THE LIFEBOAT.

The Journal of the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

VOL. XXVII.—No. 297.] MARCH, 1929. [PRICE 6d.

[Owing to the Rye disaster, and the Board of Trade Inquiry which was held on it, the issue of THE LIFEBOAT which should ham been published in February has been delayed, as it was felt to be most important that it should contain the full judgment of the Court of Inquiry, and a full treatment of a number of questions to which the disaster gave rise.}

The Rye Disaster. Result of the Board of Trade Inquiry. IN the last issue of The Lifeboat wag At the inquest a member of the published an account of the terrible Committee of the Rye Branch, who had tragedy which occurred at Rye Harbour also been out on service in the Life-boat on 15th November last, when the Life- on a number of occasions, made serious boat capsized on service with the loss criticisms of the life-belts provided by of her whole crew of seventeen men, the Institution. practically the whole adult male fishing These criticisms were to the effect population of the village. that the belts were perished, with the At 6.45 in the morning of that day result that they quickly became water- the Rye Life-boat, which is a Pulling logged, and lost their buoyancy, would and Sailing Life-boat of the Liverpool weigh down instead of supporting a Type, was launched with a Crew of man in the water, and were likely to seventeen in response to a message that choke him. a steamer (a Latvian vessel, Alice) was The Institution at once asked the leaking and in danger, drifting eight Board of Trade to hold an inquiry miles from Dungeness. A whole gale into the whole circumstances of the was blowing from the south-west, with disaster, and before the inquiry took very heavy rain squalls, and a heavy place the Board of Trade and the sea. The tide was at low water. Institution independently tested the Five minutes after the Life-boat belts worn by the Rye Life-boatmen. was launched another message came that the crew of the Alice had been The Institution's Life-belts. rescued by another steamer. The These belts were of the type known recall signal was fired three times, but as No. 3. This type was adopted in no answer came from the Life-boat. 1917 because, in the opinion of the Apparently the Crew had not seen it. Board of Trade, the first belts of kapok At 10.30 the Life-boat was seen return- (the No. 2 belt), which had superseded ing under sail. The wind had increased, the old cork belts in 1906, could not and there were heavy squalls. As she be depended upon, under all conditions, appeared to be coming in to the harbour- to support an unconscious man with his mouth with a following sea she was seen face clear of the water. Exhaustive to capsize. As quickly as possible helpers experiments were carried out, a new gathered on the beach, and every effort kapok belt was designed -which met the was made to help the Crew as they were Board of Trade's requirements, and washed in, but without avail. Six of this new belt (No. 3) was issued to all them were recovered when the Life- stations. This substitution cost the boat was driven ashore, but all were Institution £9,000. dead. The whole crew had perished. "Unfortunately, the Crews themselves 194 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929 took the strongest objection to it. They report in the form of recommendations found it more cumbersome than the to the Board of Trade. The fourteen old, and some Crews refused to wear it questions and their answers are given at all. in full below. It will be seen from After repeated but unavailing efforts them that the Court found that the had been made to induce the Crews to Rye Life-boat had been chosen by the accept the new belt, the Institution Crew after visiting three stations with felt compelled to place the matter different types of Life-boat, that she before the Board of Trade, which had proved herself a good sea boat realised the Institution's difficulty, and on all occasions, and that she had eventually approved of a return to the had the full confidence of the Crew. first and more comfortable belt (No. 2) It found that the life-belts had fulfilled on the clear understanding that it be their purpose, and that they were a worn by the men on their own responsi- type approved by the Board of Trade, bility. Those men, therefore, who pre- and chosen by the Rye Crew themselves. ferred the old belt were allowed to use It concluded its report by expressing it. The immediate difficulty was thus appreciation of the constant efforts of removed, but naturally the Institution the Institution to supply Life-boats and could not be content to let matters rest equipment of the highest efficiency in at this, and again very careful experi- consultation with the Coxswains and ments were carried out. As a result, a Crews. third kapok belt was designed in 1920. It was the first kapok belt (No. 2) Inquiry into Kapok. with slight modifications, and gave In the additional report to the Board the maximum of security which it was of Trade, the Court suggested that possible to obtain, consistent with that kapok, the material which more than freedom of movement for neck, arms, twenty years ago supplanted cork for and diaphragm on which the Crews life-belts—for those in general use in themselves insisted. the Mercantile Marine as well as for The Crews which had preferred No. 2 those specially designed for the Life-boat were then supplied with this new belt Service—might not be the most suitable (No. 5). The few Crews, however, material, and that experiments should which had preferred No. 3 continued be made to see if a better material to use it. The Rye Harbour Crew could be found. As a result of this were among them. They had been suggestion the Board of Trade has using this belt for three years, and were appointed a Committee further to satisfied with it. This was the belt examine the question, and although the which the Crew were wearing on the Institution is satisfied that the 1920 15th November last, when the boat pattern belts (No. 5) are thoroughly capsized—the belt specially designed suitable for the requirements of the to meet the requirements of the Board Life-boat Service, it will gladly co- of Trade that a belt must be able to operate in any further investigation support an unconscious man with his into the qualities of kapok as a material face clear of the water under all condi- for providing buoyancy. It will be tions. represented on the Committee by Captain Howard F. J. Rowley, C.B.E., The Court's Judgment. R.N., Chief Inspector of Life-boats. The Inquiry was held at Rye, and lasted five days. His Honour Judge Cann presided, as Wreck Commissioner, The Message Recalling the Life-boat. with a Vice-Admiral, a Captain of the The Court also made an important Mercantile Marine and a Naval Archi- recommendation with regard to tele- tect as Assessors. The Court gave its graphic and telephonic messages which judgment in the form of answers to a are concerned with the work of the series of fourteen questions. This Life-boats. judgment was followed by an additional The message to say that the crew of MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 195 the Alice had been rescued by another the circumstances attending the cap- vessel reached the Rye Life-boat Station sizing of the Sailing Vessel Mary only five minutes after the Life-boat Stanford (Rye Harbour Life-boat) off had been launched, but the efforts to Rye Harbour on the 15th day of recall the Boat failed. The Court of November, 1928, and the subsequent Inquiry found that this message was loss of life. received by the Ramsgate Coastguard JUDGMENT. Station from the North Foreland Radio Station at 6.12, and by the Rye Coast- THE COMMISSIONER : At the con- guard Station from Ramsgate at 6.50, clusion of the evidence, Mr. Wilfred and that it was then sent immediately Lewis, on behalf of the Board of Trade, to the Life-boat House. submitted certain Questions for the Under the existing regulations—by consideration of the Court. These which priority is given over other Questions and the Answers of the Court telegraphic and telephonic messages to thereto are as follows :— one calling for the services of a Life- Question 1: boat, but not to one saying that her When and by whom was the Sailing services are no longer required—there Vessel Mary Stanford (Rye Harbour was, in the opinion of the Court, no Life-boat) built ? What type of Life- undue delay. In its additional report, boat was she ? however, the Court recommended that priority should be given also to messages Answer: affecting the Life-boat after she had She was built in 1916 by S. E. been launched. As a result of thi| Saunders, Limited, at East Cowes. She recommendation the Board of TradeJ ,was Liverpool type—non-self-righting. with the concurrence of the General Question 2 : Post Office, has now issued instructions When and in what circumstances was by which priority will be given to the Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford placed messages which may prevent the launch- at the Rye Harbour Station ? ing of a Life-boat already called out, or Was she chosen by the Coxswain and may enable a Life-boat already launched Crew as the type of boat most suitable to be recalled. The Committee of for the class of work she and they would Management heartily welcome this be called upon to perform ? decision, which will undoubtedly prove Was she, in fact, so suitable ? of great value to the Life-boat service, Answer: as it will not merely prevent the delay which in this case was a secondary In May, 1914, the Royal National cause of the disaster, but will enable Life-boat Institution offered a new Life- the Life-boats to be at, or return to, boat to the Rye Harbour Life-boat their respective stations, mobilised Station, to replace the then existing and ready for action, instead of being boat, which was self-righting. At the launched or remaining out when they invitation of the Institution, the then are not required and when it is possible Coxswain and two members of the Crew to recall them. visited three Life-boat Stations and inspected different types of boat worked The Fourteen Questions and Answers. under conditions similar to those at In the Wreck Commissioner's Court. Rye Harbour. As the result of this visit, TOWN HALL, RYE, the Crew selected a Liverpool type as Friday, ith January, 1929. most suitable for the class of work she Before His Honour JUDGE CANN and they would be called upon to per- (Wreck Commissioner), with Vice-Ad- form. In fact, she was quite suitable. miral E. L. BOOTY, C.B., M.V.O., Question 3 : Captain J. GAREIOCK, and E. F. Did the Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford SPANNER, Esquire, M.I.N.A., Assessors. undergo trials before being put into In the matter of a Formal Investigation active service ? If so, what were they ordered by the Board of Trade into and what was the result of such trials ? 196 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. Answer : When, and by whom, and for what The Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford was particular purpose or purposes was this tested for draught and stability by the type and pattern of life jacket designed ? builders at East Cowes on 13th April, Before adopting this type and pattern 1916. These tests were perfectly satis- of life jacket for use by the Crews of factory. She was sailed from East Life-boats at the various Stations Cowes to Rye by the Crew and was around the coast, what measures were placed on service at Rye on the 19th taken by the Royal National Life-boat October, 1916. Institution, with or without the co- On the 25th November, 1916, a test operation of the Board of Trade and exercise was carried out at Rye under their officers, to ensure that they ful- weather conditions that fairly tested the filled the purposes for which they were boat. designed ? The result of these trials gave every Did they fulfil the purpose or pur- satisfaction to the Coxswain and Crew poses for which they were designed ? of the Boat and the Officials of the Answer : Institution. The type and pattern of life jackets Question 4 : supplied to the Crew were Kapok Type On how many occasions since she was Pattern No. 3 of the Royal National placed at the Rye Harbour Life-boat Life-boat Institution. Station has the Sailing Vessel Mary This type and pattern was designed Stanford been put to use— by the Royal National Life-boat Institu- tion in consultation with the Board of (a) On practice ? Trade in the early part of 1917, for the (6) On active service ? purpose of keeping the head of an un- Had she proved herself to be a good conscious person from falling forward in sea boat in rough weather upon those the water, in addition to the purposes for occasions or any of them ? which the earlier patterns were designed. Did the Crew at any time express dis- Exhaustive experiments were made satisfaction with the Sailing Vessel up to September, 1917, by the Royal Mary Stanford ? National Life-boat Institution, with the Answer : co-operation of the Board of Trade and Since the Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford their officers, to ensure that jackets of was placed at the Rye Harbour Life- No. 3 pattern fulfilled the purposes for boat Station she has been put to which they were designed. use :— Under the conditions of these experi- ments the belts fulfilled those purposes. (a) On practice, 47 times. (6) On active service, 15 times, ex- Question 6 : clusive of the occasion of the When was this type and pattern of disaster. life jacket adopted by the Royal She proved herself to be a good sea National Life-boat Institution and boat upon all occasions, several of the served out to Life-boat Stations ? services having been rendered under Had the Crew of the Rye Harbour weather conditions similar to those pre- Life-boat used this type and pattern of vailing at the time of the disaster. life jacket and expressed their approval The Crew at no time expressed dis- of, or satisfaction with it ? satisfaction with the boat; on the Is this type and pattern of life jacket contrary, all recorded remarks were now in general use by members of the highly favourable. Life-boat Crews round the coast ? If not, why were any alterations in the Question 5 : type and pattern of life jacket made ? With what type and pattern of life Were the Board of Trade consulted jackets were the members of the Crew about the matter, and why were such of the Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford altered jackets not issued to the Crew supplied ? of the Rye Harbour Life-boat ? MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 197

