THE LIFE-BOAT The Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution VOL. XXXIII SEPTEMBER 1954 No. 369

THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 155 Motor Life-boats 1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to 30th June, 1954 .... 78,727

Notes of the Quarter LIFE-BOATS AND HOLIDAY- saved, 23—that is to say more than MAKERS two-thirds—were yachtsmen, people LIFE-BOATS of the Institution were in small boats and dinghies, or people launched on service 256 times in the cut off by the tide. These figures first six months of 1954. They emphasize again that life-boats, al- rescued 208 lives. though built and maintained for the The month of June was an excep- primary purpose of saving life from tionally busy one, for there were shipwreck, do in fact find a wide 58 service launches and 33 lives were variety of other uses. rescued. In the history of the Insti- tution there have been only two years in which life-boats were launched THE LATE HENRY BLOGG more frequently in June. One of With the death of Henry Blogg, the these years was 1940, the year of the Service has lost a man whose record Battle of Britain. The other was was unique in the 130 years of the 1952. history of the Institution. It is true An analysis of the services in June that Henry Blogg retired from active gives some impression of what holiday- service seven years ago, but as long makers have owed to the Life-boat as he lived nobody could feel that he Service. Of the 58 launches, 20 were was really lost to the Service. An to the help of yachts—a category obituary notice of the great coxswain which includes sailing dinghies, sailing is to be found on page 730. boats, motor cruisers, sailing yachts It is perhaps significant that the and motor yachts—8 were to small last time the Journal had occasion to boats, canoes and rubber dinghies; mention Henry Blogg was the summer and two were to people cut off by the of 1953, when three Cromer life-boat- tide. Thus, in the course of the men lost their lives a hundred yards month more than half of the services from shore. Henry Blogg rushed of the life-boats were to people who down to help launch a crab boat, but can reasonably be supposed to have in doing so collapsed and had to be been holiday-makers. The figures for taken home. lives rescued are even more telling. In the obituary notice is to be found Of the 33 people whose lives were the text of a tribute which was paid 722 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 by the Chief Inspector, Commander conference will be held in 1955 in T. G. Michelmore, in a recent broad- Portugal. These international con- cast. One story which Commander ferences are held at intervals of four Michelmore would have told about years, and apart from the interruption Henry Blogg in his broadcast, had of the war they have taken place time permitted, recalls the occasion regularly since 1924. The first con- in November 1941, when a distin- ference was held that year in London, guished admiral paid a visit to Cromer at the time of the centenary of the for the express purpose of decorating founding of the Institution. The the coxswain and other members of the other conferences have been held in Cromer crew for their great services Paris in 1928, Amsterdam in 1932. that year. Just as the ceremony of Gothenburg in 1936, Oslo in 1947 and presentation was about to begin, a Ostend in 1951. maroon was fired to call out the life- boat. The first to make for the door was Henry Blogg, and the Chief WHAT A NEW BRANCH Inspector had some difficulty in res- CAN DO training him from going out in the Ax example of what a new branch can life-boat and persuading him to leave achieve in an inland town has been it to the second coxswain to take provided this year by Watford. In charge. This immediate willingness 1953 the flag day in Watford produced to serve, whatever the circumstances, only £36, and from 1950 to 1952 no and this longing to avoid personal flag day was held. Not since 1946 publicity were both characteristic of has Watford in the course of a the great coxswain. whole year produced more than £120, and a high proportion of the sums raised came from works col- A NEW SURVIVAL BAG lections. A new type of survival bag, a In April of this year a new branch photograph of which appears on page was formed at Watford under the 741, has been specially adapted for chairmanship of Councillor P. Rochs. the needs of the Institution. It is The honorary secretary is Mrs. W. E. designed for cases in which survivors Ward. A flag day was held on the who have been picked up by life-boats 3rd of Julv, which produced the sum have been subjected to severe expo- of £392 17s. 9d. Much of the credit sure. After they have been wrapped must go to Councillor Rochs, but the in the survival suit their body temper- branch was also fortunate in the atures should return to normal in a enthusiastic support given by the very short time. Artificial respiration Mayor of Watford, Alderman John can be carried out on a body which is Davis, the president of the branch. inside the suit. Alderman Davis and Councillor Rochs The suit is made of a rubberized made personal appearances, shortly fabric. It is extremely light and is before the flag day, in a number of inflated before being put into use. cinemas, and in other cinemas where Its underlying principle is that of air permission for this was not given, re- insulation. cordings of appeals they had made were The bag has been subjected to a broadcast between performances. Col- variety of tests by Dr. Geoffrey Hale, lections were made in the repertory a member of the Committee of theatre and in all cinemas, and nine Management, and by Commander shops had displays in their windows. Michelmore, and a small number will One helper, Mr. K. L. Vosper, collected be issued shortly to selected life-boat almost continuously from 7 a.m. till stations for lengthy trial. 10.30 p.m. on the flag day and Mrs. Ward's son also raised sub- stantial sums. The branch is by no means confining its activities to INTERNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT a flag day and already has an am- CONFERENCE bitious programme for the rest of the The seventh international life-boat year. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 728

Rescue in A Gale near the Harbour Bar ON the morning of the 15th of April, of action. One member of the crew 1954, the weather at Whitby, which was swept into the sea. was already bad, became steadily worse. The local fishing fleet was at Weighed Seventeen Stone sea, and at 9.30 the No. 1 life-boat The life-boat made for the Foxglove Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. at full speed, and fortunately the cox- Ex-Coxswain Richardson was in com- swain and bowman saw the man who mand, as the regular coxswain, Eric had been swept overboard. The man Taylor, was himself at sea in his own managed to hold on to the life-boat's boat. outside life-line. In his oilskin and sea- The sea was very rough and a gale boots he weighed seventeen stone and was blowing from the north-north- he was not wearing a life-belt, but with west. The life-boat escorted in some considerable difficulty the crew man- of the smaller boats, and Coxswain aged to haul him on board the life-boat. Tavlor himself entered the harbour un- Meanwhile the Foxglove, which had

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escorted in his keel boat. This was at let go two anchors, had drifted and 10.20, and he thereupon took over dragged on to the rocks to the east- command of the life-boat. ward of the east breakwater. There The harbour entrance was now were still three men on board, one of becoming more dangerous, and two whom was seventy years old. fishing boats, Easter Morn and Fox- The coxswain brought the life-boat glove, were warned by the life-boat of at reduced speed through a gap in the the dangers in front of them. The rocks. Several times she touched Easter Morn entered the harbour bottom. By manoeuvring the engines, safely, but near the harbour entrance the coxswain laid the bow of the life- the -Foxglove was hit by a heavy sea. boat at right angles to the fore part It carried away her drogue and par- of the Foxglove, but at the first attempt tially flooded her wheel-house and none of the crew of the Foxglove was engine-room, putting the engine out taken off. 724 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 All Three Rescued three o'clock, and the life-boat re- The coxswain then went astern at turned to her station at 3.30. full speed to seaward and came along- For the determination, initiative, side again. This time all three men sound judgment and good seamanship were taken on board the life-boat, which he showed, Coxswain Eric which was again brought through the Taylor was awarded the bronze medal gap in the rocks to the harbour. The of the Institution. Motor Mechanic Foxglove broke up completely shortly William Dryclen was accorded the afterwards. thanks of the Institution inscribed on The life-boat landed the crew of the vellum. Additional monetary rewards Foxglove and then resumed her duty of 3()s. each were made to the nine of escorting fishing boats. The last of members of the crew. Total rewards the fishing boats entered harbour about amounted to £«50 10s.

Life-boat Christmas Card and Calendar THE Institution will again have a added cost of 105. for twenty-five and Christmas card and a pocket calendar. 11s. for fifty. The card will be a reproduction in The pocket calendar will have on the colour of the picture below. It is a front a reproduction of a photograph photograph of the new Walton and of the new Fraserburgh life-boat, The Frinton life-boat, a gift to the Institu- Duchess of Kent. It can be obtained tion from Mr. Augustine Courtauld, a in dozens. The price is 2s. for the member of the Committee of Manage- first dozen and 1*. Qd. for each ment. additional dozen.

The card will be of four pages, with There will also be a hanging calen- the Institution's crest on page one, dar, with a picture in colour, a greetings on page two and the picture reproduction of a photograph of the on page three. Margate life-boat alongside S.V. Pamir. The price of the card, with the Owing to the high purchase tax which envelope, will be 9d. Name and would have to be paid on all calendars address can be printed in, if not fewer printed if any were sold, there will be than twenty-five are ordered, at an none for sale. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 725

A New Type of Life-boat By Commander T. G. Michelmore, R.D., R.N.R., Chief Inspector of Life-boats THE new 42-feet by 14-feet Watson she was despatched on a somewhat cabin life-boat, the first of which has rigorous extended sea trial. This now gone to her station at Coverack, took her up the east coast of Britain Cornwall, is the successor of the 41-feet to the Inverness neighbourhood, by 11-feet 8-inches Watson type boat, through the Caledonian Canal, down which first came into service twenty- the west coast and back to Little- one years ago. The 41-feet Watson hampton. The object of the trial type of boat is of comparatively was to test the Gardner engines, shallow draft, specially designed for which were new to the Institution, launching from harbours where there thoroughly, by driving them hard all is only very shallow water at low the way, and to obtain the views of tide, or where a shallow bar has to be life-boat crews from comparable life- crossed. boat stations on her engines and the The Committee of Management has new method of watertighting the for some time been of the opinion that engine room. greater power was desirable in this type of boat in order to give maximum Complete Success power when necessary and to permit the engines to be run economically at The trial was a complete success. other times. After much research The life-boat completed 1,500 miles into the question, it was decided to in 181 steaming hours at an average power the new boat with two 48 h.p. speed of 8.3 knots, despite very heavy Gardner 4.L.W. diesel engines. These weather on two occasions, without the give her a full speed of 8.38 knots least suspicion of engine trouble. with a total endurance at this speed Altogether, before leaving her station, of 238 miles, as compared with the she completed 213 hours running, the 7.78 knots and 125 miles endurance of equivalent of four or five years' normal her predecessor, which is powered running. During this trial, some with twin 35 h.p. petrol engines. The nineteen deputations from life-boat fuel capacity in each case is the same, crews were given an opportunity of i.e. 112 gallons. going afloat in her, all of whom, with- out exception, expressed themselves as being entirely satisfied both with her Watertight Inner Bottom engines and the new watertighting Another major modification embod- arrangement. Criticisms of her were ied in the new boat is the construction invited but very few—and those were of a watertight inner bottom to her of a superficial nature—were received; engine room, which, together with its in fact, she created a most favourable watertight wing bulkheads and water- impression everywhere. tight forward and after bulkheads, Commander E. W. Middleton, makes it virtually a watertight box District Inspector (General), who com- within the hull of the boat. manded this boat for part of her Among several minor modifications extended sea trial, made the following embodied for the first time in this type report on his trip: of boat are a combined mast exhaust; Kent clear-view screen; a twin R/T With Coxswain Upperton and aerial, which gives greater range; and Mechanic Philcox of Shoreham on wooden bulwarks both forward and board in addition to a crew of six, we aft for greater protection from the sea. left Littlehampton at nine o'clock Early in May, when this boat had on the morning of Saturday, the 1st satisfactorily completed her normal of May. The weather was fine with trials at Littlehampton, where she was a light south-south-westerly breeze built by Messrs. William Osborne, Ltd., and a smooth sea. 726 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 Feeling of Great Power not quite the gear I should have chosen On passage to Shoreham, the cox- in such weather, Coxswain Tart swain and mechanic were able to replied: "Well, we didn't expect to get inspect the new life-boat thoroughly wet in a fine new boat like this." and to test her manoeuvring qualities. They didn't. On reaching Shoreham we ran in alongside the life-boat slip, landed Yachts Capsize the Shoreham men and were away A message by radio telephone in- again inside ten minutes. The quiet, formed us that the Walmer deputation, smooth-running Gardner diesels gave were unable to get off the beach owing a feeling of great power, and all hands to the bad weather, so arrangements were already impressed by the new were made to pick them up at Dover. boat's qualities. Off Dover harbour there was the The remainder of the passage to usual confused sea produced by the Newhaven, where we were scheduled tide in gale conditions, and there was to spend the night, took place without a nasty break across the eastern incident, and soon after 12.30 in the entrance. However, the life-boat took afternoon we were rounding the break- both in her stride and without ship- water. Had we not been working to a ping anything other than spray. A fixed programme in order to allow quick change over in the Camber, and deputations from other stations to we were away again, with Coxswain inspect the boat, it would have been Fred Upton and Mechanic Percy easy to have made Ramsgate that day. Cavell of Walmer on board. Again When we left Newhaven at 6.15 on the boat was inspected and tried out Sunday morning, there was a strong and pronounced "very good indeed" south-south-westerly breeze and a by these two most experienced life- steep breaking sea on the bar. With boatmen. the engines eased well down in order The entrance to Ramsgate harbour to give the new vessel a chance of looked very unpleasant when we learning her tricks gently, the steepest arrived, with a confused breaking sea seas were ridden cleanly and easily. and masses of spray. Inside were a number of French trawlers, which had Gale Conditions come in for shelter, including two The wind and sea were increasing, which had been escorted in by the and it was obvious we were in for Ramsgate life-boat shortly before our gale conditions. Making a good offing, arrival. Four or five yachts capsized we stood well out clear of Beachy Head at their moorings, and conditions before bringing the wind and sea just generally were in keeping with what is abaft the beam on the course for often called life-boat weather. We Dungeness. felt the new boat had had a vigorous Off Beachy there was a big lump of introduction to her job. sea, and with the engines at full operational revolutions it was a good Lively Passage test of the new boat's running qualities. From Ramsgate to Whitby the Every now and then she would pick weather continued changeable, with up and run on the top of a breaking fresh or strong winds from all points wave in exhilarating fashion, but she of the compass. A further deputation always left the helmsman a feeling of was embarked at Aldeburgh and complete control, with never any sug- landed at Lowestoft, and the next gestion of broaching. night was spent at Gorleston. Under the lee of Dungeness we were Gorleston to the Humber is rarely a able to embark Coxswain Tart and smooth-water trip, and on this occasion Mechanic Oilier of that station, and the wind soon found its way into the once more a complete inspection and north-east and gave us a somewhat opportunity to handle the boat was lively passage from Cromer to Spurn. arranged. In the short steep seas of the Wash Somewhat to my surprise the Dunge- the boat again behaved excellently, ness men were in their Sunday best, and not once did she fall into the and on my remarking that this was trough with that teeth-chattering SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 727 crash which some seamen refer to as allowed to examine the boat and see "hitting a milestone". how she handled. Crews from Whitby, At Spurn we refuelled and fed and Berwick, Dunbar, Whitehills and got away to sea again before midnight. Buckie all made trips in her, and After passing Flamborough Head at without exception all pronounced her first light, we were entering Whitby "a grand new boat". harbour at nine in the morning, The Northern District Inspector was tired, but ready for breakfast. in command as far as Troon, then the Of the rest of the long journey north, Western District Inspector took over, through the Caledonian Canal, down and after calling at the Isle of Man the west coast and along the south and Moelfre in Anglesey, handed over coast back to Littlehampton, I can to the Irish District Inspector at Dun only tell at second-hand, as I left the Laoghaire. life-boat at Whitby. Down the coast of Ireland and across Commander S. W. F. Bennetts, to Newlyn, where the Southern District the Deputy Chief Inspector, who was Inspector took over, the voyage lasted in command from Whitby to Berwick, only twenty-eight hours. made a night passage under very At Coverack a special welcome had unpleasant conditions. been arranged, and not unnaturally the new life-boat was received with "A Grand New Boat" even greater enthusiasm than any- The wind was south-westerly up to where else. Up channel to the Solent, four in the morning, when it started where further speed trials were run, to blow hard and veer to the north- and then, just twenty-three days after west. For the last two hours of the her departure and exactly on schedule, trip the boat was plunging into a big the life-boat steamed into Little- head sea and once more received a hampton, where she was built. severe testing, which she came through Throughout this long and exacting splendidly. trial there was not a falter from the For the rest of the trip scarcely any engines or a sign of a defect in the bad weather was encountered, but boat itself. For what better reward many crews were embarked and could her designers and builders wish ?

