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

VOL. XXXII DECEMBER, 1948 No. 348

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, 1948 - 76,312

Forty Years of Motor Life-boats IT was .in 1904 that, as an experiment, fleet. She is likely to remain. This is the first petrol engine was fitted in a at Whitby, where, besides a motor life- pulling and sailing life-boat. It was an boat, there is a pulling life-boat for engine of 10 horse power. Two years work in the harbour entrance between later three other sailing life-boats were the piers; there a boat under oars can fitted with larger engines. The experi- work more easily and turn more ment was a success and in 1908 the first quickly than a motor boat. three motor life-boats were built. Two The first three motor life-boats, like of them were self-righting boats, one the fleet of pulling and sailing life-boats, with a 24 h.p. engine and the other were open boats, with a cover over with a 30 h.p. engine. They went to the engine itself, but no protection for Fishguard and Stromness. The third the mechanic. They had single engines was a Watson boat, with a 40 h.p. and, in case the engine should fail, car- engine. She went to Broughty Ferry. ried a full set of sails. The sails con- These three boats, built forty years ago, tinued to be carried, and still are, by all were the beginning of the motor life- motor life-boats with only one engine. boat fleet of to-day. Now, in December, 1948, the last of For Launching off the Beach the sailing life-boats has been replaced by a motor life-boat.* The mechanisa- Ten years later, when the first war tion of the fleet—much delayed by two ended, there were twenty motor life- wars—has taken just forty years to boats in the fleet. Building could complete. now be resumed and the next few years were busy with big developments. With greater confidence in the petrol 156 Boats instead of 280 engine, larger and more powerful motor In 1908, when those first three motor life-boats could be designed. But there life-boats were built, there were 276 was a'more difficult problem. It was pulling and sailing and four steam life- to design smaller and lighter boats. boats on the coast. To-day the work Up to this time all motor life-boats .had of those 280 life-boats is done by 156 been launched down slipways. What motor life-boats. Only one life-boat was most urgent was boats that, with which has not an engine remains in the the added wtight of an engine, would * An article on the last of the sailing life-boats be light enough to be launched off a will be published in the next number of The LUe- boat. carriage on the beach. There were 234 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

1908 One of the first three motor life-boats, a 43-feet Watson boat, with a 40 h.p. petrol engine Stationed at Broughty Ferry. Cost, £3,400.

1923 The first cabin life-boat, a 43-feet Watson boat, with a canvas canopy and an 80 h.p. petrol engine. Stationed at Tenby Cost, £9,000. DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 235

A 46-feet Watson cabin life-boat, with a wooden canopy and a windscreen, funnel (or the exhausts, mast only for signalling and the wireless aerial, and two 40 h.p. Diesel engines. Stationed at Gorleston. Cost, £9,000.

1948 The first life-boat with a deck cabin, a 46-feet-9-inches Watson cabin life-boat, with two 40 h.p. Diesel engines. On top of the cabin are a whip aerial for the wireless and a loud hailer. Stationed at St. Helier, Jersey. Cost, £20,000. 236 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

INSIDE THE ST. HELIER LIFE-BOAT

THE WIRELESS ROOM

The top picture on the opposite page shows the cabin, with the chart table, and beneath the table a locker containing the cooking stove. The wireless room is on the other side of the partition at the back of the chart table. Through the door can be seen part of the ste3ring wheel and the engine controls. The bottom picture shows the cocking stove. DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 237

By courtesy of} [Topical rr?ss Agencv 238 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 many stations where the boat could be years later, in 1931, a new type was launched in no other way. Until a designed to meet this special need, and lighter boat was designed these stations the first of this type, the beach boat, could not use motor power. The first was stationed at Aldeburgh. She was of these light boats was placed at East- 41 feet long, weighed over 16 tons, bourne in 1921. She was 35 feet long had two 35 h.p. engines, and was and weighed under seven tons, two launched not off a carriage, but down tons less than the lightest then on the wooden skids. coast. She had a 15 h.p. engine. Next year saw another important Dietel Engine* step. A new boat, of the Watson type, For the first 28 years all motor life- went to Penlee with a new type of boats had petrol engines. The engine engine. It was the largest yet built, driven by heavy oil had great advan- of 80 h.p. More important still, it tages. With it there was much less risk was the first watertight engine. It of fire, and with the same quantity of could work with the engine-room fuel the boat could travel nearly twice flooded. as far. But a heavy-oil engine was much heavier than a petrol engine. It was The First Cabin Life-boat too heavy for a life-boat. By the A year later, 1923, the first motor middle of the 'thirties Diesel engines life-boat with a cabin was completed. were being built which weighed little Like the Broughty Ferry boat of 1908, more than petrol engines of the same she was of the Watson type. She was horse power, and the first boat with 45 feet long, weighed over 17 tons, Diesel instead of petrol engines was and had an 80 h.p. engine. She was stationed at Howth in 1936. She was also the first boat to have a canopy a 46-feet Watson cabin boat with twin over the engine-controls. It was of screws. Each engine was of 40 h.p. canvas, but in the next and succeeding Thereafter all the larger boats were boats, it was made of wood. built with Diesel engines, but petrol The same year saw an even more was still used in the light boats. important advance. The first motor Up to this time also, only the larger life-boat with two engines and twin boats had twin screws, but in 1936 screws was built, the first to be in- two boats were built—and were followed dependent of sail. She was of a new by five more in the next three years-— type, much larger and heavier, the smaller and lighter than any in the fleet. Barnett type, 60 feet long, weighing They were the surf type, 32 feet long, over 41 tons. She was stationed at weighing under five tons, and they had New Brighton on the Mersey. two 12 h.p. engines. The first two were Up to this time, and for another stationed at Wells, in Norfolk, and three years the exhausts of the engines Ilfracombe. had discharged first at the side and then at the stern of the boat, where the dis- Beginnings of a New Fleet advantage was that the fumes might That was the state of the fleet when blow back on the boat. In 1926 the war broke out in 1939. A year later first boat was built with the exhausts the building of new life-boats almost carried up a funnel. ceased, but during the war a new design was prepared. Until then the steering A Heavier Beacb Boat wheel in all life-boats was right aft. The light type of boat, of which the That was a necessity with sails. Now first had been completed in 1921, had that an increasing number of life-boats made it possible to have motor life- had twin screws and were independent boats at nearly all stations, but there of sail, it was decided to put the wheel still remained a few from which they amidships where the coxswain would were excluded—stations where the boats have a better view, and be better had to be launched off the open beach, placed for controlling his crew. but where conditions at sea made it Plans were also prepared for a new necessary to have larger and heavier fleet to be built when the war ended, boats-than - this new light type. Ten in which all life-boats,,light as well as DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 239 heavy, should have two engines and for eleven persons, besides the -ten for two screws, and all engines should use whom there are seats in the cabin below heavy oil, instead of petrol. deck. It has space between the seats for a stretcher. It has a chart table, and Aluminium Alloy a locker with a paraffin cooker. This is A new material has now made pos- the first life-boat with means for cooking sible yet more developments in the food. There is a separate room for design of life-boats. This is aluminium the radio telephone. The engine ex- alloy, which is lighter than wood, of hausts are, for the first time, carried which life-boats are mainly built, or up the mast, instead of a funnel, and the mild steel which has been used for in this way they escape well above the many years for engine-casings and heads of the crew. bulkheads. The St. Helier boat has also what has Aluminium alloy was first used in already been fitted in the wind-screens life-boats in 1927 for the panel of the of one or two other life-boats, a Kent engine-controls. Now, with the help clear-view screen. It is a circular of this metal, the first life-boat has been piece of glass which is spun round on a built with a deck cabin as well as a central pivot by an electric motor, and cabin below deck. She went to her- by spinning throws off all spray and station, St. Helier, Jersey, in September, rain, so that there is always a clear 1948. She is of the Watson cabin view through it.* type, 46 feet 9 inches, by 12 feet To-day the fleet has seven main types 9 inches, and she weighs 22^ tons. Not of motor life-boat, varying in length only the deck cabin, but the whole of from 35 feet 6 inches to 60 feet; in the superstructure—the shelter for the weight from 8J tons to 43£ tons; in mechanics, the mast and the ventilators power from two 18 h.p. engines to two —is made of aluminium alloy. Had it 80 h.p. engines. * This new life-boat has attracted much atten- been of wood and mild steel the weight tion, and photographs ot her have appeared would have been over a quarter of a not only in many British papers, but in papers in Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and South ton more. This deck cabin has seats America.

Naming Ceremony at St. Ives THE new St. Ives motor life-boat was Liverpool type, with two 18 h.p. named on the 17th of August. She is engines. She has been built out of the eleventh life-boat that the station legacies from Miss Lilian Cockcroft, of has had since it was established in London, Major George William Wilson, 1840. The station has had a chequered of London, Mr. Orlando Francis Child, history. Its life-boats have been out -of Hereford, and Mr. Richard Barwiek on service 180 times, they have rescued Pol, of London. 468 lives, and two of them have been The ceremony was held in brilliant wrecked, with loss of life. In 1938 the weather. Marines from Plymouth Caroline Parsons was capsized as she formed a guard of honour and the St. left a wreck. She righted herself at Ives Band accompanied the singing. once and her crew got aboard her again, The boat was named by the Countess of but five of the 23 rescued men were Mount Edgcombe, with whom were the drowned. Just a year later the next Earl of Mount Edgcombe, Major- boat, the John and Sarah Eliza Stych, General Stephen Lamplugh, C.B.E., was capsized in the open sea when on and Mrs. Lamplugh, and the ceremony her way to a wreck. She, too, righted was arranged by Captain F. H. Hicks, herself at once, but capsized a second the honorary secretary of the station, and a third time, each time losing some and the local committee. of her crew, and in the end was washed Alderman J. Daniel, J.P., C.C., ashore on the rocks with only one of chairman of the branch, presided, and the eight men alive. after Captain G. R. -Cousins, D.S.C., The new boat is of the 35-feet 6 inches R.N., district inspector of life-boats, 240 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 had described the boat, Captain Guy the Countess of Mount Edgcombe D. Fanshawe, R.N., a vice-president named her Edgar, George, Orlando and of the Institution, presented her to the Eva Child. branch on behalf of the donors and A vote of thanks was proposed by the Institution. The Mayor of St. Captain N. A. Beechman, M.C., K.C., Ives, Councillor J. Cock, received her Member of Parliament for St. Ives, and on behalf of the branch. seconded by Mr. P. Shurmer, Member of The Bishop of Truro, the Right Rev. Parliament for the Sparkbrook Division Joseph Wellington Hunkin, O.B.E., of Birmingham, who was on holiday at M.C., D.D., then dedicated the boat and St. Ives. Thelife-boat wasthenlaunched.

