wooden frame. In the launch, patrolling off Skipsea firing middle was a wooden seat. The oars range, and it at once began to search were pieces of plywood attached to for the children. After a cmarter of an broom handles, and the rowlocks a nail hour it sighted them, battling bravely driven into a short post on each side against the ebbing tide but making very of the frame. A loop of wire fastened little headway, and took them on board. to each oar fitted over the nails, Wrapped in blankets and revived with and completed this Heath Robinson hot soup, they seemed little the worse craft. for their adventure. They were quite The sea was choppy and running out cheerful and had not suffered a great fast as she clambered on to the raft. deal from exposure. The launch took With a push from the man, she got them both to Bridlington, where before afloat and began to row towards Mam- long they were handed over to their borough Head, towards the boy in the relieved parents. The whole incident dinghy. It was a very hot day, and the had taken about two hours. wind was blowing off shore. As Pat- ricia rowed, she noticed a man swim- Praise and Reward ming out towards her, but after a while All accounts joined in praising he changed direction, and turning her Patricia Huntington's bravery and head she noticed why. There was resourcefulness. The Flight Sergeant another small boy, also in a dinghy, in command of the R.A.F. launch did about two hundred yards from the not minimise the dangers she risked. beach, and the swimmer had decided They might have been blown out to, sea, to take care of him instead. Patricia and the dinghy and raft overturned, was left to her lone rescue. he reported. The little boy—William Eugene Bottom] ey, aged 10, of Huns- Boy and Girl worth—-not only acknowledged her For almost an hour she paddled on. courage and efforts, but struck a fine When about a mile out to sea she caught note of confidence. "If the R.A.F. up with the first boy in his orange launch had not come, I feel sure that dinghy. He was panicky by now but in spite of the hard work and the current she calmed him down. Neither child she would have got me back to the had a rope, so Patricia persuaded the beach," he said. boy to lean over the side of his dinghy Perhaps Patricia will say there could and hold on to her raft. be no tribute she will prize more; not Meanwhile the little drama had not even the inscribed wrist watch which gone unnoticed. One or two local the Royal National Life-boat Institu- inhabitants had seen Patricia put out tion has awarded her for her plucky to sea, besides those who had launched and hazardous act.

Portrait on the Cover THE portrait on the cover is of Cox- coxswain from 1925 to 1938 and cox- swain Thomas Henry Hutchinson, of swain from 1938 to 1949, when he Bridlington. He has been an officer retired. of the life-boat for 30 years, serving as In those thirty years he took part in bowman from 1919 to 1925, second the rescue of 63 lives.

From a Sailor's Wife THE Institution has received an anonymous gift of £10 from "a sailor's wife." 382 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

Life-boat Services in September, October and November, 1949 87 Lives Rescued

DURING September life-boats went out FALLEN OVER THE CLIFFS on service 71 times and rescued 28 Weymouth, Dorsetshire.—At 7.15 in the lives. evening of the 4th of September, 1949, the coastguard reported that a man had IT WAS THE SCHOONER fallen over White Nose cliffs. In fine " SUSAN VITTERY " weather the life-boat John and Mary New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 3.10 in Meiklam of Gladswood—on temporary the afternoon of the 2nd of September, duty at the station—left her moorings 1949, the Formby coastguard reported at 7.20 p.m. with a doctor on board that there appeared to be a three- and a small boat in tow. She found masted schooner on the revetment, the man on the rocks, where the doctor abreast of C.13 buoy River Mersey. treated him. He was then taken into Accordingly the No. 1 life-boat, William the life-boat, and transferred to a waiting and Kate Johnston, left her moorings ambulance when the life-boat reached at 3.32.. A strong south-easterly breeze harbour again at 10.15 p.m. The was. blowing, _and the sea was choppy. injured man later expressed his thanks. The life-boat found that the schooner— —Rewards, £8 9s. the Susan Vittery, of Cork—had re- floated and was at anchor. The Crosby HARBOUR EXPLOSION lightvessel, on request, wirelessed to Poole and Bournemouth, Dorsetshire.— the shore for a tug, and at the master's At eight o'clock in the evening of the 4th request, the life-boat stood by the of September, 1949, the South bourne Susan Vittery until it took her in tow coastguard reported that a small vessel and escorted her to a safe anchorage. was on fire near Poole harbour entrance. The life-boat returned to her station At 8.5 the life-boat Thomas Kirk Wright at 7.55 that evening.—Rewards, was launched in a rough sea, with'a £9 195. moderate east-south-east gale blowing. She found the yacht Audrey, of Poole, THE SKIPPER AND HIS LITTLE which had had an explosion in her DAUGHTER engine-room, in tow of a fishing boat Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. — At and took the owner on board, returning 3.55 in the afternoon of the 4th of to her station by 9.35. The fishing boat September, 1949, some holiday visitors beached the yacht in Shell Bay.— reported that a boat with a man and a Rewards, £4 19s. small girl on board was on the rocks at the foot of Creadon cliffs. At 4.10 the MAIDEN LAUNCH AT SWANAGE life-boat Annie Blanche Smith left her Swanage, and Weymouth, Dorsetshire.-— moorings, with the honorary secretary, About nine o'clock on the night of the (Mr. A. Westcott Pitt) on board and 4th of September, 1949, the Swanage the life-boat boarding boat in tow. A coastguard telephoned the life-boat south-easterly breeze was blowing; station that red flares had been seen there was a moderate sea. The life- five miles south-east of Shambles. At boat hove-to off shore and the honorary 9.34 he reported that distress signals secretary and two life-boatmen rowed could be seen four miles south of Lul- to the foot of the cliffs in the boarding worth. The new Swanage life-boat boat. There they rescued a man and R.L.P. was thereupon launched on his daughter from their sailing dinghy, service for the first time at 9.53 in a. which had been damaged and washed light south-south-east breeze with a ashore trying to sail round Creadon slight sea and thunder squalls. She Head. The life-boat returned to the spoke the St. Albans Head coastguard harbour with the dinghy in tow, and, receiving a new position, altered arriving at 6.10 that evening.—Re- course to the southward, but found wards, £3. nothing. Then at five minutes past DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 388 midnight, the Wyke Regis coastguard VOYAGE OF THE MAYFLOWER reported to the Weymouth life-boat Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.—At 9.52 authorities that distress signals were on the night of the 7th of September, now reported four and a half miles 1949, the coastguard telephoned that south-east by east of Weymouth Pier. the motor fishing boat Mayflower, which Ten minutes later the life-boat John had gone with a crew of five, to and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood, on SuUskcr Rock for Solan-geese, was temporary duty at the station, left her overdue. A fishery cruiser was look- moorings and set out on this course. ing for her, but about 7.40 the next She found the motor yacht Lilida, of morning it was reported to have given Southampton, with her engines broken up the search. Accordingly at 8.30 down and towed her to Weymouth the life-boat William and Harriot left harbour, which she reached at 2.30. A her moorings. There was a moderate quarter of an hour later the unsuccessful north-westerly gale with a rough sea Swanage life-boat also arrived. She and rain. With the help of an aero- left for her station at 6.15 and reached plane she searched all day, and re- Swanage at 8.45.—Rewards: Swanage, fuelling at Loch Carloway in the even- £21 3s.; Weymouth, Property Salvage ing resumed the search about 9 o'clock Case. that night until she came up with a Norwegian vessel off the Butt of Lewis. BOY'S FALL STOPS ENGINE Learning that she had just released the New B ight n, Cheshire.—At 8.40 in Mayflower from tow, the life-boat the evening of the 5th of September, picked up the crippled fishing boat and 1949, the c xswain of the Hoylake life- towed it herself to Skigersta. She boat telephoned that a fishing boat was arrived back at her station at 5.30 sending up flares in Hilbre Swash. in the morning of the 9th.—Rewards, Accordingly at 9.5 the No. 1 life-boat £36 5s. William and Kate Johnston left her moorings. There was a strong south- YACHT IN TOW south-east breeze and a moderate sea. Weymouth, Dorsetshire.—About five She found the fishing boat Greyhound o'clock in the afternoon of the 8th of with three men and a boy on board. September, 1949, the life-boat William The boy had fallen on the engine, put- and Clara Ryland was returning to her ting it out of action and badly injuring station after overhaul at Cowes when himself. The life-boat wirelessed for she saw distress signals from the motor an ambulance to be ready and towed yacht Juliette two miles south-west of the boat to New Brighton, where she St. Alban's Head. A fresh south- landed the boy and took the Greyhound westerly breeze was blowing and there to an anchorage. She reached her was a swell. The life-boat found the station again at 12.45 the next morning. yacht with her engine broken down —Rewards, £8 11s. and three men on board, and towed her to Weymouth harbour, which she KETCH ON THE SANDS reached at 7 o'clock in the evening. Ramsgate, Kent. — At 5.48 in the The owner made a gift to the life-boat evening of the 6th of September, 1949, men.—Rewards, £3. the East pier shore attendant tele- phoned that a yacht was on the Brake A TRIPLE TRAGEDY Sands and the life-boat Mary Scott, Eastbourne, Sussex.—About 11.20 in on. temporary duty at the station, left the morning of the llth of September, her moorings at 5.51 in fine weather, '1949, the police reported that a canoe with a smooth sea. She found the had capsized oil Falling Sands. The auxiliary ketch Le Cygne, of London, occupants, a man and his two small hard aground half a mile south of No. 3 children, had been trying to round Brake Buoy, and stood by her until Beachy Head. Ten minutes later the the tide rose sufficiently to put the life-boat Beryl Tollemache was launched, ketch out of danger. She reached in a moderate easterly breeze with a her station again at 7.33.—Rewards, moderate sea. She found the children £6 13s. 6d in the sea one hundred and fifty yards 384 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 off Cow Gap. Two life-boatmen There was a moderate east-north-east jumped overboard and held them up gale, and a rough sea. She found two until they could be lifted into the life- French fishing vessels with the seas boat, where artificial respiration was breaking over them. As they were applied; but no trace of the canoe or washed clear into deeper water, the the man was found. Eventually, the life-boat escorted them to' Ramsgate life-boat returned to her station, arriv- harbour entrance. She then guided ing at 12.20 that afternoon, and trans- into harbour four other Boulogne ferred the children to a waiting ambu- fishing vessels which were in danger lance. It was learned later, however, of going aground, returning finally at that they had died.—Rewards, £18 4s. 12.20 the next morning.—Rewards, £5 18s. A GRATEFUL FATHER Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—At 12.50 in GOLD MEDAL SERVICE AT ST. HEUER the afternoon of the 12th of September, St. Helier, Jersey.—On the 13th of 1949, the chairman of the Youghal life- September, 1949, the life-boat Hearts of boat station telephoned that he was Oak, from the reserve fleet, doing tem- anxious for the safety of his son and porary duty at the station, put out in another man who had left Youghal for search of an aeroplane, but found Cork in the yacht Betty, of Cork. The nothing and returned to her station. wind had freshened, and he thought On her way back she saved the yacht that they might be in difficulties off Maurice Georges and her crew of four. Capel Island. The life-boat Mary Stan- —Rewards, the gold medal to the cox- ford left her moorings at one o'clock in swain, the bronze medal to each of the a strong easterly wind, with a heavy seven men of the crew and £43 Ss. sea. and found the Betty three and a (For a full account of this service see half miles east of Ballycotton Light. page 377). She escorted her to Cork harbour and arrived back at her station at 5.30 in CREWS REVIVED the evening. The chairman of the Youghal station sent his thanks and Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire.—At 2.30 in a gift of money to the life-boatmen.— the afternoon of the 13th of September, —Rewards, £11 10s. 1949, the life-boat mechanic reported that the motor trawler Silver Cloud, of TWO FISHING BOATS ESCORTED Abersoch, was towing to Pwllheli the yacht Runag, of Glasgow, which had Bridlington, Yorkshire.—At 6.22 in gone ashore the previous night in St. the evening of the 12th of September, Tudwals Roads. The two vessels were 1949, the coastguard telephoned that seen to be one and a half miles south- the local fishing vessel Felicity was over- west of the life-boat station but making due. At 8 o'clock he reported that she no headway. A later report said they could be seen broken down two miles were anchored, but about 3.30 the south-east by east of Mappleton. At Runag sailed back to St. Tudwals 8.27 the life-boat Tillie Morrison, Roads, and anchored there. As the Sheffield, was launched in a moderate weather was too bad for a shore-boat easterly breeze with a heavy swell. to put out, a message from Abersoch She found the Felicity in tow of the at 4.35 asked the life-boat to land the fishing boat Winifred, and at the Runag's crew of six, who had had no Winifred's request escorted both vessels food for about ten hours. The life- to harbour, arriving back at her station boat Manchester and Salford XXIX was at 1.20 next morning.—Rewards, £14.- therefore launched at 5 o'clock in a choppy sea, with a fresh easterly breeze FRENCH BOATS ESCORTED blowing, and passed the Silver Cloud, Ranugate, Kent.—At 11.5 on the still immobile. The crew of the Runag night of the 12th of September, 1949, a had already been taken off. however, vessel was reported aground on Quern so the life boat returned to the Silver Head,off the Brake Sands; and at 11.17 Cloud, whose rudder, she discovered, the life-boat Mary Scott, 011 temporary had become unshipped by the tow rope duty at the station, left her moorings. while she was towing the Runag. Her DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 385 er asked to be taken to Pwllheli, The life-boat towed her in and reached so the life-boat gave her crew of four her station again at one o'clock.— food and rum and took her in tow, Rewards, £5 16s. reaching harbour at 8.30.—Rewards, £9 17*. YACHT WITH A BROKEN TILLER REWARD FOR MISSING BRIGAND New Brighton, Cheshire.—At 2.25 in Weymouth, Dorsetshire.—At six o'clock the afternoon of the 16th of September, in the evening of the 15th of September, 1949, the Formby coastguard tele- 1949, a boat owner reported that his phoned that a message had been sailing boat Brigand was missing with received from the Llandudno coast- a man and a woman on board. The guard that a yacht bound for Liverpool life-boat William and Clara Ryland was making heavy weather. The No. 1 was launched at 6.10 in a slight sea, life-boat coxswain and mechanics with a light westerly breeze. The assembled. When no further report Wyke Regis coastguard wirelessed her had been received by 4.10, anxiety was that there was a sailing boat near the felt for the yacht's safety, and so the Shambles Lightvessel; and here the life-boat William and Kate Johnston life-boat found the Brigand drifting and left her moorings at 4.28 in a ve"ry rough towed her in, reaching her station again sea with a strong west-north-west wind. at 7.40.—Rewards, £4 18s. She found the yacht Blue Waters, with a crew of two, off the Bar Lightvessel. Her tiller had broken and she was AN EXHAUSTED CREW sheering badly. The life-boat took Newcastle, Co. Down.—At 9.50 on her in tow, but as she turned 'by the the night of the 15th of September, Crosby Lightvessel the owner of the 1949, the coastguard reported that a yacht was washed overboard. How- motor fishing boat was in distress off ever, the life-boat cut the tow rope and Bloody Bridge and her crew shouting rescued him. Then a life-boatman for help. The life-boat William and boarded the Blue Waters, which was Laura was launched at 10.10 in a again taken in tow to New Brighton moderate sea, with a north-north-west and there moored. The William and breeze, and found the motor fishing Kate Johnston arrived back at her boat Margaret, of Annalong, with a station at 8.2 in the evening.—Rewards, crew of two, two miles south of New- £8 16s. castle harbour. She had lost her Cpeller three miles south of the har- ON TWO DIFFERENT 'PLANES ir while bound for Annalong, and having no sails, her crew had tried to Penlee, Cornwall.—About 3.18 in the row her back. She was now at anchor, afternoon of the 19th of September, but making water; and her crew were 1949, the Penzer Point coastguard tele- exhausted. The life-boat towed them phoned that Culdrose Air Station had to Newcastle harbour and reached her reported a crashed Firefly aeroplane, station again at 10.45.—Rewards, three miles south of Penzer Point. A £18 185. 6d, Sea Otter rescue seaplane had landed near her and could not take off again. The life-boat W. and S. was launched at A.I. FOR LLOYD'S 3.40 in a choppy sea, with a light south- Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. — At easterly breeze blowing, and stood by 11.30 in the night of the 15th of Septem- the seaplane as she taxied across ber, 1949, the parents of a fisherman Mounts Bay. Five miles west of The and two boys reported that their sons Lizard a R.A.F. rescue launch took her had put out in the motor fishing boat in tow and headed for Helford River. Virgin, of Castlebay, but were now The services of the life-boat were overdue. The life-boat Lloyd's left her therefore no longer required. She was moorings at five minutes past midnight recalled to her station, arriving at in a calm sea, with a light northerly 6 o'clock in the evening. The pilot breeze and found the Virgin two miles of the Firefly was rescued by a trawler. out with her engine broken down. —Rewards, £10 Is. 886 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