Radio Equipment in Life-boats By N. S. Mounsdon, Inspector of Machinery (Electrical], Royal National Life-boat Institution. \ViTH the exception of seven short- crew, who might otherwise continue range boats, all the Institution's searching unnecessarily. life-boats, both in the active and in While on service, all distress mes- the active reserve fleet, are equipped sages are passed on the international with radio telephony. The advan- distress frequency of 2182 kilocycles tages of a life-boat being in two-way (137.5 metres). This traffic is handled communication with the shore during by the nearest G.P.O. or Coastguard a service are many. The coxswain radio station, and all other traffic is can be given the latest information kept off this frequency until the life- about the position and condition of boat's service is completed or the the casualty; he can advise the station distress call cancelled. of the number of survivors picked up and arrange for medical aid and Simple to Operate ambulances if necessary; and the life- The radio-telephones, which are now boat can be recalled if the vessel for fitted as standard equipment, were which she is searching succeeds in designed and manufactured especially reaching shelter. This last advantage to meet the Institution's requirements is greatly appreciated by the life-boat by Messrs. Coastal Radio, Ltd., of 728 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 Edinburgh, who install and service smaller of these supplies the receiver the equipments on a hire-maintenance and is running the whole time the life- basis. The number of sets fitted is boat is at sea. The larger supplies 164, and the annual cost to the 475 volts for the transmitter and comes Institution is between £9,000 and into operation only when the switch £10,000. on the microphone is pressed to The equipment must be, and is, transmit a message or use the hailer. simple to operate and reliable, and it The current taken from the boat's has to be stowed into as small a space batteries is 6 amps while the receiver as possible. It is divided into five is working and the transmitter is in separate units, the transmitter, the the stand-by position, and 19 amps receiver, the power pack, the remote while actually transmitting or while control panel and the loud hailer the hailer is in use. projector. In the larger life-boats the first three units are installed in the Heard 550 Miles Away cabin, but in the smaller types they The output from the transmitter are fitted into watertight boxes on varies with the type of aerial used; either side of the deck. The remote with a whip aerial, it radiates about control panel is alongside the engine 18 watts and with a twin wire aerial room instrument panel, -within easy about 30 watts. The reliable range reach of the life-boat's motor mechanic of the equipment is about 100 miles, who usually acts as radio operator. but the range is to some extent The loud hailer projector is mounted dependent upon land screening and in a convenient position on the deck. the type of aerial used. Some remark- The transmitter contains six valves able results have been reported from and is crystal-controlled. It can time to time. Signals from the Court - operate on any of four pre-set frequen- macsherry (Co. Cork) life-boat have cies, selected by a five-position switch been received at good strength at which is the only control on the trans- Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire), a dis- mitter panel. The fifth position feeds tance of 400 miles, and the Cromarty the output from the amplifying stages life-boat has been heard in the Scilly directly into the loud hailer, which can Isles about 550 miles away. be heard clearly at distances up to Direction finding equipment has four hundred yards. been fitted experimentally to four life- boats stationed at carefully selected Superheterodyne Receiver points, i.e. Rosslare Harbour in Eire, The receiver also uses six valves and Aberdeen in Scotland, Ramsgate in is of the superheterodyne type. A England and Holyhead in Wales. click-stop mechanism on the tuning This equipment enables a life-boat to control enables any one of five pre- take bearings on and set a direct course determined frequencies to be located to a casualty, provided of course, that and held. The only other knob is the the casualty is also equipped with volume control. radio-telephony and is able to trans- The remote control panel has its mit. A loop aerial is fitted above the own microphone, loud speaker and deck cabin and a goniometer unit volume control, on/off switches for the installed alongside the radio equipment. transmitter and receiver and a switch The direction finding equipment to bring the loud hailer into circuit works in conjunction with the existing when required. The same microphone receiver and was designed by Messrs. is used for both transmitting and Coastal Radio, Ltd., at the Institu- hailing. Headphones are also pro- tion's request. vided. The Institution keeps under con- The power pack is fed with current stant review the latest inventions and at 12 volts through a changeover developments in such fields as those switch from either the port or star- of radar, echo-sounders and navigator board battery. The low tension cur- equipments, but up to now these have rent passes direct to the valve heaters, not been found suitable for the special and the high tension current is pro- purposes for which life-boats are duced by two rotary generators. The needed. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 729

How a Life-boat is Launched By Brian Collins [The following article appeared in the Lytham St. Annes Express on the 12th of March. It is reproduced by kind permission of the editor.] COULD you do what Lytham life-boat- be out visiting friends. He might be men do when they are called out on enjoying a pint of ale, or be at the an emergency? pictures. Could you (or would you) drop what- He might be in the bath, having a ever you happened to be doing wher- meal, picking shrimps, or taking the ever it happened to be, and be on dog for a walk. board the life-boat and away in just He might live somewhere where he over 15 minutes? can't hear the maroons when the wind You think you could? Perhaps is in a certain direction and blowing you could. strongly. But after you've read this you might But he will get to know either from want to think again. neighbours who might just be within On the last five occasions the hearing distance, or from mates, who, Lytham life-boat has been called out knowing his difficulty, will warn him. the time taken to get her under weigh —that is, from the time the maroons Drop Everything are fired to the moment her moorings are slipped—has averaged 15 minutes But no matter where he is or what 36 seconds. The record is 10 minutes. he is doing, he will drop everything Here is the normal procedure for when the maroons blast their warning calling out the boat. in the sky. The secretary, Mr. John Kennedy, Would you? is warned of an emergency, usually by Well, maybe you would. But could the coastguard at Formby or St. you do what the life-boatman does Annes, the police or watchers on the then? beach. If he is at home it is ten to one he will have his sea-boots and some warm The Warning is Given clothing handy. He has to put these on. If he is not at home then he does He informs the life-boat signalman, without. Mr. Stanley Wilson, who goes to the Then he has to get to the life-boat old life-boat house where he fires two house. maroons (one for a practice) to call Most members of the crew rely out the crew. either on their own legs, for those who Mr. Kennedy also telephones the live near to the beach, or on a bicycle, coxswain Mr. Joe Parkinson, and the for those who live anything from engineer, Mr. George Harrison. Mr. quarter-of-a-mile to a mile away. Parkinson informs the second cox- He might have to ride in pitch dark- swain, Mr. Harry Bonney, by telephone ness into the teeth of a gale from the also. westward, in rain or snow and perhaps But the remaining members of on icy roads. the crew rely on the maroons, and When he gets to the boathouse he once they have been fired the rush has to put on his oilskin, sou'wester starts. and life-jacket, and the hardest part of Remember, a life-boatman might his calling is then only beginning. be at work and some of them have other jobs as well as fishing. He might be in bed asleep—but always Pulling the Boarding Boat with one ear cocked for the sound With the help of a couple of of the maroons. launchers and anyone else who likes He might have his feet up in front to lend a hand, he has to get the 18-ft. of the fire listening to the radio, or long boarding boat on her carriage out 730 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 of the boathouse, on to the promenade yards can seem like a couple of and drag her about quarter-of-a- miles. mile to the slade beside the mussel Once aboard the life-boat the canopy tanks. has to be removed from the cockpit, Down the slade she goes and then the engines started, the moorings begins another long haul, perhaps a slipped and the boarding boat moored. further quarter-of-a-mile according to And then, and only then, is the where the tide is, across the soft- life-boat ready to put to sea. clinging mud to the water's edge. Would you do all this to try to Boarding boat, carriage and all, are save some fellow being whose life then pushed into the water until it is may depend on how quickly the life- deep enough for the boat to be slid boat can get to him? off the carriage. You would! Well, perhaps you There's no engine in the boarding would. boat and wherever she goes she has But could you do all this ? to be pulled, and against wind and You could! What, in 15 minutes tide a pull of a couple of hundred 36 seconds?