St. Helier Naming Ceremony THE new St. Helier life-boat arrived at chief-inspector of life-boats, had des- her station on the llth of September, cribed the new life-boat, Colonel J. 1948, and on the 14th of October her Benskin, D.S.O., O.B.E., a vice- presi- naming ceremony was held on a sunny , dent of the Institution, presented her afternoon after a morning of storm. to the branch and Mr. S. Le Mesurier, The station was established in 1884, vice-president of the branch, received and the new life-boat is the fifth. The her. St. Helier life-boats have been out to The Very Rev. Canon M. Le Marinel, ships in distress 38 times and have M.A., Dean of Jersey, dedicated the rescued 49 lives. In addition to those life-boat, assisted by the Rev. R. J. 38 launches and 49 lives, the motor Rider, M.C., president of the Free life-boat Howard D., which was at St. Church Council and the Rev. H. J. Le Helier during the German occupation Page, honorary port chaplain, St. of Jersey, went out five times—with Helier Missions to Seamen. her crew under German guards—and Lady Grasett, wife of the Lieutenant rescued 35 lives. Governor, Lieut.-General Sir Arthur The new life-boat is of the 46-feet Grasett, K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., named 9-inches Watson cabin type, with two the life-boat Elizabeth Rippon. The 40 h.p. Diesel engines, and is the first boat then left her moorings. life-boat to have a deck cabin. She A vote of thanks was proposed by has been built out of a legacy from Mr. A. R. Dickinson, district organising Mrs. Elizabeth Rippon, of Hull. secretary, and seconded by Mr. F. Le Lady Coutanche, wife of the Bailiff Quesne, a member of the branch. The of Jersey, Sir Alexander Coutanche, ceremony was arranged by Mr. L. P. presided, and after Commander T. Stevens, honorary secretary of the G. Michelmore, R.D., R.N.R., deputy station, and the local committee.

Sennen Cove Naming Ceremony The Legacy of Mr. Charles Carr Ashley THE new Sennen Cove life-boat is a sented a life-boat to bear his mother's gift to the Life-boat Service from one name, Susan Ashley, and this boat of its most generous benefactors, the was stationed at Lyme Regis from 1891 late Mr. Charles Carr Ashley, who died to 1915. The legacy itself was to at Mentone in 1906. He bequeathed provide five life-boats and endow them, his estate to the Institution, subject to so that they would be replaced, .and a number of life annuities. So far the continue to be replaced, by life-boats Institution has received £49,000 and bearing the same names. These five the annuity fund of £16,000 will life-boats were built in 1907, one of eventually come to it. Mr. Ashley, them with the name Susan Ashley. during his lifetime, had already pre- All five have now come to the end of DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 241

NAMING CEREMONIES

By courtesy of] [Studio SI Ivcs Ud. AT ST. IVES

AT ST. HELIER 242 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

THE NAMING CEREMONY AT SENNEN COVE DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 243

By courtesy of} [Topical Press Agency RETURNING FROM SERVICE The new Sennen Cove life-boat coming into harbour at Newlyn with four men rescued from the Empire Flamingo on the 26th of October, 1948. (See page 258.) 244 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 their service, and one of them was inspector of life-boats. The Assistant replaced in 1933 by the present life- Bishop of.Truro, the Right Rev. John boat at Weston-super-Mare. Another Holden, D.D., said prayers and the of the five, the Susan Ashley, which was naming ceremony hymns were sung, stationed at Brooke, Isle of Wight, accompanied by the St. Ives Town from 1907 to 1937, and then sold out Band. of the service, has now been replaced In the afternoon Mrs. V. Nelson- .by the new boat at Sennen Cove. The Edwards, chairman of the Sennen other three Ashley boats will be re- Ladies' Life-boat Guild, gave a tea placed later. party in the boathouse, followed by a The new Susan Ashley, the third to children's fancy dress dance, and a bear the name, is of the 41 -feet Watson dance in the evening. type, with two 35 h.p. engines, and she The full ceremony was held a month is the first of the type to have a cabin. later, on the 2nd of October, and besides She is the sixth life-boat to be sta- those taking part in it, there were tioned at Sennen Cove. The station present Rear Admiral Sir Aubrev was established in 1853 and its life- Tillard, K.B.E., Lady Tillard, the boats have gone out to ships in distress Mayor and Mayoress of St. Ives, and 140 times and have rescued 180 lives. Coxswain Edwin Madron, of Penlee. The St. Just Town Band accompanied Ceremony without the Life-boat the singing and Penzance Sea Cadets The naming ceremony was fixed for provided a guard of honour, which was the 4th of September, but on the morn- inspected by Sir Robert Burnett. ing of the 3rd a north-west gale was Mr. J. T. Nicholas presided, and in blowing and just after eight o'clock the absence of Captain G. R. Cousins, the life-boat was called out to the help R.N., district inspector of life-boats, of a trawler. She searched for her who was ill, Mr. A. R. Dickinson, dis- but could not find her. The trawler trict organising secretary, described had managed to repair her engine and the life-boat. Mr. Lawrence Cave, on had gone on her way, As it was imposs- behalf of the donor and the Institution, ible in that gale for the life-boat to then presented her to the branch, and she be hauled up her slipway at Sennen was received by Coxswain John Roberts. Cove, she made for Newlyn. There she The Rev. W. R. Morris, the rector of had to remain until the 5th. Sennen, dedicated the life-boat, and The life-boat was to be named by Lady Burnett named her Susan Ashley. Lady Burnett, wife of the" commander- A vote of thanks was proposed by in-chief at Plymouth, Admiral Sir Mr. A. O. Kernick, the honorary treas- Robert Burnett, K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., urer of the branch, and seconded by Sir Robert and Lady Burnett were al- Mrs. Nelson-Ed wards, chairman of the ready on their way from Plymouth, Ladies' Life-boat Guild. The boat and it was impossible to let them was then launched. know what had happened until they Mrs. Nelson-Edwards entertained the arrived at Sennen Cove., so, although guests to tea at the Success Inn, and the actual naming was impossible in after tea the life-boat made three trips the absence of the life-boat, a cere- with visitors on board. In the evening mony was held. Speeches were made Mrs. Nelson-Edwards entertained mem- by Mr. J. T. Nicholas, chairman of the bers of the crew and their wives, and branch, Admiral Sir Robert Burnett, members of the branch committee in Mr. Laurence €.. H. Cave, a member the boathouse. The ceremony was of the Committee of Management of arranged by Mr. Barrie Bennetts, the the Institution, and Captain G. R. honorary secretary of the station, and Cousins, D.S.C., R.N., the district the local committee.

Portrait on the Cover THE portrait on the cover is of Coxswain at the end of 1948 after serving for 21 William J. Hughes, of Rhyl, who retired years as an officer of the life-boat. DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 245

The Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting was held at the ten years ago, as President of the Board of Central Hall, Westminster, on the 27th Trade. We had hoped also to have with us the of October, 1948, with Sir Godfrey Prime Minister. In fact, he had already Baring, Bt., chairman of the Com- promised to come, but his doctors told him mittee of Management, in the chair. that he must undertake no outside engage- H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent, Presi- ments. Disappointed though we are that he is not present with us, his intention to come dent of the Institution, presented the is a tribute to the Institution, and to its work medals for gallantry and other awards, as a great voluntary service, which we deeply and gave her presidential address. value. I am sure that you will all, irre- The speakers were Admiral Sir spective of party, join with me in wishing the Prime Minister an early recovery of his full William James, G.C.B., the Right Hon. health and strength. Oliver Stanley, M.C., M.P., Commodore We have also with us the Mayors and the Right Hon. the Earl Howe, C.B.E., Mayoresses of nearly thirty London Boroughs V.R.D., P.C., R.N.V.R., a vice-presi- and two towns, Deal and Weymouth, whose life-boatmen have come to receive awards dent of the Institution and vice- for gallantry. London never forgets that chairman of the Committee of Manage- she is the Port of London, and we always ment, and Colonel J. Benskin, D.S.O., heartily welcome at our meetings the Mayors O.B.E., a vice-president of the Institu- of so many of her Boroughs. We are deeply grateful for all that they do to help our tion. branches. Supporting the Duchess on the plat- The report and accounts for the year are form were the Mayor and Mayoress of before you. I can sum them up in three Westminster, the Mayors and Mayoresses sentences: Never before has the Life-boat Service been so busy in time of peace; of 27 other London boroughs, the never before has it cost more to maintain; Mayors and Mayoresses of St. Albans, never before, thanks to the devoted work of Deal and Weymouth, representatives of our honorary members in conjunction with the Coastguard, King George's Fund the public, has it had a larger income. I now present to you the annual report and for Sailors, and the Shipwrecked accounts for the year 1947. Mariners' Society, vice-presidents and honorary life-governors of the Institu- Report and Accounts and Elections tion, members of the Committee of The report and accounts for 1947 were Management and members of the adopted, and the President, vice-presidents, Central London Women's Committee. treasurer and other members of the Com- mittee of Management, and the auditors were The Chairman's Address elected. It is with special pleasure that we welcome Presentation of Medals at our meeting to-day our President, Her by the Duchess of Kent Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. It was a very great disappointment to us, and The secretary read the accounts of services I am sure it was a disappointment to Her by the life-boats at Walmer. Shoreham Royal Highness, that she was prevented by Harbour, New Brighton and V\ eymouth, and illness from coming to our meeting last year. the Duchess of Kent presenteu medals for Her Royal Highness will present the awards gallantry: for gallantry and for distinguished services, To COXSWAIN FREDERICK UPTON, OF and I know how much it will add to the WALMEH, KENT, the silver medal for rescuing honour which we show to-day to our life- in a gale thirty lives from the Italian steamer boatmen and to our honorary workers, that Silvia Onorato, stranded on the Goodwin they will receive their awards from her hands. Sands, on the 4th of January, 1948. We are very glad also to welcome the To PERCY CAVELL, THE MOTOR MECHANIC mover and the seconder of the first resolution, OF WALMER, KENT, the bronze medal for two very distinguished men, Admiral Sir the same service. He has twice been awarded William James and The Right Hon. Oliver the Institution's thanks on vellum. Stanley. Admiral Sir William James is not To COXSWAIN JAMES UPPERTON, OP only an Admiral but a well-known writer on SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX, a bar to his naval matters; he has sat in the House of silver medal for the rescue in a gale on Commons; and he was for several years a the 8th of August, 1948, of three men, two member of the Institution's Committee of women and a boy from the yacht Gull wrecked Management. Mr. Oliver Stanley's brilliant outside Newhaven Harbour. and witty speeches have for a long time past To SECOND-COXSWAIN WILLIAM JONES, OF relieved the tedium of long parliamentary NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE, the bronze medal debates. Many of you will have heard him for landing six men from a fort in the mouth here before, when he spoke at this meeting of the Mersey, when in danger of collapsing 246 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