A DRIFTING SAILING YACHT returned to her station at 12.15 the Tynemoutb, Northumberland.—At 7.12 next morning.—Rewards, £3 7s. in the evening of the 20th of Sep- tember, 1949, the coastguard telephoned FISHING VESSEL IN DISTRESS that a sailing yacht, then two miles to Hastings, Sussex. — At 2.50 in the the south-east, was drifting towards afternoon of the 22nd of September, Frenchman's Point. The life-boat 1949, the coastguard telephoned that a Tynesider, the second coxswain in local fisherman had reported to the charge, was launched at 7.35 in a police that a fishing vessel was making moderate sea, with a moderate north- signals of distress off St. Leonards Pier. easterly breeze. She found the local At 3.7 the life-boat Cyril and Lilian sailing yacht Eve, with a crew of two, Bishop was launched in a slight sea dragging her anchor two hundred yards and with a light south-easterly breeze from the rocks off the Point, and towed blowing. She found the local fishing her to harbour, arriving back at her boat Ena half a mile south of St. station at 9.13. The owner expressed Leonards Pier with a crew of two on his thanks and made a donation to the board and her engine broken down. Institution.—Rewards, £10 16s. The life-boat towed her in, arriving back at her station at 3.45.—Rewards, THE PLEASURES OF ADVENTURE £30 3.9. 6d. Anstruther, Fifeshire.—At 7.29 in the evening of the 21st of September, 1949, COLLISION BETWEEN STEAMER AND the coastguard telephoned a message LIGHTVESSEL from the Methil police that a boat, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.— drifting three miles off East Wemyss, At 4.34 in the morning of the 24th of was making S.O.S. signals on a lamp. September, 1949, the Gorleston coast- The life-boat Nellie and Charlie was guard telephoned that the Cross Sand launched a't eight o'clock, in a slight Lightvessel, which had a crew of seven, swell, with a light east-north-east had reported that she had been in breeze blowing. She found the motor collision and was making water fast. pleasure boat Adventure, of Kirkcaldy, The life-boat Louise Stephens was with a crew of two, broken down and launched at 4.45 in a calm sea, with a her engine room flooded, and towed her south-easterly breeze and heavy rain, to Kirkcaldy harbour. She returned and secured alongside at six o'clock. to her station, arriving at 2.45 the next The life-boatmen who went aboard morning.—Property Salvage Case. learnt that the S.S. Cairo City, in tow of a tug, had struck her bow. The " SUSAN VITTERY " IN TROUBLE Lightvessel received directions from AGAIN the local Superintendent of Trinity Roulare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At House to prepare to slip anchor; 10.59 on the night of the 21st of Septem- accordingly the life-boat towed her ber, 1949, the life-boat coxswain saw a astern until -she eased her mooring vessel in the Bay firing red flares and chain, and then stood by her until rockets. At 11.12 the life-boat Mabel tugs and the Trinity House vessel Marion Thompson left her moorings in Warden took her in tow. Afterwards a very rough sea, with a north-easterly the life-boat accompanied them to gale blowing. She found the ninety- Yarmouth harbour, reaching her station years-old motor schooner Susan Vittery, again at 12.30 that afternoon.-—Re- of Cork (bound with coal for Youghal, wards, £22 12s. 6d. with a crew of four), anchored a quarter of a mite north-west of Rosslare pier A STUBBORN SWEDE lighthouse. She was rolling badly, Hartlepool, Durham.—At 10.5 on the making very heavy weather, and leak- night of the 24th of September, 1949, in ing. Her skipper asked the life-boat to dense fog, the coastguard telephoned land him and his crew. The Mabel that he thought the motor vessel Marion Thompson therefore went along- Fryken, of Kristinehamm, Sweden, was side, and took them off, but was on the rocks near the Heugh lighthouse; damaged slightly in the process. She and at 10.35 the life-boat The Princess DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 887 Royal, Civil Service No. 7, was launched. fishing boat was ashore off Whiting A light north-westerly breeze was blow- Ness; and at 5.45, the life-boat John ing with a moderate sea. The life-boat and William Mudie was launched, in found the vessel two hundred yards a light westerly breeze with a swell. north of the lighthouse, pounding The coastguard life-saving apparatus heavily, and took her in tow, to prevent crew also assembled. The life-boat her being washed inshore. But she found the motor fishing boat Silver could not hold her. The life-boat's Cloud, of Montrose, with a crew of second coxswain then boarded her and four, close in shore on rocks one mile another attempt was made, again east of Arbroath, and stood by her, unsuccessfully. Finally, at the master's but the Silver Cloud was hard and fast request, the life-boat returned for a tug and her crew were able to walk ashore. and took soundings. She passed a The life-boat therefore returned to her towing wire from the vessel to the tug, station, arriving at seven o'clock. In which then refloated her and towed her the afternoon the fishing boat's crew to harbour. Escorted by the life-boat, reboarded their boat and at five o'clock they arrived at 6.30 the next morning. the life-boat put out again. As it —Property Salvage Case. was nearly high water, she stood by the fishing boat in case she refloated; and passed a line across. But the SIX BOYS ADRIFT Silver Cloud remained fast. The life- Padstow, and St. Ires, Cornwall.—At boat landed her crew at 6.30, but at 7.45 in the evening of the 25th of Sept- low tide the men got bark aboard their ember, 1949, the Trevose Head coast- vessel; and at 5.40 next morning the guard telephoned the Padstow life-boat life-boat again put out to stand by. authorities that a rowing boat with a Shortly afterwards the Silver Cloud, crew of four was trying to get ashore with her engine broken down, refloated, in Trevone Bay. At 8.30 the No. 1 and the life-boat towed her to harbour, life-boat Milhurn, on temporary duty arriving back at her station at 6.20 at the station, left her moorings. The that morning.—Rewards, £20 9s. rowing boat reached Harlyn Bay with- out help, however. At 9 o'clock the COBLES IN DISTRESS St. Ives coastguard telephoned the Filey, Yorkshire.—As darkness was St. Ives life-boat authorities that two gathering on the evening of the 26th of small boats (one made of canvas and September, 1949, there was some the other flat-bottomed) with six boys anxiety felt for the safety of the fishing in them, were off Jubilee Point, St. coble Mary which, with a crew of three, Agnes, and unable to get ashore in the had been due in at noon. At 7.25 the heavy swell. Accordingly, at 9.17 the life-boat The Cuttle was launched in a life-boat Edgar, George, Orlando and slight sea with a light westerly breeze Eva Child was launched in a light south- blowing. She came up with the Mary easterly breeze. At 9.25 the Padstow between two and three miles north-west life-boat was also diverted to this by north of Filey Brigg and escorted position. The St. Ives life-boat rescued her to the shore, arriving back at her the six boys, took their boats in tow station at 8.20.—Rewards, £12 2s. and returned to her station, arriving at 1.30 the next morning. The Padstow Flam borough, Yorkshire.—As the life-boat got back to her station at coble Ocean Gift was out fishing, and 4.30. The parents of one of the boys a strong north-east wind was rising, expressed their thanks to the St. Ives accompanied by a growing sea, the life-boatmen and made a donation to life-boat Howard D was launched at the Institution.-—-Rewards: Padstow, 7.55 on the morning of the 30th £13 2s.; St. Ives, £15 Is. September, 1949. The life-boat found the coble a mile north-east of Flam- borough- Head, making for the North TWENTY-FOUR HOURS ASHORE Landing and advised her crew to make Arbroath, Angus.—At 5.30 in the for the smoother waters of the South morning of the 26th of September, Landing. They agreed, and the life- 1949, the coastguard telephoned that a boat escorted the Ocean Gift to safety, 388 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 returning to her station by half past Cromer, Norfolk—September 14th.— nine.—Rewards, £10 15s. 6d. Rewards, £23 4s. Falmouth Cornwall.—September 14th. Wells, Norfolk.—On returning from —Rewards, £5 13s. fishing at 1.22 in the afternoon of the Stornoway, Outer Hebrides. — Septem- 30th of September, 1949, the life-boat ber 16th.—Rewards, £13 6s. coxswain announced that two fishing boats were still out. The weather had Rhyl, Flintshire.—September 16th.— worsened and the life-boat Cecil Paine Rewards, £5 10s. was launched at 1.32 in a rough sea, St. Helier, Jersey.—September 17th.— with a fresh east-north-east breeze Rewards, £10 10s. blowing. She found the local fishing Clovelly, Devonshire.—September 19th. boats Spero and Blanche off the harbour —Rewards, £16 16s. bar, and escorted them in, arriving back at her station at 2.15.—Rewards; Weymouth, Dorset.—September 20th. £13 125. —Rewards, £14 19s. Mallaig, Inverness-shire. — September The following life-boats went out on 21st.—Rewards, £9 18s. 6d. service but could find no ships in dis- Aberdeen..— September 23rd. — Re- tress, were not needed or could do wards, £6 5s. nothing: Aberdeen. — September 24th. — Re- Barmouth, Merionethshire. — Septem- wards, £8 16s. ber 2nd;—Rewards, £10 3s. Peterbead, Aberdeenshire—September Anstruther, Fifeshire.—September 2nd. 24th.—Rewards, £7 19s. 6d. —Rewards, £9 14s. Dover, Kent.—September 24th.—Re- New Brighton, Cheshire.