THE RYE DISASTER.

By courtesy of] [Messrs. F. J. Parsons, Ltd., Hastings. THE WRECKED LIFE-BOAT.

By courtesy of] [The Times. THE FUNERAL. 198 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

Answer: Answer : This type and pattern was adopted by The Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford was the Royal National Life-boat Institu- launched at 6.45 A.M., approximately at tion and served out by them to the Life- low water. The direction of the wind boat Stations in 1917. They were was S.S.W., Force 8 to 10, with a very despatched to the Rye Life-boat high, rough, broken sea. Station on the 25th September, 1917. Question 9 : The Crew used and expressed their At what time did the information approval of Pattern No. 3 life jacket that the Crew of the S.S. Alice had been after trying it in a heavy gale on the saved and that the services of the Rye 30th October, 1917, at a service launch ; Harbour Life-boat were not required and on 10th December, 1920, the Crew, reach the Rye Harbour Life-boat in response to an invitation by the Station ? Royal National Life-boat Institution, Was there undue delay in the cir- voted by a majority of 11 to 6 to retain cumstances in transmitting such in- Pattern No. 3 life jacket in preference to formation to the Rye Harbour Life-boat Pattern No. 2 (Waistcoat Pattern). Station ? This type and pattern of life jacket is If so, what were the reasons for the not now in general use by members of delay ? Life-boat Crews round the coast. Alterations in the pattern of the life Answer : jacket were made owing to numerous The information that the Crew of the complaints from the Crews, on the S.S. Alice had been saved and that the ground of discomfort and inconvenience, services of the Rye Life-boat were not but no complaint was made as to required was received from the North buoyancy. Foreland Radio Station by the Liaison The Board of Trade were consulted Officer at the Ramsgate Coastguard about the matter. The altered jackets Station at 6.12 A.M., and was received were not issued to the Rye Crew because by the Rye Coastguard Station at 6.50 they had expressed their satisfaction A.M., and was immediately transmitted with Pattern No. 3. to the Life-boat House. Under the existing regulations govern- Question 7 : ing the transmission of telephone mes- What was the occasion for the sages, there was no undue delay in trans- launching of the Sailing Vessel Mary mitting such information to the Rye Stanford on the 15th day of November, Harbour Life-boat Station. 1928? Question 10: Answer : When the message was received at the The occasion for the launching of the Rye Harbour Life-boat Station, were Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford on the prompt and proper measures taken to 15th day of November, 1928, was in. recall the Life-boat ? If so, how was it response to a message received from the that she did not at once return to the North Foreland Radio Station at 4.27 Harbour ? A.M. by the Liaison Officer at Ramsgate Coastguard Station, and was received Answer: by the Rye Harbour Coastguard Station Prompt and proper measures were at 4.50 A.M. taken to recall the Life-boat, but the The message was as follows :— recall flag should have been hoisted at daybreak. It is, however, highly im- " Steamer Alice Riga leaking— probable that the recall flag would have danger—drifting S.W. to W. 8 been seen, if hoisted. miles from Dungeness 0430." The recall signal was not answered by Question 8 : the Life-boat. At what time was the Sailing Vessel Whether the signal was observed by Mary Stanford launched and what was the Crew and, if so, why they did not the state of the tide, force and direction answer it, are matters of conjecture. of wind and state of the sea at that time? From the existing atmospheric condi- MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 199 tions it is probable that the recall signal If so, was every effort promptly made was not seen. by those on shore to render all assistance Question 11 : possible and to save the lives of the When and where was the Sailing Crew ? Vessel Mary Stanford seen by the Mate Answer: of the S.S. Halton ? The Life-boat was seen to capsize How was she heading at the time ? by persons on shore. What sail was she under ? Every possible effort was promptly What was the state of the weather made by those on shore and all possible and sea and force and direction of the assistance was rendered by every one to wind at that time ? save the lives of the Crew. Answer: Question 14: The Mary Stanford was first seen by Did the life jackets worn by the the mate of the S.S. Halton about members of the Crew fail to fulfil the 9 A.M., and was last seen by him about objects for which they were designed ? 9.10 A.M., when the S.S. Halton was Did they cause or contribute to the approximately W.S.W. 3 miles from loss of life ? Dungeness, and the Life-boat passed Answer : under her stern at a distance of about Owing to the sea and weather which half a mile, heading about West prevailed, it is impossible to say what Northerly on the port tack. She had happened to the life jackets worn by two small lug sails set. the members of the Crew from the time It was then blowing a whole gale when the boat capsized until they from the S.S.W. with a very high sea reached the shore, or to say how the from the same direction. The sky was life jackets functioned. Neither is it overcast with rain squalls. possible to say that the life jackets caused or contributed to the loss of life. Question 12 : When and in what position at sea did The Court having carefully inquired the Sailing Vessel Mary Stanford cap- into the circumstances attending the size ? above-mentioned shipping casualty, in What was the cause of the Life-boat the absence of direct evidence, finds, for capsizing and the loss of her Crew of the reasons stated in the Annex to the 17 hands ? Report, that the capsizing of the said vessel and the subsequent loss of life Answer : was probably due to the fact that in The Mary Stanford capsized about attempting to make Rye Harbour on a 10.30 A.M., when she was about 1| miles strong flood tide and in a high and S.S.E. from the Rye Coastguard Look- dangerous and breaking sea, with a gale I out Hut. of wind on her quarter, she capsized, and | As there were no survivors of the the Crew were thrown into the water | Crew, the cause of the Life-boat cap- and drowned. sizing is a matter of conjecture, but The Court desires to express its deep from the evidence available we are of sympathy with the relatives and friends opinion that whilst attempting to make of those lost in this very sad disaster. the Harbour on a strong flood tide and The Court also desires to express its in a high and dangerous breaking sea, appreciation of the efforts of the Royal with a gale of wind on her quarter, she National Life-boat Institution to supply suddenly capsized, and the Crew were to the Life-boat Stations boats and thrown into the water, two men being equipment of the highest efficiency, in entangled under the boat. The broken consultation with the Coxswains and water and heavy surf caused the loss of Crews of the Life-boats and with the the crew. co-operation of the Board of Trade. Question 13 : Messages of Sympathy. Was the Life-boat seen to capsize by In the last issue were published the persons on shore ? messages of sympathy received from 200 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. the King, as the Institution's supreme At Bournemouth, on the day of the Patron, the Prince of Wales, its Presi- funeral, a last tribute to the men of dent, and the Princess Louise, Duchess Rye was paid by the Mayor, who is of Argyll, Patron of the Ladies' Life- President of the Branch, at a special boat Guild. Among the many other memorial meeting at the entrance to messages of sympathy were telegrams the pier. or letters from the North and South At Eastbourne £100 was raised by a Holland Life-saving Society, the South dance in aid of the Rye Fund. At Holland Society for Saving the Ship- Heckmondwike the Ladies' Life-boat wrecked, the Belgian Minister of Marine, Guild organized a matinee in aid of who is the head of the Belgian Life-boat the Fund, and at Thame a special Service, the Commandant of the United collection was made for it by the States Coastguard, of which the Life- Honorary Secretary of the Branch. boat Service in the States forms part, Many other Branches, we know, made the German Society for Saving the special appeals on behalf of the Fund, Shipwrecked, the Danish Ministry of sending their contributions direct to Marine, which administers the Danish the Mayor of Rye, and it is only Service, the Norwegian Society for because the particulars have not been Saving the Shipwrecked, the Swedish sent to the Institution that they are Society for Saving the Shipwrecked, not mentioned here. the French Central Society for Saving At the church at Frant, Tunbridge the Shipwrecked, the Breton Life- Wells, a special Service of Intercession saving Society, the Latvian Life-saving was held, at the height of the gale on Society, the Naval Attache to the the night after the Rye disaster, and a Italian Embassy, the Chief Inspector collection made for the Institution, of H.M. Coastguard, the Shipwrecked while the following Sunday over £21 Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Bene- was collected in the same church for volent Society, the Imperial Merchant the Rye Fund. At the Red Lantern Service Guild, the Co-operative Whole- Cinema, Herne Bay, a Sunday per- sale Society, the Manchester Branch of formance, including one of the Institu- the National Union of Seamen, the tion's films, was given, and £31 was sent Norddeutscher Lloyd, owners of the to the Institution's funds. Smyrna, which rescued the crew of the The special contributions received Alice, the Battersea Labour League, the by the Institution towards the pensions Baden-Powell Sea Scouts of Ghent, and for the dependents included £100 from the workpeople of the Earlsheaton the Cuaard Steamship Company, £2 Brush Works, at Dewsbury. from a Dutchman, and another £2 To these messages of sympathy from which came with the message " Rye ! foreign governments and societies at the men who put ' Safety Last! ' and home and abroad have to be added the wives who seconded them." The many individual messages, and messages Institution also received a copy of a from many of the Institution's own boy's story book, "The Golden Budget branches. for Boys," which came anonymously, but had written on the fly-leaf, in a Memorial Services. child's hand, "For one of the little The grief and the sympathy of the boys of Rye." It was sent to the Mayor Institution's Stations and Financial of Rye, who gave it to one of the sons Branches were shown also in other of the Coxswain. ways. At Walton - on - the - Naze a Among the letters received was one memorial service was held on the 25th from " an old Life-boat volunteer who November, at the Town Hall, conducted had served nearly fifty years ago in by the Ministers of the different the Rosslare Boat." He wrote how churches. Members of the Walton " passionately proud " he always was Life-boat Crew were present, and a when he read of the deeds of the men collection was made on behalf of the in the Service to which he had once Rye Fund. belonged. He had already paid a