in a south-westerly gale on the 22nd of sea-board sooner or later take soundings off September, 1947. Second-coxswain Jones was our coast, and that "wire-slackening", in command of the life-boat for the first time. which is the signal that the lead has found To COXSWAIN FREDERICK PALMER, OF bottom, is also a signal that the ship is within WEYMOUTH, DORSET, the bronze medal for reach of a British life-boat. How comforting rescuing in a gale on the 6th of June, 1948, it must be, when there have been no sights three men from the motor yacht Mite, on her for several days, when the coastal waters are way from Malta to London. enshrouded in fog, or when a rapidly-falling glass portends a great storm, to know that The President's Address if anything untoward happens, a British life- It was a very great disappointment to me boat will appear on the scene if it is humanly that I was prevented through illness from possible. These life-boatmen of ours de- coming to this meeting last year. Nineteen- monstrate again and again that "the Brother- forty-seven was a terrible year, a year dark- hood of the Sea" is not just an idle phrase, ened by the shadow of the tragic loss of the but a vigorous reality. I would that the gallant Mumbles life-boat crew, whose widows statesmen of the world could follow their I am to meet in a few days, when I visit example. Swansea. The heroism of their menfolk will never be forgotten. NO LACK OF MEN FOR ADVENTURE This year it has been a great pleasure for me to present medals to the brave men of Last year I was privileged to give a lecture Walmer, Shoreham, New Brighton and Wey- in what are known as the "Lees-Jones mouth, whose gallantry on the high seas is Lectures" at Cambridge University. The happily unclouded by the loss of any of their subject was "The Influence of Sea-Power comrades. on the History of the British people," and I have been much interested by the develop- after tracing through that influence from the ments in life-saving equipment that I have first day, when the first King's ship was seen in my visits throughout the year to life- launched at Erith, I found I could sum up boat stations all over this country and in the whole business in one sentence: We Northern Ireland. became a great people, and we have so far But it is not with these things alone that held our position in the world, because we I have been impressed. Only those who are have been able to protect from assault our familiar with the cheerfulness, unceasing merchant ships outward-bound with soldiers vigilance, and indomitable courage of the and inward-bound with food and com- life-boat crews can measure the debt which modities not found in these islands. That we owe to every one of them. I am indeed was the whole story: no mention of the proud to be associated with a Service whose weapon, you will notice, that varies through name is rightly famous throughout the world. the ages. The merchant ship is very much I should like, too, to thank all those whose the same to-day as it has always been, generosity in the past year, as in many others, though it is now propelled by steam and not has helped to make this great work possible, by sail. It still is and will always- be a com- and whose support of the Royal National modious receptacle for bulk cargoes that can Life-boat Institution has been more mag- circumnavigate the world at an economic nificent than ever before. With them we speed. Well, there is more to be added to must remember the devoted services of those that summing-up. There was something who have, once again, volunteered then: help missing. That something missing was that with unfailing readiness and tireless enthu- we have always been able to man those ships; siasm. To them, and to all who are in any and that is one of the most striking things in way connected with the Institution and its our history. We are, as you all know, a work, but above all to the coxswains and nation of dormice. There are no people so crews of our life-boats, I send my most sincere brave, so determined, 'when attacked; no thanks and good' wishes for the future. people so gullible, and so ready to snooze, (Loud Applause). when victory has been won by great exertion. And in those snoozing periods, so frequent in our history, you will find that we -have always Admiral Sir William James paid very scant attention to our Merchant It is my privilege to move this resolution, Navy; and yet there never has been a lack in which we express our appreciation of the of men and boys who, seeking adventure, have great work done by the crews of the life-boats left their town or village and made for the and also of the work done by the honorary nearest sea-port—never. officials. If that continuing urge to seek what lies The resolution is couched in simple terms. beyond the horizon is such a striking feature There are very few adjectives. But, like of our history, how much more striking, how some of those short, monosyllabic verses in much more notable, is this continuing the first chapter of Genesis, it conjures up a acceptance of grave risks in order to save the never-ending, purposeful story, and in this lives of brother seamen 1 Some of you know, case a never-ending story of unsurpassed I think, the blind sailor's prayer, which ends: gallantry and unremitting endeavour with- " I have filled my heart, Lord. Now I pray out thought of reward. I feel sure that we to keep the laughter and the colour in this are not here alone to-day. We may not see uplifting sleep." Well, you know, for the them, but I feel that here with us to-day in ' deep»sea mariner there are hazards, there are spirit are all the deep-sea mariners of the great discomforts often, but there is laughter world, because the ships of all nations with a and often a riot of colour. But for the men DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 247

By courtesy of] [Topical Press Agency THE MEDALLISTS Frederick Upton, Percy Cavell, James Upperton, William Jones, Frederick Palmer.

By courtesy of] \L,K,A, THE DUCHESS OF KENT AND COXSWAIN UPPERTON Coxswain Upperton has twice won the silver medal. The first time was in the war of 1939 to 1945. In the war of 1914 to 1918 he was serving with the Colds,tream Guards in France. 248 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 whom we honour to-day there are only terrible years have gone between those two hazards; there is no laughter; the only dates—ten years in which all of us have colours are sombre, the blacks and greys of experienced loss and most of us have experi- storm-clouds and angry seas. Indeed, these enced peril—ten years in which millions of men are noblemen of the seas. people all over the world have met death, It may have occurred to some of you, as sometimes in its most horrible form, and it has occurred to me, that we ought to be other millions all over the world have passed reducing our Life-boat Service. Shortly dangers with varying degrees of courage. I after the first World War, we were told that think our countrymen might be excused if, there would be no more shipwrecks. There after ten years such as those, they had begun was this wonderful new wireless, these radar to be callous, if they had begun to forget an gadgets for helping ships into port. The appreciation of the brave and begun to forget other day a young' naval officer told me that sympathy for those in danger; but I am glad the Navigation Branch was at an end, to say that that is not so. Our people have because all a captain had to do was to look come out of this devastating fire with hearts into some mystery-box on the bridge and he as warm and imaginations as vivid as ever could see exactly where he was, and that if they were. And in the ordinary, very simple he saw a buoy and wondered what buoy it terms of this resolution, we are paying tribute was, he made a signal to it by wireless and it to-day to those two things: appreciation of replied and gave its name. (Laughter.) I the brave and sympathy for those in danger. thought that would make you laugh, but it is , We Jiave heard to-day read out the accounts absolutely true. Yet, despite all these aids of four, typical examples of the courage which to navigation, we cannot reduce the Life- these men have shown in the past twelve boat Service; and why? Because man has months. They may be the finest examples, not yet dominated Nature and man is not yet but they are by no means the only ones. All a complete robot. He is still, thank God, a of us, I think, who have heard those accounts human being, and he still makes mistakes. read out will agree that of all the heroism But what we must be most grateful for is that which has been shown in these last ten years, science does enable us to build and equip these deeds that we have just heard about, boats which reduce the hazards of these for cool, calculated courage—courage not " noblemen of the seas," as I have called as shown in hot blood, courage not shown them, and which give them a much greater for a few moments of great danger, but chance of bringing to a successful issue their courage to persist and to keep on, with none missions of mercy. For that, we should be of the dramatic side of war—for courage of ever so grateful. that kind, these exploits rank with anything The other day I came across in Kipling shown by anyone anywhere in the years of some lines in a poem called "A Song in war. Storm," and I thought they epitomised the great purpose of the life-boatmen : THE FEELINGS OF THE RESCUED Be well assured, though wave and wind If we appreciate the courage of those who Have mightier blows in store, serve our life-boats round our coasts, it must That we who keep the watch assigned be a man or woman of very little imagina- Must stand to it the more. tion who cannot enter the other side of the picture, who cannot imagine for himself, in No matter though our decks be swept these very episodes we have heard about this And mast and timber crack, afternoon, what must have been the feelings We can make good all loss except of those upon the boat who were in such dire The loss of turning back. peril. However bravely they faced the end— an end which seemed certain, in circumstances Mr. Chairman, if you are ever looking for a of the most awe-inspiring—however bravely new motto for the life-boatmen, I give you they were prepared to face it, what a dread, those last two lines, drear outlook it must have been! And we can feel what it must have meant to those We can make good all loss except people when they saw the life-boat which, at The loss of turning back. the last moment, brought them rescue in I beg to move the resolution. (Loud their peril. So we can feel that anything we Applause.) do, however humble our effort, to help this great Service may result—in fact every year does result—in hundreds of people being sud- The Right Hon. Oliver Stanley, M.P. denly relieved from the imminent, urgent, and It is never a very easy task to speak after apparently inevitable, fear of death. an Admiral; he very seldom leaves you any- It is indeed disappointing, as the Admiral thing to say; but when you speak after an has told you, that with all the advances of Admiral who has also been a Member of Par- science, peril by sea seems to-day to be as liament and a University Lecturer, it is quite great as ever it was. We would have hoped, clear that the cupboard is left very bare. in view of some of these great scientific I want to cast my mind back—and perhaps advances which have added so much to the take back the minds of some of you in this power of destruction, that perhaps there hall—to a day ten years ago, in 1938, when, would have been an equal advance in them as President of the Board of Trade, I moved along the road to safety. But, as he has told the resolution which has just been moved you, that is not so, that the calls upon the by Admiral Sir William James. Ten pretty life-boats to-day are just as large as ever they DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 249" were before science made these new discov- the men who carry out our business upon the eries. In fact, I believe this summer the seas, and a desire,'as far as possible, to make calls have been more frequent than they have their business, just as our business, safe and. ever been before in a summer of peace, and secure. I have much pleasure in seconding, only just a little less than they were in the this resolution. (Loud Applause.) summer of war in 1940, during the Battle of Britain. So that the need for our help, and The Chairman the need for our effort, grows no less. Indeed, it grows greater, because, just as the demands This resolution has been moved and for the services of the life-boat increase, so, seconded in two of the most admirable and alas, the cost of maintaining those services is arresting speeches, if I may respectfully increasing too. Even to maintain, far less say so, that I have ever heard at an annual to increase, that on which people all round our meeting, and I have great pleasure in putting coasts have counted, will take more effort and it to the meeting: " That this meeting, fully more money than it ever did in the past. recognizing the important services of the Before I came here, I heard a spontaneous Royal Life-boat Institution, in its national and very pleasing tribute to this organiza- work of life-saving, desires to record its- tion. The man I was sitting next to at hearty appreciation of the gallantry of the luncheon said to me, as I was going out, when coxswains and crews of the Institution's, I told him that I was coming to this meeting, life-boats, and its deep obligation to the " You are going to a meeting of the best-run Local Committees, Honorary Secretaries,, charitable institution in this country." and Honorary Treasurers of all Station (Applause.) That is a pretty good tribute, Branches, and to the Honorary Officers and and a pretty encouraging one, because it does hundreds of Voluntary Members of the make all feel that, whatever they can give, Financial Branches and of the Ladies' Life- whatever they can raise, will go not to waste boat Guild in the work of raising funds to for administration, but for the fine purpose maintain the Service." for which they intend it. The resolution was carried. OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTARY Presentation to Honorary Workers SERVICE Since the last annual meeting eight hono- Finally, you will see that the resolution rary workers had been appointed honorary expresses our thanks not only to the cox- life-governors of the Institution, the highest swains and crews of the life-boats, the people honour which it can confer on an honorary who are in the front line, who have to run worker, and the Duchess of Kent presented the danger, but also to all the committees, vellums, signed by herself as President of the secretaries, the officers and the voluntary the Institution to three of them who were workers, the people without whose efforts and present at the meeting. without whose help the front line could never MRS. F, M. HEATH, of BARMOUTH. be kept in being. We are indeed grateful to MRS. TALBOT CADDOW, of CARLISLE. all of them and to all of you. We live in a COLONEL LAWRENCE WILLIAMS, of day (I must not trench on political matters) MOELFRE, ANGLESEY. when the opportunities for voluntary effort The gold badge had been awarded to eleven are becoming more and more restricted, and honorary workers, and the Duchess of Kent yet I believe that a great deal of the great- presented their badges to six who were ness of our people has been founded upon present at the meeting: voluntary service in one capacity or another, MR. FREDERICK CLARK, of CLOUGHTON,. given by millions of our fellow countrymen YORKSHIRE. up and down the land. It is the feeling that MRS. HORROCKS, of PRESTWICH. we should do something not merely because MRS. F. ALLSOP, of HYDE. we are ordered to do it. not just because we MR. B. B. BENNETTS, of PENLEE. are paid to do it, not even because we neces- MR. J. W. BAYES, of FLAMBOROUGH. sarily enjoy doing it, but because it is for an MR. H. E. SELLERS, of ASHBOUHNE. object in which we believe and because it is a service which we think we are rendering to other people. Here still remains one of Vote of Thanks the finest opportunities for voluntary service A vote of thanks to H.R.H. The Duchess of this kind, and I only hope that this oppor- of Kent was proposed by Commodore the tunity, at any rate, will long be left open for Earl Howe, R.N.V.R., and seconded by- those who wish to show an appreciation of Colonel J. Benskin.