—September wards, £11 2s. 2nd.—Rewards, £5 5s. Margate, Kent.—September 24th.— Newhaven, Sussex.'—September 3rd.— Rewards, £15 18s. Rewards, £7 16s. Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—Septem- St. Helier, Jersey.—September 3rd.— ber 25th.—Rewards, £8 15s. Rewards, £6 2s. 6d. Tynemouth, Northumberland—Septem- Mallaig, Inverness-shire. — September ber 26th.—Rewards, £17 Is. 3rd.—Rewards, £7 Is. 6d. St. Ives, Cornwall.—September 26th. Penlee, Cornwall.—September 4th.— —Rewards, £15 8s. Rewards, £14 5s.' 6d. Whitby, Yorkshire.—September 26th. Aith, Shetlands.—September 4th.— —Rewards, £7 4s. Rewards, £33 18s. Eyemouth, Berwickshire. — September Barra Island, Outer Hebrides.—Septem- 26th.—Rewards, £17 15s. ber 4th.—Rewards, £27 18s. St. Abbs, Berwickshire. — September Broughty Ferry, Angus.—September 5th. 26th.—Rewards, £7 3s. —Rewards, £14 12s. Selsey, Sussex. — September 28th.— Thurso, Caithness-shire. — September Rewards, £14 17s. 8th.—Rewards, £41 14s. 6d. Galway Bay.- September 30th.—Re- Rhyl, Flintshire.—September 9th.— wards, £16 Os. 6d. Rewards, £5 8s. 6d. Weymouth, Dorset.—September llth OCTOBER —Rewards, £5 13s. During October, life-boats went out Ramsgate, Kent.—September llth.— on service 60 times and rescued 17 Rewards, £6 12s. 6d. lives. St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—September A DOG DAY 13th.—Rewards, £18 3s. Dnngeness, Kent. — At 7.45 in the Cromer, Norfolk.—September 14th.— evening of the 2nd of October, 1949, a Rewards, £34 9s. resident of Lydd telephoned that a DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 389 vessel was ashore one mile west-north- Cross Sand lightvessel that a motor west of Galloways. At eight o'clock the fishing vessel had broken tlown about life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson was a mile to the south-south-east. A launched in a smooth sea, with a light steamer was standing by. About 5 west-south-west wind blowing. She o'clock the fishing vessel was said to found the motor launch Ocean Hound, of have got under way, but it was later London, an old m >tor torpedo boat, with reported that flying two flags she was a crew of two. The skipper asked to drifting, one mile to the east-south- be towed off and the life-boat refloated east. The life-boat Louise Stephens the Ocean Hound, towed her to a safe was launched at 5.45 and in a rough anchorage, and arrived back at her sea, with a fresh south-easterly breeze, station at 10 o'clock.—Property Salvage found the motor fishing vessel Korab II, Case. of Gdynia, Poland, with her engine broken down and a crew of seven on TO A SAFE ANCHORAGE board, five miles north-north-east of Cromer, Norfolk.—-At 6 o'clock in the the lightvessel. The life-boat took the evening of the 4th of November, 1949, fishing vessel in tow, and wirelessed for the coastguard telephoned that he a tug, which took over the tow, while thought a yacht was flying distress the life-boat escorted them both to signals two miles east of the coastguard Yarmouth Roads. She reached her station, and at 6.25 the No. 1 life-boat station again at 11.30 that night.— Henry Blogg was launched. A light Property Salvage Case. south-south-west breeze was blowing with a slight swell. The life-boat LANDING AN INJURED MAN found the yacht Marjellen broken Ballycotton, Co. Cork.—At 12.30 in down, with two women and two men the morning of the llth of October, on board, took off the women, towed 1949; the Civic Guard reported that a the yacht to a safe anchorage, and radio message had been picked up by arrived back at her station at eight the Roches Point Lighthouse, stating o'clock that night.—Rewards, £15 17s. that the S.S. Glengariffe had wirelessed that the Daunt Rock lightvessel, five A LESSON IN GEOLOGY miles south-south-west of Cork, had an Whitby, Yorkshire. — In the early injured man on board.. At one o'clock afternoon of the 5th of October, 1949, the life-boat Mary Stanford was seventeen geological students from launched, with Dr. John Murphy, the Aberdeen University were cut off by life-boat chairman on board, and made the tide off Black Nab. Three of them for the lightvessel in a choppy sea, scrambled through deep water and with a strong south-westerly breeze breakers for help, and reached the shore blowing. She took the injured man to about one o 'clock. At 1.15, the harbour Queenstown, transferred him to a wait- pulling life-boat Robert and Ellen Rob- ing ambulance, and arrived back at her son was towed to the position by a station at eight o'clock.-»-Rewards, local fishing boat. The life-boat got £19 2s. close in-shore and found the fourteen remaining students clinging to the LANDING A SKIPPER cliffs, with two men of the coastguard Youghal, Co. Cork.—At 9.30 in the life-saving crew who had been lowered morning of the 12th of October, 1949, down to them. She took them all on a fisherman reported that a vessel was board, landed them, and arrived back on the rocks at East Point, and at at her station at 3 o'clock. The stu- 9.35 the life-boat Laurana Sarah Blunt dents expressed their thanks and made was launched. In a very strong south- a gift.—Rewards, £30 16s. Qd. westerly breeze, with a swell, she found the Mountain Ash, of Courtown, a IN TOW TO YARMOUTH converted latiding craft, with a crew Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.— of four. The life-boat ran out an anchor At 4.55 in the afternoon of the 10th of for her, but as the tide was ebbing October, 1949, the Gorleston coast- could give no other help, so she took guard telephoned a message from the off the skipper and landed him at the 890 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 life-boat station by 11 o'clock.—Re- Banff coastguard telephoned the White- wards, £9 15s. hills life-boat station that two fishing vessels bound for Peterhead from Wick RUSH JOB —the Covesea, towing the Ocean Swell— Howth, Co. Dublin,—At 2.30 in the were making heavy weather, eight miles afternoon of the 15th of October, 1949, from Banff in a northerly direction. the life-boat R'.P.L. was launched for Later on, they were reported to be exercise in a rough sea, with a fresh making little headway. Accordingly, south-westerly wind blowing, and the life-boat Thomas Markby was shortly after noticed a fishing boat one launched at 6.10 in a rough sea, with a mile east of Rush. When the life-boat south-westerly gale blowing. She approached (about four o'clock) she searched over a wide area but failed to found the Myrtle, of Rush, with a crew find the boats and reached her station of four aboard, disabled by an engine again at midnight. breakdown. At the request of the At 8.55 in the morning on the 19th fishermen the life-boat took the Myrtle of October the Peterhead coastguard to Rush and then returned to her reported that from the south-east two station, reaching it at 6.15.—Rewards, boats were waving for help. At 9.5 £12 18s. the Peterhead life-boat Julia Park Barry, of Glasgow was launched and MOTOR LAUNCH IN DIFFICULTIES found the Covesea, with a crew of three, Hastings, Sussex. — At 5.36 in the and the Ocean Swell, with a crew of two, morning of the 16th of October, 1949, pounding together, three miles east- the coastguard reported a motor launch south-east of Peterhead. The Covesea's signalling for help off the harbour wall. engines were broken down. The life- At 6.5 the life-boat Cyril and Lilian boat towed both boats into the Bay Bishop was launched in a moderate sea, and then took the Ocean Swell into with a strong west-south-westerly harbour, a difficult task as the fishing breeze blowing. She found the Muriel boat's steering gear had failed. She I, of London, with her engine broken then brought in the Covesea, completing down and towed her, together with her her rescue work at half past eleven.— crew of three, to Rye harbour, reaching Rewards: Whitehills, £19 15*.; Peter- her station again at 9.45.—Rewards, head—Property Salvage Case. £45 8s. 6d. PROPELLER FOULED BY A NET FISHING VESSEL IN DISTRESS Dunbar, East Lothian.-—At 1.35 on Hartlepool, Durham.—At 9.43 on the the afternoon of the 19th of October, morning of the 18th of October, 1949, the coastguard telephoned a 1949, the coastguard reported a small message from the steam trawler Princess vessel in distress. Twelve minutes Mary, received through Stonehaven later the life-boat The Princess Royal—- Radio, that she had a Dunbar fishing Civil Service No. 7, was launched. A boat in tow. As the trawler was too moderate gale was blowing from the big to enter the harbour she requested south-south-west and the sea was that the life-boat should go out and rather rough. The life-boat found the meet her. The life-boat George and motor fishing vessel Saltburn, of Mid- Sarah Strachan was therefore launched dlesbrough,-carrying a crew of three, at 1.50 in a rough sea, with a strong one and a half miles north-east of south-westerly wind blowing. Six Heugh lighthouse, disabled by an miles south-east of May Island she engine breakdown. She put a rope found the motor fishing boat Endeavour, aboard the fishing boat, and towed her with her propeller fouled by a net. to Hartlepool, arriving at half past The life-boat escorted the trawler and eleven.—Rewards, £7 12s. fishing boat for some distance and then took the fishing boat in tow, arriving LIFE ON THE OCEAN SWELL at Dunbar at 2.45.—Rewards, £7. Whitehills, Banfisbire, and Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.—About 3.45 in the after- ON THE GOODWIN SANDS noon of the 18th of October, 1949, the Ramsgate, Kent. — At 6.45 on the DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 391