fine MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 201 tribute, in an article in the local paper, the coastguard station was thronged to the men " who are not servants of with a quiet and slowly-moving gather- the State, but servants of humanity." ing of people who had come to pay Another was from an old Rye fisher- tribute to the brave who met death man in the Brighton workhouse who when seeking to save others. Most of wrote to the Honorary Secretary, the men who attended the funeral had begging that the Brighton Station the stamp of the sea on their faces. A would send a wreath to the funeral (as, few were of the village, but the majority in fact, had already been done). had travelled from the ports and towns In these, and in many other ways, of the Kent and Sussex coast. Many Life-boat Branches, Life-boat workers of the women in the crowd wore black, and the general public showed their and carried wreaths or bunches of grief at the disaster, their pride in the chrysanthemums. Hundreds of wreaths men who had given their lives, and their had been sent to be placed on the grave. sympathy with the Life-boat Service. " The fifteen coffins rested this morn- The Seventeen Rye Life-boatmen. ing in the Sailors' Institute, within sound of a. still restless sea. Each one The seventeen men who lost their had for a pall the flag of the Royal lives were :— National Life-boat Institution, and Herbert Head, the Coxswain, and his on the flags white flowers had been laid two sons, James Head and John Head. by the nearest kin of the dead. The Joseph Stonham, the Second Cox- words on the cards tied to the wreaths swain. and posies were almost too intimate to Henry Cutting, the Bowman, and his be read, though in them there was often two brothers, Robert Redvers Cutting a note of pride. At the head of the room and Albert Ernest Cutting. other wreaths covered two wooden Charles Frederick David Pope, Robert forms. Union Jacks flew at half-mast Henry Pope and Alexander Pope, three outside the Institute. brothers. " The wind which has raged during William Clark and Leslie Clark, the gales was still fitful as the mourners brothers. assembled for the funeral procession, Maurice James Downey and Arthur and flags strained at their halyards, but Downey, cousins. there was blue in the partly-clouded sky, Herbert Smith, Walter Igglesden and and cold, wan sunshine on the flat wastes Charles Southerden. beyond the cottages. At half-past one The Burial. the coffins were brought out into the street and placed temporarily on a long Fifteen of the seventeen men were row of iron trestles. buried in the churchyard at Rye Har- " The Rye Borough Band, in uniform, bour on 20th November. The bodies with members of the Salvation Army, of the other two, Henry Cutting and took up places to lead the procession ; John Head, had not then been found. 120 pall bearers, some drawn from the It was not until nearly three months Hastings and other Life-boat Crews, later that Henry Cutting was washed and the others members of the British ashore at Eastbourne, and taken to Legion, stood by the draped coffins ; Rye for burial. John Head has not yet the sad line of family mourners—a long, been given up by the sea. extended company, for the dead men " Rye Harbour seems remote from were related to nearly every soul in the homely old town on a hill two miles Rye Harbour, and relatives had also away, and the hamlet, thinly spread come from near and distant towns and where the marshes meet the lonely villages—was marshalled ; the Hon. shore, was a desolate place in the storm- George Colville, Viscount Curzon, M.P., swept days of sorrow last week.* To-day and other representatives of the Life- the one street which ends abruptly by boat Organisation, the Latvian Consul- * This account is taken from The Times of General, the Mayors of Rye and neigh- 21st November. bouring towns, General Lloyd, V.C., and 202 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. representatives of various public bodies, Colville, Deputy-Chairman of the Com- fell in behind, and in the rear came many mittee of Management, Captain the of those who man the Life-boats of Viscount Curzon, C.B.E., V.D., A.D.C., Eastbourne, Newhaven, Deal, Rams- R.N.V.R., M.P., Mr. George F. Shee, gate, Margate and Worthing, and a M.A., Secretary of the Institution, strong muster of the British Legion, Captain Howard F. J. Rowley, C.B.E., with eight crepe-topped banners. R.N., Chief Inspector of Life-boats, " Shortly before 2 o'clock the band Commander Edward D. Drury, O.B.E., played ' Lead, kindly light,' the coffins- R.D., R.N.R., Deputy-Chief Inspector were raised to the shoulders of the of Life-boats, Captain G. H. Bevan, bearers, and the short progress to the O.B.E., R.N., Deputy Chief Inspector I church began. Several thousands of for Stores, and Commander R. L. Hamer, people lined the road or were gathered R.N., Inspector of Life-boats for the outside the walls of the burial-ground, Southern District. H.M. Coastguard and they stood motionless, the men with were represented by Captain A. L. bared heads, as the dead were carried Strange, Inspector of Coastguard at by. When the church was approached Hove. the band played ' Abide with me.' Pensions for the Dependents. Only the relatives, clergy and official The wives, children and parents mourners passed into the church- wholly dependent on these seventeen yard. There was not space for more. men numbered eighteen. They have Before the Burial Service was recited, all been pensioned by the Institution, as the bodies, one by one, were lowered if the men were sailors, soldiers or airmen into the deep, open grave. When the killed in action. The Coxswain ranks as flags were removed, it was seen that a Chief Petty Officer or Colour Sergeant, each coffin had a brass tablet, on which the Second Coxswain as a First Class were inscribed the name, age, and date Petty Officer or Sergeant, the Bowman of death, and the expressive words, as a Second Class Petty Officer or Cor- ' Died gallantly.' The grave was lined poral, and the Life-boatmen as Seamen with leaves of laurel and yew. or Privates. " The service was conducted by the These pensions, capitalised, amount Rev. Henry Newton, Vicar of Rye to about £6,000, and will be paid out of Harbour, and the Rev. J. Fowler, vicar the general funds of the Institution. of Rye. Among the clergy who assisted were three former Vicars of Rye Har- The Mayor of Rye's Fund. bour. Following the comforting opening Immediately after the disaster the j sentences, the 23rd Psalm was read, and Mayor of Rye, who is also the Honorary i the whole gathering sang ' Jesu, Lover Secretary of the Rye Branch of the I of my soul.' Then came the words of Institution, opened a fund for the i committal of the bodies, ' earth to earth, dependents. j ashes to ashes, dust to dust,' prayers So generous was the response to the ap- for help for those who mourned, the peal that over £35,000 was very quickly : Collect of the Burial Service, and the subscribed, money continuing to come Blessing. The banners of the British in even after the fund had been closed. Legion, which had been dipped, were To arrange for the disposal of such a raised again. For a few minutes there sum to the satisfaction of everyone was silence around the grave, while concerned was not easy, and unfortu- mothers and wives dropped flowers on nately some draft suggestions prepared the coffins. One cry of distress rose by the local Trustees (the Mayor, the above the hush, but the mourners as a Town Clerk, the Vicar of Rye, the Vicar company were dry-eyed. Softened of Rye Harbour and Captain E. H. pride denied grief demonstrative expres- Brookfield, R.N., Honorary Treasurer sion while so many of the Life-boat of the Rye Branch of the Institution) Service stood around." met with some adverse criticism at a At this last ceremony the Institution public meeting at Rye to which they was represented by the Hon. George were submitted. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 203 An Advisory Committee of six was committee of men and women resident elected at a later meeting, and then, as in the neighbourhood of Rye to advise it was found impossible to come to any the Trustee who would be appointed to agreement, the Trustees and Advisory administer the Fund. Committee decided to put the matter The Institution feels sure that, as a before the Charity Commissioners. As result of the Attorney-General's advice, a result of the Mayor's interview with a scheme will very soon be prepared the Commissioners, the Trustees and which will have the approval of all Advisory Committee took Counsel's concerned. There are, however, two opinion in order to discover the powers things which it is important should be of the Trustees. A scheme put forward clearly understood. on behalf of the dependents for the The first is that the Institution is not immediate and final distribution of the responsible in any way for the adminis- money was also submitted to Counsel. tration of the Fund. The Fund is under He advised that the Trustees were re- the control of the Mayor of Rye and the sponsible for the administration of the I other local Trustees, and although the fund, and that the dependents' scheme Institution is paying the pensions as was not one which could be adopted. A already described, it does not regard this sub-committee was then appointed to fact as giving it any claim to influence prepare a deed of trust, on the lines the disposal of the Fund. suggested by Counsel. The second fact which requires to be Following this meeting, the Mayor emphasised is that there is not, and was invited by the Attorney-General to never has been, any possibility of the meet him in London, and as a result of dependents being in want while a scheme this interview the Attorney-General was being prepared for the administra- made a statement in the House of tion of the Fund. The Institution Commons on the 20th February. He is now paying the pensions, as de- said that he had formed the opinion that scribed, to the eighteen persons who had the money subscribed must be treated been wholly dependent on the Life- as a charitable fund, and it was only for boat Crew, and provision has been that reason that he had taken the made out of the Fund for all those responsibility of making suggestions. partly as well as wholly dependent, His purpose was to see that the whole numbering altogether forty-three. From of the fund was applied as promptly as the day of the disaster the Trustees took possible for the sole benefit of the persons steps to provide for their immediate concerned. Suggestions had been made needs. The figures of the payments so for a draft deed or scheme to be pre- far made out of the Fund were given by pared. The scheme was to provide for the Attorney-General in the House of a wide discretion on the part of those Commons. During the thirteen weeks administering the fund to advance that had passed, the sum of £1,168 had capital sums for the benefit and advance- been paid to the families by the Trustees, ment in life of the dependents, besides in addition to £229 for the expenses of securing to the parents and the widows the funeral. This is, of course, exclusive a regular income. He had proposed that of the pensions and allowances paid by the scheme should provide for a small the Institution.