Mr. John Miller, M.B.E. MR. JOHN MILLER, the honorary secre- in May, 1948, after thirty-four years' tary of the Thurso station, was service. In 1926 he was awarded the made a Member of the Order of the Institution's binoculprs, and this year British Empire in the Birthday Honours he was elected an honorary life gover1 List, 1948. Mr. Miller became honorary nor, the highest honour which the Insti- secretary in March, 1914, and retired tution can give to an honorary worker. 250 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

Life-boat Services in September, October and November 73 Lives Rescued During September, life-boats went his pelvis and the life-boat brought him out on service 60 times and rescued 40 ashore at 7.30.—Rewards, £14. 2s. lives. FIRE IN THE ENGINE ROOM A BOY IN A RUBBER DINGHY Torbay, Devon.—At 1.55 in the Cromer, Norfolk.—During the morn- afternoon of the 6th of September, ing of the 2nd of September, 1948, the 1948, the Brixham coastguard tele- engines of the No. 1 life-boat Henry phoned that a motor cruiser was on Blogg were being tested as she lay at fire three-quarters of a mile south- moorings. At half past eleven the south-west of Berry Head, and the coxswain noticed a small boy being motor life-boat George Shee was carried out to sea in a rubber dinghy, launched at 2.10 in a light north-north- and the Henry Blogg immediately put west breeze with a calm sea. She out in a squally south-westerly breeze found the motor cruiser Cartaret. The with a moderate swell. She reached engine-room had caught fire and the the dinghy three-quarters of a mile owner and another man had taken to away, rescued the boy, and returned to their dinghy. The life-boat took them her station, arriving at a quarter past on board and towed the Cartaret to twelve.—Rewards, £11. 2s. 6d. St. Mary's where she was beached, arriving back at her station at 4.25.— A TRAWLER ON THE ROCKS Rewards, £4. 4s. 6d. Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—At 4.10 in YACHTS' ENGINES BROKEN DOWN the morning of the 4th of September, 1948, information was received that a Ramsey, We of Man.—At 8.40 in the trawler, which had gone ashore at evening of the 8th of September, 1948, Saddle Point, was blowing her syren the coastguard reported that the yacht and burning flares, and the motor life- Seamew, of Ramsey, with a crew of boat White Star was launched at 4.55. two, had left for Douglas that afternoon A moderate northerly gale was blowing, and had not arrived. The motor life- with a very rough sea. The life-boat boat Lady Harrison was launched at found the steam trawler Ephratah, of 9.25 in a moderate west-south-west Milford Haven, with a crew of seven, wind with a smooth sea. She found hard on the rocks. With difficulty she the Seamew four miles north-east of anchored, got alongside her, and took Ramsey harbour, drifting northwards off the seven men. She arrived back in with her engine broken down, and towed the harbour at 7 o'clock. The trawler her to Ramsey, arriving at 2 o'clock was later refloated and towed clear by the following morning.—Rewards, £22. a motor boat.—Rewards, £17. 95. Clovelly, Devon.—About 4 o'clock in the morning of the 10th of September, ACCIDENT ON BOARD A STEAMER 1948, the Hartland Point coastguard St. Ives, Cornwall.—At 6.48 a.m. in telephoned that a flare had been seen, the morning of the 4th of September, and the motor life-boat City of Notting- 1948, the coastguard telephoned that ham was launched at 4.15 in a moderate the s.s. Moyallon, of Belfast, lying in southerly breeze with a smooth sea. St. Ives Bay, had signalled that an She found the auxiliary motor yacht accident had occurred on board, and Sea Bird, of London, two miles north- the motor life-boat Edgar, George, north-east of Hartland Point, with Orlando and Eva Child was launched two on board. They were bound at 7.19, with a doctor and ambulance from Ilfracombe to Poole and their man. A north-north-west gale was engine had broken down. The life- blowing, with a heavy sea. The in- boat towed them to Clovelly, arriving jured man was found to have fractured at 6.20.—Rewards, £21. 4s. DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT

DRIFTER AGROUND IN A GALE secretary of the life-boat station, Major Way, Inner Hebrides.—At 4.45 in the Peter Hansell. She reached the sands morning of the 10th of September, at 10 o'clock and the pumping was so 1948, the Southend coastguard tele- successful that about 2.30 in the morn- phoned that the Portpatrick radio ing of the 12th, the tug was able to station had reported the steam drifter move the trawler. An hour later the Abide, of Peterhead, bound for the Harriot Dixon left for her station, Clyde, aground in the Sound of Islay, after transferring Major Hansell to the and the motor life-boat Charlotte Eliza- Henry Blogg. Several times the tow beth was launched at 5.30. A southerly parted, but by the combined efforts of gale was blowing, with a very rough the life-boat and tug the trawler was sea. The life-boat found the drifter got clear of the sands about 3 o'clock at Glas Eilean, and her crew of nine in the afternoon. The tug then took about to abandon her. She passed a her in tow and made for Yarmouth. line to the drifter and with great On the way the trawler's boat broke difficulty succeeded in towing her into adrift. The life-boat recovered it, but deep water. The drifter's rudder was it broke adrift again and sank. The damaged and the life-boat escorted her wind was freshening from the south, to Caol Ila pier, helped her to make but at 7.30 that evening the three fast and returned to her station again vessels arrived off Yarmouth. A fresh at 10 o'clock.—Property Salvage Case. breeze was now blowing, and the tug had great difficulty in getting .the FRENCH TRAWLER RESCUED FROM trawler into harbour, but with the help HAISBOROUGH SANDS of the life-boat, which hung on to the ' trawler's stern, she accomplished it at Cromer, Norfolk.—At 11.22 -on the 9 o'clock that night, the 12th of Sep- night of the 10th of September, 1948, tember. The Harriot Dixon arrived the coastguard reported that the back at her station at 5.50 in the morn- Humber Radio Station had inter- ing of the 12th of September and the cepted a message from the French Henry Blogg returned from Yarmouth motor trawler Georges Langanay, of on the afternoon of the 14th.—• Fe'camp. She was on the Haisborough Property Salvage Case. Sands and her crew of nineteen were about to abandon ship. The No. 1 ANOTHER YACHT'S ENGINE BROKEN motor life-boat Henry Blogg was DOWN launched at 11.40 in a light south- south-west wind and a calm sea. She Caister, Norfolk.—At 6.15 in the reached the trawler at 1.40 next evening of the llth of September, 1948, morning and found her aground one the Great Yarmouth coastguard tele- and a half miles east by. south of. the phoned that a yacht was on the Barber Middle' Haisborough Buoy. Her en- Sands flying her flag upside down, and gine-room was flooded, but her crew the motor life-boat Jose Neville was still aboard. A tug arrived and the launched at 6.30, in a light south- life-boat piloted her across the sands westerly breeze with a smooth sea. and passed a rope from her to the She found the motor yacht Switha, of trawler, but it parted. At six that Inverness, with four men aboard and morning the tug went to Yarmouth to her engine broken down. The life-boat fetch pumps, and the life-boat put towed her to Yarmouth and arrived them aboard the trawler, but they back at her station at 9.50 that night.— were unable to cope with the water. Rewards, £16 5s. 6d. If the wind got up the position of the trawler would soon be desperate, so a ANOTHER INJURED SEAMAN call by radio telephone was sent to the Ramsey, Isle of Man.—At half past coxswain of the No. 2 motor life-boat three in the afternoon of the 12th of Harriot Dixon for the help of National September, 1948, the coastguard re- Fire Service pumps, and at 7.10 in the ported that the Portpatrick Radio evening the Harriot Dixon was launched Station had signalled that the tug with two pumps on board, three mem- Warrior, of Glasgow, about three miles bers of the Fire Service, and the honorary east-north-east of Ramsey Harbour, 252 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 had an injured man on board, and the Wexford, in distress one mile north of motor life-boat Lady Harrison was Bangor pier. She took off her crew launched half an hour later with a of five and arrived back at her station doctor. A fresh northerly wind was at 11.30. The weather improved, and blowing, with moderate sea. It was about 6.30 in the evening the skipper not necessary to land the injured man, of the Antelope asked the life-boat to and the life-boat reached her station take him and his crew out again as the again with the doctor at five o'clock.— weather had now moderated. As the Rewards, £3. schooner, where she was anchored, was a danger to shipping, the life-boat LASHED TO THE MAST took out the five men, put them on Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 9.41 in board and returned to her station again the morning of the 13th of September, at 9 o'clock.—Rewards: First Service, 1948, the coastguard telephoned that £8 14*.; Second Service, £7 5*. the sailing barge British Oak, of London, had sunk on the Buxey Sands. TWO FISHING BOATS TOWED IN Her two masts could be seen. The St. Abbs, Berwickshire.—In the morn- motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was ing of the 15th of September, 1948, a launched at 10 o'clock, in a strong sudden north-easterly gale sprang up, north-west wind with a heavy swell. two fishing boats were seen to be in She found the two members of the difficulties about one and a half miles barge's crew lashed to the mizzen mast. to the southward, and at 10.50 the They were exhausted, for they had been motor life-boat Annie Ronald and exposed to heavy rain throughout the Isabella Forrest was launched in heavy previous night and had burned clothes driving rain and rough seas. She soaked in paraffin as a signal of distress, found the local motor fishing boat but the bad visibility had prevented Caledonia with a crew of two, riding at the signal from being seen. The life- anchor with her engines swamped, a boat rescued the men and returned to quarter of a mile off shore, and close her station at 12.15 that afternoon.— inshore the rowing boat Girl Pat, of Rewards, £11 3*. 6d. St. Abbs, whose crew of two were unable to make headway against the BELGIAN TRAWLER TOWED IN wind and sea. The life-boat towed Lowestoft, Suffolk. — At 8.57 on the both boats into harbour, and returned night of the 13th of September, 1948, to her station again at 11.25.—Rewards, the coastguard telephoned that a £6 17*. 6d. vessel was making lamp signals and burning flares about six miles to the IN DANGER OFF THE LITTLE ORME south-south-east, and the motor life- Llandudno, Caernarvonshire. —• At boat Michael Stephens left her moorings 10.44 in the morning of the 15th of at a quarter past nine in a slight swell September, 1948, the Rhyl coastguard and a south-westerly breeze. She telephoned that a fishing vessel in found the motor trawler Roger, of Penrhyn Bay was driving ashore, and Nieuport, Belgium, with her engines the motor life-boat Thomas and Annie broken down, and towed her to the Wade Richards was launched at half harbour, returning to her station at past eleven. A north-westerly gale was 11 o'clock.—Property Salvage Case. blowing with a rough sea. The life- boat found the fishing boat Yap, of SCHOONER IN A HEAVY SEA Conway, three miles off the Little Donaghadee, Co. Down.—At 8.10 in Orme, escorted her through the heavy the morning of the 15th of September, seas to the Menai Straits and then 1948, the police telephoned that a vessel returned to her station, arriving at was firing distress signals about one half past three that afternoon.—Re- mile off Bangor, and at 8.55 the motor wards, £21 2*. 6d. life-boat Civil Service No. 5 was launched. A northerly gale was blow- BARGE ADRIFT IN ROUGH SEAS ing, with a very heavy sea. The life- New Brighton, Cheshire. — During the boat found the schooner Antelope, of early afternoon of the 15th of September, DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 253 1948, the Hoy lake coastguard reported phoned that a small motor boat with that a barge had broken away from two men on board was drifting out to her tug in Liverpool Bay and had sea, and the motor life-boat J and W was anchored, but was dragging towards launched at 11.36 in a fresh and squally the Burbo Bank, and at 1.45 the barge south-westerly wind with a moderate was reported to have made distress sea. She came up with the motor boat, signals. The No. 1 motor life-boat towed her into harbour, and returned William and Kate Johnston left her to her station again at one o'clock that moorings at a quarter past two, in a afternoon.—Rewards, £7 4*. squally northerly gale with very rough seas, and found the barge Tatam II, ADRIFT IN A MOTOR BOAT with a crew of eight, half a miie north- Donaghadee, Co. Down.—At 1.20 in west of the No. 1 R. Black Buoy. The the morning of the 18th of Saptember, life-boat took off the eight men and 1948, the Bangor coastguard telephoned returned to her station, arriving at that a trawler had wirelessed that she 4 o'clock. The barge was eventually had picked up two men, who had been towed to Brunswick Dock. The owners adrift in a motor boat, and asked for made a donation to the Institution.— the life-boat to land them. The motor Rewards, £5 15*. life-boat Civil Service No. 5 was launched at 1.35, in a strong westerly CAUGHT BY A SUDDEN STORM breeze with a choppy sea, found the Whitby, Yorkshire. — During the trawler Flanders two miles off-shore, afternoon of the 15th of September, and brought in the two men and their 1948, a sudden storm sprang up and boat, arriving at her station at 3 o'clock. the local fishing fleet returned to har- —Rewards, £5 5*. bour, but the motor fishing coble Helena did not arrive, and about 3.45 DINGHY BLOWN OUT TO SEA the coastguard telephoned that she Walton and Frinton, Essex.—In the was two miles to the northward. The early afternoon of the 19th of Septem- No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann ber, 1948, the coastguard telephoned Hepworih was launched at once, in a that a man had gone out in a rowing strong northerly breeze with a rough boat, to tow in a dinghy which had sea, passed life-belts to the Helena's blown out to sea, was unable to make crew, and escorted the coble into har- headway and was getting exhausted, bour, arriving back at her station at and at half past one the motor life-boat half past four.—Rewards, £6 7.9. 6d. E.M.E.D. left her moorings in a light west-south-westerly breeze with a ANOTHER FISHING BOAT TOWED IN choppy sea. She found that the man Dunbar, Haddingtonshire. — Shortly had given up his attempt to tow and before 6 o'clock in the morning of the had made for the shore, so she took 16th of September, 1948, a message was the dinghy in tow and returned to her received from the coastguard that the station at 3.45. The owner of the motor fishing boat Bluebell, of Port dinghy made a donation and the man Seton, had broken down nine miles to in the rowing boat expressed his thanks. the north-east, and at six o'clock the —Rewards, £10 15*. motor life-boat George and Sarah Strachan was launched, in a fresh OUT OF FUEL westerly wind with a rough sea. She Ramsgate, Kent. — At 8.50 in the found the fishing boat eleven miles morning of the 20th of September, south-south-east of Fifeness with a 1948, the coastguard reported that a crew of seven, towed her into Dunbar yacht three miles to the north-north- harbour and returned to her station at west was flying a two-flag signal and 11 o'clock.—Property Salvage Case. appeared to have stopped in an unusual position. The motor life-boat Mary CARRIED OUT TO SEA Scott, on temporary duty at the station, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland.— was launched at 8.58, in a moderate At 11.33 in the morning of the 17th of north-westerly breeze with a moderate September, 1948, the coastguard tele- sea, and found the auxiliary yacht 254 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 Mascotte, of London, with a crew of 5.45.— Rewards: Dunbar, £18 13s.; four. She had run out of fuel and had Anstruther, £16 6s. anchored. Three life-boatmen boarded her and the life-boat took her in tow, The following life-boats went out on arriving back at her station at 10.55. service but could find no ships in dis- —Property Salvage Case.—Rewards, tress, were not needed or could do 13s. 6d. nothing : Islay, Inner Hebrides. — September BROKEN DOWN WITH A CREW OF SEVEN 1st.— Rewards, £22 6s. Dunbar, Haddingtonshire.—At 4.30 in the afternoon of the 20th of September, Holyhead, Anglesey. — September 1st. 1948, the coastguard reported that the — Rewards, £4 10s. motor fishing boat Bluebell, of Port Shoreham Harbour, Sussex. — Sept- Seton, with a crew of seven, had broken ember 1st. — Rewards, £7 16s. down nine miles to the north-east, and the motor life-boat George and Margate, Kent. — September 2nd. — Sarah Strachan was launched at 4.45, Rewards, £23 13s. in a moderate north-westerly breeze Walmer, Kent. — September 2nd. — with a choppy sea. She took the Rewards, £16. Bluebell in tow, and arrived back at her station at 8.20 that evening.— Sennen Cove, Cornwall. — September Rewards, £8 Is. 3rd.— Rewards, £34 5s. Dover, Kent; — September 3rd. —Pro - A SEARCH FOR FIVE BOYS perty Salvage Case. Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, and Anstruther,, Aberystwytb, Cardiganshire. — Sept- Fifeshire.—At 7.30 in the evening of ember 3rd. — Rewards, £28 19s. the 26th of September, 1948, the Musselburgh police telephoned to the A LONG SEARCH Dunbar life-boat station that a sailing Barry Dock, Glamorganshire.— At 11.10 boat with five boys on board had been on the night of the 3rd of September, driven out to sea and had last been 1948, a message came from The seen off Inchkeith. The Dunbar motor Mumbles, through Burnham Radio, that life-boat George and Sarah Strachan a small boat, with two men on board, left her moorings fifteen minutes later. was drifting in distress toward the A south-westerly gale was blowing, with Mixen Shoal, off Mumbles Head, and a rough sea. About 8 o'clock the the motor life-boat Rachel and Mary coastguard at Anstruther telephoned a Evans -was •> launched at 11.45. : She similar message to the Anstruther life- searched for twelve hours in a strong, boat station, but owing to the vagueness squally north-west wind with a rough of the information the motor life-boat sea, but found nothing, and returned Nellie and Charlie was'not launched at to her station a quarter of an hour once. At midnight a further message before noon the following day. — Re- was received, and she was launched at wards, £26 5s. 12:25 on the 27th. Meanwhile, the George and Sarah Strachan had made a Dover, Kent. — September 4th. — Pro- wide search, but found nothing. She perty Salvage Case. called at Leith for news, but was told Tenby, Pembrokeshire. — September that the boat had not been seen and 4th.—Rewards , £28 15s. 6d. continued the search. It was not until nearly 3 o'clock in the morning that the Dfracombe, Devon. — September 4th. Nettie and Charlie found the sailing —Rewards, £25 2s. 6d. boat about three miles south-east of Margate, Kent. — September 4th. — Methil. She rescued the five boys, Rewards, £10 11s. 6d. gave them food, and with their boat in tow, returned to Anstruther, where she Cromer, Norfolk. — September 4th. — arrived at five o'clock that morning. Rewards, £16 19s. The Dunbar life-boat was recalled by Weymouth, Dorset. — September 5th. wireless and reached her station at — Rewards, £8 Is. DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 255 Swanage, Dorset.—September 7th.— dinghy had capsized. The life-boat Rewards, £15 Is. searched for the other man, using her Dfracombe, Devon.—September 9th. searchlight, and found him three- —Rewards, £18 2s. 6d. quarters of a mile to the southward clinging to the upturned dinghy. She Portrush, Co. Antrim. — September rescued him, picked up the dinghy, and llth.—Rewards, £7 2s. 6d. returned to her station where the man Fowey, Cornwall.—September 12th. was put into a waiting ambulance at —Rewards, £7 12s. 9 o'clock.—Rewards, £8 12s. 6d. Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—Septem- ber 13th.—Rewards, £6 7n. ANOTHER ENGINE BROKEN DOWN Minehead, Somerset.—September 13th. Hastings, Sussex.—At 12.20 in the —Rewards, £9 Is. 6d. afternoon of the 2nd of October, 1948, the Fairlight coastguard telephoned that Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork.—September a fishing boat at anchor, three and a 15th, —Rewards, £22 5s. half miles to the eastward, was sig- Dunbar, Haddingtonshire.—September nalling for help. The motor life-boat 15th.—Rewards, £5 5s. Cyril and Lilian Bishop was launched Newhaven, Sussex.—September 15th. at 12.38, in a moderate south-westerly —Rewards, £8 11s. breeze with a moderate sea, and found the local fishing boat Susan Anne, with St. Helier, Jersey.—September 15th. a crew of three. Her engine had —Rewards, £11 7s. broken down. The life-boat towed her Selsey, Sussex.— September 18th.— to Hastings, arriving back at her station Rewards, £11. at 1.55.—Rewards, £34 11s. 6d. Dungeness, Kent. — September 18th. —Rewards, £19 13s. YACHTSMAN LOST AT SEA ALL NIGHT Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—September Weymouth, Dorset.—At 9.30 on the 22nd.—Rewards, £10 8s. night of the 2nd of October, 1948, the local sailing club telephoned that the St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—September club secretary had gone out for a sail 22nd.—Rewards, £5 5s. at 4 o'clock that afternoon in his yacht Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland. — Glebe, but had not been seen since, and September 23rd.—Rewards, £10 5s. at 9.45 the motor life-boat Hearts of Campbeltown, Argyllshire.—September Oak, on temporary duty at the station, 25th.—Rewards, £8 18s. 6d. was launched. The sea was smooth, Whitby, Yorkshire.—September 27th. with a slight breeze, but there was fog. —Rewards, £5 13s. Using her searchlight, the life-boat searched widely, but found nothing, and Wells, Norfolk. — September 27th.— returned to her station at 12.30 the Rewards, £27 15s. next morning. At 6.30 she again put out, and this time found the Glebe off OCTOBER Mupe Rocks, Lulworth, and towed her During October life-boats went out to Weymouth, arriving back at her on service 32 times and rescued 29 lives. station at 10.30.—Rewards, £19 4s.