BLACKPOOL RETURNING From a photograph by Mr, Frank Bowes, of Blackpool

By courtesy of] [Daily Graphic STRANDED IN THE WESTERN ISLES The Grimsby trawler Evelyn Rose ashore on Jura. The Islay life-boat took off eight of her crew (See page 404) 392 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

NAMING CEREMONIES

EASTBOURNE From a photograph by Mr. M, J. Hughes, of Bromley, Kent (See page 409)

NEW QUAY, CARDIGAN Above the steps is the Archbishop of Wales, with Miss Lucy Silvester, of St. Albans, on his left, and behind them Captain Guy Fanshawe, R.N., a vice-president of the Institution, and Mr. D, B. Rees, honorary secretary of the station (Sec page 408) DECEMBEK, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 393

By courtesy of] [R. I. Jones, AVz'm PORTHDINLLAEN (See page 409)

By courtesy of] [Belfast Newsletter PORTRUSH The Countess of Antrim naming the life-boat (Seepage 410) 394 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

COPIES SOLO EVERY WEEK

By courtesy of] [Central Press Photos

IN THE LORD MAYOR'S PROCESSION The pulling and sailing life-boat Mary Thereasa Boileau (Dungeness, 1912-39)

(See page 411) DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 395

By courtesy of] [Evening Gazette, Blackpool

SUMMER NIGHT AT BLACKPOOL The life-boat is at the water's edge 306 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

SUNSET OVER KENT A photograph taken by Mr. L. H. Shelvey, honorary secretary at Walmer, from the life-boat as she was returning from the Goodwin Sands

THE WALMER BOATHOUSE Above the door is a clock in memory of Captain R. Coleman, honorary secretary 1932-41, presented by his widow and erected by his daughter DECEMBER. 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 397

By courtesy of] [Associated \ewspapers LIFE-BOATMEN FROM THE ATLANTIC The Smiths of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, in their home-made cutter (See page 407)

By co [Smailes Jitnior Rhitddlan A TRACTOR'S SUMMER BATHE The drought in 1949 was so severe that the Council at Rhyl would not allow the launching tractor to be washed with fresh water, so her drivers washed her at sea 398 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

THE DUCHESS OF KENT AT THE DEPOT

By courtesy 'of] [Hefts Advertiser IN THE RIGGING LOFT

By courtesy of] {Herts Advertiser IN THE EXAMINATION ROOM (See page 407) DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 399 evening of the 20th of October, 1949, aboard. Nearing harbour, the skip- the coastguard reported that the North per slipped the tow rope and entered Goodwin Lightvessel had fired guns to alone. At 8.50 the life-boat came in warn a vessel approaching the Sands. to obtain tools, leaving soon after for A few minutes later the vessel was the cabin cruiser, who e cable had to reported to be aground on the North be cut to free her from her anchor. Goodwin Sands, two and a half miles She then towed the Dorella into St. south-west by south from the light- Sampsons Harbour, and arrived back vessel. The- life-boat Prudential was at her station finally at half past launched at 7.10 in a rough sea, with ten that night.—Rewards: First trip, a moderate west-south-west gale blow- £7 185. Qd.; Second trip, Property ing and found the S.S. Africa Ocidental, Salvage Case. of Lisbon, bound, laden, from Middles- brough to Portugal. The steamer, DANISH SHIP ON ROCKS which was in charge of a North Sea Pilot, had an anchor down, but this Arranmore, Co. Donegal.—About half ceased to hold as the tide rose. Ad- past two in the afternoon of the 23rd of vised by the life-boatmen who boarded October, 1949, information was received her the pilot manoeuvred the steamer that a vessel in ballast was on the rocks into a position where the anchor could off Kincasslagh, and the life-boat be lifted. The Africa Ocidenial was K.T.J.S. was launched at 2.45 in a then guided clear of sandbanks and rough sea, with a north-westerly breeze eventually taken to a safe anchorage blowing. She found the S.S. Dunja, of in The Downs. The life-boat reached Copenhagen, with a crew of ten and a her station again ten minutes before pilot on board, and her engines broken midnight.—Property Salvage Case. down. At the request of the master the life-boat towed her to Burtonport harbour, arriving back at her station A DRAUGHT FROM BORDEAUX at nine o'clock that night.—Property St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—At 6.10 on Salvage Case. the evening of the 21st of October, 1949, news was received from Bor- ONE MAN IS LOST deaux, three miles north of St. Peter Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire.——At 7.30 Port, that a yacht, with a cabin cruiser in the night of the 23rd of October, in tow, was in difficulties, being carried 1949, a resident of Criccieth telephoned astern by the strongly flowing tide. that he could see an unusual light a. The life-boat -Queen Victoria was mile off Criccieth. The life-boat station launched at 6.27 in a rough sea, with a made further enquiries through the strong south-westerly breeze blowing coastguard who reported that a boat and heavy rain. She found the yacht, had been seen that afternoon steering Ling, abreast of Platte Beacon, but east from Pwllheli. About 8 o'clock making no headway. A life-boatman the Abersoch coastguard reported that thereupon changed places with the a boat could be seen about four miles skipper of the yacht, while the life-boat off Criccieth and at about 8.30 said itself went to look for the cabin cruiser, she was burning a bright light. As she Dorella, which the Ling had left at was in a dangerous position, the life- anchor in a dangerous position near boat Manchester and Salford XXIX was the Houmet. On finding her, the owner launched at 9.15 in a choppy sea with a of the Ling boarded the Dorella with moderate westerly breeze blowing. She a life-boatman, who made fast a tow found the fishing boat Sirdar, of New rope; they could not raise the anchor, Quay, with a crew of two, at anchor however, and so the life-boat towed one and a half miles south by west of the cabin cruiser to a safer position Criccieth. Her engine had broken with the anchor still down. Mean- down, she was leaking and nearly while an S.O.S. was seen flashing waterlogged, but the two men would from the Ling. The life-boat there- not abandon her and asked for a tow fore embarked the Dorella's men and to Pwllheli. The life-boat sprayed oil made for the yacht, towing her to deep on the sea and prepared to take her water. There she put the skipper in tow, but when the Sirdar had raised 400 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER,. 1949 her anchor the wind blew her round, with a very rough sea. She found the the sea swamped her, and she sank motor vessel Archglen, of Fraserburgh, at once. The two men jumped into with a crew of five, alongside the the water, clinging to oars. The life- Eastern Arm in the harbour, laden with boatmen threw them life-buoys, and coal. The life-boat anchored, veered rescued one of them but the other down and fired a line. A heavy rope man disappeared and was not found. was then passed across, but she could The life-boat returned to her station not tow her clear. The rope was with the rescued man, arriving at therefore slipped, and the life-boat 12.45 the next morning.—Rewards, made for the motor vessel Emp're £11 Ss. Fabric, of Hull, which had also dragged her anchors close in shore. The life- BRONZE MEDAL SERVICE boat stood by until the vessel reached AT HOLYHEAD deeper water and then returned to the Holyfaead, Anglesey.—On the 26th of Archglen, to find that her crew had October, 1949, the life-boat rescued the been got ashore by the coastguard life- crew of seven of the Liverpool steamer saving appliances. The life-boat then Mayflower.—Rewards, bronze medal returned to her station, arriving at and £14 10*. (For a fuU account of the 12.15 that afternoon.—Rewards, service, see page 380). £14 10*. The following life-boats went out on HANGING ON TO HER GEAR service but could find no ships in Flamborough, Yorkshire.—While the distress, were not needed or could do local fishing coble Provider was out nothing. fishing on the 25th of October, 1949, a south-easterly wind, increasing to gale Margate, Kent.—October 2nd.—Re- force, made a very rough sea. The wards, £19 1*. 6dL life-boat Howard D. was launched at Margate, Kent.—October 2nd.—Re- eleven o'clock in the morning and wards, £14 4*. 6d. found the coble, a mile and a half away, hanging on to her gear. After escort- Wells, Norfolk.—October 4th.—Re- ing the coble to safety, the life-boat wards, £22 8*. had to wait until half past three St. Mary'., Isles of Scilly.—October 6th. before she, could get ashore.—Rewards, —Rewards, £12 15*. £27 15s. 6d. Amble, Northumberland.—October 9th. —Rewards, £12. ESCORTING COBLES Humber, Yorkshire.—October 9th.— Filey, Yorkshire.—On the morning of Paid Permanent Crew.—Rewards, £2. the 25th of October, 1949, while two local fishing cobles were out fishing, the Humber, Yorkshire.—October 10th.— south-easterly wind increased almost to Paid Permanent Crew. a gale. The life-boat The Cuttle was Cromer, Norfolk. — October ' 10th.— launched at 11.10 in a heavy swell and Rewards, £29. finding the cobles Windsor Lad II and Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.—October Isabella, escorted them ashore. The 12th.—Rewards, £8 15*. life-boat arrived back at her station at 12.30 that afternoon. •—• Rewards, Montrose, Angus. — October 13th.— £13 17*. Rewards, £23 5*. Valentia, Co. Kerry.—October 13th.— Rewards, £12 14*. 6d. SOUTHERN AFRICA TO EMPIRE FABRIC Holy Island, Northumberland. — Oct- Dover, Kent.—At 6.40 in the morning ober 18th.—Rewards, £25 4*. 6d. of the 26th of October, 1949, the Eastern Arm signal station telephoned that a Humber, Yorkshire.—October 19th.— vessel was dragging her anchors at Paid Permanent Crew. — Rewards, East Cliff, and at 7 o'clock the life-boat £3 10*. Southern Africa left her moorings. A Kilmore, Co. Wezford.—October 19th whole gale was blowing from the south, —Rewards, £14 2*. DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 401