Obituary HENRY BLOGG, G.C., B.E.M. he gave his crew which brought their HENRY GEORGE BLOGG, G.C., B.E.M., efforts to such a successful conclusion." died in Cromer and District Hospital Ten years later, on the 22nd of on the night of the 13th of June, 1954, November, 1927, the Cromer life-boat at the age of 78. rescued fifteen men from the Dutch Henry Blogg's record as a life-boat- tanker Georgia, which had broken in man is unique in the history of the half on the Haisborough Sands. The Institution, for no other life-boatman service lasted twenty hours and Cox- has won so many medals for gallantry. swain Blogg was awarded a clasp to He first joined the crew of the Cromer his gold medal. life-boat in January 1894 at the age Coxswain Blogg's third gold medal of 18. He was appointed second was awarded for services in September, coxswain in 1902 and coxswain in 1941, in which 88 lives were rescued 1909. from six steamers of a convoy which had been wrecked on the Hais- First Gold Medal borough Sands. Coxswain Blogg's silver medals were Three times he won the Institution's awarded for the rescue of 30 men from gold medal for gallantry. His first the Italian steamer Monte Nevoso in gold medal was awarded for the 1932; for the rescue of 2 men from the rescue of the entire crew of eleven of barge Sepoy of Dover in 1933; for the Swedish steamer Fernebo, which the rescue of the crew of 29 of the had struck a mine during a gale on the Greek steamer Mount Ida in 1939; 9th of January, 1917. The Fernebo and for the rescue of the crew of was blown in half. The Cromer life- 44 of the steamer English Trader in boat, which had only just returned 1941. from a service to a Greek vessel, was Coxswain Blogg was also awarded immediately launched again in cir- the George Cross and the British cumstances which led the District Empire Medal, and he was presented Inspector who reported the service to with a gold watch by the Queen of say of Coxswain Blogg: "It was his Holland. own remarkable personality and really great qualities of leadership which magnetised tired men into launching, Lord Templewood's Tribute and when the boat was launched it was At the funeral service held in Cromer the consummate skill with which he Parish Church on the 17th of June launched her and the encouragement more than 1,400 people crowded into SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 731 the church, and many hundreds more medal. A record unlikely to be stood on the pavements outside. The equalled. life-boat coxswains of Sheringham, "It has been my privilege not only Wells, Caister and Gorleston carried to have been associated with Henry the coffin. In his address the vicar, Blogg for a number of years but to the Rev. E. T. Dick, described Cox- have known him and to have enjoyed swain Blogg as "Cromer's greatest his friendship. son," and Viscount Templewood, "He was a big man in every sense President of the Cromer branch of the of the word, a kindly genial man of Institution, said: "We are here to pay exemplary character and possessing a the last tribute to a very gallant man youthful spirit; a magnificent seaman of simple tastes, great courage and of very few words with the courage of strong character. His exploits are a lion; a man of quick decisions and known to the whole nation. . . . We resolute action, sparing neither him- in the neighbourhood of Cromer are self, his crew, nor the life-boat, in especially proud of him. We knew taking grave risks to rescue unfortun- him to be one of the bravest men who ate seamen faced with disaster. He ever lived." always succeeded and always beat the At the Cromer Magistrates' Court fury of the gale. and at a meeting of the Sheringham Urban District Council proceedings Church Bells Ringing were delayed until tributes had been paid to the late coxswain. The Chair- "On his return to Cromer after one man of the Cromer Magistrates' Court, particularly gallant rescue, and hearing Mr. R. W. Ketton-Cremer, said: "His the church bells ringing to welcome extraordinary skill and courage and him and his crew he asked: 'What's the number of lives that were saved all this fuss about ?' by the brave men whom he com- " That was Henry Blogg, a man who manded became a matter of not only belittled his own gallant actions and local but also of national history." a man who disliked intensely any The Chairman of the Sheringham form of publicity, in which he would Urban District Council, Mr. H. G. take no part unless he could be assured Johnson, said: "I knew Henry Blogg that in doing so he would further the as a very modest gentleman, yet interests of the R.N.L.I., to whose whenever I heard his name mentioned ideals he was intensely loyal. I always thought of the many hundreds "To those of us who have to design of seamen who in dire distress were new life-boats, his views, opinions and cheered by the words 'Blogg is vast experience were of very great coming'." value. "This outstanding man of our time, this very gallant gentleman, whose Chief Inspector's Broadcast name has become legendary, is no Tributes to the late Coxswain Blogg longer with us, but his spirit is em- were also paid in a programme broad- bodied in the Cromer No. 1 life-boat cast by the B.B.C. on the 21st of July, which bears his name—Henry Blogg— in which Commander T. G. Michel- and which is so ably commanded bv more, Chief Inspector of Life-boats, his nephew." said: "Coxswain Henry Blogg, whose death recently occurred, was coxswain of the Cromer life-boats for 38 years COXSWAIN JOHN STRACHAN OF until he retired in 1947 at the age of PETERHEAD 71. Altogether, he served 53 years JOHN R. STRACHAN, a former coxswain in the Cromer life-boats, during which of the Peterhead life-boat, died on the period they rescued 873 lives. For 1st of July at the age of 82. his part in this great achievement he Coxswain Strachan was awarded the was decorated with the George Cross silver medal of the Institution for the and the British Empire Medal, and rescue of the crew of nine of the was three times awarded the R.N.L.I. trawler Struan, of Aberdeen, on the gold medal for most conspicuous 18th of January, 1933. As a member gallantry and four times their silver of the crew he also took part in the 732 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 rescue of 74 men, including British helping a minelayer which had run soldiers and Russian sailors, in 1916, aground. when the Russian steamer Kiev John Strachan served in the Peter- grounded on Scotstoun Head. head life-boat for 48 years, during In December 1914 he was in the life- which time he helped in saving 364 boat when three of the crew, including lives. He was appointed coxswain in his brother, lost their lives while 1922 and retired in 1937.

Ray Oliver: Bowman and Centre-forward By J. A. St. S. Talbot, Honorary Secretary, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay Branch THE crew of the Cullercoats life-boat coats A.F.C. Here he was found play- and the people of Cullercoats and ing at centre-half in 1949 by Mr. D. Whitley Bay are justly proud of their Davidson, former Scottish inter- bowman, Ray Oliver. Not only is national and Newcastle United player Ray a first-class officer in the boat, and the manager of the newly formed but he is known throughout the Whitley Bay Club—at that time country as the centre forward of the another comparatively junior team. English international amateur soccer Mr. Davidson saw Ray's possibilities team. and persuaded him to try the centre- Ray Oliver follows a family tradi- forward position. While playing with tion. His father was a member of the Whitley Bay he gained his first of crew of the Cullercoats life-boat for eight county caps to date for Northum- twenty-five years and was bowman berland. In the summer of 1953 he for seven years. Although still a was invited to tour South Africa with young man Ray has been a crew the famous amateur club, Bishop member for many years. In July 1949 Auckland. On returning to this he was appointed as second assistant country he decided to play in the motor mechanic, and he succeeded 1953-54 season with the "Bishops" his father as bowman on 1st April, and in senior football immediately 1952. attracted attention. Games for an F.A. Amateur XI against Oxford Humane Society Award University, Headington United and In November 1946, while the life- Watford led to his selection as travel- boat was being launched on service, ling reserve for England v. Holland the boat became jammed on the stone at Rotterdam on March 7th, 1954. breakwater of the harbour. In trying to dislodge it, three of the shore helpers First International Cap were washed off the breakwater into He received his first international cap the sea. Ray Oliver immediately as England's centre-forward against jumped overboard, badly damaging an Scotland at Wembley on March 27th ankle. He swam out twice and and was back again at Wembley on brought two of the men to safety; April 10th for his club in the first of the third one managed to regain the those three tremendous amateur cup shore unaided. Oliver then returned final games against Crook Town. In to the boat and took his place in the the last of those games Ray was crew. He was subsequently off work injured and had to withdraw from the nearly four weeks with his injured England team in which he was to have ankle. He received a letter of thanks been centre-forward against Wales on from the Institution and was also 24th April. He was then chosen to presented with the Parchment of the represent an F.A. Amateur XI against Royal Humane Society. Jersey on May 10th and Guernsey on His football career has been meteoric, May 12th. Naturally many very starting in junior football with Culler- attractive offers to turn professional SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 733 have come his way from first division His future career will no doubt be clubs, but all have been refused. Ray followed with keen interest by life- Oliver prefers his footballing as an boatmen everywhere. He is typical of amateur—and his life-boat work. all that is best in the service.

A Life-boat in the Antarctic Ix 1946 Colonel Niall Rankin, F.Z.S., Rothes, a motor life-boat of the self- F.R.P.S., F.R.G.S., of Calgary, in the righting type, 42 feet by 11 feet 6 Isle of Mull, went out to the island of inches, with a 40 h.p. engine, built in South Georgia in the South Atlantic. 1915 and sent to Fraserburgh. She He sailed in October in a whale factory was a gift to the Institution from Mr. ship, taking with him a motor yacht, T. Dyer Edwardes, of London, and he the Albatross, and as crew, two voung gave her "as a thank offering to men from the Shetlands who had Almighty God for preserving the life served in the Mercantile Marine. His of my only child from a great peril on intention was to spend the summer the foundering of the White Star liner cruising round South Georgia and Titanic in May, 1912." His child the studying the life of Antarctic animals Countess of Rothes, well deserved to and birds. He tells the story of his have a life-boat named after her, for, cruise in Antarctic Isle, published by said an article in The Life-boat of Messrs. Collins. November, 1915: "She gave an example of coolness and courage which Search for a Boat materially contributed to calm and His first care had been to find the comfort the boatful of terrified women right sort of boat for his adventure, and children with whom she found and in 1944, when he was on sick leave herself. There were only three sailors from the Army, he went round a ship- in charge and, in order to assist, Lady ping yard on the Clyde to look at small Rothes took the helm and held it boats requisitioned by the Admiralty for eight or ten hours, in spite of the on the outbreak of war. He thus cold and fatigue from which she suf- describes what he saw: fered." "They were drawn up in rows, for- The Lady Rothes remained at Fraser- lorn, deserted. I wandered round the burgh until 1937 when she was sold yard among scores of such vessels. out of the Service to a purchaser at Then I caught sight of a hull which Dunbar. During her 22 years at instantly attracted me. It was dirty, Fraserburgh she was launched on the paint was cracked and chipping, service 66 times and rescued 65 and in two places it was patched with lives. metal sheets, but it bore the unmis- takable imprint of a Royal National Penguins for Zoos Life-boat. . . . Forty-two feet long With this old life-boat, and his two and 11 feet beam, she had been built Shetlanders, Colonel Rankin arrived with a double skin of mahogany, on the 26th of November, 1946, at about thirty years ago and had seen all Leither Harbour, South Georgia, added her service in the north of Scotland. to his crew a Norwegian pilot, and Sold two years before the war she had spent the Antarctic summer cruising been converted by her new owner, round South Georgia, in what he then, on the outbreak of hostilities had described as "one of the smallest taken her place in the Clyde Patrol. . . . vessels ever to set out on a deliberate This was the very craft for my purpose. cruise in Antarctic waters." . . . An expert examined her timbers WThat he found there is graphically for me and pronounced them sound in described in his book. On the 20th of every way, adding that such beautiful April, 1947, he and his boat were workmanship was rarely seen in these shipped on board another whale fac- days." tory ship and returned to Liverpool, She must have been the Lady bringing with them, among other 734 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 things, penguins which are now in service in the Clyde Patrol, then the zoos of London, Edinburgh and 9,000 miles across the world to study Glasgow. the birds and beasts of the Antarctic! From the building yard at Cowes to Old life-boats have gone to varied and Fraserburgh, from Fraserburgh to strange duties, but none, in her old Dumbarton to be converted into a age, has had a more interesting career yacht, then, two years later, to war than the Lady Rothes of Fraserburgh.

A Hundred Years Ago An extract from The Life-boat, or Journal of the National Shipwreck Institution, July, 1854. Ix the autumn of 1853, a new life-boat flat and shallow beaches it would was stationed at Dover by the Dover possess the advantage of making her Humane Society to replace their old draw less water, and would also render one. This boat was constructed by Mr. her motion more easy when rowing Clarkson, of a material which he has with a broadside sea on. patented, composed of alternate layers The durability of Mr. Clarkson's or laminae of canvass, cork, and wood, material remains to be proved, but united to each other with marine glue. to all appearance it has all the solidity She is 28 ft. long, 7| ft. wide, and and strength of a wooden boat, if not 3 ft. 2 in. deep, with a water-tight more, has greater elasticity, and so deck, and having raised end air-boxes would be less liable to injury from or tanks, as in the boats of Mr. Peake concussion against a rock or other hard and Mr. Beeching, to give her self- substance, and from the nature of the righting power. Her ballast, the dis- material would not, like a wooden boat, position, character and amount of become leaky after being long out of which in a life-boat is of much impor- the water. Another peculiarity of tance, is differently arranged from that this boat is lightness, her weight not in either of the descriptions of boats being more than 27 cwt., which is above alluded to; Mr. Beeching's boats about a quarter less than that of a are ballasted with water in an enclosed wooden boat of the same dimensions tank; Mr. Peake's by an iron keel and fitted in the same manner. attached to the under part of the Altogether Mr. Clarkson, who is not wooden one; but Mr. Clarkson has left a professional boat-builder, or at all a longitudinal channel or opening in acquainted with ordinary boat-build- the deck of his boat amidships fore ing, has displayed great skill and in- and aft above the keel, in which pigs genuity in the construction of this or bars of iron are stowed up to the boat, which was in great part put level of the deck, and so secured that together by his own hand. She is also they should not fall out in the event very favourably spoken of by the of the boat upsetting. coastguard, and others, who have Although the ballast placed in this taken her off on trial. The Lords of raised position above the keel will not the Admiralty have given permission act with the same powerful leverage for her to be hoisted up to davits on on the boat's heeling over, yet for the east side of the Royal Pier.