Self-Righting and Non-Self-Righting Life-boats. Losses through Capsizing since 1850. THE discussion in the Press and else- which decide the choice between the where which followed the Rye disaster two. showed that the public was very far As the Rye boat was of the Liverpool from understanding the relative merits type, which does not self-right, it was of self-righting Life-boats and of those perhaps not unnatural that, in face of which do not self-right, or the reasons the disaster, many people should have 204 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. thought that she could not have been a particular Station is governed by the modern type of Life-boat, because she conditions of the coast, but in no case could not self-right, and suggested that are a Crew ever asked to go out in a Life- the Institution should replace all the boat which they have not already tried non-self-righting Life-boats by self- and approved. Before a new boat is laid righting as soon as possible. down for a Station, a deputation from There was even some confusion with the Crew visits a Station where there is regard to the actual meaning of "; self- a similar boat, and goes out in her. righting," although the name seems to In the case of Rye, the men visited explain itself. Some people, and even three different Stations on the East some writers in the Press who ought to Coast, where conditions were similar to know better, imagined it to mean a those at Rye, and tried a Liverpool boat which could not capsize! Such a boat, a Self-righting boat, and a Norfolk boat, it is hardly necessary to say, does and Suffolk boat. not exist. Any one of these, in the opinion of the The main difference between the self- Institution, would have been suitable righting and the non-self-righting types* for Rye. The choice between the three is as follows : The power to self-right was left to the Rye Life-boatmen them- is obtained by the two chambers, or high selves, and they unanimously chose a " end-boxes " as they are called, which Liverpool boat. are the distinguishing feature of the self-righting Life-boat, and by a heavy Previous Capsizes. keel, weighing from one-third to one- The general statement made with fifth of the boat's total weight. These regard to the qualities of the two types, high end-boxes, exposed as they are to self-righting and non-self-righting, is the wind and the sea, make the self- borne out by the figures of losses through righting Life-boat less easy to handle in the capsizing of Life-boats during the heavy weather ; and though she will past 78 years. come right way up as soon as she During that time 214 Life-boatmen capsizes, she is, in fact, more liable to have lost their lives in this way.* capsize than the Life-boats which The following tables show how these cannot self-right. These, although once losses are divided between the self- they go over they have no chance of righting and non-self-righting types :— self-righting, are much more stable. Broadly speaking, the experience of SELF-RIGHTING LIFE-BOATS. Capsizes Capsizes the Institution shows that with large with without Total Total Life-boats, intended to go well out to loss of life. lo'S of life capsizes. lives lost. sea, whether sailing or motor, it is better 41 52 93 145 to set aside the self-righting principle NOX-SELF-RIGHTIXG LlFE-BOATS. and aim at greater buoyancy, stability and speed. At present rather more than 10 0 10 69 half of the Institution's fleet are self- Thus it will be seen that the non- righting boats, but as the Pulling and self-righting Life-boats never capsized Sailing Life-boats are replaced by Motor without loss of life, and that the average Life-boats, the number with the self- of lives lost for each capsize was nearly righting principle is steadily growing seven, while in the case of the self- less. Of the Institution's 70 Motor Life- righting Life-boats, it was under two. boats, at the end of last year, 21 were On the other hand, there were nine self-righting boats. Of the 14 Motor times as many capsizes of self-righting Life-boats under construction only two Life-boats, and more than twice as were self-righting. many lives were lost from them. The choice of Life-boat for any To give an absolutely accurate com- parison it would of course be necessary * There are six different kinds of Life-boat which have not the self-righting quality, but, broadly, they may be treated as of the one * In the same time 36 lives were lost afloat type. by other accidents than capsizing. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 205 to take into account the number of During the same period of 78 years launches of the two types of Life-boat, something like 250,000 Life-boatmen but these figures give a fair indication have been afloat on service, so that of the relative risks of capsizing with one Life-boatman in 1.000 has lost his the two types. life. Life-boat disasters were relatively Lives Lost—Lives Saved. common between 1850 and 1890, but It is no less interesting to compare they have been much less common in the number of lives lost with the number recent years. The last was eight years saved, and also the number of Life- ago, when three lives were lost owing to boatmen lost with the number who have the capsizing of the self-righting Life- risked their lives. boat at Ehoscolyn, Anglesey, and we Since 1850 the Institution's Life-boats have to go back thirteen years, to 1916, have rescued nearly 40,000 lives. In for a disaster on the same terrible scale the same time 250 Lifeboatmen have as the Rye disaster. In that year the lost their lives at sea. That is to say, Salcombe Life-boat capsized with the 160 lives have been rescued for every loss of thirteen out of her Crew of life lost. fifteen men.