Kilmore, Co. Werford.—October 20th Margate, Kent—October '30th.—Re- —Rewards, £26 12*. wards, £15 3s. The Mumbles, Glamorganshire,—Oct- Dover, Kent. — October 30th. — Re- ober 20th.—Rewards, £16 2s. wards, £9. Broughty Ferry, Angui.—October 21st. NOVEMBER —Rewards, £31 6s. During November life-boats went out Arbroath, Angus.—October 21st.—Re- on service 62 times and rescued 42 lives. wards, £14. TRAWLER REFLOATED Montrose, Angus. — October 21st. — Rewards, £22 1*. Islay, Inner Hebrides.—At 3.20 in the morning of the 1st of November, 1949, Gourdon, Kincardineshire. •— October the Kilchoman coastguard telephoned 21st.—Rewards, £36 5s. that the steam trawler Red Crusader, Llandudno, Caernarvonshire.—October of Fleetwood, had radioed that she 21st.—Rewards, £26 11s. was ashore, two miles. north of Port Askaig. The life-boat Charlotte Eliza- Barrow, Lancashire.—October 21st.— beth left her moorings at 3.50 and in a Rewards, £31 7s. 6d. moderate sea, with a light easterly Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. — October breeze blowing, found the trawler on 21st.—Rewards, £15 10s. the Jura shore, lying on her side. The Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—Oct- life-boat took off her crew of twenty ober 21st. — Partly paid permanent and landed them at her station at crew.—-Rewards, £12 5s. 5.30. About five hours later, at his own request, she took the skipper and Broughty Ferry, Angus.—October 21st. some of his crew back to the trawler and —Rewards, £9 10s. stood by while they tried to refloat her. New Brighton, Cheshire.—October 23rd. Eventually a salvage tug arrived, —Rewards, £11 17s. 6d. whereupon the life-boat returned to her station, which she reached at 5 Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—Oct- o'clock that evening. The trawler was ober 24th.—Rewards, £13 6s. refloated by the tug the next afternoon. New Brighton, Cheshire.—October 24th. —Rewards, £21 3s. —Rewards, £14 15s. Workington, Cumberland. — October EGGS TO EIGG 24th.—Rewards, £14. Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—In the.morn- ing of the 4th of October, 1949, it was Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—October 25th. decided to send the life-boat to the —Rewards, £24 10s. islands of Soay and Eigg with pro- Clogher Head, Co. Louth. — October visions as, owing to bad weather, the 25th.—Rewards, £23 14s. weekly steamer had not called and no other boat was available. The life^ Newcastle, Co. Down.—^October 25th. boat Sir Arthur Rose left her moorings —Rewards, £44 7s. 6d. at 10 o'clock in a very rough sea, with Howth, Co. Dublin.—October 25th.— a southerly gale blowing, took stores Rewards, £25 10s. and mail to the islands and arrived Falmouth, Cornwall.—October 25th.— back at her station at 5.30 that evening. Rewards, £32 19s. 6d. —Rewards, £18 16s. St. Helier, Jersey.—October 25th.— SAVED FROM THE BAR Rewards, £13 2s. 6d. Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At Sonthend-on-Sea, Essex.—October 26th. 3.35 in the afternoon on the 4th of —Rewards, £23 6s. November, 1949, a fishing vessel at the north end of the bay was seen to be Walton and Frinton, Essex.—October flying a distress signal. The life-boat 27th.—Rewards, £28 10s. Mabel Marion Thompson was launched CUcton-on-Sea, Essex.—October 28th. at 3.42 in a rough sea, with a south- —Rewards, £39 10s. 6d. westerly gale blowing, and, three miles 402 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 north of Rosslare Pier found the motor easterly breeze blowing. As she was fishing boat St. Joseph, of Dunmore returning, she noticed a small rowing East, with a crew of two and h'er engine l)oat half a mile west of Newhaven broken down. As she was dragging Breakwater. The crew appeared to be towards Wexford Bar the life-boat distressed, and the life-boat closed to took her in tow and berthed her along investigate. She found two men, who the pier at 4.35.—Partly paid permanent had been angling but were afterwards crew.-—Rewards, £5 2s. too exhausted to continue their efforts to reach harbour. The life-boat took A SAIL OF NO AVAIL the small boat in tow and brought her, Wick, Caithness-shire.—At five o'clock together with the crew, into harbour, in the afternoon, on the 4th of Novem- reaching there at half past twelve.—• ber, 1949, the coastguard reported a Rewards, £9 11s. flare three miles north-north-east of Wick. Half an hour later the life-boat WINSTON CALLED UPON City of Edinburgh was launched in a rough sea, with a strong south-easterly Newbiggin, and Blyth, Northumberland.— breeze blowing, and found the local About half past ten in the morning, on fishing boat Godetia. She had a crew the 9th of November, 1949, it was of five aboard, including the life-boat decided to launch the Newbiggin life- second coxswain. She had been dis- boat as several local fishing cobles were abled by an engine breakdown, and out and" a strong south-south-easterly although she had a sail, could make no breeze was blowing, with short heavy headway against the tide, and so the seas. The life-boat Augustus and Laura life-boat towed her home, arriving at put out at 10.50 and stood by the cobles 7.80.—Rewards, £8 13s. in the Bay. As there were other cobles in the direction of Blyth, Newbiggin asked, through the coast- DEATH OF A LIFE-BOATMAN guard, for the help of the Blyth life- Margate. Kent.——At 12.55 in the boat Winston Churchill, Civil Service early morning of the 6th of November, No. 8. She was launched at 11.55, 1949, the coastguard telephoned that a Captain H. Rowe, the Blyth honorary yacht at anchor half a mile north-west secretary, going out in her. The of the coastguard station was making Augustus and Laura escorted six cobles heavy weather. There was a rough to the shore, helping one which had sea, and a strong north-westerly breeze broken its rudder, and reached her sta- was blowing, and she was in danger of tion again at one o'clock that afternoon. driving ashore. At 1.20 therefore, the The Blyth life-boat found that the life-boat The Lord Southborough, Civil boats reported.near Blyth were seine Service No. 1, was launched. She net fishing vessels, not in need of help, found the sailing yacht Bluebird, of and, when it had been reported that London, a quarter of a mile off shore, all the Newbiggin fishing boats were with one man on board, and stood by home, she returned to Blyth, arriv- her until low water. The weather had ing at 1.55.—Rewards, Newbiggin, moderated by then, and the yacht £13 8s. 6d.; Blyth, £10 9s. seemed to be in no difficulty, so the life-boat returned to her station, arriv- ing at 7.45. One of the crew, Benjamin RUNNING FOR HARBOUR Frost, hurried down to the life-boat Gourdon, Kincardineshire.—-About noon station, but collapsed and died in the on the 9th of November, 1949, a boat-house.—(See page 407.)—Re- strong south-easterly gale arose, and wards, £22 3s. 6d. conditions at the harbour entrance became so bad that the danger signal EXHAUSTED ANGLERS was hoisted. All the fishing boats were Newhaven, Sussex. — At half past at sea, so the life-boat Margaret Damson eleven on the morning of the 6th of was launched at 1.5 in case help were November, 1949, the life-boat Cecil and needed. Several of the fishing boats Lilian Philpott was launched for exer- ran for Stonehaven, but three made cise. There was a choppy sea, with an Gourdon Harbour, with the life-boat DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 408 standing by. The life-boat reached her coble, broken down but under sail, a station again at 2.5.—-Rewards, mile north-east of the North Landing. £27 Os. 6d. As it was thought this might be the Filey coble Mary, which was known to ROUGH SEAS AND RAIN SQUALLS be at sea, the Filey life-boat The Cuttle was launched at 3.46. A north- Bridlington, Yorkshire.—At half pa^t westerly wind was blowing, and the sea one in the afternoon on the 9th of November, 1949, the coxswain reported was smooth. The life-boat found that that .the local motor fishing vessel the coble was indeed the Mary, which had broken down at eleven in the Mizpah, with a crew of four, had not returned from the fishing grounds. morning, and with her in tow reached her station at six o'clock.—Rewards, Weather conditions were worsening and it was decided to send out the life-boat, £16. Tillie Morrison, Sheffield. She left at COLLISION IN THE FOG 2.7 in a rough sea with a strong south- erly breeze blowing, and rain squalls, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 11.20 on and met the Mizpah in the bay. the night of the 15th of November, Spreading oil on the s- as, the life-boat 1949, during a fog, the coastguard escorted her into harbour, and then reported that two ships had been in returned to her station, arriving at collision off Thames Haven. As a 3.45.—Rewards, £9 8s. result, four men were adrift in a ship's boat, others were in the water, and one ANZAC RESCUE of the vessels was reported sinking. At 11.45, therefore, the life boat Shorebam Harbour, Sussex.—At 8.10 Greater London, Civil Service No. 3, was on the night of the llth of November, launched. A light easterly breeze was 1949, the coastguard telephoned that a blowing and the sea was calm. She fishing boat was flashing S.O.S. signals. found the motor vessel Mercurius, of Fifteen minutes later the life-boat Rosa Amsterdam, at anchor, but holed and Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched. listing. However; as her skipper said A westerly breeze was blowing, with she was safe, the life-boat went to look a moderately heavy sea. Half a mile for the other ship, the motor vessel east-south-east of the harbour, the Sedulity, of London, which was reported life-boat found the Igcal motor fishing to be about a mile west of the Mercurius. boat Anzac, with a crew of two, dis- While she searched, a wireless message abled by an engine breakdown, and announced that the Sedulity and her took her in tow, bringing her into har- crew were safe. Accordingly she gave bour at 9.15.—Rewards, £9 Ss. up the search; but on her way back heard a motor boat in the fog, and MEDAL SERVICE BY ILFRACOMBE shortly after came up with a boat AND APPLEDORE from the Mercurius, in which her Appledore, Clovelly, and Df racombe, Devon. skipper and a member of her crew —On the 13th of November, 1949, all had been trying to reach the shore. three life-boats went to the help of the The life-boat took them on board, Spanish steamer Monte Gurugu, which towed their boat back to the Mercurivs was foundering at the entrance to the and, at the request of the skipper, Bristol Channel, and rescued 24 lives. landed a man at Southend, reaching —Rewards, silver medal, bronze medal her station again at 4.15 the next and £186 Us. (A full account will be morning.—Rewards, £16 9s. published in the next number of The Life-boat.) MORE FISHING BOATS IN DIFFICULTIES Bridlington, Yorkshire.—About 12.45 COBLE BROKEN DOWN in the afternoon of the 17th of Nov- Filey, Yorkshire.—About half past ember, 1949, information was received three in the afternoon on the 14th of that three local fishing vessels were at November, 1949, the coastguard tele- sea and that the weather was worsen- phoned that the life-boat coxswain at ing. The life-boat Tillie Morrison, Flamborough had reported a fishing Sheffield, was launched at 1.12 and, in 404 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 a heavy sea, with a moderate south- life-boat rescued the two people and south-east gale blowing, stood-by off towed the Berlin itself to Falmouth the harbour entrance. One of the harbour, arriving at 4 o'clock. The fishing vessels had reached the harbour Germans had intended to sail to South unaided, and the life-boat escorted in America.—Rewards, £9 3*. 6d. Our Confidence. Then she sighted the other vessel, the Margaret, put out ANCHORING A FRENCH STEAMER again, and escorted her in, reaching her Dover, Kent.—In the morning of the station again at three o'clock. The 21st of November, 1949, the S.S. Coastguard Life-saving Appliances Intendant J. Patrizi, of Rouen, which crews manned the North and South had been ashore off Seabrook, was piers during the service.—Rewards, steaming towards Dover in a very £11 19*. rough sea with a whole southerly gale blowing and rain. The . coastguard SERIOUSLY INJURED AT SEA informed the life-boat authorities at Cromer, Norfolk. — At 1.57 in the 7 o'clock and at 7.30 the life-boat afternoon of the 19th of November, Southern Africa left her moorings, in 1949, the coastguard- telephoned that charge of the second coxswain. She the S.S. Suntrap, of London, had sig- found the steamer five miles to the nalled that she would arrive off Cromer south-west, lying broadside to the seas about 3.15 and had asked for the life- and in danger of going ashore again. boat to land a seriously injured man. The weather was too bad to put a A light south-south-east breeze was man on board. The coxswain hailed blowing with a slight sea when the the master, advised him to follow the No. 1 life-boat Henry Blogg, with a life-boat, and eventually anchored the doctor on board, was launched at three steamer in the Downs. She returned o'clock. She came up with the Suntrap to her station by 12.50 in the after- three and a haJf miles to the north-east noon.—Property Salvage Case. and the doctor went aboard. The man, who had concussion and severe TRAWLER HARD AND FAST head injuries, was taken into the life- boat, which landed him at her station Islay, Inner Hebrides. — At 6.45 on the night of the 22nd of November, at 4.20.—Rewards, £9 12s. 1949, the Kilchqman coastguard tele- phoned that a resident of Port Askaig ST. HELIER BRONZE MEDAL had reported a vessel ashore on Jura, St. Helier, Jersey.—On the 19th of about one mile north of Inver. At 6.55 November, 1949, the life-boat rescued the life-beat Charlotte Elizabeth left three from the ketch Hanna, of Poole. her moorings in a moderate sea, with Rewards, bronze medal and £24 12*. a fresh south-westerly breeze blowing (A full account of this service will be and found the steam trawler Evelyn published in the next number of The Rose, of Grimsby, hard and fast one Life-boat.) and a half miles north of Inver. She was laden with fish and bound from ANOTHER SKIPPER AND HIS DAUGHTER Iceland to Fleetwood. The life-boat Falmouth, Cornwall.—At one o'clock took off eight of the trawler's crew of in the afternoon of the 20th of Novem- twenty and landed them at Port ber, 1949, the St. Anthony coastguard Askaig. She then returned to the reported that a sailing boat was making trawler, stood by her until daylight, for Portscatho. The weather was bad and arrived back at her station at and she was in a dangerous position. eight o'clock on the morning of the The life-boat Crawford and Constance 23rd.—Rewards, £89 I3s. 7d. Conybeare was launched therefore. at 1.30 and in a rough sea, with a fresh STRANDED DRIFTER south-south-we t breeze, found the Dover, Kent.-—At 3.15 in the morning sailing boat Berlin, of Germany, at of the 23rd of November, 1949, Lloyd's anchor off Porthscatho, with a man and signal station reported a vessel stranded his daughter on board. The boat was on the blockships at the western en- dragging and driving inshore, so the trance to the harbour. At 3.30 the DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 405 life-boat Southern Africa left her moor- she had the coble in tow and wanted a ings in a rough sea, with a fresh south- vessel to take over. The life-boat was south-west gale blowing. The vessel, recalled by flare and directed to the the steam drifter Thrifty, of Lowestoft, position, about three miles south-east was being towed clear by a motor boat. of Scarborough. She took the Rose- The life-boat stood by until the drifter mary in tow and returned, arriving at anchored, and as the skipper said she her station at 1.45 the following morn- was not leaking, returned to her ing.—Rewards, £24 17*. station, arriving at 4.45.—Rewards, £7 5s. FIRST AID FOR STROMA Wick, Caithness-shire.—At 8.15 in the ANOTHER DRIFTER IN DISTRESS night of the 29th of November, 1949, a Lowestoft, Suffolk.—About 10.48 in Canisbay doctor asked for the use of the the morning of the 27th of November, life-boat to take him to Stroma Island 1949, the coastguard telephoned that a to attend an injured man, as the weather drifter was on the Newcombe Sandbank was too bad for a shore-boat to take about a quarter of a mile to the east; him. A strong north-westerly breeze and at 10.50 the life-boat Michael was blowing, with a rough sea. The Stephens left her moorings. A moderate doctor embarked in the life-boat City northerly breeze was blowing with a of Edinburgh at nine o'clock, and ground swell. The life-boat found the landed on Stroma at 10.45. He at- herring drifter Ocean Sunbeam, of tended the man, who had broken Yarmouth, with a crew of nine, rolling a leg, and two hours later re-boarded and bumping heavily. The skipper the life-boat, which took him back to asked the life-boat to stand by, and Wick, arriving at three o'clock the when she refloated the life-boat guided next morning. In gratitude the people her clear. She returned to her station of Stroma held a dance and whist drive by 12.15 that afternoon.—Rewards, which raised £4 10*. for the Institution. £9 16*. —Rewards, £16 16*. 6d.