Award to Falmouth Coxswain MR. C. H. BROWN, coxswain of the Coxswain Brown has served with the Falmouth life-boat, has been awarded Falmouth life-boat for more than thirty a certificate by the Royal Humane years, as bowman from 1922-1931 and Society for rescuing a young boy from assistant mechanic from 1931-1946, the sea near Falmouth. being appointed coxswain in 1947. SEPTEJIBEH, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 735

A Story of Dutch Life-boats Messrs. Victor Gollancz Ltd. are to service and soon learnt his duties from be congratulated on producing under his captain. In his captain's phrase the title Wild Water an English edition there was " only one right way. That of a Dutch book by Klaas Toxopeus, is to be on board before the bad which has already had considerable weather sets in. It is not an easy job success in the Netherlands (15s.). but there is no alternative, and you Wild Water is largely the life-story have to be prepared sometimes to of a Dutch life-boatman. Klaas spend three or four days on board in Toxopeus comes from a seafaring dirty weather and high seas." family. His brother was himself a There follow descriptions of Mr. fife-boat captain—or in the English Toxopeus's first trip as captain and of phrase, a "coxswain." He himself for several daring rescues from Finnish, a number of years has commanded the Turkish, German and Spanish ships. life-boat Insulinde. Finally there is an account of the His book tells of his early fight to disastrous storm which led to the escape from a factory and to join his sinking of the Princess Victoria and father at sea. He won his fight and which swept across the whole of in time joined the Dutch Life-boat Northern Europe. Service. In this he was employed in Well deserved tributes are paid to a full-time capacity, his first job being the crews of the Dutch life-boats and with the Rottum life-boat. Here he to Mr. de Booy, the Director of the lived in a community numbering only North and South Holland Life-saving eight persons: himself; the captain of Society, whom the author calls "as the life-boat and his wife; his uncle; good a sailor as any of us." his uncle's housekeeper and three farm Wild Water is written in a breezy, hands. At the Rottum station, which conversational style and evokes a lively was later closed, he saw a good deal of picture of a great Life-boat Service.

New Ways of Raising Money A COLLECTION in aid of the Institution booklets will be supplied to branches was made at the Silverstone Inter- at 2s. each for sale to the public at national Trophy meeting on the 15th 2s. 6d. of May by kind permission of the * * * Daily Express and the British Racing The Countess of Glasgow raised £55 Drivers' Club. A total of £131 7s. 4d. for the. Institution by the sale of was received. daffodils and other flowers in Largs * * * railway station. A new and most attractive toy life- * * * boat can now be supplied to branches Mr. R. G. Coles, of Coventry, made at Is. 6d. each for sale to the public a decorated cake, weighing 15 Ibs., in at 2*. each. These boats can be the shape of the St. Helier life-boat. supplied from headquarters only in It was shown at the time of the dozens, but they can be bought Coventry flag day on a stall where the individually from branches. takings were £23, and was later * * * raffled at a private dance, whereby a Messrs. Micromodels, Ltd., of further sum of £9 16s. was made. London, are producing a booklet of * * * instructions on how to make a model A Malayan curry stall was a feature life-boat. The instructions have been of a bring-and-buy sale organised by prepared by Mr. L. F. Gilding, a Mrs. Colvile, Mrs. Lias and Mrs. former member of the staff. These Nightingale at Sandgate. 736 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 The Carshalton branch, whose enough support for this scheme is honorary secretary is Mr. E. Heron, forthcoming, the Institution will con- has started collecting jam jars, silver sider supplying such a pennant. paper and milk bottle tops, from * * * which the Institution has received An anonymous contributor recently more than £5 in the past two months. sent the Institution the money which * * * he has saved by giving up smoking. A suggestion has been made by * * * Mrs. K. Neale, of Llanfechain, that A contribution has been received regular subscribers to the Institution from the private cash of one of the should be able to buy a special pennant inmates of Her Majesty's prison at for flying on their own yachts. If Stafford.

New Brooch Bars for Medallists BROOCH bars for winners of the medals gold, silver or bronze. The brooch awarded by the Institution have bars are for wearing on occasions when recently been introduced and are now medals are not worn. Medallists also issued to all medallists. The bars are receive a miniature reproduction of the covered with the Institution's medal medal which they have won in the ribbon, which is light blue in colour, form of a badge for wearing in the and are 1| in. wide and \ in. deep. A coat lapel. Those entitled to brooch small emblem of the effigy of Sir bars who wish to receive them should William Hillary, the founder of the apply to the Secretary of the Institu- Institution, is attached to the bars in tion.

Portrait on the Cover THE portrait on the cover is of Cox- Contamar, of London. Seven men swain John Watters, who has been had to be hauled through heavy seas coxswain of the Fowey, Cornwall, in a gale. Before going out on this life-boat since 1934. In 1947 Cox- service Coxswain Watters had been swain Watters was awarded the bronze injured by a fall, but in spite of this medal for the rescue of seven men from he insisted on taking command of the auxiliary motor vessel Empire the life-boat.

The Beeching Model THE famous life-boat model made by Germany and the Netherlands. The James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, model has been lent to the museum by which won the prize of 100 guineas the Royal United Service Institution. offered by the Duke of Northumber- It is to be seen in the shipping room, land in 1851 for the best design of a in which there is a life-boat section. life-boat, can be seen today in the Above the model are two diagrams of Municipal Museum of Science and self-righting life-boats and a picture Industry in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. of a rescue off Tynemouth Castle. Beeching's design won the prize against There is also a bust of the fourth Duke wide competition. There were 280 of Northumberland, and several publi- entries from the United Kingdom, cations on the Life-boat Service are United States of America, France, displayed. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 737

From the painting by] [T. C. Dugdale, R.A.

COXSWAIN HENRY GEORGE BLOGG, G.C., B.E.M., OF CROMER

(see page 730) 738 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954

By courtesy of] 'Doran lifothers THE FOXGLOVE ON THE ROCKS

(see page 723)

By courtesy of] [Doran Brothers WHITBY LIFE-BOAT TO THE RESCUE SEPTEMBER 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 739

THE WRECK OF THE FOXGLOVE 740 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954

THE COVERACK LIFE-BOAT (see page 725)

ENGINES OF THE NEW GARDNER TYPE SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 741

By courtesy of] [Belfast Xeies-Letler H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF KENT MEETS NORTHERN IRISH LIFE-BOATMEN

By courtesy of) [Keystone EXPERIMENTAL SURVIVAL BAG

(see page 722) '42 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTKMBEK, 1954

By comiesv of]

H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER NAMES THE NEW RAMSGATE LIFE-BOAT

By courtesy of] 'Sunbeam Photo THE MICHAEL AND LILY DAVIS (see page 759) SF.PTEM7iF.li. 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT

By courtesy of] Lytlam St. Anne's Express CLINGING TO THE MAST The survivor who clung to the mast for an hour was rescued by the Lytham-St. Anne's life-boat (see page 729)

By courtesy if] [H'est Hcrtt Pest THE MAYOR OF WATFORD AND MR. R. L. VOSPER (see page 722! 744 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954

By courtesy of} [The Evening News, North Shields BOWMAN RAY OLIVER, OF CULLERCOATS (see page 732) SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 745