CLINGING TO UPTURNED DINGHY TO THE HELP OF A TUG Ramsgate, Kent. — At 8.15 in the Margate, Kent.—At 1.15 i n the afternoon evening of the 1st of October, 1948, of the 5th of October, 1948, a tug with cries for help could be heard off the a yacht in tow was seen five miles to pier, and at 8.27 the motor life-boat the northward, making little headway, Mary Scott, on temporary duty at the and at 2.30 the coastguard telephoned station, was launched in a light south- that she appeared to have broken down westerly breeze with a smooth sea. and was driving on to the sands. The About two hundred yards outside the motor life-boat Lord Southborough, harbour she found a rowing boat which Civil Service No. 1 was launched at had rescued one of two men who had 2.50. The north-easterly breeze was been flung into the sea when their moderate, but the sea rough. The 256 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1918 life-boat found the tug Beaulieu, of 1948, a vessel was seen to enter Southampton, with a crew of three, Dungarvan Harbour, at full speed anchored three and a half miles to the and run aground on Whitehouse north-north-east. A steam-pipe was Bank. She was not seen to signal, but broken, her bilge pumps would not telephone messages from Dungarvan work and she was listing heavily. The and Ballinacourty said that she needed life-boat stood by while repairs were help, and the motor life-boat H. F. made and arrived back at her station Bailey was launched at 9.45. A strong at 5 o'clock.-—Rewards, £12 19s. 6d. southerly breeze was blowing, with heavy seas. The life-boat found the YACHT DRAGGING TOWARDS THE motor vessel Fennel, laden with coal, ROCKS put three men on board and then went Dover, Kent.—At one in the morning into deeper water. The Fennel was of the 6th of October, 1948, the Eastern pounding heavily and her derricks had Arm Signal Station reported that a cast loose, but the three life-boatmen yacht was making S.O.S. signals in were able to refloat her and took her Langdon Bay,, and at 1.20 the motor to an anchorage off Helvick pier. The life-boat J. B. Proudfoot was launched. life-boat arrived back at her station at The south-easterly breeze was light, but 1.15 the next morning. The owners there was a swell. The life-boat found of the steamer sent £50.—Rewards, the yacht Warragaburra, of London, £12 16s. with a crew of two, at anchor. Her engine had broken down. She was roll- FRENCH FISHING BOAT SUNK ing heavily and was dragging towards Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—At 4.35 in the rocks. A life-boatman boarded the morning of the llth of October, her to help secure a tow rope and weigh 1948, the coastguard reported a message the anchor, and the life-boat then from the British steamer Woodlark that towed her to the harbour, arriving back she had collided with and sunk the at her station at 3 o'clock.—Property fishing vessel Saphir, of Camaret, three Salvage Case. miles north-west of Longships, and that she had picked up one survivor of the ANOTHER YACHT TOWED IN boat's crew of six. The motor life-boat Exmouth, Devon.—At 8.29 in the Susan Ashley could not be launched at evening of the 8th of October, 1948, once, owing to the state of the tide, but the coastguard reported a message from she got away at 5.39. A light south- the Budleigh Salterton police that a westerly breeze was blowing, with a yacht was about a hundred yards off slight swell, and there was mist. The Budleigh Salterton beach in a heavy life-boat found the Woodlark eight miles swell, and the motor life-boat Catherine north-west of the Longships and helped Harriet Eaton was launched at 8.45. in the search for the five missing men, A moderate south-easterly breeze was but found nothing except an empty up- blowing, with a moderate sea. The turned dinghy and wreckage. At the life-boat found the auxiliary ketch request of the Woodlark the life-boat Cresta, bound for Salcombe, three transferred the survivor to another miles south of Budleigh Salterton. French fishing boat and then returned She was running short of petrol and to her station, arriving at 11 o'clock. some of her rigging had parted. Her The French Consul at Southampton crew of four, one of whom had crushed sent his thanks.—Rewards, £20 4*. his thumb, asked the life-boat to take them in, tow. This was done, and the EXHAUSTED WITH PUMPING Cresta was moored in Exmouth Bight. The life-boat landed the injured man, Skegness, Lincolnshire.—At three in the and arrived back at her station at 12.40 morning of the 12th of October, 1948, the next morning.—Property Salvage the owner of the fishing smack Albert, Case. of Boston, reported that the smack was to the southward, leaking, and in diffi- REFLOATING A COAL VESSEL culties, and the motor life-boat Anne Helvick Head, Co. Waterford.—About Allen was launched at 3.10. A light 9.30 on the night of the 9th of October, south-westerly breeze was blowing, DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 257 with a choppy sea. The life-boat barge was flying a signal and drifting found the fishing boat two and a half to the north-east, half a mile offshore. miles south of Gibraltar Point, her The motor life-boat Mary Scott, on crew exhausted with pumping for many temporary duty at the station, was hours. She went alongside and some launched at 1.5, in a moderate south- of the life-boatmen took over the westerly breeze, with a moderate sea, pumping. At daylight the life-boat and found the auxiliary barge Arctic took the Albert in tow and made for Dawn, with a crew of three, off Dumpton Boston, with the men working the Gap. Her fuel pipes were choked and pumps throughout the journey. She she was at anchor, but dragging. The berthed the fishing boat in Boston life-boat towed her to the harbour and Docks, and returned to. her station, arrived back at her station at 2.8.-— arriving at 5.10 that afternoon. The Rewards, £8 13s. owner made a donation to the Institu- tion.—Rewards, £41 14s. SMALL BOATS BROKEN DOWN IN A ROUGH SEA PROPELLER SHAFT BROKEN Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 6.5 in the Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. — At evening of the 17th of October, 1948, two in the afternoon of the 14th of the coastguard telephoned that a ship October, 1948, information was received had reported two small vessels in that the motor trawler Melrose, of distress and signalling for help, one Kilmore, had broken her propeller and a half miles north-east of Blacktail shaft and was drifting towards the Spit Buoy, and the motor life-boat shore two and a half miles east by south Greater London, Civil Service No. 3, was of Dunmore Lighthouse. The motor launched at 6.25. A strong south- life-boat Annie Blanche Smith was westerly breeze was blowing, with a launched at 2.20, in a strong westerly rough sea. The life-boat found an ex- breeze with a rough sea, found the naval assault boat broken down with trawler, with a crew of four, anchored, another in tow. Two men and a boy but with the anchors dragging, and were in the boats, but although they towed her to harbour, arriving back were cold and hungry they would not at her station at 3.25.^Rewards, £7. leave them, so the life-boat towed both boats to the pier, arranged for refresh- BECALMED YACHTS A DANGER TO ments for the men and the boy, and SHIPPING arrived back at her station at 9.30 that Tynemouth, Northumberland.—At six night.-—Property Salvage Case. in the evening of the 16th of October, 1948, the coastguard telephoned that STANDING BY A STRANDED TRAWLER two sailing yachts were becalmed in fog,jone to the north of the pier and the Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. — At other to the south, and that they were 12.45 in the morning of the 20th of a danger to shipping, so the motor life- October, 1948, the steam trawler Barry boat Tynesider was launched at 6.30. Castle, of Swansea, left Castlebay har- She found the sailing yacht Narwhal bour, but a quarter of an hour later she south of the pier, advised the skipper to ran aground at the entrance. She blew anchor and went in search of the other her steam whistle, and at 1.20 the motor yacht. She found her, the lolanthe, life-boat Lloyd's was launched. A one mile north-east of the pier, took her strong north-westerly breeze was blow- in tow, returned to the Narwhal, took ing with a rough sea. The life-boat her in tow also, and moored both stood by the Barry Castle for over five yachts in the harbour, arriving back at hours until she refloated on the rising her station at 7.47. The owner of the tide. She did not appear to be dam- lolanthe sent a donation to the Institu- aged, and the life-boat returned to her tion.—Rewards, £10 6s. station, arriving at 6.45.—Rewards, £15. BARGE TOWED IN Ramsgate, Kent. — At 12.55 in the ENGINE FAILED IN A GALE afternoon of the 17th of October, 1948, St. Abbs, Berwickshire.—At 7.20 in the coastguard telephoned that a small the evening of the 20th of October, 258 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 1948, the Eyemouth harbour-master the Seagull in tow, made for her station, reported that the local motor fishing arriving at 4.30.-—Rewards, £9 15s. 6d. boat Emulate was overdue. A fishing boat's lights could be seen to the north RESCUED FROM HALF A SHIP of St. Abbs Head Signal Station and at Sennen Cove, Cornwall.—At 8.15 in 7.30 the motor life-boat Annie Ronald the morning of the 26th of October, and Isabella Forrest was launched. A 1948, the coastguard telephoned that a moderate westerly gale was blowing, message had been received from the with a rough sea. The life-boat found tug Superman asking for the life-boat the fishing boat four miles north by east to take four men off a sinking hulk of St. Abbs Head, anchored to a seine three miles south of the Longships net, with her engine broken down. Lighthouse. The motor life-boat Susan She had a crew of five. The life-boat Ashley was launched at 8.33. The towed her to St. Abbs and reached her northerly breeze was moderate, but station again at 9.35.—Rewards, £10 4s. there was a heavy ground swell. The life-boat found the fore-part of the DRIVING ASHORE IN A GALE S.S. Empire Flamingo with four men on board. She had broken away from Thurso, Caithness-shire.—At 6.35 in the tugs Superman and Airman, while the morning of the 25th of October, being taken, from Arromanches to 1948, the Wick Coastguard telephoned Newport for breaking up. She was that the s.s. Cantick Head, of Leith, was foundering in the heavy seas. The life- driving ashore in Thurso bay, and at boat rescued the four men and made 7.10 the motor life-boat H.C.J. was for Newlyn. On the way she received launched. A strong northerly gale a wireless message that the hulk had was blowing, with a heavy sea. On her sunk. She landed the rescued men at way to the steamer, the life-boat passed Newlyn and returned to her station, the steam trawler Semnos, of Aberdeen, arriving at 1.10 that afternoon.— which said that her engine had broken Rewards, £21 4s. down. The life-boat found the Can- tick Head with her anchors down in ENGINE SWAMPED BY HEAVY SEAS broken water. She had a crew of ten, Wicklow.—At 11.5 in the morning of and was bound for Scrabster, loaded the 27th of October, 1948, a boat was with cement. The life-boat escorted seen to be in difficulties and flying a her into clearer water, then she put distress signal two miles south-west of a man on board, accompanied her to Newcastle Point, and the motor life-boat Scrabster Harbour, and helped to berth Lady Kylsant was launched at 11.15. her. She arrived back at her station A south-easterly gale was blowing, at 10 o'clock, but the crew stood by with a very heavy sea. The life-boat until the Semnos berthed at 3 o'clock found the motor fishing boat Seal,, of that afternoon. The owners of the Dublin, with a crew of four, drifting. Cantick Head sent their thanks to Her engine had been swamped by the the station and 20 guineas.-—Rewards, heavy seas. The life-boat passed a £16 7s. line to her and towed .her into Wicklow harbour, reaching her station again at IN DANGER OF SWAMPING 12.35 in the afternoon.—Rewards, Helvick Head, Co. Waterford. — At £10 2s. 1.45 in the afternoon of the 25th of October, 1948, the harbour-master tele- The following life-boats went out on phoned that a small yawl, under sail, service but could find no ships in dis- was about six miles out to sea and tress, were not needed or could do appeared to be in difficulties. A squally nothing. north-westerly gale was blowing, with a Barra Island, Outer Hebrides.—Oct- rough sea. The motor life-boat H. F. ober 3rd.—Rewards, £22 5s. Bailey was launched at two o'clock and found the fishing yawl to be the Seagull, Cromartv.—October 3rd.—Rewards, of Helvick, with a crew of two. She £14 5s. was in danger of being swamped. The Dunbar, Haddingtonshire. — October life-boat rescued the two men and, with 5th.—Rewards, £14 5s. DECEMBEH, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 259