THEN A COBLE COBLE'S ENGINE FLOODED Filey, Yorkshire.—The local motor Teesmouth, Yorkshire. — At two fishing coble Isabella put to sea on the o'clock in the afternoon of the 30th of morning of the 28th of November, November, 1949, the life-boat J. W. 1949. The weather was bad and, as it Archer was launched for exercise in a began to worsen, the life-boat The rough sea, with a south-westerly breeze Cuttle was launched at 11.30. A blowing. Two miles east of South Gare moderate northerly breeze was blow- she came up with the fishing coble ing, with a rough sea. She found the Mildred. The coble was making heavy Isabella behind Filey Brigg, escorted weather, but the crew of three said her to harbour, and arrived back at they were all right. The life-boat her station at 12.55 that afternoon.— therefore made for her station. As the Rewards, £3 17*. wind was increasing, however, she returned to the coble, which she found THEN ANOTHER COBLE driving to leeward with a flooded-out Scarborough, Yorkshire.—At 6.10 in engine. She towed her in and arrived the evening of the 29th of November, back at her station at 4 o'clock.— 1949, the life-boat coxswain reported Rewards, £8 15*. 6d. that the local fishing coble Rosemary was overdue. The life-boat Herbert The following life-boats went out on Joy II was therefore launched at 6.20 service but could find no ships in dis- in a smooth sea, with a light westerly trtss, were not needed or could do breeze blowing. Meanwhile the coast- nothing. guard had signalled a passing steamer to keep a look-out for the coble. The Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—November steamer broadcast a wanting and while 3rd.—Rewards, £16 17*. 6d. the life-boat was searching, received a Selsey, Sussex. — November 3rd. — message from the trawler Ficyon that Rewards, £25 19*. 406 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire.—November Whitby, Yorkshire.—November 13th. 4th.—Rewards, £21 3s. —Rewards, £9 4s. Douglas, Isle of Man.—November 4th. Wick, Caithness-shire.—November 13th, —Rewards, £15 15s. —Rewards, £16 7s. Barrow, Lancashire.—November 4th.— Buckie, Banffshire.—November 13th.— Rewards, £11. Rewards, £20. Dungeness, Kent.—November 4th.— St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—November Rewards, £33 3s. 15th.—Rewards, £9 4s. 6d. Ramsgate, Kent.—November 5th.— Dover, Kent.—November 16th.—Re- Rewards, £8 12s. 6d. wards, £12 10s. Walmer, Kent. November 5th.-— Portrush, Co. Antrim.—November 18th. Rewards, £19 10s. —Rewards, £10 Os. 6d. Longhope, Orkneys.—November 6th.— Swanage, Dorset.—November 19th.-—• Rewards, £17 2s. 6d. Rewards, £12 6s. Poole and Bournemouth, Dorset. — Blackpool, Lancashire.—November 20th. November 7th.—Rewards, £10 Os. 6d. —Rewards, £36 4s. 6d. Kilmore, Co. Wexford.—November 8th. Fleetwood, Lancashire.—November 21st. —Rewards, £29 8s. 6d. —Rewards, £26 3s. Howth, Co. Dublin.—November 9th.— Barrow, Lancashire.—November 21st. Rewards, £19 7s. —Rewards, £25. Tenby, Pembrokeshire.—November 9th. Newhaven, Sussex. — November 21st. —Rewards, £24 12s. 6d. —Rewards, £17 10s. Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—Nov- Holyhead, Anglesey.—November 22nd. ember 9th.—Rewards, £17 15s. —Rewards, £10 10s. Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.—Nov- St. Helier, Jersey.—November 22nd.— ember 10th.—Rewards, £6 8s. Rewards, £6 8s. New Brighton, Cheshire.—November Dunbar, East Lothian.—November 25th. 12th.—Rewards, £12 10s. —Rewards, £7. Newhaven, Sussex.—November 12th. Walmer, Kent.—November 29th.—Re- —Rewards, £21 17s. wards, £15 18s. Ramsgate, Kent.—November 12th.— Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—Nov- Rewards, £9 8s. Gd. ember 30th.—Rewards, £19 15s.