Dutch Life-boat Losses. Ix the gales of last November, and belts, in which it is very difficult to again in January of this year, the Dutch dive, hampered them. One man, how- Life-boat Service did magnificent work, ever, could not get clear, and when the but, like our own Service, it suffered boat was righted on the beach his body heavy loss. was found beneath. The other men, The same terrible gales which struck although several of them had been hurt, our own coasts during the second half succeeded in climbing on the boat, and of November were no less severe on the stood on the fender, holding fast to the Dutch coast. During the twelve days bilge keel. The boat was carried to the from the 16th to the 27th there were 41 shore, and they were all rescued. launches of Dutch Life-boats, a larger It shows the magnificent spirit of the number in the time than there have been Dutch Life-boatmen that when they for many years, and no fewer than 89 landed five of them wanted to try again lives were rescued—a magnificent record. in the same boat ! On 25th November, just ten days after the Rye Life-boat capsized after The Steam Life-boat at the Hook. going out to the help of a Latvian A WORSE disaster befell one of the two steamer, one of the Life-boats at Steam Life-boats stationed at the Hook IJmuiden,* belonging to the North and of Holland on 16th January, when she South Holland Life-saving Society, was capsized and her whole Crew of eight launched to the help of an Italian were drowned. The Life-boat was the steamer, Salento. Piins der Nederlanden, and belonged to The IJmuiden boat is of the type used the South Holland Society for Saving everywhere along the Dutch coast. the Shipwrecked. She had gone out to Like the Rye boat, she is not a self- the help of a Latvian steamer, Valka, righter. Before she could reach the which had stranded. Another Life-boat wreck she capsized, about 300 yards also put out, and stranded on a sand- from the shore. Several men were bank, but succeeded in getting off and under the boat, but they managed to returned to her station, after being out free themselves, although their life- for seventeen hours. The next day she again put out and succeeded in rescuing * An account of a very fine service off IJmuiden, earlier in the year, to an English the whole of those on board the Valka, steamer appears on page 213. 25 in all, including 3 women. 206 THE LIFEBOAT. [MAECH, 1929. Six of the Life-boatmen who had lost gram of sympathy, which concluded : their lives were married, and left 38 '' This Institution, which has recently children. An appeal on behalf of the suffered similar loss of brave Crew, widows and orphans was at once issued recognises that such tragedies exemplify by the Dutch Red Cross and by the the constant perils of the Life-boat Ser- South Holland Society for Saving the vice and sanctify the courage and Shipwrecked, and a very generous humanity which inspire the Life-boat response was made. Crews." " The Prins der Nederlanden is an The Life-boat Crews of Rye Har- hydraulic-driven Steam Life-boat, built bour and the Hook of Holland were in 1908, and is one of two Steam Life- drowned in attempts to help Latvian boats at the Hook which have a splendid vessels. The Life-boat at IJmuiden record of lives rescued, including many capsized when going out to an Italian British lives. She was one of the foreign vessel. These 20 Life-boatmen of Life-boats which came up the Thames England and Holland, who have died on in 1924 to take part in the centenary service during the gales of this last celebrations of the Institution. winter, all gave their lives in attempting As soon as the news of the disaster to bring help to vessels and men of was received the Institution sent a tele- foreign nations.