Services of the Life-boats in April, May and June, 1954 91 Lives Rescued APRIL the Blackwater lightvessel. The Com- DURING April life-boats were launched missioners had no boat available, and 26 times and rescued 22 lives. at 10.30 the life-boat K.E.C.F., on temporary duty at the station, put THREE MEN RESCUED FROM out in a choppy sea with a light south- SAILING BOAT westerly breeze blowing. She landed the man and arrived back at her Margate, Kent.—At 2.50 on the after- station at 2.20.—Rewards, £9 5s. noon of the 1st of April, 1954, the Refunded to the Institution by the coastguard telephoned that he had Commissioners of Irish Lights. received a message from Kingsgate that two men in a sailing boat three quarters of a mile off Joss Bay were FISHING BOAT TOWED TO waving an oar. At three o'clock the HARBOUR life-boat North Foreland, Civil Service Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland. No. XI was launched. The sea was —At 1.6 on the afternoon of the 8th of rough and a fresh breeze was blowing April, 1954, the coastguard telephoned from the west-north-west. The life- that a motor boat had broken down boat found the sailing boat Ave.c Nom, and was drifting towards the shore of Kingsgate, three miles east of three miles north of Berwick. At Broadstairs being blown seawards. 1.26 the life-boat J. and W. was The men were wet and very cold. The launched. There was a slight sea and life-boatmen rescued them, gave them a light south-westerly breeze. The rum, took their boat on board the life-boat found the local fishing boat life-boat and returned to their station, Bydand, with a crew of three, about arriving at 5.20.—Rewards, £9 12s. Qd. two hundred yards off-shore, and towed her to the harbour, arriving at INJURED MAN TAKEN OFF 2.30.—Rewards, £7 4*. LIGHTHOUSE IN GALE Valentia, Co. Kerry.—On the 3rd of MEDAL AWARD TO WHITBY April, 1954, the Commissioners of COXSWAIN Irish Lights asked if the life-boat On the morning of the 15th of April, would land a seriously injured man 1954, the Whitby No. 1 life-boat Mary from the Skellig's Rocks lighthouse, Ann Hepzvorth rescued four men from as the Commissioners' tender Valonia the local fishing-boat Foxglove. One had already made four unsuccessful of the four had been swept overboard attempts to do so in the bad weather. by a heavy sea, and to rescue the At 10.20 the next morning the life- others the coxswain had to take the boat A.E.D. put out in a very rough life-boat through a gap in the rocks sea. There were hail showers and a in a rough sea, with a gale blowing moderate north-westerly gale. With from the north-north-west. difficulty the life-boat took the injured Coxswain Eric Taylor was awarded man on board, landed him at Reenard the bronze medal and Motor Mechanic Quay, and reached her station again William Dryden the thanks of the at 3*5.—Rewards, £10 3,9. Institution inscribed on vellum. For a full account of this service see page SICK MAN BROUGHT FROM 723. LIGHTVESSEL Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At COBLE ESCORTED TO RUNSWICK 9.50 on the morning of the 7th of Runswick, Yorkshire.—During the April, 1954, the Commissioners of morning of the 15th of April, 1954, the Irish Lights rang up and asked if the weather worsened while local fishing life-boat would land a sick man from boats were at sea, and at 10.30 the 746 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 life-boat The Elliott Gill was launched. of the 20th of April, 1954, the Gorles- The sea was very heavy and a gale ton coastguard rang up to say that was blowing from the north-north- Britannia Pier at Great Yarmouth had west. Two fishing cobles landed at caught fire and to ask for the life-boat, Staithes, and the life-boat escorted the as there was some danger of people Staithes coble Coronation Queen to being trapped. At 1.38 the life-boat Runswick, reaching her station again Louise Stephens was launched in a at 6.30.—Rewards, £23 8,9. slight sea with a moderate easterly breeze blowing. She stood by the TWO BOYS LANDED FROM pier for nearly two hours. In that DRIFTING DINGHY time the pier had burnt out, but no Holyhead, Anglesey.—At 12.3 on the one was in danger, and the life-boat afternoon of the 16th of April, 1954, returned to her station, arriving at the coastguard rang up to say that a 3.30.—Rewards, £11 5*. dinghy with two boys on board was drifting out to sea off Rhoscolyn TWELVE MEN RESCUED FROM Island. At 12.10 the life-boat St. LIFTING CAMEL Cybi, Civil Service No. 9 was launched. Teesmouth, Yorkshire.—At 2.17 early The sea was calm, with a light north- on the morning of the 23rd of April, north-east breeze blowing. An R.A.F. 1954, the South Gare lighthouse keeper amphibious D.U.K.W. also put out. rang up to say that one of the lifting The D.U.K.W. found the dinghy one camels working on the wreck of the and a half miles south of Rhoscolyn S.S. Guildford in Tees Bay had broken and took it in tow. Shortly after- adrift, and was driving towards a slag wards the life-boat also reached the reef. Twelve men were aboard and position. The D.U.K.W. asked the they flashed SOS signals. At 2.44 life-boat to take the dinghy to Treard- the life-boat John and Lucy Cordingley dur Bay. The life-boat took over the was launched. There was a heavy tow, landed the boys in Trearddur swell, with a north-easterly breeze Bay, and reached her station again blowing. The life-boat found Camel at 3.10.—Rewards, £8 7s. L.C. 16 aground. The life-boat went alongside and with difficulty rescued CABIN CRUISER TOWED TO the men. She took them to Hartle- MARGATE pool and arrived back at her station Margate, Kent.—At 11.6 on the morn- at 5.35.—Rewards, £11 6,?. ing of the 19th of April, 1954, the coastguard rang up to say that a cabin INJURED AIRMAN PICKED UP AT cruiser had broken down in Kingsgate SEA Bay, but had made no distress signals. Eastbourne, and Hastings, Sussex.— Watch was kept on her, and at 11.53 At 11.54 on the night of the 26th of the coastguard reported that she was April, 1954, the coastguard telephoned in difficulties. At 12.5 the life-boat the Eastbourne life-boat station to North Foreland, Civil Service No. XI say the R.A.F. station at Worthing was launched in a very rough sea with had reported that two airmen were a strong north-easterly breeze blow- baling out of a Meteor aircraft two ing. She found the auxiliary yacht miles south-east of Beachy Head. At Merlin, of Maldon, with three men on 12.29 the life-boat Beryl Tollemaehe board. The yacht had lost her anchors, was launched. She searched in a rough her skiff had been washed away, and sea and strong north-easterly breeze the men had only been able to set her and at 1.50 found an injured airman fore-sail. She was being driven to- in a rubber dinghy one mile west of wards the shore. With difficulty the Bexhill. The life-boat rescued him, life-boat passed a wire rope to her and took him to Eastbourne, and then towed her to Margate, arriving at resumed the search for the second 3.30.—Rewards, £18 10*. man. The Hastings life-boat M.T.C. had also been launched at 1.34, and PIER CATCHES FIRE both life-boats searched widely. The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Eastbourne life-boat found a parachute Norfolk.—At 1.23 early on the morning one and a half miles south-west of SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 747 Bexhill, but no trace of the other on the afternoon of the 26th of April, airman was seen. The Hastings life- 1954, the coastguard telephoned that boat reached her station again at 7.30 a sailing dinghy, with two children and the Eastbourne life-boat arrived on board, had capsized half a mile off at Eastbourne at 7.50.—Rewards: shore opposite King's Drive, Lancing. Hastings, £31 8s. &d.\ Eastbourne, At 2.48 the life-boat Rosa Woodd and £29 4s. The airman wrote a letter of Phyllis Lunn was launched. There thanks, in which he stated: "Up till was a moderate sea and a moderate then I had never thought about the north-easterly breeze. The children's work the Life-boat Service do. But father also put out in a shore-boat and when that life-boat picked me up managed to rescue the children. The after being in my dinghy for two life-boat returned to her station, hours it was certainly the most arriving at 3.25. The father made a welcome sight in the world." donation to the funds of the Institu- tion.—Rewards, £7 5s. FISHING BOAT TOWED TO PORTMAGEE Kirkcudbright. — April 26th. — Valenria, Go. Kerry.--At 8.40 on the Rewards, £12 15s. morning of the 29th of April, 1954, a Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire. — April message was received from Portmagee 28th.—Rewards, £16 11s. that the fishing boat Island Rover, of Tralee, was overdue with a crew of four. At nine o'clock the life-boat MAY A.E.D. put out. The sea was calm, DURING May life-boats were launched and a light breeze was blowing from 45 times and rescued 33 lives. the north-east. The life-boat found the fishing boat one mile north of NINE RESCUED FROM FISHING Lemon Rock with her engine broken BOAT down. She towed her to Portmagee, reaching her station again at 2.15.— Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.—At 1.20 Rewards, £8 165. early on the morning of the 1st of May, 1954, the coastguard telephoned that a The following life-boats went out vessel had gone ashore at North Head. on service, but could find no ships in At 1.45 the life-boat Julia Park Barry, distress, were not needed or could do of Glasgow was launched. There was a nothing: heavy ground swell, with a moderate Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. — April north-easterly breeze. The life-boat 4th.—Rewards, £6 10*. found the local motor fishing boat Spes Dungeness, Kent. — April 5th. — Melior II, with a crew of nine. She Rewards, £20. had been bound for the harbour from Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—April 7th. the west coast fishing grounds, but —Rewards, £10 II*. had gone on the rocks near the north Humber, Yorkshire.—April llth.— entrance to the harbour. The life- Paid Permanent Crew. boat first rescued three men from her, Flamborough, Yorkshire.—April 12th. then approached her again and rescued —Rewards, £12 11*. 6d. the other six. She took them all to Howth, Co. Dublin. — April 14th. — Peterhead, arriving at 2.50.—Rewards, Rewards, £8 10s. £14 14s. 6d. Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.— April 14th.—Rewards, £7. THREE TRAWLERS ESCORTED IN Padstow, Cornwall.—April 17th.— GALE Rewards, £4 11s. Ramsgate, Kent.—At 11.30 on the Youghal, Co. Cork. — April 23rd. — morning of the 2nd of May, 1954, the Rewards, £8 6*. coastguard rang up to say that a Galway Bay.—April 26th.—Rewards, French trawler in tow of another £15 12s. 6d. trawler appeared to be in difficulties half a mile south-east of the coast- FATHER RESCUES TWO CHILDREN guard station. At 11.40 the life-boat Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—At 2.40 Michael and Lily Davis put to sea. 748 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954