French Medals for Cromer IN a whole gale on the 8th of July, 1948, sided at the ceremony and the Rev. the Cromer life-boat rescued the crew Arthur Buxton welcomed the visitors, of sixteen men of the French collier whom he had previously entertained to Francois Tinier, of Dunkirk. For this lunch. Commander H. L. Wheeler, rescue the French Government have R.N., district inspector of life-boats, awarded Coxswain H. T. Davies, the described the rescue, and Capitaine de la French Maritime Cross and Diploma, Corvette de la Loge d'Ausson then pre- and each of the other eleven members sented the medals. A vote of thanks of the crew the life-saving medal. The to him and the French Government was cross and medals were presented at proposed by Major E. P. Hansell, Cromer on the 13th of September, 1949, honorary secretary of the station, and by Capitaine de Corvette de la Loge was seconded by Coxswain H. T. d'Ausson, commanding officer of Ailette, Davies. The Marseillaise and the of the French Navy, accompanied by National Anthem were sung and the his first lieut. nant, the French consular life-boat was launched, with the French agent at Lowestoft, and one of his crew. visitors on board. The ceremony was Captain E. O. Indor, D.S.O., R.N., broadcast by the B.B.C. on the Home chairman of the Cromer branch, pre- Service and Foreign Service. DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 407

Margate Life-boatman's Death IN the early hours of Sunday, the 6th of only relative dependent upon him was November, 1949 (see page 402) the his mother. His father had died at Margate life-boat was called out on sea. His mother is a patient in a hos- service and one of the crew, Benjamin pital, blind, bed-ridden, and needing Frost, cycled down to the boathouse at constant care. She is looked after the end of the pier. As soon as he got under the National Health Scheme, into the boat he had a heart attack. but her son spent IS/— a week in He was lifted out, and was found to be comforts for her. This allowance of already dead. He was only forty-one 15/- will now be provided by the years old. He was unmarried, and the Institution.

Two Life-boatmen Cross the Atlantic IN March, 1949, two former members of sail her home across the Atlantic. the life-boat's crew at Yarmouth, Isle With their stores on board she had of Wight, Stanley Smith, aged thirty, barely fourteen inches free-board. and Colin Smith, aged twenty-nine, They set out from Dartmouth, Nova sons of Coxswain S. T. Smith, went to Scotia, on the 6th of July, and made Canada. There, at Dartmouth, Nova their first port of call, Dartmouth, Scotia, they built a yacht, choosing the Devon, forty-three days later! There timber, building her and fitting her out they were given a great reception. entirely with their own hands. She was They set out again a few days later and 20 feet long and had a beam of 6 feet 6 on the 30th of August, a beautiful inches. They named her Nova E.tpero. summer day, they sailed their little So sure were they of their crafts- yacht, under mainsail and jib, into manship and skill that they decided to Yarmouth harbour.

The Duchess of Kent at the Depot THE Duchess of Kent, President of the the light store, the despatch depart- Institution, visited the Institution's ment, the examination department, the depot at Boreham Wood on the 9th of machine shop, the canteen, the offices November. She was received by Sir of the clerical staff, and the cottages Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the where the foreman, chief storesman committee of management, Colonel and shop-foreman live. In each depart- A. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A., ment the principal members of the staff the Secretary of the Institution, Com- were presented to her, and she was pre- mander P. E. Vaux, D.S.C., R.N., chief sented with a bell-rope made in the inspector of life-boats, Commander rigging loft and a pair of brass candle- J. M. Upton, R.D., R.N.R., superin- sticks made in the machine shop. tendent of the depot, and Mr. A. W. After the inspection the Duchess took Stephens, the depot foreman. tea with Sir Godfrey Baring and the The Duchess visited every depart- officials of the Institution, and saw the ment: the publicity store, the paint- life-boat Mary Theresa Boileau which shop, the rigging loft, the carpenter's had just returned from the Lord Mayor's shop, the return store, the heavy store, Procession. 408 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