The Record of 1928. NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY- one Italian, one Danish, one Belgian EIGHT has been a year of splendid and one Latvian. In addition to these achievement for the Life-boat Service, 83 lives from foreign steamers, 15 China- overshadowed by a great tragedy. men were rescued from an English During the year the Institution gave steamer. Two of the three principal rewards for the rescue of no fewer than services of the year, for which the 591 lives. This is the largest number Institution awarded its medals for rescued in one year since 1923. Of these gallantry, were to foreign vessels. lives, 60 were rescued during ten days The outstanding Life-boat Service in the gales in the middle of November. was performed by the Motor Life-boat In addition to the lives rescued, 52 at New Brighton, when it rescued the vessels and boats have been saved or crew of 23 from a French steamer. It helped to safety. Since the Institution was a service of great danger, carried was founded, 105 years ago, up to the out with conspicuous skill and courage. end of 1928, 61,759 lives have been Coxswain George Robinson was awarded rescued from shipwreck round our the Silver Medal and each of the eight shores, an average of 11 lives saved every members of the Crew the Bronze Medal. week for over a century. The tragedy (A full account of the service will be was the capsizing of the Rye Harbour found on the opposite page.) Life-boat on November 15th (of which Two other services were of special a full account is given on p. 193), with merit, and they were both carried out the loss of her whole crew of 17 men. by the Life-boatmen of Padstow. On The majority of the 591 lives saved in the llth February the smaller of the 1928 were British, but once again our two Padstow Pulling and Sailing Life Life-boats have shown that they are a boats, Arab, rescued the crew of 18 of great international as well as a British a Norwegian steamer, Taormina. The service. Altogether 15 vessels belonging service was one of great danger, but the to 8 different nationalities were helped, Life-boat was handled with conspicuous and 83 lives were rescued from them. skill by Coxswain W. J. Baker, who was Four of the vessels were French, three awarded the Bronze Medal, and he was German, two Norwegian, two Dutch, supported by splendid work at the oars MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 207

on the part of his Crew, more than half New Motor Life-boats. of whom had not been out on service IN other ways, 1928 was a very busy before. (A full account of this service year for the Life-boat Service. Seven was given in The Lifeboat for last new Motor Life-boats were built, for May.) Stromness in the Orkneys, Walton-on- The other Padstow service was on the-Naze and Southend-on-Sea, Essex ; the 27th November, when the Steam Swanage, Dorset; Fowey, Cornwall; Tug Helen Peele rescued the five men Cromarty, Cromartyshire ; and Thurso, of the fishing boat Our Girlie, just Caithness-shire. Sixteen other Motor before she was carried on to the rocks Life-boats were under construction at and went to pieces. For this service the end of the year. The Life-boat the Master of the Tug, Mr. J. Atkinson, Fleet on the 31st December numbered was awarded the Bronze Medal. (A 205, of which 70 were Motor Life- full account of the service appears on boats. p. 209.) The year also saw the final trials of Two Bronze Medals were also awarded the new Tractor for launching, a full during the year for gallantry in rescuing account of which appeared in the last life from shipwreck through other means issue of The Lifeboat, and the first than Life-boats. Mr. Thomas Boyle, of steps in an important development in Quilty, Co. Clare, received it as the construction—the building of a specially leader of three men in rescuing three fast type of Motor Life-boat for work men who had been marooned on an in the Straits of Dover. This Boat is island on the 8th February. The rescue fully described on page 215. was carried out in a canvas canoe, with The second International Life-boat a gale blowing and a high sea. Conference was held in Paris—twice as The other Bronze Medal was awarded many nations being represented as at to Mr. Hugh Mac Kay, Senr., of Hilton, the first Conference held in London four in Ross-shire, who, with four other men, years before—and a report appeared in went out at dusk on the 20th March in The Life-boat for last September. It a whole gale, with a heavy sea and a was once more made clear how valuable dangerous tide running, to the help of is such a full discussion and exchange a fishing-boat, the engine of which had of ideas. For all the Services are broken down. The first of these fine faced with similar problems of con- services was fully described in The Life- struction and mechanics, although the boat for last May, and the second in The solutions vary according to the varying Lifeboat for last September. conditions of the different coasts.

The Finest Service of 1928. Silver Medal Awarded to the Coxswain at New Brighton. THE Institution has awarded its Silver help. When the Motor Lifeboat reached Medal to Coxswain George Robinson, of her, she had the greatest difficulty in New Brighton, on the Mersey, and its getting alongside, as the steamer was j Bronze Medal to each of the eight yawing tremendously. In the end she i members of the Crew, for their gallantry succeeded, thanks to the splendid skill j in rescuing 23 men of the French steamer with which the Coxswain handled her, Emile Delmas on 24th November last and the magnificent courage of her whole —the finest service of the year. Crew. As soon as she got alongside the A very heavy N.N.W. gale was Frenchmen jumped into the net which blowing, with a very heavy sea, con- the Life-boat carries, stretched amid- tinuous blinding rain squalls, and gusts ships, or climbed down a rope-ladder. at nearly 100 miles an hour. Owing to The whole crew of 24 men were the gale and shortage of fuel, the rescued, but the Life-boat herself had steamer anchored and signalled for been badly damaged. Then, on her way 208 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

By courtesy of] [J. H. Muinferd, ^eic Brighton. COXSWAIN GEORGE ROBINSON, OF NEW BRIGHTON.

By courtesy of\ [Will in in Iluurntnn, fitro THE SERVICE TO THE CARMANIA II. The Stromness Lifeboat is lying off the steamer, and the rope by which the crew were rescued can just be seen over the steamer's stern. (Seepage 211.) MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 209 home, she was struck by a huge sea. It with the rest of the Crew, and during flooded one of the engine rooms, and the whole service was in charge of the swept overboard the chief engineer of engines. When he landed he was taken the steamer and two of the Life-boat's straight to hospital. This is not the own Crew. After great difficulty and first time that Mr. Scott has shown such much manoeuvring, the Life-boat gallantry and endurance. Before the succeeded in picking up the two Life- New Brighton Life-boat went to her boatmen, but in spite of repeated efforts, Station, in 1923, she made a tour she could not save the engineer, who round Great Britain. Mr. Scott broke was swept away and drowned. The a bone in his arm, but in spite of this Life-boat reached her Station again remained in charge of the engines until nearly six hours after she had put out the end of the trip a month later. to the rescue. The owners of the Emile Delmas are Particular gallantry was shown by the Compagnie Delmas Freres et Viel- the Motor Mechanic of the Life-boat, jeux, of La Rochelle. They are already Ralph B. Scott. He was ill, waiting for a subscribers to the Institution, and in vacant bed in the hospital and faced with I gratitude for this service they have made the probability of a serious operation. a special gift of 10,000 francs to the New In spite of this he answered the call Brighton Life-boat Crew.

Another Bronze Medal Service by Padstow. Awards to the Master and Crew of the Tug " Helen Peele." PADSTOW has the distinction of having Quin, and in great danger, for if her carried out two services last year in anchor gave, the heavy seas would fling which such skill and gallantry were her at once on the rocks. The master of shown in circumstances of great danger the Tug ordered the oil tap to be turned that the Institution has awarded its on, and this smoothed the seas consider- Bronze Medal in each case. ably. He then stood boldly in to within The first service was on llth Feb- 200 yards of the rocks, in only two or ruary, when the Arab rescued the crew of three fathoms of water, anchored, and eighteen of the Norwegian steamer Taor- manoeuvred the tug with such skill mina. Coxswain Baker being awarded that he got her safely alongside the the Bronze Medal. A full account of fishing-boat, so that her crew were this service appeared in The Lifeboat able to climb on board the Tug. In for last May. The second service was the darkness and shallow water, and on 27th November, when the Life-boat with the heavy sea running, it was Tug Helen Peele rescued the crew of an operation of great difficulty and the motor fishing boat Our Girlie, of Port danger. Had the Tug touched the Isaac. rocks, it would have been fatal. The At 4.30 in the morning as a gale rescue was completed only just in time. was blowing from the west-north-west, Immediately afterwards the cable of with a very heavy sea, the Honorary the fishing-boat parted, she was carried Secretary at Padstow made inquiries on to the rocks, and became a complete about the fishing boats, and found wreck. that one boat, Our Girlie, with five The Institution awarded its Bronze men on board, was at sea. The Medal to Mr. J. Atkinson, the Master of Coastguard could give no news of her, the Tug, its Thanks inscribed on Vellum so the Steam Tug Helen Peele was to each member of the Crew, and its immediately sent out. With the help of Thanks and an inscribed Barometer to her searchlight she found Our Girlie Captain E. P. Hutchings, the Honorary anchored close to the shore near Port Secretarv.