The sea was very rough, and a gale BOYS BROUGHT OFF DESERTED was blowing from the south-west. ISLAND The life-boat found a third trawler, Clogher Head, Co. Louth.—At 7.15 on escorted all three to Ramsgate harbour the evening of the 5th of May, 1954, the and reached her station again at 12.20. Coast Life-saving Service at Skerries —Rewards, £8 13*. telephoned that two boys were stranded on an uninhabited island off Skerries. FISHING BOAT HELPED TO DUNBAR At 7.50 the life-boat George and Caro- line Ermen was launched. There was Dunbar, East Lothian.—At 4.25 on the a moderate sea, and a gale was blowing afternoon of the 3rd of May, 1954, the from the north-west. The life-boat coastguard reported that the local searched the island coast with a motor fishing boat Devotion, with a searchlight, but found nothing and crew of three, was in difficulties about went to Skerries. There a man, who three miles north-east of Dunbar and had previously seen the boys on the had asked for help. At 4.50 the life- island, boarded the life-boat, which boat George and Sarah Strachan put again left for the island, this time out in a rough sea, with a strong taking a small boat with her. Four north-north-east breeze blowing. She men also put off in a shore-boat, and found that the Devotion had engine the shore-boat found the boys on the trouble, escorted her to the harbour, sheltered side of the island lying under and reached her station again at an upturned boat. The men rescued 6.30.—Rewards, £5 5s. them and transferred them to the life- boat, which made for Skerries. The LIFE-BOATMEN BOARD DRIFTING shore-boat then got into difficulties, KETCH and the life-boat rescued the four men who were on board and towed their Youghal, Co. Cork.—At eight o'clock boat to Skerries, arriving at one on the evening of the 3rd of May, 1954, o'clock. She landed the four men and the auxiliary ketch Three Brothers, of two boys and left for her station an Rye, broke from her moorings in the hour later, arriving at six o'clock.— harbour. A whole gale was blowing Rewards, £29 10s. 6d. from the north, and the sea was rough. The life-boat Herbert John was launch- RESCUES DURING DINGHY RACE ed ten minutes later and came up with the ketch in the middle of Youghal New Brighton, Cheshire.—At eight Bay. Four life-boatmen boarded her, o'clock on the evening of the 5th of and took her back to the harbour. May, 1954, the life-boat bowman was The life-boat returned to her station, on the New Brighton landing-stage arriving at 9.30.—Rewards, £9 Is. when a sailing dinghy taking part in a race capsized. He arranged for the life-boat to be launched immediately. SICK MAN TAKEN FROM LIGHT- At 8.7 the Norman B. Corlett put to VESSEL sea, and a rowing boat also put off, Humber, Yorkshire.—At 3.50 on the manned by two youths. The sea was afternoon of the 5th of May, 1954, the rough, and a squally wind was blowing Superintendent of Trinity House at from the westward. Two other Great Yarmouth asked if the life-boat dinghies capsized near Rip-Rap Buoy, would take a sick man from the but the youths in the rowing boat Humber lightvessel to Grimsby, as picked up the crews and their dinghies. no other boat was available. At 4.5 The man in the first dinghy was the life-boat City of Bradford III was rescued by a sand pump dredger, which launched in a rough sea with a strong with the help of the life-boat also south-south-west breeze blowing. She picked up two other dinghies, which took the patient on board, landed him had lowered their sails. The life-boat at Grimsby, where an ambulance was noticed that the youths in the rowing waiting, and reached her station again boat and the dinghymen they had at ten o'clock.—Paid Permanent Crew. saved were in difficulties and took Expenses refunded to the Institution them all on board. She landed them by Trinity House. and the dinghies at the stage. She SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 749 then put out again, took the two other the tide. The coxswain then boarded men off the dredger, and landed them her and piloted her to Barrow docks. and their dinghies. She reached her The life-boat returned to her station, station again at 9.30.—Rewards, arriving at 10.30—Rewards, £20 11*. £5 7s. The owners made a donation to the funds of the Institution. REPORTER HEARS STEAMER'S SOS SICK MAN TAKEN OFF WELSH Girvan, and Troon, Ayrshire.—At 6.48 TRAWLER on the evening of the 5th of May, 1954, Valentia, Co. Kerry.^At two o'clock on the Portpatrick coastguard telephoned the afternoon of the 8th of May, 1954, the Girvan life-boat station that the the steam trawler Brecon Castle, of S.S. Sir James, of Cardiff, was drifting Swansea, arrived at Valentia with a ashore between Heads of Ayr and sick man. A doctor examined him Turnberry lighthouse. At 9.20 the and decided to have him taken ashore, life-boat Frank and William Oates was but the weather was too bad for the launched. The sea was rough, and a ferry boat to land him. The doctor fresh gale was blowing from the asked for the life-boat, and at three north-west. At nine o'clock a news- o'clock the A.E.D. put to sea with a paper reporter told the Troon life-boat nurse and a stretcher in a rough sea station that he had heard an S O S with a strong south-easterly wind from the Sir James on his wireless set, blowing. The life-boat took the and at 9.50 the life-boat Sir David patient on board, landed him at Richmond of Glasgow was launched. Valentia, and reached her station She found the steamer off Turnberry again at 4.30.—Rewards, £3 11*. lighthouse at 12.50 early on the 6th, escorted her to Whiting Bay, and TWO YOUTHS RESCUED FROM returned to her station, arriving at SAILING YACHT 5.30. The Girvan life-boat had returned to her station at 11.30 on Buckle, Banffshire.—At 3.15 on the the night of the 5th.—Rewards. afternoon of the 9th of May, 1954, the Girvan, £7 Is. 6d.; Troon, £11 18s. coastguard rang up to say that a small sailing boat was in difficulties three COXSWAIN PILOTS STEAMER IN and a quarter miles north-north-west GALE of Buckie. At 3.32 the life-boat Glencoe, Glasgow was launched. The Barrow, Lancashire.—At 12.40 early sea was choppy with a strong south- on the morning of the 6th of May, easterly wind blowing. The life-boat 1954, the Walney Island coastguard found that the sailing boat, with two telephoned that a "Mayday" distress youths on board on a pleasure trip, message had been received from the had become unmanageable in the S.S. Celt, of Glasgow, ten miles south wind. She rescued them and towed of St. Bees Head. At 11.10 the life- the boat to the harbour, arriving at boat Herbert Leigh was launched in a 4.50.—Rewards, £6 8*. very rough sea with a fresh north- westerly gale blowing. A member of the crew collapsed, and the life-boat DOCTOR BROUGHT TO LIGHT- returned to her station to land him, VESSEL and put to sea again at 12.10. At Barrow, Lancashire.—At 4.17 on the 12.50 she made wireless contact with morning of the 14th of May, 1954, the an Irish cattle boat. This boat had Walney Island coastguard rang up to stood by the Celt, which had a break- say that the Morecambe Bay light- down in her fuel system, but had lost vessel had asked for the life-boat as contact with her. The cattle boat a member of her crew was seriously ill. directed the life-boat to a position At 5.15 the life-boat Herbert Leigh north-north-west of Selker Buoy, and was launched, with a doctor on board. the life-boat later made wireless con- She made for the lightvessel in a tact with the Celt and found her near moderate sea, with a moderate north- the buoy at 6.45. She escorted her to west-by-north breeze blowing, and Lightning Knoll Buoy and waited for put the doctor on board. He exam- 750 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 ined the man and had him transferred the morning of the 15th of May, 1954, to the life-boat, M'hich landed him at the life-boat The Lord Southborough, her station at ten o'clock. An ambu- Civil Service No. 1, on temporary duty lance was there waiting.—Rewards, at the station, was launched to welcome £10 4s. 6d. Refunded to the Institu- the return of H.M. the Queen in H.M. tion by Trinity House. Yacht Britannia. The sea was very choppy, and a fresh wind was blowing BOAT WELCOMING THE QUEEN from the north. The life-boat made TOWED TO PLYMOUTH for her station again about eleven o'clock, but when she was a quarter Plymouth, Devon.—At 5.58 on the of a mile west of Southend pier she morning of the 14th of May, 1954, the saw a man and two boys in a home- life-boat Hearts of Oak, on temporary made punt. The punt's outboard duty at the station, was launched to motor had broken down, and she had stand by the many small boats which shipped a lot of water. She was in had put off to welcome the return of danger of capsizing, and the life-boat H.M. the Queen from the Common- rescued the three people, gave them wealth tour in H.M.Y. Britannia. hot cocoa and food, and towed the The Royal Yacht passed Plymouth punt to the pier. She landed them about seven o'clock, and the boats and then put off to another boat made for home. One of them, the reported in difficulty at Leigh Middle, Apollo, of Plymouth, a converted but a naval boat was already with her. whaler fitted with an engine, with a The life-boat returned to her station, crew of eight, broke down three miles arriving at 12.40.—Rewards, £8 18s. south of Mewstone. The sea was moderate, with a moderate breeze RESCUE FROM CAPSIZED DINGHY blowing from the north-east. The life-boat towed the Apollo to Millbay Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—At 4.4 docks, reaching her station again at on the afternoon of the 15th of May, 11.5. The crew expressed their thanks 1954, the coastguard telephoned that and a donation to the funds of the during racing held by a local yacht club Institution was received.—Rewards, a Merlin sailing dinghy, the Punch, had £10 17s. capsized one and a half miles south- west-by-west of the harbour. Another yacht capsized in the same position DOCTOR TAKEN TO IRISH ten minutes later. A club launch was CORVETTE near the spot and went to the Punch, Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford.—At but the launch needed further help, 8.30 on the evening of the 14th of May, and at 5.5 the life-boat Rosa Woodd 1954, the Irish corvette Maev entered and Phyllis Lunn was launched. There Rosslare Ray and signalled that she was a slight sea, and a moderate breeze needed a boat to land a sick man, as was blowing from the north-east. The her motor cutter was out of com- life-boat rescued one of the Punch's mission. The sea was moderate, with crew of two, arid the launch rescued a moderate breeze blowing from the the other. The launch then went to north-east, when the life-boat Douglas the help of the second yacht, and the Hyde put to sea at 9.15. She went life-boat towed in the Punch, reach- alongside the Maev, and at the request ing her station again at 6.48.— of her commanding officer took him Rewards, £7 8s. ashore to consult the Port Medical Officer. The life-boat then took the YACHT AGROUND NEAR RAMSGATE doctor to the corvette. He treated the sick man, decided that he could Ramsgate, Kent.—At 7.43 on the morn- remain aboard until the Maev reached ing of the 16th of May, 1954, the Cork, and then re-embarked in the coastguard telephoned that the yacht life-boat, which returned to her station, Aquila had gone ashore at West Ray arriving at 10.50.—Rewards, £2 Is. Point. At 7.52 the life-boat Michael and Lily Davis put to sea. There was a moderate sea, and a moderate breeze THREE RESCUED FROM PUNT was blowing from the north-east. Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 8.10 on The life-boat found the yacht, which SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 751 had a crew of three, on a lee shore the tug was having difficulty in towing close to cliffs, and coastguardsmen her. The life-boat stood by while were standing by at the cliff top with the tug and her tow made for the life-saving gear. The life-boat shelter of the Ayrshire coast. Three anchored, veered down to the yacht, miles south of Cumbraes the tug and fired lines to her. She then Battle Axe arrived on the scene. She passed a tow rope across, towed the passed a line to the tanker and helped vacht to Ramsgate, and reached her the Cruiser to tow her. The life-boat, station again at 12.17.—Rewards, being no longer needed, returned to £10 3*. 6d. her station, arriving at nine o'clock.— Rewards, £21 6*. Qd. TEN COBLES ESCORTED TO FILEY Filey, Yorkshire.—During the morning LIFE-BOATMEN HELP TO FIGHT of the 21st of May, 1954, ten local FIRE fishing cobles were overtaken by bad Lytham-St. Annes, Lancashire. — At weather, and at 10.50 the life-boat The 10.50 on the night of the 25th of May, Isa & Penryn Milsted was launched, 1954, the Lytham police rang up to say with the bowman in charge. She that the pile beacon, known as Peet's escorted the boats to the shore in a Light, three and a quarter miles west strong squally north-westerly breeze of Lytham pier in the estuary of the and reached her station again at 1.5.— River Ribble, had caught fire. The Rewards, £11 Qs. Qd. top structure is of wood and is mounted on wooden piles. The Port of Preston TOW FOR CONVERTED SHIP'S harbour-master asked if the piles at BOAT least could be saved, and it was agreed that the St. Annes fire brigade should Swanage, Dorset.—At 5.50 on the load a pump into the life-boat's afternoon of the 23rd of May, 1954, the boarding boat. Firemen embarked St. Aldhelm's Head coastguard rang up with it, and at 11.30 the life-boat to say that a motor boat appeared to N. T., on temporary duty at the be in difficulties about two miles east station, put out, towing the boarding of the Head. At six o'clock the life- boat. The sea was calm, and a light boat R. L. P. was launched. The breeze was blowing from south-by- sea was calm, and a light breeze was east. The life-boat laid off the beacon, blowing from the west-south-west. and two life-boatmen and three fire- The life-boat found the converted men took the boarding boat to it. The ship's boat Dorothy, with two men on tide was low, enabling the men to board, bound for Wareham from fight the fire from the sands and to Weymouth. Her engine had broken secure the boarding boat clear of down. The life-boat towed her to danger. The fire was extinguished in Swanage Bay and reached her station about two hours, by which time only again at 6.50.—Rewards, £6 15s. the piles remained. The life-boat took her boarding boat and gear back HELP FOR TANKER OFF AILSA to her station, arriving at three o'clock CRAIG on the morning of the 26th.—Rewards, Girvan, Ayrshire.—At 7.30 on the £12 9,9. morning of the 24th of May, 1954, the Portpatrick coastguard telephoned TWO YACHTS TOWED IN FROM that the tug Cruiser had reported RACE that she had the tanker British Valour, Howth, Co. Dublin.—During a vacht of London, in tow four miles south- race on the evening of the 26th of south-west of Ailsa Craig, but that she May, 1954, the 5-ton yacht Alethea was could not hold her. Ten men were dismasted off Portmarnock Strand aboard the tanker. At 8.5 the life- about two miles from Howth. The boat Frank and William Oates was yacht Ann Gail wirelessed a distress launched in a moderate sea with a call for her to Portpatrick Radio moderate south-south-east gale blow- Station. This was intercepted by the ing. She came up with the tanker a Valentia Radio Station and passed to mile north of the Craig and found that the life-boat station. At 7.50 the 752 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 Alethea burnt a flare, and at eight worsened while fishing cobles were at o'clock the life-boat R. P. L. was sea, and at eleven o'clock the life-boat launched. The sea was rough, and a The Isa & Penryn Milsted was fresh breeze was blowing from the launched. A strong breeze was blow- south. The life-boat made for the ing from the north-north-west. The position, and the Ann Gail told her life-boat escorted the local coble that another yacht, the Southern Windsor Lad II to the shore and reach- Cross, was also in difficulties. How- ed her station again at 1.50.—Rewards, ever, the Southern Cross was found to £13. be making headway slowly. The Alethea was in a dangerous position on THREE COBLES ESCORTED TO a lee shore, so the life-boat rescued her NEWBIGGIN crew of four and towed her to Howth. Newbiggin, Northumberland.—On the She also towed in the Southern Cross, evening of the 31st of May, 1954, some reaching her station again at 9.30.— fishing cobles put off to go salmon Rewards, £4 18s. fishing, but at 9.30 one of them came TWO RESCUED FROM IRISH YACHT ashore and reported that the sea was rough and that the weather was Howth, Co. Dublin.—At eight o'clock worsening. Conditions were danger- on the evening of the 27th of May, ous for the cobles to land, and at 11.45 1954, the life-boat's motor mechanic the life-boat Richard Ashley was saw the yacht Maybe, of Dun Laog- launched, with an ex-coxswain in haire, capsize half a mile off the Nose charge. There was a heavy swell of Howth. Five minutes later the with a fresh north-north-east breeze. life-boat R.P.L. was launched. The The life-boat escorted three cobles to sea was rough, and a squally south- harbour and reached her station again easterly wind was blowing. The life- at 7.45 on the 1st of June.—Rewards, boat rescued the yacht's crew of two, £18 3s. towed her to Howth, and reached her station again at 9.15.—Rewards, The following life-boats went out £4 18s. on service, but could find no ships in distress, were not needed or could do RESCUED MEN CLINGING TO nothing: CABIN Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—May 2nd.— Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Rewards, £24 16*. 9d. Norfolk.—At 9.35 on the evening of the Baltimore, Co. Cork.—May 3rd.—Re- 29th of May, 1954, the police at Great wards, £10 14s. Yarmouth telephoned that the motor St. Mary's, Scilly Islands.—May 4th. cruiser Sea Eagle, of Norwich, with —Rewards, £19 9s. three young men on board, had run Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—May 7th.— ashore in Breydon Water and was in Rewards, £8 10*. 9d. danger of capsizing in the fast ebbing Whitehills, Banffshire.—May 8th.— tide. The life-boat Louise Stephens Rewards, £17 3s. 6d. was launched at 9.50, with the honor- Lowestoft, Suffolk.—May 9th.—Re- ary secretary, Mr. J. S. Ling, on wards, £11 15s. board, and made for the position in a Torbay, Devon. — May 14th. —Re- light north-westerly breeze. She wards, £5 3s. 6d. found the men clinging to the top of the Dungeness, Kent.—May 15th.—Re- Sea Eagle's cabin. The Sea Eagle wards, £26 4s. was heeling over sharply. The life- Skegness, Lincolnshire.—May 17th.— boat went alongside with difficulty Rewards, £21 17s. in pitch darkness, rescued the men, Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork.— and returned to her station, arriving May 20th.—Rewards, £14 Is. at 12.10.—Rewards, £13 10s. The Lizard, Cornwall.—May 21st.— Rewards, £12 5s. COBLE ESCORTED IN BAD St. Peter Port, Guernsey.—May 22nd. WEATHER —Rewards, £7 5s. Filey, Yorkshire.—On the morning of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—May 23rd.— the 31st of May, 1954, the weather Rewards. £24 Is. 3d. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 753 Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.—May 25th. o'clock the life-boat Mabel Marion —Rewards, £14 10s. Thompson put to sea. There was a heavy ground swell, a northerly breeze LIFE-BOAT TWENTY-THREE HOURS and fog. The life-boat found the AT SEA trawler being pounded by the seas and took off two passengers, one of them Stronsay, and Stromness, Orkneys.— a woman. The life-boat took them At 10.24 on the night of the 26th of May, 1954, the Kirkwall coastguard to Kilronan and then put out again telephoned the Stronsay life-boat sta- and took off the trawler's crew of three. tion that a man had left St. Catherine's Helped by another trawler, she re- Bay in a motor boat for Kirkwall at floated the St. Kieran, berthed her at five o'clock, but had not arrived. The Kilronan, and reached her station coastguard made enquiries, but noth- again at 2.45. The passengers ing more had been heard of the man, expressed their thanks.—Rewards. and at 11.23 the life-boat Edward Z. £9 13s. Dresden put to sea. She searched widely in a rough sea and fresh south- TOW FOR SHETLAND FISHING BOAT south-east breeze, but found nothing Aith, Shetlands.—At 12.30 on the and arrived back at Stronsay for fuel afternoon of the 3rd of June, 1954, the at 11.40 on the morning of the 27th. Lerwick coastguard rang up to say At 10.35 that morning, the coastguard that the motor fishing boat Britannia, had asked if the Stromness life-boat of Lerwick, with a crew of five, had J.J.K.S.W. would help in the search, broken down in Papa Sound off Sand- and at 10.50 she was launched. She ness. At 12.58 the life-boat City of made a search in company with an Glasgow, on temporary duty at the aircraft, and at 12.40 the Stronsay station, put to sea. There was a slight life-boat put to sea again. She found sea and a light south-south-west the boat's mast and other wreckage breeze. The life-boat found the fish- near Black Craig, Shapinsay, but no ing boat in danger of being carried sign of the man was seen. The life- ashore by the strong tide and towed boats continued searching until late her to Voe, reaching her station again that night but without success. In at six o'clock.—Rewards, £10 17s. the end they returned to their stations, Stronsay arriving at 10.35 that night YACHT TOWED TO HOYLAKE and Stromness at 1.43 early on the 28th. The Stronsay life-boat had Hoylake, Cheshire.—At 8.30 on the been at sea for twenty-three hours. evening of the 5th of June, 1954, the The man lost his life.—Rewards: Formby coastguard rang up to say Stronsay, £40 8s.; Stromness, £26 that the coaster Talacre, which was at 19,?. 