Naming Ceremonies EIGHT new motor life-boats were named tion, and Captain Guy D. Fanshawe, during the summer of 1949, two on the R.N., a vice-president of the Institu- English coast, at Swanage and East- tion, accepted her and handed her to bourne, three on the Welsh coast, at New Quay, on whose behalf she was New Quay (Cardigan), Barmouth, and received by Mr. Alastair Graham, Porthdinllaen, two in Northern Ireland, president of the branch. at Portrush and Newcastle (Co. Down), The Archbishop of Wales (the Most and one in the Isle of Man, at Ramsey. Rev. D. L. Prosser, D.D.) dedicated the life-boat, assisted by the Rev. D. A. Thomas, M.A., rectof of New Quay and Swanage the Rev. Victor Thomas, B.A. The The new boat has been built out of singing was led by the New Quay a legacy from the late Mrs. Alice Pugh, United Choir. Miss Lucy Silvester, of Kensington, London. She is a deputy-chairman and late honorary 41-feet Watson cabin boat and is the secretary of the St. Albans branch, then seventh life-boat to be stationed at named the life-boat St. Albans and the Swanage. The naming ceremony took boat was launched place on the 18th of June. Dr. G. W. S. A vote of thanks was proposed by de Jersey, chairman of the branch, pre- Councillor E. Price, chairman of the sided, and Captain G. R. Cousins, New Quay Urban District Council, and D.S.C., R.N., district inspector of life- seconded by Mr. D. E. Thomas, a boats, described the life-boat. Dr. A. member of the committee of the branch, McCall, on behalf of the donor, pre- and Captain Fanshawe replied. sented her to the Institution and Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of the Committee of Management, received Barmouth her and- handed her over to Swanage, The new life boat has been built on whose behalf she was accepted by out of a legacy from the late Mr. Dr. de Jersey. Patrick Charles Peek, of Branksome The Archdeacon of Dorset (the Vener- Park, Dorsetshire. She is a 35 feet able L. Addison, M.A.), assisted by the 6 inches Liverpool boat and is the Rev. M. de Burgh Scott and the Rev. seventh to be stationed at Barmouth. Stanley Smith, dedicated the life-boat, The naming ceremony took place on and Lady Baring named her R.L.P. the 6th of July. Colonel C. J. Lloyd A vote of thanks was proposed by Carson, C.B.E., D.L., president of the Councillor F. Holmes, J.P., chairman branch presided, and Commander E. W. of the Swanage Urban District Council, Middleton, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., district and seconded by Mr. A. R. Dickinson, inspector of life-boats, described the district organising secretary, and the boat. Commodore R. G. Clayton, life-boat was launched. D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R., a member of the committee of management of the Institution, handed over the life-boat New Quay, Cardigan to the branch and she was accepted by The new boat is a gift to the Institu- Mr. R. Llewellyn Owen, its chairman. tion from the citizens of St. Albans, who The Archdeacon of Merioneth (the in 1945 raised a-special fund to cele- Venerable David Jenkins) dedicated brate the silver jubilee of the St. the life-boat, assisted by the Rev. Albans branch. She is a 35 feet 6 inches W. H. Wallis Thomas, M.A., and the Liverpool boat, and is the fifth to be Rev. E. Afonwy Williams. The sing- stationed at New Quay. Dr. Roger ing was led by the St. John's Church Griffiths, chairman of the branch, pre- Choir. Mrs. H. M. Richards, of Caer- sided, and Commander E. W. Middleton, ynwch, then named the life-boat. The V.R.D., R.N.V.R., the district inspector Chieftain. of life-boats described the boat. Mr. Commodore Clayton made presenta- J. F. Bushell, a former Mayor of St. tions on behalf of the Institution: To Albans, presented her to the Institu- Mrs. J. R. Heath, honorary secretary DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 409 of the Barmouth Ladies' Life-boat Guild, F.I.A., honorary secretary of the the vellum recording her appointment station. Lady Baring then unveiled as an honorary life-governor of the a plaque which recorded that the electric Institution; to Captain G. B. Piggott, clock on the boat-house had been D.L., J.P., honorary secretary of the placed there as a memorial to two station, inscribed binoculars; to Cox- former presidents of the Eastbourne swain John E. Morris, a coxswain's Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Mrs. Edith certificate of service, and to Evan Astley Roberts and Mrs. A. Muspratt Jones, John Jones, Griffith Griffiths and Williams. Owen T. Morris, life-boatmen's certifi- cates of service, on their retirement Ramsey, Isle of Man from the crew. A vote of thanks was proposed by The new life-boat has been provided Councillor M. G. Roberts, chairman of out of gifts to the Institution from the Barmouth Urban District Council the Thomas Corbett Charity. She is and seconded by Mrs. J. R. Heath. a 35 feet 6 inches Liverpool boat and is the ninth life-boat to be stationed at Ramsey. The naming ceremony Eastbourne took place on the 14th of July. The The new boat is a gift to the Institu- Rev. H. W. Young, chairman of the tion from Sir Lyonel and Lady Tolle- branch, presided, and Commander mache, in memory of their daughter, E. W. Middleton, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., Beryl Tollemache. She is a 41-feet district inspector of life-boats, described Beach life-boat, built with a cabin, the boat. Mr. Laurence C. H. Cave, a and is the ninth to be stationed at member of the committee of manage- Eastbourne. The naming ceremony ment of the Institution, handed the took place on the 14th of July. The life-boat over to Ramsey, on whose Mayor of Eastbourne presided and the. behalf she wasTeceived by the Lieuten- boat was described by Captain G. R. ant Governor of the Isle of Man, who Cousins, D.S.C., R.N., district inspector is also president of the Ramsey branch of life-boats. Sir Lyonel Tollemache, (Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Bromet, who is now ninety-six years old, was K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O.). unfortunately prevented by ill-health The Bishop of Sodor and Man (the from being present, and in his absence Right Rev. J. R. Strickland Taylor, his son, Colonel H. T. Tollemache, pre- D.D.) dedicated the life-boat, assisted sented the boat to the Institution. by the Rev. Gordon Sayle, M.A., the Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., chairman of Rev. J. Daintree, and the Rev. ,J. the committee of management of the Murray. The singing was led by the Institution, accepted the life-boat and Ramsey Ladies' Cushag Choir and the handed her over to Eastbourne, on Ramsey Male Voice Choir, 'accom- whose behalf she was accepted by Mr. panied by the Ramsey Town Band. Ernest Armstrong, chairman of the Lady Bromet then named the life-boat branch and a member of the com- Thomas Corbett, and the life-boat was mittee of management of the Institu- launched. tion. A vote of thanks was proposed by The Right Rev. Walter Julius Carey, Mr. F. L. Cottier, J.P., chairman of the D.D., dedicated the life-boat, assisted Ramsey Town Commissioners, and by the Rev. L. E. Meredith, M.A., seconded by Mr. A. S. Kelly, J.P., vicar of Eastbourne and the Rev. G. T. M.H.K., T.C. Bellhouse, M.A., B.D., of the East- bourne Presbyterian Church. The singing was led by the Eastbourne and Porthdinllaen District Philharmonic Society. Lady The new boat has been built out of a Tollemache then named the life-boat legacy from the late Mr. Charles Carr Beryl Tollemache, and the life-boat was Ashley, of Mentone, France, who left launched. money to provide and endow five A vote of thanks was proposed by life-boats. She is a 46-feet 9-inches Mr. Charles Taylor, D.L., Member of Watson cabin life-boat and is the sixth Parliament for Eastbourne, and life-boat to be stationed at Porth- seconded by Mr. B. G. H. Brown, dinllaen. The naming ceremony took 410 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949 place on the 12th of August. Captain her over to the branch, on whose behalf R. E. Thomas, president of the branch, she was accepted by its honorary sec- presided, and Commander E. W. retary, Mr. W. R. Knox, M.M., J.P., Middleton, V.R.D., R.N.V.R., the dis- Co.C. and Lieut.-Commander W. L. G. trict inspector of life-boats, described Button, R.D., R.N.R., district inspector the boat. Commander H. F. P. of life-boats, described her. Grenfell, D.S.C., R.N., a m-mber of The Rev. J. S. Pyper, B.A., D.D., the committee of management of the dedicated the life-boat, assisted by Institution, handed her over to the the Rev. J.' T. Moffett-Blair, B.A., branch, on whose behalf she was the Rev. D. B. E. Perrin, M.A., and accepted by Colonel W. H. Wynne- the Rev. T. H. Holloway. The singing Finch, M.C., Lord Lieutenant of Caer- was accompanied by the band of the narvonshire. 1st King's Dragoon Guards. The The Rev. John Owen, M.A., dedicated Countess of Antrim then named the the life-boat, assisted by the Rev. life-boat Lady Scott (Civil Service No. 4). William Thomas, B.A., B.D.. vicar of Votes of thanks were proposed by Nevin, .and the Rev. T. Nefyn Williams Mr. T. L. Bamford, J.P., and Captain led the singing. Lady Carey Evans, E. L. Hamilton, and seconded by Mr. president of the South Caernarvonshire G. W. T. McCann and Mr. J. Fisher, Ladies' Life-boat Guild, then named honorary treasurer of the branch. her Charles Henry Ashley. Commander Grenfell presented to Newcastle, Co. Down Mr. J. E. Roberts, honorary secretary of the station, the inscribed binoculars The new life-boat has been, built out awarded to him by the Institution, of a legacy from the late Miss Anne and a vote of thanks was proposed by Winsloe Clarke Hall, of Bournemouth. Mrs. William Ellis, vice-president of She is a 35-feet 6-inches Liverpool boat the South Caernarvonshire Ladies' Life- and is the tenth to be stationed at New- boat Guild, and seconded by Mrs. E. castle. The naming ceremony took Robyns-Owen, B.A., honorary sec-' place on the 27th of August, and Dr. retary of the Guild. Robert Magill, president of the branch, presided. Colonel Richard Trenam, O.B.E., M.C., organising secretary for Portrush Ireland, handed over the life-boat to The new boat is a gift from the Civil the branch, on whose behalf she was Service Life-boat Fund, by which it accepted by its honorary secretary, has not only been provided, but en- Mr. J. Fergus McCartan and Lieut.- dowed, and will be maintained. She is Commander W. L. G. Dutton, R.D., the seventh life-boat to be stationed at R.N.R., district inspector of life-boats, Portrush. The naming ceremony took described her. place on the 17th of August, and Mr. The Rev. W. Armstrong Jones, M.A., R. A. Chalmers, president of the branch, dedicated the life-boat and Mr. Gerald presided. Sir William Scott, O.B.E., Annesley named her William and presented the life-boat to the Institu- Laura. tion on behalf of the Civil Service A vote of thanks was proposed by Life-boat Fund, Colonel Richard Mr. William Stevenson Corry, J.P., Trenam, O.B.E., M.C., organising sec- chairman of the Newcastle Urban retary for Ireland, accepted her on District Council, and seconded by Mr. behalf of the Institution and handed William Gilmore, J.P.

Days of Magic EACH year for the past three years, sums made to a national charity. the Magical Societies throughout the In 1948 the 'charity chosen was country have held a national day the Life-boat Service. It has re- of magic as near to All Halloween ceived from the Magical Societies as possible and have presented the £1,408. DECEMBER, 1949] THE LIFE-BOAT 411

Linen in Public A naval Lieutenant-Commander sta- —I should have been very annoyed if tioned at Portsmouth recently received my socks had been "fried " or "roasted " his clean laundry with one pair of socks or "braised"—give a bob to the Life- missing. He reported the matter, and boat Institution. got back this reply from the Laundry. Action was then taken. 16th November, 1949. 25th November, 1949. DEAR SIR, DEAR SIR, Re your inquiry regarding a pair of We would like to thank you for your socks, we regret to inform you that letter of November 18th, and we appre- they have been accidentally boiled, ciated the spirit in which you, took this therefore, in order to settle this matter matter. amicably will you please let us know We have taken you at your word, and what you claim as reasonable compensa- enclose herewith a receipt for 5 bob we tion. ... sent to The Royal National Life-boat To this, the Naval Officer replied Institution. two days later: We beg to remain, Sir, Accidents will happen, even to socks The Laundry.

Life-boat in The Lord Mayor's Procession THE Lord Mayor's Procession this year 1939), with a skeleton crew on board. was a pageant of "Transport Through The procession moved in pouring rain the Ages." It began with an Arab and all the Press recorded that the water carrier and ancient Britons, a only happy people in it were the life- man and woman travelling on foot. It boat's crew, looking very comfortable ended with British Overseas and Euro- in their heavy oilskins. pean Airways. At the end of the It was not possible, owing to its section "Water Transport" came the size, to have a modern motor life-boat. Institution's pulling and sailing life- This is the first time since 1923, that a boat Mary Theresa Boileau, (which life-boat has taken part in the Proces- served at Dungeness from 1912 to sion.

The Gardens of Sheffield Park FOR many years before the war the and for seven weeks in the autumn famous gardens of Sheffield Park, in for the leaf colours, and the owner Sussex, were opened to the public of Sheffield Park, Captain A. Granville and the entrance money given to Soames, O.B.E., who was for a number charity. of years a member of the committee of In 1949, for the first time since the war, management of the Institution very they were again opened, for five weeks kindly gave the proceeds to the Life- in the spring for the flowering shrubs, boat Service.

A Christmas Gift JUST before Christmas a packet was bag with "Happy Christmas from an brought to the Institution by an official old lady and Bright New Year" of the Post Office, who wished to be written on it, and fifty one-pound certain that it was intended for the notes. Institution. It had the Oxford post- The Oxford Mail very kindly pub- mark and was addressed "To life-boat lished a paragraph thanking the anony- Headquarters." Inside was a paper mous giver. 412 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1949

Lord Runciman and Sir Lionel Halsey THE Institution lost last year two he was an active and valued member of very distinguished members of the com- the committee of management and mittee of management, the Viscount its sub-committees. Runciman and Admiral Sir Lionel Sir Lionel Halsey, who died on the Halsey, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., 26th of October at the age of 77, was C.B. Comptroller to the Prince of Wales Lord Runciman, who died on the when the Prince was President of the 14th of November, at the age of 79, Institution. He became a member of became a member of the committee the committee of management in 1921 in 1916, and in 1932 he was appointed and in 1936 he was appointed a vice- a vice-president. Towards the end of president. For fifteen years he was his life he took little part in the work president of the St. Albans branch, and of the Institution, but in his early years took an active interest in its work.

Coxswain John Boyle, of Arranmore ONE of the most distinguished of Irish 1945 when, on the 7th of December, coxswains, John Boyle, of Arranmore, 1940, he rescued 18 of the crew of the died on the 5th of September, 1949, at Dutch steamer Stolwijk, of Rotterdam, the age of 57. He served as an officer one of a convoy of ships from America of the life-boat for 23 years, as bow- which had come through three days of a man from 1926 to 1928, and then rising north-westerly gale and was as coxswain until his death, 21 years making for the passage between Scot- later. land and Ulster (at that stage of the He was one of the seven coxswains war the only remaining entrance to who won the gold medal for conspicuous British ports) in a hurricane of wind gallantry during the war of 1939 to and snow.

Life-boats Given by Corporate Bodies: A Correction IN the October issue of The Life-boat It .should have been said that was an article with this heading, and Lloyd's not only gave this life-boat, among the corporate bodies mentioned but, by their annual contribution, was Lloyd's, donor of a life-boat which maintain her and contribute to a bears its name. replacement fund.

Notice All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London S.W.I. All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should b> addressed to the Secretary. The next number ofTnK LIFE-BOAT will be published in April, 1950.