F 3 210 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929

Three Fine Services in February. Thurso, Plymouth and Stromness. THE month of February was marked by Seven hours after putting out, the Life- three fine services, two in the north of boat reached Thurso again. Scotland and the other in the south of In recognition of the skill with which England. One was performed by the the Life-boat was handled in circum- Pulling and Sailing Life-boat at Thurso, stances of great difficulty, the Institu- the others by new Motor Life-boats of tion has awarded its Thanks on Vellum the Barnett type, the 60-feet boat which to Coxswain McPhail, and an additional went to Plymouth in 1926, and the 51- monetary award to him and to each feet boat which went to Stromness last member of the Crew. Special letters year. of thanks have also been sent to Mr. J. Thurso. Miller, the honorary secretary, and to Captain Shearer, who acts as honorary At ten at night, on the 2nd February, shore signalman. a message was received that a vessel had gone ashore on Brims Ness, six Plymouth. miles from Thurso, the scene of many At 2.10 on the morning of the 12th wrecks. She was found later to be the February, the Coxswain at Plymouth trawler Edward VII., of Grimsby. The received information from the Coast- weather was thick and very cold, a guard that a steamer, which was found strong breeze was blowing from the afterwards to be the s.s. Deventia, of south and a heavy ground swell was Workington, was in distress off Bolt breaking on the foreshore. The Life- Head, eighteen miles to the south-east. boat reached the wreck half an hour A strong E.S.E. gale was blowing with after midnight, to find that the trawler a heavy sea and snow squalls, and the had struck a submerged rock, known as weather was bitterly cold. After com- the Whale's Back. She had then been municating with the Honorary Secre- thrown clear of this and came in on to taries of the neighbouring stations, the long wide reef called Buff of Brims. Torbay and Hope Cove, the Honorary There she lay in shallow water in a Secretary decided to send out the Ply- channel, with gear of all kinds floating mouth boat, and she left at 3.10. She about, and with high rocks and reefs reached the wreck at 5.45, just about all round her, grinding and rolling daybreak, and found the vessel ashore heavily in the surf. on the rocks under the lee of Bolt Head. The position of the trawler, the rocks She was filling rapidly, and although and shallow water, the surf, and the out of the full force of the sea, was darkness of the night, all made the task sufficiently exposed to feel the effect of of rescue very difficult and dangerous. the seas sweeping past. There was, The Coxswain did not anchor, as he however, just enough shelter for the was afraid the cable would get fouled Coxswain to be able to get alongside on the half-submerged rocks. He without anchoring, and he rescued brought the Life-boat opposite the ten of the crew of thirteen, the other wreck, and as close as possible, under three being rescued from the shore by sail, and then with oars worked in the Life-saving Apparatus. among the rocks. The Life-boat ran a The net amidships, which the Barnett double risk of running on the rocks close type of Life-boat carries, was of great under on her lee and of being swept value in getting the ten men quickly against the trawler's side. Both dangers into the Life-boat. were successfully avoided, and by the Coxswain Eagles has been awarded light of white flares and the ship's own the Thanks of the Institution inscribed lights, which were still burning, the ten on Vellum, and he and each member of men on board the trawler were rescued, the Crew have been granted an extra not only without injury to the crew monetary award. A letter was received but without damage to the Life-boat. from the Chief Engineer of the Deventia MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 211

expressing his gratitude and his admira- boat through the breakers, and dropped \ tion for the splendid way in which the anchor. The first attempt to establish Life-boat was handled. communication by means of the Line- Throwing Gun failed, but the second Stromness. and third shots succeeded, and two lines About 4 on the morning of the were secured on board the trawler. A 14th February three messengers from lifebuoy was then sent to the wreck, different houses in Invertown brought and the Life-boat herself was veered in the Honorary Secretary the news that a through the surf, nearer and nearer as steamer, which was found afterwards to the tide rose. She was thrown high in be the trawler Carmania II., of Grimsby, the air by every sea and then disappeared had gone ashore on the Kirk Rocks, in the trough, but, watching for their Hoy Bound, and was showing signals of opportunity when a lull came in the distress. The Coxswain and Crew were breaking seas, the Life-boatmen got called out immediately, and the Life- the trawler's crew oft, man by man, boat, which had not been housed after until five were safely on board the Life- a service carried out three days before, boat. All had gone well up to this owing to the stormy weather, left the point, but then a tremendous wave ! harbour at 4.35. A strong breeze was caught the Life-boat nearly broadside I blowing from the S.W., with a very on, the wire cable snapped and the boat heavy sea running, and the weather was reeled to leeward. She was in imminent bitterly cold. When the call came soft, danger herself, but the Coxswain showed blinding snow was falling. This ceased perfect judgment and seamanship and about the time when the Life-boat put rushed the boat ahead among the reefs out. and breakers until he was under the lee She reached the neighbourhood of the of the wreck, with which he was still in rocks about five o'clock, and the Life- communication by the ropes. saving Apparatus arrived at the same Just before this happened the time, but neither could give the trawler trawler's small boat had been swept any immediate help. She was too far overboard, and was floating under her from the shore for it to be possible for lee. The Coxswain shouted to the men the Apparatus to get a line to her, and wrho were still on board to get into the too far in for it to be possible for the small boat and he would haul them to Life-boat to get near in the darkness the Life-boat. This was done, and five and the breaking seas. There was no more men of the trawler's crew were hope of approaching her from seaward, rescued. Then the painter parted, and as the seas were breaking 100 to 150 the small boat was swept away with yards before they reached her, while two men in her, but the Life-boat, between the wreck and the shore were passing again between the wreck and the reefs and shallow water, where the Life- shore, rescued the two men. Thus the boat could not go until the tide rose. whole of the trawler's crew were saved. The Coxswain waited. It was then nearly 9.30, five hours By this time the trawler was lying since the Life-boat had left harbour, and with a very heavy list, and was rolling an hour and a half since the work of heavily. About an hour after the Life- rescue had started. boat arrived a huge wave lifted her as The Honorary Secretary had watched if she had been a cork, swung her com- the rescue from the shore, and reported pletely round, and threw her right on that the Coxswain and Crew deserved top of the reef. Her lights were then the highest praise for their judgment burning, but gradually grew dimmer and skill in circumstances of great peri!, and eventually went out. About this where success was only possible to men time the tide turned, and the seas grew who knew every part of the reefs and heavier and heavier. the run of the tide. The Coxswain stood by for another Coxswain William Johnston has been | two hours and then decided to attempt awarded a Second Service Clasp to the a rescue. He manoeuvred the Life- Bronze Medal which he already holds, 212 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. and he and each member of the Cret- recorded that the Honorary Secretary an extra monetary award. at Stromness reported the loss of the Many people do not know that the anchor and wire cable by telegraph on Institution has at Poplar, London, a the 14th February, that the new Storeyard where there is a Reserve anchor and cable were at once sent by Fleet of Life-boats, and where all stores passenger train, and that when the and spare parts required for the equip- Honorary Secretary wrote two days ment of Life-boats and their engines later, giving details of the service, are kept, ready for immediate despatch he acknowledged their receipt, and was to the coast. As showing the efficiency able to report that the Life-boat was of the Storeyard, it deserves to be again in full commission.