LIBERTY BOAT CAPSIZES NOVEMBER Wey mouth, Dorset.—At 11.35 on the During November life-boats went out night of the 17th of October, 1948, on service 57times and rescued four lives. the Portland Naval Base telephoned that a liberty boat returning to H.M.S. FISHING BOAT'S ENGINE FAILED Illustrious, lying in Portland harbour, Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 5.15 in the had sunk near the ship and that many morning of the 1st of November, 1948, men were in the sea, and at 11.50 the a vessel was seen to be signalling by motor life-boat William and Clara searchlight. The coastguard signalled Ryland was launched. A southerly her and she replied with red flares. A gale was blowing, with a rough sea. south-westerly gale was blowing, with The life-boat and other boats searched a moderate sea. The No. 1 motor the water for survivors, and then, at life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was the request of the Illustrious, the life- launched at 6.18 and found the motor boat searched the two breakwaters for fishing boat Provider, with a crew of men who might have been washed on six, three miles to the north-east. Her to them. Three life-boatmen landed engine had broken down. The life- on the breakwaters but found nothing. boat towed her to the harbour and All that the life-boat picked up was arrived back at her station at 7.30.— some wreckage, life-buoys and clothing. Rewards, £8 4s. These she handed over to the Illustrious and returned to her station, arriving PROPELLER FOULED BY TRAWL at 5.15 the next morning. One mid- Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford.—At six shipman and twenty-eight men had o'clock in the evening of the 5th of lost their lives.—Rewards, £14 5s. November, 1948, red flares were seen New Brighton, Cheshire.—October 19th. to the south-south-east, and the motor —Rewards, £9 5s. life-boat Ann Isabella Pyemont was launched at 6.40 in a strong, squally Ramsey, Isle of Man.—October 21st. west-south-west breeze with a ground —Rewards, £19 18s. swell. She found the local fishing boat Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.—October Lanho with a crew of four, at anchor 22nd.—Rewards, £10 Os. 6d. twelve miles to the south-south-east. Helvick Head, Co. Waterford.—October Her propeller had been fouled by a 27th.—Rewards, £11 12s. trawl. Her anchor too was fouled and Tynemouth, Northumberland.—October in heaving it up she had broken her 28th.—Rewards, £14 8s. winch. The life-boat shone her search- Clovelly, Devon.—October 29th.—Re- light on the Lanho, at the request of wards, £18 5s. the skipper, while she struggled with Wick, Caithness-shire.—October 29th. her anchor, but she could not get it —Rewards, £6 16s. clear and cut the cable. Then she Walton and Frinton, Essex.—October swung broadside to the sea. It carried 29th.—Rewards, £11 15s. her down on to the life-boat, which was slightly damaged. The life-boat STEERING ROD BROKEN took her in tow and made for harbour, Bridlington, Yorkshire. — At 9.45 in arriving back at her station at 11.22 the morning of the 30th of October, that night.—Rewards, £30 3s. 1948, a fishing vessel off the pier was seen to burn a flare, and at 10.15 the ICELANDIC TRAWLER ON THE ROCKS motor life-boat Tillie Morrison, Sheffield, Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—At 9.20 in was launched. She found the local the evening of the 6th of November, motor fishing vessel La Mariole, with 1948, information was received that the her rudder steering rod broken. The motor trawler Eldborg, of Borgarnes, life-boat brought a man ashore with Iceland, had grounded half a mile south the rod to get it repaired, stood by the of Ardnamurchan, and the motor life- vessel, and then took the man back with boat Sir Arthur Rose left her moorings the repaired rod. La Mariole then went at 10 o'clock and in a fresh south- on her way, and the life-boat returned easterly breeze with a moderate ground to her station at 11.45.—Rewards, swell. She found the trawler pounding £10 13s. 6d. on a rock. She also had a list. But 260 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948 her crew of fourteen would not abandon 10th of November, 1948, the Arbroath her. The life-boat took soundings and, coastguard telephoned the Arbroath at the skipper's request, stood by. life-boat station that the S.S. El Then the tug Enforcer arrived and Ciervo, of London, had reported that tried to get the trawler clear, but the she had picked up three men of the tow-rope parted. A second attempt crew of ten of the S.S. Warren Grove, was made at 9.30 the next morning and also of London. The Warren Grove this time the Eldborg was refloated, had foundered the previous night while damaged and leaking. The tug took bound for Buckie laden with coal, and the trawler in tow and the life-boat the men had been picked up eighteen returned to her station, arriving at miles east by north of Whiting Ness. one o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th. The Arbroath motor life-boat John and —Rewards, £37 Os. 6d. William Mudie was launched at 1.30, in a light south-easterly breeze with a HEAVY SEAS IN THE HARBOUR ground swell. She searched widely for ENTRANCE the other seven men, but only found a Scarborough, Yorkshire.—During the life-jacket. She arrived back at her morning of the 7th of November, 1948, station at 9 o'clock that night. the local fishing boat Courage, with a The Carnoustie coastguard informed crew of five, was overtaken by bad the Broughty Ferry life-boat station at •weather. The sea was rough in the 12.47 in the afternoon of the 10th, bay and at the harbour entrance, and and the motor life-boat Mona put out when, just before noon, the coastguard at 1.45, fifteen minutes after the reported that the Courage was approach- Arbroath life-boat had been launched. ing, the motor life-boat Herbert Joy II She too made a wide search, but was launched. A strong east-south- found nothing, and returned to her east breeze was then blowing, with station at 9.25. Then the Usan coast- heavy breaking seas. The life-boat guard rang up the Montrose life-boat found the Courage three miles north- station at 8.5 in the morning of the east of Castle Hill, escorted her in, and llth, and suggested that a search be arrived back at her station at 1.30 that made further to the north and east. afternoon.—Rewards, £15 16s. 6d. The No. 1 motor life-boat The Good Hope was launched at 8.30, in a mod- ESCORTING IN THE FISHING BOATS erate south-easterly breeze, with a North Sunderland, Northumberland.— choppy sea, and late in the afternoon About noon on the 8th of November, found the body of the captain nine 1948, several of the fishing boats miles south east of Gourdon. She also returned to harbour. The north- picked up a tank from a ship's life-boat, westerly breeze was light, but there was but found no one alive. She arrived a very heavy swell at the harbour back at her station at 6.30 in the even- entrance, and they had difficulty in ing.—Rewards: Arbroath, £19 3s.; getting in. The weather got worse, Broughty Ferry, £21 10s.; Montrose, and when the fishing coble Boy's Own £27 19s. returned at 12.45, the motor life-boat W.R.A. was launched and escorted her FOULED PROPELLER in. She then made for Beadnell, but Ramsgate, Kent.—At 12.10 in the there found that all the fishing boats morning of the 12th of November, 1948, from that harbour had returned safely. information was received that the local There were still two boats from North motor fishing boat Victory, with two Sunderland at sea, the Speedwell and aboard, was five hours overdue, and the Cluaran, and the life-boat remained the motor life-boat Mary Scott, on ready in the harbour until they appeared temporary duty at the station, was at five o'clock. She escorted them in launched at 12.16 in a light south- and returned to her station at 5.20.— westerly breeze with a slight sea. Rewards, £28 2s. With the help of her searchlight she found the Victory near South Brake LONDON STEAMER FOUNDERED Sands. Her propeller was foul and she Arbroath, Broughty Ferry, and Montrose, was making very slow progress against a Angus.—At 12.50 in the afternoon of the strong ebb tide. The life-boat towed DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 261 her to the harbour, arriving back at her o'clock to continue the search and, station at 2.45.—Rewards, £10 13s. 6d. half an hour after midnight, found the Salvia, of Inverness, ten miles LIFE-BOATMAN ADRIFT to the north-west with her propeller Maryport, Cumberland.—At 6.35 in fouled by her nets. She towed her to the evening of the 12th of November, Whitehaven, arriving there at 7.15 in 1948, it was reported that the life-boat the morning, and returned to her station bowman had gone fishing to the north arriving at nine o'clock/—Rewards, in a small boat and had not returned. £35 18s. A strong, squally wind was blowing from the south, with rough seas. The A CASE OF APPENDICITIS motor life-boat Joseph Braithwaite was Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. •— At launched at 6.35. She made a wide five in the evening of the 15th of No- search and in the end found the bow- vember, 1948, an urgent call was man in Allonby Bay; five miles north received for the life-boat to take a of Maryport. He had broken one oar, woman, who was suffering with acute and lost the other, and was lying in appendicitis, to Lochboisdale, in South the boat cold, hungry, and exhausted Uist. The motor life-boat Lloyd's left with his long efforts to keep the boat her moorings at 5.45 in a north- afloat. The life-boat took him on westerly breeze with calm sea, and board and revived him, and returned to landed the patient at Lochboisdale. Maryport with his boat in tow, but From there the patient was taken by before she arrived the boat was swamped road to Benbecula and put on an and sank. She reached Maryport at aeroplane for Glasgow. The life-boat 9.35 that night.—Rewards, £17 1*. 6d. reached her station again twenty minutes after midnight.—Rewards, £16 14s. ENGINE BROKEN DOWN Hastings, Sussex. —• At 6.20 in the SUNK ON AN OLD WRECK morning of the 13th of November, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 2.15 in 1948, the Fairlight coastguard tele- the morning of the 17th of November, phoned that a boat was burning flares 1948, the pier head coastguard reported about two miles off Winchelsea, and that the S.S. Nordic Queen was ap- later the Winchelsea coast watcher proaching Southend and wanted to reported that the boat was at anchor. land ten survivors whom she had picked The motor life-boat Cyril and Lilian up from the Dutch motor vessel Quo Bishop was launched at 7.5 in a light Vadis. The Quo Vadis had sunk about west-south-west breeze with a calm sea. a mile west of Nore Tower, after strik- and found the fishing boat Skylark, of ing a wreck. The motor life-boat Rye, with a crew of three, one and a Greater London, Civil Service No. 3 was half miles off Winchelsea. Her engine launched at three o'clock in a light had broken down. The life-boat towed north-west breeze with a calm sea, her to Hastings and arrived back at her met the Nordic Queen, took off the ten station at 9.3.—Rewards, £33 11s. 6d. survivors and landed them on Southend Pier, returning to her station at 3.50. FOULED BY HER OWN NETS —Rewards, £8 15s. Maryport, Cumberland.—At 6.50 in the evening of the 13th of November, A MATERNITY CASE 1948, a message was received from Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. — At Whitehaven that a fishing vessel which 4.30 in the morning of the 19th of had put out from there had not re- November, 1948, a telephone message turned, and the motor life-boat Joseph was received from Vatersay Island Braithwaite was launched at 7.26 in a asking for help to be sent for a maternity fresh southerly breeze with a rough sea. case. A south-east gale was blowing She searched, but found nothing. with a rough sea, and the motor life- Visibility was poor, and she put into boat Lloyd's was launched at 5.15 with Whitehaven to inquire where the fish- a doctor and nurse aboard. She took ing vessel had last been seen. She them to.Vatersay and arrived back at left Whitehaven again about ten her station at 7.15.—Rewards, £7 11s. 262 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