6d. anchor in the estuary of the River Dee, had reported that a yacht with two youths on board had gone aground Fowey, Cornwall. — May 27th. — on Salisbury Bank about four hundred Rewards, £5 5s. yards north-west of Salisbury Buoy. Weymouth, Dorset. — May 28th. — As she would be in danger when the Rewards, £6 13s. fast running tide flowed, the life-boat Oldham IV was launched at 9.7. There JUNE was a ground swell, with a light DURING June life-boats went out on easterly breeze and heavy rain. The service 59 times and rescued 36 lives. life-boat found the local yacht Aurelia in a precarious position, towed her to PASSENGERS AND CREW TAKEN Hilbre Pool, and reached her station OFF TRAWLER again at 2.20 early on the 6th.— Galway Bay.—At 10.30 on the morn- Rewards, £17 11s. ing of the 1st of June, 1954, the life- boat coxswain noticed that the YACHT ASKS FOR ESCORT trawler St. Kieran, of Galway, had Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—At 7.25 on the gone aground at Straw Island about morning of the 7th of June, 1954, the one mile east of Kilronan. At eleven coastguard telephoned that a yacht 754 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 was burning flares one and a half miles noon of the 7th of June, 1954, the east-south-east of Aldeburgh. At 8.3 coastguard rang up to say that two the No. 1 life-boat Abdy Beauclerk Pedalo pleasure floats, each with two was launched in a moderate swell with people in them, were drifting south- a moderate southerly breeze blowing. wards. At 2.7 the life-boat E.M.E.D., She found the 8-ton auxiliary yacht on temporary duty at the station, put Margaret, of Boston, with a crew of out. The sea was rough and a three, off Orfordness. Her rudder moderate south-westerly breeze was had broken, but her crew made tem- blowing. The life-boat came up with porary repairs, and the owner asked the floats off the harbour, rescued the the life-boat to escort them to Lowes- four people in them and took the toft. The life-boat did so and then floats to Ramsgate, which she reached returned to her station, arriving at at 2.23.—-Rewards, £7 7s. Qd. five o'clock. The owner made a gift to the life-boatmen.—Rewards, £49 Is. 6d. THREE BOYS CUT OFF BY TIDE Newhaven, Sussex.—At 4.20 on the afternoon of the 7th of June, 1954, the THREE RESCUED FROM MOTOR coastguard telephoned that some boys BOAT had been cut off by the tide at Crow- Margate, Kent.—At 12.26 on the after- link, and at 4.40 the life-boat Cecil noon of the 7th of June, 1954, the and Lilian Philpott was launched. coastguard reported that a small She took a dinghy with her. The sea motor boat, with a crew of three, had was moderate, a light south-easterly broken down about two miles off breeze was blowing, and it was high Foreness. At 12.35 the life-boat water. The life-boat found three boys, North Foreland, Civil Service No. 11 and three life-boatmen put off in the was launched. The sea was choppy, dinghy. Because of the state of the and a fresh breeze was blowing from sea it was decided not to take the bovs the south-west. The life-boat found on board, but to stand by until they the motor boat Cas-Jel, of Foreness, could make their way along the foot about two and a half miles off-shore of the cliffs. The boys eventually with her engine broken down and her reached Birling Gap, and the life-boat crew sea-sick. The life-boat rescued returned to her station, arriving at them and towed the boat to Margate, 6.30.—Rewards, £7 Is. reaching her station again at 1.50.— Rewards, £8 1*. YACHT ESCORTED IN SEARCH FOR CABIN CRUISER DINGHY TOWED TO FISHGUARD The Mumbles, Glamorganshire.—At Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.—At 1.29 6.55 on the evening of the 7th of June, on the afternoon of the 7th of June, 1954, the coastguard telephoned that 1954, the coastguard telephoned that a a cabin cruiser was making very heavy sailing dinghy had been reported in weather five miles south-south-west of difficulties in Newport Bay. At 2.3 Mumbles Head. At 7.10 the life-boat the life-boat White Star was launched. William Gammon—Manchester and There was a moderate sea, with a District XXX was launched. The sea moderate south-easterly breeze. The was very rough, and a moderate gale life-boat found the dinghy drifting was blowing from the south-east. three and a half miles north-east of During her search the life-boat came Dinas Head. A shore-boat had picked up with a sailing boat, with a crew of up her crew of two. The life-boat three, in difficulties off the head. She towed the dinghy to Fishguard and escorted her to safety, and continued reached her station again at 4.25.— the search for the cabin cruiser, which Rewards, £8 25. she eventually found ashore in Oxwich Bay. The cabin cruiser was the Ampico 2. Her crew of seven had FOUR RESCUED FROM PLEASURE gone ashore. The life-boat then re- FLOATS turned to her station, arriving at Ramsgate, Kent.—At 1.55 on the after- 10.30.—Rewards, £19 6*. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 755 PLEASURE BOAT BREAKS FROM signal station reported that a vacht, MOORINGS was being driven ashore in the Camber Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 9.24 on the and was burning red flares. The sea evening of the 9th of June, 1954, the was rough, with a moderate south- coastguard telephoned that the owner westerly gale blowing and heavy rain. of the local motor pleasure boat Nemo At 11.45 the life-boat Southern Africa II had reported that his boat had put out, and with the help of her broken from her moorings and was searchlight found the yacht Lutine drifting towards the shore to the east stranded on the slipway in the Camber, of the pier. At 9.30 the life-boat Sir with six people on board. Seas were Godfrey Baring was launched in a rough breaking over her and she was rolling sea. A southerly gale was blowing heavily. A life-boatman threw a line and the tide was two hours ebb. She to people ashore, who passed it to the found that the Nemo II had been yacht, and the life-boat then closed washed ashore and, as the weather her and took her in tow. She pulled would not allow the life-boat to be her clear, berthed her alongside an- re-housed, she made for Brightlingsea, other vessel at the South Wall, and arriving at eleven o'clock that night. then returned to her station, arriving At 4.10 the next morning she left at 12.48 early on the 10th.—Property Brightlingsea, refloated the Nemo II Salvage Case. and then escorted her to Brightlingsea, which was reached again at 7.45. LIFE-BOAT AT SEA TWENTY-ONE The life-boat remained there until the HOURS IN GALE weather moderated and was taken Dover, Kent.—At 5.12 on the morning back to her station on the llth.— of the 10th of June, 1954, the Sandgate Property Salvage Case. coastguard rang up to say that the Dutch tug Loire had wirelessed that LIFE-BOAT TAKES OVER TOW OF she had been towing the hopper KETCH Novia Magum, which had two men on board, but that the hopper had broken Angle, Pembrokeshire. — At 12.25 adrift four miles south-east of Dover. early on the morning of the 9th of June, At 5.35 the life-boat Southern Africa 1954, the Tenby coastguard rang up to put out in a very rough sea with a say that the tanker Esso Cheyenne fresh south-westerly gale blowing. had taken in tow the ketch Progress, of She found the hopper six miles to the Bideford, with a crew of five, which she east drifting very quickly. The life- had found leaking, and was making boat stood by her all day until a for Milford Haven. The life-boat was position fifty miles from Dover was asked to take over the tow, and at reached, and passed soup to the two 3.35, when the tanker was two miles men on board. The life-boat had been south-west of St. Anns Head, the asked not to take the men off unless life-boat Elizabeth Elson was launched. they were in danger, but to remain There was a heavy swell and a moder- with the hopper until the tug Rumania ate southerly breeze. The life-boat arrived. The tug reached the hopper took over the tow, anchored the ketch at 8.15 thirty miles east-by-north of eight hundred yards north-east of the North Foreland and took her in tow. life-boat station, and arrived back at The life-boat then returned to her her station at 7.45. At eleven o'clock station, arriving at 2.50 on the llth, the life-boat winchman reported that having been at sea for over twenty-one the Progress was dragging her anchor, hours. A gift was received by the so at 11.20 the life-boat was launched life-boatmen.—Rewards, £31 15s. again. She beached the ketch in Angle Bay and reached her station at THREE RESCUED FROM MOTOR two o'clock.—Rewards, £21 14*. CRUISER'S DINGHY Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 5.25 on YACHT TOWED CLEAR OF SLIPWAY the afternoon of the 10th of June, 1954, IN GALE the coastguard rang up to say that a Dover, Kent.—At 11.30 on the night small motor boat off Leysdown, with of the 9th of June, 1954, Lloyd's Sea Cadets on board, had broken down. ~56 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 At 5.45 the life-boat The Lord South- station again at 11.48.—Rewards, borough, Civil Service No. 1, on tem- £19 5s. 6d.~ porary duty at the station, was launch- ed. There was a rough sea, and a KERRY FISHING BOAT TOWED IN strong breeze was blowing from the south-west. The life-boat did not find Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 9.15 on the the motor boat, but two miles north- morning of the 12th of June, 1954, a east of Leysdown she saw three men telephone message was received from in an S-feet dinghy from the motor Portmagee that the fishing boat Naom cruiser Ubique II, of Erith. The Finton, of Portmagee, had sailed for motor cruiser had sunk, and the the fishing grounds with a crew of dinghy, which was made fast to her three at four o'clock on the afternoon and flying a distress signal, was ship- of the llth, but had not returned. At ping a lot of water. The men were 9.30 the life-boat K.E.C.F., on tem- wet and cold and trying to bale her porary duty at the station, put out in out with a saucepan. The life-boat a moderate sea, with a moderate rescued them, took the dinghy on northerly breeze blowing and an ebbing board and returned to her station, tide. She found the Naom Finton arriving at 8.50. The Sea Cadet broken down one mile north-west of motor boat was reported to have been Valentia Radio Station, towed her in, towed to safety by another boat. and reached Valentia again at 10.35.— The owner of the motor cruiser later Rewards, £5 16*. asked if the life-boat would try to raise her. so at 10.45 the life-boat was YACHT TOWED TO NEW BRIGHTON launched again, taking a small boat New Brighton, Cheshire.—At seven with her. The weather had moderated o'clock on the evening of the 13th of a little, and three life-boatmen put June, 1954, the Formby coastguard off from the life-boat in the small boat telephoned that the Wallasey police and remained near the Ubique II until had reported a small yacht in diffi- the tide ebbed. The life-boat stood culties about a mile west of the Rock off near by in deeper water. When lighthouse. Her crew of two were the tide had dropped low enough the signalling. At 7.27 the life-boat men in the small boat went on board Edmund and Mary Robinson, on the Ubique II, baled her out and temporary duty at the station, put repaired a hole in her side. When she out in a moderate sea, with a fresh refloated, the men sailed her to the northerly breeze blowing, and found life-boat, which towed her to Southend the yacht Jean. The yacht had lost and beached her at 7.30 on the her rudder, and she was dragging her morning of the llth.—Rewards: 1st anchor towards the Battery Rock. service, £10 3*.; 2nd service, Property The life-boat towed her to Canning Salvage Case. Dock and reached her station again at 8.45.—Rewards. £5 7s. EXPECTANT MOTHER BROUGHT TO ORKNEY HOSPITAL FOUR-TON YACHT TOWED TO Stronsay, Orkneys.—At 12.50 on the HARWICH afternoon of the llth of June, 1954, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—At 7.25 on the the North Eastern Regional Hospital evening of the 13th of June, 1954, the Board at Kirkwall asked if the life-boat coastguard telephoned that a small would take a woman, who was about yacht heading south was flying a to have a baby, from North Ronald- distress signal and making heavy shay to Kirkwall, as no other boat was weather. At 7.43 the No. 1 life-boat available. At 1.20 the life-boat Abdy Beauclerk was launched. The Edward Z. Dresden put out. There sea was rough, with a strong north- was a moderate sea, and a strong wind north-east breeze blowing. The life- was blowing from the north. The boat came up with the 4-ton yacht life-boat reached North Ronaldshay at Dawn Wind, which had a crew of two, 3.40, took the expectant mother to one mile north-east of Aldeburgh. Kirkwall, where an ambulance was She put a man on board, towed the waiting, and arrived back at her yacht to Harwich and then returned SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 757 to her station, arriving at 3.30 on the temporary duty at the station, put morning of the 14th. The owner out. The sea was rough, a southerly made a gift to the life-boatmen.— gale was blowing, and the tide was Rewards, £49 Is. 6d. flooding. The life-boat found the fishing boat Nona, of Camaret, with a SURVEY VESSEL PULLED OFF crew of twelve, in tow of another SANDS French boat one and a half miles south- Caister, Norfolk.—At 12.15 on the south-west of Skellig's. The Nona's afternoon of the 15th of June, 1954, engine had broken down. The life- information reached the life-boathouse boat passed a rope to her and helped that H.M. motor launch No. 323, a to hold her while her crew repaired survey vessel, had gone aground on the engine. By 6.30 the engine was the Barber Sands. At 12.19 the Great going again. The Nono then went Yarmouth coastguard telephoned the on her way and the life-boat returned same story, and one minute later the to her station, arriving at 8.15. The life-boat Jose Neville was launched in a skipper of the Nono expressed his rough sea. There was a strong thanks.—Rewards, £11 10s. southerly breeze, and the tide was half ebb. The life-boat found the motor RESCUE FROM CAPSIZED DINGHY launch, which had a crew of nine, Beaumaris, Anglesey.—At 5.10 on the hard aground with seas breaking all afternoon of the 17th of June, 1954, the round her. She fired a line to her, Penmon coastguard rang up to say connected a tow rope, and after several that a Firefly sailing dinghy, with a attempts pulled the vessel clear. The crew of two, had capsized off Irish- motor launch was leaking badly, but man's Spit at the eastern end of the she made for Great Yarmouth under Menai Straits. At 5.25 the life-boat her own power, and the life-boat Field Marshal and Mrs. Smuts was returned to her station, arriving at launched. The sea was rough, a light 5.20.—Property Salvage Case. breeze was blowing from west-south- west, and it was the last hour of the ebb tide. The life-boat found the RESCUES FROM TWO SMALL BOATS two people clinging to their dinghy, Blackpool, Lancashire.—At midnight rescued them, righted the dinghy, and on the 17th of June, 1954, the Formby towed it to her station, which she coastguard rang up to say that the reached at 7.30.—Rewards, £12 3s. police had reported seeing two small boats, each with two men on board, TWO MEN RESCUED FROM SPEED off Bispham. The men were said to BOAT be shouting for help. At 12.30 early Southend-on-Sea, Essex.—At 3.43 on on the 18th the life-boat Sarah Ann the afternoon of the 18th of June Austin was launched in a rough sea. 1954, a message was received from the There was a south-westerly breeze, coastguard that a tanker had reported and it was high water. The life-boat a yacht apparently broken down off found one boat off Norbreck, rescued Nore Towers. At 4.5 the life-boat two men, and then found the other The Lord Southborough, Civil Service beat off Little Bispham. She rescued No. 1, on temporary duty at the her crew of two as well and then station, was launched. The sea was returned to her station, arriving at moderate, a moderate south-westerly 2.30.—Rewards, £8 19*. Qd. breeze was blowing, and the tide was one hour ebb. The life-boat found HELP TO FRENCH FISHING BOAT the speed boat Blue Peter, of Margate, Valentia, Co. Kerry.—At 3.48 on the three miles east of the Towers, with afternoon of the 17th of June, 1954, a two men on board. Sea water had message was received from the Valen- put her engine out of action, and a tia Radio Station that a vessel was life-boatman boarded her. The life- flying distress signals about one and boatmen then rescued the men, gave a half miles south-south-west of them rum and towed their boat to Skellig's Rocks lighthouse. At four Southend, arriving at 6.15.—Property o'clock the life-boat K.E.C.F. on Salvage Case. 758 THE LIFE-BOAT [SEPTEMBER, 1954 SEVEN DROWNED AFTER MOTOR launched. The sea was moderate, a BOAT CAPSIZES moderate south-westerly breeze was Clogher Head, Co. Louth.—At 10.5 on blowing, and the tide was four hours the night of the 22nd of June, 1954, the ebb. The life-boat found the yacht Kilkeel coastguard rang up to say Fisher, of Shoreham, with a crew of that the motor boat Nautigel, of three, flashing signals for help between Warrenpoint, had capsized in Carling- Leathercote Point and the lightvessel. ford Lough, and that three people The crew were Poles, who had chart- were clinging to her. At 10.25 the ered the yacht at Shoreham for a trip life-boat George and Caroline Ermen to France, but their engine had broken was launched. The sea was rough, a down returning from Boulogne, and north-westerly breeze was blowing and they had had difficulty in sailing her. the tide was half ebb. The life-boat Four life-boatmen went on board the searched the lough for survivors with yacht, and the life-boat towed her to the help of her searchlight and found Ramsgate, reaching her station again the boat, which had a foul propeller at 2.30 early on the 25th. The Dover and had sprung a leak, drifting, partly life-boat was also launched, but was submerged, three miles off Carlingford not needed.—Property Salvage Case. village. She towed it to the shore and handed it over to the Civic Guard. TWO RESCUED FROM YACHT She then resumed the search and DURING REGATTA recovered a body of a woman a mile Barry Dock, Glamorganshire.—At two south-east of Carlingford lighthouse. o'clock on the afternoon of the 26th She found no other bodies or survivors of June, 1954, the life-boat Rachel and reached her station again at 9.30 and Mary Evans was launched on on the 23rd. Seven people, including exercise, with the second coxswain in a seven-year-old boy, lost their lives. charge, to stand by yachts off Penarth, —Rewards, £48 15*. which were taking part in the annual regatta. There was a moderate sea FOUR CUT OFF BY TIDE RESCUED and a north-north-west wind, and it Newhaven, Sussex.—At 4.12 on the was nearly high water. When the afternoon of the 24th of June, 1954, life-boat approached Penarth pier, she the coastguard telephoned that the saw the yacht Gareen Junior capsize three quarters of a mile south-by-east Seaford police had reported that four of the pier. She rescued her crew of people were cut off by the tide between two, put them aboard a motor cruiser Splash Point, Seaford, and Cuckmere anchored near by, and then towed Haven. At 4.24 the life-boat Cecil the yacht to the pier. She remained and Lilian Philpott was launched, at Penarth for the afternoon, and taking a rowing boat with her. The arrived back at her station at six sea was moderate, a light west-south- o'clock.—Rewards, £10. west breeze was blowing, and the tide was five hours flood. The life-boat found the four people east of Splash The following life-boats went out on Point, and the rowing boat was taken service, but could find no ships in inshore. The four people were distress, were not needed or could do rescued and transferred to the life- nothing: boat, which took them to Newhaven, Valentia, Co. Kerry. — June 1st. —- arriving at 6.15.—Rewards, £7 Is. No rewards desired. Swanage, Dorset.—June 2nd.—Re- YACHT TOWED IN WITH POLES wards, £18 135. ON BOARD Fowey, Cornwall.—June 3rd.—Re- Walmer, Kent.—At 9.42 on the night wards, £5 5s. of the 24th of June, 1954, a message was received that a yacht had broken Sheringham, Norfolk.—June 5th.—- down near the South Goodwin light- Rewards, £27 0*. Qd. vessel. At 9.45 the life-boat Charles Blackpool, Lancashire.—June 5th.— Dibdin, Civil Service No. 2 was Rewards, £7 Is. SEPTEMBER, 1954] THE LIFE-BOAT 759 New Brighton, Cheshire.—June 5th. Dover, Kent.—June 20th.—Rewards. —Rewards, £7 3s. £12 13s. Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.—June Boulmer, Northumberland. — June 6th.—Rewards, £9 6s. 20th.—Rewards, £14 9s. Dover, Kent.—June 6th.—Rewards, Torbay, Devon. — June 23rd.—-Re- £4. wards, £3 5s. 6d. Falmouth, Cornwall.—June 7th.—Re- Flamborough, Yorkshire.—June 23rd. wards, £5 14*. —Rewards, £13 2s. Margate, Kent.—June 7th.—Rewards, Dover, Kent.—June 24th.—Rewards, £12 15.9. 6d. £5 10s. Padstow, Cornwall.—June 9th.—Re- Margate, Kent. — June 24th. — Re- wards, £7 16s. 6d. wards, £17 14s. Shoreham Harbour, Sussex.—June Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—June 27th.— 12th.—Rewards, £8. Rewards, £8 15s. Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—June 14th.— Fowey, Cornwall.—June 27th.—Re- Rewards, £.31 2s. 6d. wards, £5 5s. Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire. — June Margate, Kent. — June 28th. — Re- 18th.—Rewards, £20 13s. wards, £12 15s. 6d. New Brighton, Cheshire.—June 19th. Eastbourne, Sussex.—June 29th.— —Rewards, £9 17s. Rewards, £26 14s. Newhaven, Sussex.—June 19th.—Re- Newhaven, Sussex.—June 29th.—Re- wards, £7 12s. 6d. wards, £14 2s. Dover, Kent.—June 19th.—Rewards, Swanage, Dorset.—June 30th.—Re- £14 2s. wards, £12 7s. Dungeness, Kent.—June 19th.—Re- Weymouth, Dorset.—June 30th.—Re- wards, £38 8s. wards, £8 2s.

The Duchess of Gloucester at Ramsgate H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER naming ceremony, and Commander named the new Ramsgate life-boat T. G. Michelmore, Chief Inspector of Michael and Lily Davis on the llth Life-boats, described the new boat, of June, 1954. A certificate inscribed which is a 46-feet 9-inches Watson on vellum to commemorate the 150th cabin type boat. The Marquess anniversary of the founding of a life- Camden, a member of the Committee boat station at Ramsgate was pre- of Management, handed the life-boat sented at the same ceremony. over to the Ramsgate branch and A life-boat station was established presented the commemorative vellum. by the Ramsgate Harbour Trustees in The Mayor accepted the life-boat on 1802. but it did not come under the behalf of the branch. control of the Institution until 1865. The Bishop Suffragan of Dover, the From 1865 to the time of the ceremony Right Rev. A. C. W. Rose, assisted by Ramsgate life-boats had been launched by the Vicar of Ramsgate, the Rev. on service 980 times and had rescued George Bennett, and the President of 1,648 lives. In 1940 the Ramsgate the Ramsgate Free Church Council, life-boat Prudential brought 2,800 men the Rev. B. R. Goodchild, dedicated off the beaches of Dunkirk. Two gold the life-boat. H.R.H. the Duchess of and 37 silver medals have been award- Gloucester then named her. Prince ed to Ramsgate life-boatmen. William and Prince Richard of Glou- The Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor cester were both present at the cere- E. G. Butcher, took the chair at the mony. 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, O.B.E., M.C., T.D., M.A., the Secretary, Royal National Life-boat Institution, 42 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.l. All enquiries about the work of the Institution or about this journal should be addressed to the Secretary. The next number O/THE LIFE-BOAT will be published in DECEMBER 1954.