A FRACTURED THIGH She arrived back at her station at Aith, Shetlands.—At eleven on the three next morning. About nine o'clock night of the 19th of November, 1948, the Moorcock got under way but re- a doctor telephoned that one of his turned to Port Askaig Pier. At 2.30 patients on the Island of Papa Stour in the afternoon she left the pier, to had met with an accident and asked make room for other vessels, but ran if the life-boat would take him there. ashore half a mile to the north, on the A whole gale was blowing from the Islay shore. A moderate south-easterly south-south-east with very heavy seas gale was now blowing, with a rough and sleet squalls. A quarter of an sea. At three o'clock the life-boat hour after midnight the motor life-boat again put out, went alongside the The Rankin left her moorings with the Moorcock and took oft nine of her crew. doctor aboard, and landed him at Papa She landed them and, as the vessel Stour in a small boat. Later, with was in no great danger, returned to her much difficulty, the life-boat took station at six o'clock in the evening. aboard the doctor and his patient-—who The Moorcock was later refloated and had a fractured thigh-—-and returned taken in tow by tugs.-—First Service: with them to Aith, arriving at 5.20 on Property Salvage Case; Second Ser- the morning of the 20th. There an vice: Rewards, £8 7*. ambulance took the injured man to a hospital at Lerwick.—Rewards, £1415s. BADLY HURT ON A LIGHTVESSEL Eastbourne, Sussex.—At 1.6 in the A SICK SEAMAN morning of the 20th of November, Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At 1948, the coastguard telephoned that a five in the evening of the 20th of man had been badly injured on the November, 1948, a signal was received Royal Sovereign Lightvessel. After from the motor vessel Menapia, of further information had been obtained Wexford, that a doctor was urgently the motor life-boat Jane Holland was needed, and the motor life-boat Mabel launched at half past two, with a Marion Thompson left her moorings at doctor and two police officers on board, 5.45, with a doctor aboard. A mod- in a fresh east-south-easterly breeze erate south-westerly breeze was blowing with a moderate sea. She put the with a choppy sea. The life-boat met doctor on board the lightvessel, and the Menapia in South Bay, put the later took him off again, and the doctor on board her, and forty minutes injured man, and landed them at 5.15. later took him off again and the sick The injured man was taken to hospital. man. She arrived back at Rosslare —Rewards, £19 18s. 6d. Repaid to Harbour at seven o'clock, and the sick the Institution by Trinity House. man was taken to hospital.—Perman- ent Paid Crew. Rewards, £l 11s. ASHORE IN A FOG Bridlington, Yorkshire.—At 11.20 in TWICE ASHORE the morning of the 27th of November, Way, Inner Hebrides.—At 7.30 in the 1948, the harbour master reported a evening of the 25th of November, 1948, telephone message from the Post Office a trawler appeared to be ashore oft at Barmston that a vessel was ashore, Bonahaven Distillery and was seen to and the motor life-boat Tillie Morrison, be showing a light. The motor life- Sheffield, was launched at 11.53. The boat Charlotte Elizabeth was launched south-westerly breeze was light, with at 9.3 in a strong south-easterly breeze a slight swell, but there was thick fog. with a moderate sea. She found the The life-boat found the steam drifter Admiralty mooring vessel Moorcock, of Rait Castle, of Portknockie, with a Rosyth, bound for Greenock, aground crew of ten, aground in a dangerous on the Jura shore, three miles south-east position about two miles north of of Rhu Vaal Lighthouse., She had a Barmston. The second coxswain crew of sixteen, but they were in no boarded her to advise the skipper, and immediate danger. The life-boat stood the life-boat then towed her off. After by, and later refloated the Moorcock putting another man on board the and piloted her to a safe anchorage. drifter to help the crew, the life-boat DECEMBER, 1948] THE LIFE-BOAT 263 escorted her to Bridlington and arrived and the motor life-boat Louise Stephens back at her station at 1.5 that after- was launched at 10.14. The weather noon.-—Property Salvage Case. was calm, but very foggy. The life- boat found the Aberdeen steam trawler LOST IN THE FOG Scot, with a crew of ten and a load of Margate, Kent. — At 11.15 in the fish, laid out an anchor for her, and morning of the 28th of November, stood by until, with the rising tide, the 1948, during a dense fog, the coast- trawler got off at half past four. The guard rang up to say that the skipper life-boat 'escorted her into harbour, of a motor boat had reported passing which was reached at 5.30 in the after- the local fishing vessel Kathleen near noon.—Property Salvage Case. Longnose Buoy and that her crew of three had said that they had no com- BROKEN DOWN ON BIDEFORD BAR pass. At 1.10 in the afternoon, as the Appledore, Devon. — At 7.7 in the Kathleen had not returned, her owner evening of the 30th of November, asked for the help of the life-boat, and 1948, the Westward Ho coastguard at 2.25 the coastguard telephoned telephoned that Pilot Cutter No. 1 was that the fishing vessel had last been, seen in difficulties on Bideford Bar and two miles east of the harbour. At 2.40 burning flares, and the motor life-boat the motor life-boat Lord Southborough, Violet Armstrong was launched at 7.20 Civil Service No. 1 was launched in a in a south-easterly breeze with a light variable breeze with a smooth moderate sea. She found the cutter, sea. She found the Kathleen one and with a crew of two, half a mile north a half miles to the eastward steaming of the Bell Buoy, out of control with seawards, guided her to the harbour her engine broken down, and towed her and arrived back at her station at to the Pool, reaching her station again 3.15.—Rewards, £10 16s. at nine o'clock.—Rewards, £9 3s. Ramsgate, Kent.—In the same dense The following life-boats went out on fog on the night of the 28th of Novem- service but could find no ships in dis- ber, 1948—as five boats which had tress, were not needed or could do put out with fishing parties had not nothing: returned—the life-boat coxswain and Penlee, Cornwall.—November 1st.— another man burned flares at the Rewards, £18 3s. 6d. East Pier. By their help four of the Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.—November boats came in. At 10.50 the following 1st.—Rewards, £10 17s. morning the coastguard telephoned that the rowing boat May Queen was Beaumaris, Anglesey.—November 8rd. still missing, and the motor life-boat —Rewards, £12 19s. Prudential left her moorings at 10.59 Torbay, Devon.—November 3rd.—Re- with the motor boat Kenneth. The wards, £3 7s. 6d. weather was calm, but the fog still Ramsgate, Kent.—November 3rd.— thick. They made a wide search, and Rewards, £10 13s. 6d. two and a half miles south of Quern Buoy the life-boat found the May Blyth, Northumberland. — November Queen anchored. The two men in her 3rd.—Rewards, £7 12s. were hungry, cold, and exhausted. Islay, Inner Hebrides.—November 9th. The life-boat took them on board, —Rewards, £8 7s. gave them food and drink, and with New Brighton, Cheshire. — November their boat in tow, returned to Ramsgate llth—Rewards, £12 15s. at 1.20 that afternoon.—-Rewards, Margate, Kent.—November llth.—Re- £11 13s. 6d. wards, £12 19s. 6d. LADEN TRAWLER ASHORE The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.—Nov- Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. ember 14th.—Rewards, £16 2s. —At 9.25 in the morning of the 29th of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. — November November, 1948, the coastguard re- 17th.—Rewards, £10 10s. ported a vessel apparently aground ' Hoylake, Cheshire.—November 19th — close iivto the south east of the look-out, Rewards, £20 11s. 264 THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1948

Swanage, Dorset.—-November 20th.— New Brighton, Cheshire. — November Rewards, £13 4s. 25th.—Rewards, £21 18s. Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire. —-Novem- Caister, Norfolk.—November 27th.— ber 21st.—Rewards, £22 11s. Rewards, £12 5s. Selsey, Sussex. — November 23rd.— Sheringham, Norfolk.—November 28th. Rewards, £16 5s. 6d. —Rewards, £36 9s. Tor bay, Devon.—-November 23rd.— Walmer, Kent.—November 28th.— Rewards, £7 15s. Rewards, £20 6s. Salcombe, Devon.—November 23rd. Portpatrick, Wigtownshire.—November —Rewards, £9 12s. 29th.—Rewards, £5 11s. Anstruther, Fifeshire.—November 23rd. Stornoway, Isle of Lewes.—November —Rewards, £27 9s. 29th.—Rewards, £12 5s. Eyemouth, Berwickshire. — November Walmer, Kent. — November 29th.— 24th.—Rewards, £12 12s. Rewards, £30 14s. Dunbar, Haddingtonshire."—• November St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—November 25th.—Rewards, £18 5s. 29th.—Rewards, £10 19s. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. Poole and Bournemouth, Dorset.— -—November 25th.—Rewards, £19 Is. November 29th.—Rewards, £11 17s. Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire.—Nov- Salcombe, Devon.—November 30th.— ember 25th.—Rewards, £16. Rewards, £9 12s.

Awards to Coxswains and Life-boatmen To WILLIAM J. BAKER, on his retirement, as second coxswain, and 32 years as a member after serving for 25J years as coxswain of of the crew of the Poole life-boat, a life- the Padstow life-boat, a coxswain's certificate boatman's certificate of service and a gratuity. •of service and an annuity. To JAMES R. THOMSON, on his retirement, To JAMES TAIT, on his retirement, after after serving for 4 years as second coxswain, serving for 15f years as coxswain of the Aith 9 years as bowman and 16 years as a member life-boat, a coxswain's certificate of service of the crews of the Dunbar and Skateraw and an annuity. life-boats, a life-boatman's certificate of To WILLIAM J. HUGHES, on his retirement, service and an annuity. after serving for 14£ years as coxswain, To WILLIAM H. JONES, on his retirement, 4J years as second coxswain and If years as after serving for 7J years as assistant motor bowman of the Rhyl life-boat, a coxswain's mechanic and 16J years as a member of the certificate of service and an annuity. crew of the Pwllheli life-boat, a life-boatman's To FREDERICK H. ZABIELA, on his retire- certificate of service and a gratuity. ment, after serving for 3 years as coxswain, DJ years as second coxswain and 9J years as To the late ADAM STRAKER, who for 24 bowman of the St. Peter Port life-boat, a years was a member of the crews of the Aln- •coxswain's certificate of service and an mouth and Boulmer life-boats and previously annuity. bowman of the Alnmouth life-boat for 9 years, To WILLIAM H. JONES, on his retirement, a life-boatman's certificate of service. after serving for 2f years as coxswain and To the late JOHN W. STEPHENSON, who for 16J years as second coxswain of the Hoylake 40 years was a member of the crew of the life-boat, and previously 7J years as second Boulmer life-boat, a life-boatman's certificate coxswain of the Hilbre Island life-boat, a of service. coxswain's certificate of service and an To the late ROBERT STEPHENSON, who for annuity. 15 years was a member of the crew of the To FRANCIS W. HAYES, on his retirement, Boulmer life-boat, a life-boatman's certificate after serving for 2 years as coxswain, 6 years of service.

Notice All contributions for the Institution should be sent either to the honorary secretary of the local branch or guild, or to Colonel A. D. Burnett Brown, M.C., T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I. All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should be addressed to the Secretary. The next number of THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in April, 1949.