A Gallant Service in 1912. Silver Medal for the Second Coxswain at Fraserburgh. IT has been decided to make special the Mungo Rock. At about 11 p.m. the awards in connexion with a service which Second Coxswain, James Sim, fearing took place at Fraserburgh in January, that the crew of the Clio would die of 1912, when the Life-boat was launched exposure if they were not rescued before to the help of a steam trawler, Clio. The the morning, proposed that he should service of the Life-boat was reported try to swim to the Briggs and that to the Institution, and the usual awards three other members of the Crew should were made, but owing to the serious follow him. The Coxswain approved of illness of the Honorary Secretary no the plan, anchored his Boat ahead of the mention was made, at the time, of the Briggs, and veered down as close to the special gallantry shown by the Second rocks as possible. The Second Cox- Coxswain and three members of the swain then jumped overboard in the Crew. It was not until the Secretary of darkness with a line attached to him the Institution visited Fraserburgh that and struggled through the heavy sea he heard the story of their gallantry. to the rocks, where he made the He brought the matter to the -notice of line fast. Three members of the Cre»~ the Committee of Management, a full followed—Alexander Ritchie, Andrew report was called for, and it has now Ritchie and James Mitchell—and with been decided that special awards should the aid of the line got on to the Briggs. be made. Under the leadership of James Sim, It was on the night of 14th January, they then crawled over the rocks until 1912, that the Clio, in attempting to they were opposite the Clio, to find that make Fraserburgh Harbour in a very the crew had got into the cage of the heavy sea, struck the Beacon Rock off Beacon and lashed themselves there. Cairnbulg Briggs, round which there was Between the Briggs and the Beacon was a great deal of broken water. Flares a deep channel. 20 feet wide. The were burned, the Coastguard Life-saving Second Coxswain therefore decided to Apparatus was called out, and the Life- try to get the L.S.A. In this he was boat was launched. The rockets fired successful. A line was got across from by the Coastguard were of no avail, the shore to the Briggs. The tide was as the trawler was too far off. and the falling, and six or seven of the L.S.A. Coastguard proposed to wait until Crew waded across, with the help of this daylight before taking any further line, bringing with them a heaving-line, action. The Life-boat made two life-buoy and other apparatus. By attempts at rescue, but the sea was means of this apparatus a line was washing over the top of the Clio, and she then got over the deep channel to the could not get alongside. The Coxswain Beacon, and the shipwrecked crew were therefore anchored about 100 yards to rescued. But for the initiative, sound the west of the Beacon, sheltering behind judgment, fine leadership and courage MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 213 of the Second Coxswain, ably .supported Sim. its Thanks inscribed on Vellum by the three men who followed him, to Alexander Ritchie, Andrew- Ritchie, there is little doubt that the eight men and the widow of James Mitchell, who of the Clio would have perished. has died since the service was performed. The Institution has therefore awarded Extra monetary awards have also been its Silver Medal to Second Coxswain given.

A Brave Swimmer. Award of Bronze Medal. Ix the early afternoon of 27th August plunged off the rocks into the surf, last a small steamer. Kendy, of Cardiff, swam out to the upturned boat with, a got into difficulties off Porthcawl in line and passed it to the Kendy's Glamorganshire, and foundered. The captain, but the captain, unfortunately, Crew took to the boat, but it capsized, could not keep hold of it. Mr. Cotton and, with the men clinging to it, drifted then swam back and volunteered to go towards the shore. There was a out a second time, but as the boat was moderate wind blowing, and the sea by this time close inshore the Coast- was moderate, but a heavy surf was guard would not let him take the risk. breaking on the rocks. As the boat was carried in, with the four The Coast-guard Life-saving Ap- men on her, the Life-saving Company paratus Company was called out and seized them before they were flung on two rockets were tired, but the men on the rocks, and passed them back to the boat could not get hold of the line. other helpers, one Coastguard diving off The Company then lined the rocks ready the rocks in order to get one of the men to seize the men as they were washed ashore. All four men were rescued, but up, and an urgent call was sent for many of the Company were bruised and boats, one of which rescued one of the had their clothes torn. five men. Mr. Cotton's action in plunging into Meanwhile, at great risk to himself, such a surf among the rocks was one of a visitor to Porthcawl, Mr. W. H. B. great gallantry, and the Institution has Cotton, of Sandiacre, near Nottingham, awarded him its Bronze Medal.

Dutch Service to a British Steamer. 41 Lives Rescued from a Vessel of the Elder Dempster Line. \T/ie following is an abbreviated version There was a stormy W.S.W. wind, which of a graphic account of a fine service to when she got clear of the piers carried a British vessel which appears in De her towards the shore. She dropped Reddingboot, the journal of the North both anchors and hoisted the distress and South Holland Life-saving Society, signal. The position was such that tugs for last June. The three Life-boats could not come out. Heavy seas beat engaged in this service have each been over the vessel. The anchors dragged, awarded by H.M. the King, on the recom- the stern struck the bottom and the mendation of the President of the Board propeller was lost. Then both anchor- of Trade, the British Government's Silver chains broke, and the forward part of Medal for Gallantry in saving Life at Sea the ship was wrenched away from (Foreign Services).\ the firmly-jammed stern part, on a level with the after bulkhead of the ON the morning of Friday, 17th engine-room. The forward part of the February, 1928, the British steamship ship, on which were, fortunately, the Shonga, of the Elder Dempster Line, whole of the crew, drifted another left the harbour of IJmuiden at 10 A.M. 100 yards to the coast, on the northern 214 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

side of the North Pier. There it on the following morning, permit of the went aground, with its stern towards rescue from land or by means of the the land. All this took place in a shore Life-boat, the Motor Life-boat few moments, and at 10.30 A.M. the Dorus Rijkers * at Helder, which had first report reached the North and been already fully informed during the South Holland Life-saving Society in day, was called out. In case of the Amsterdam. Dorus Rijkers being unable to reach the The Life-boat from Wijk aan Zee, a wreck, further steps were taken. little way up the coast, was called out, There are three Pulling and Sailing and although the road to the shore at Life-boats at Umuiden itself, one in Wijk aan Zee is not easy, and the shore the harbour, one to the north and one itself was speedily strewn with bags of to the south. The northern station cocoa beans which were washed from was temporarily closed, owing to the after-part of the Shonga, the Life- extensive alterations to the harbour, boat succeeded in reaching the place of and the harbour Life-boat could not be stranding at 1.30 P.M. used, as even the tugs could not get Meantime the force of the storm out. It was therefore decided to take remained unabated. It seemed im- the southern Life-boat inland until the possible to get a boat away from the ship-canal from Umuiden to Amster- shore, and even had it been possible to dam could be crossed, and then along reach the stranded forward half of the the north bank of the canal to the ship, it would have been impossible to shore north of the harbour, where the get alongside, for the ship was giving no wreck lay. This journey by night lee. Therefore nothing remained but to of over twelve miles was successfully wait, it being remembered that the crew carried out with the help of the launch- of the Shonga, for the moment, were in no ing tractor.f danger. In the strong desire, neverthe- The Dorus Rijkers left at 9 P.M. less, to make an effort to get them off in a stormy N.W. wind and rough sea before the night, the stout crew from on her long night journey, a distance of Wijk aan Zee, who are farm labourers, some forty miles. At 3 A.M. sheAvas in completed by three men from Egmond the port of IJmuiden. She had had a aan Zee, who as soon as they heard of bad night, but everything had passed off the wreck had set out to walk the nine well. The crew were in the after-cabin, miles along the coast, put to sea ; but where everything was ready for service, they had to return, the force of the including the Schermuly line-throwing storm was too great. pistol, should this be found necessary. Thus night fell, with the disquieting The rescue which was now to be tried knowledge that on board the Shonga by the Dorus Rijkers was dangerous, there were a large number of people, not so much on account of the wind and about forty, who were, it is true, in no sea—which had gone down somewhat immediate danger, but whose fate was during the night—as on account of un- uncertain if the storm continued. It certainty with regard to the depth of was also not known whether or not water at the wreck. The wreck had to there were any people still on the after- be approached from windward, as it lay part of the vessel. on shore, which is more dangerous than In the evening the Signal Station was continually in communication with the * Named after Theodorus Rijkers, who Shonga by Morse lamp. The crew were died in April of this year, aged 81. He was told that they could rely that when day Coxswain at Helder for 25 years, retiring in 1911. He took part in the rescue of 487 lives, broke an effort would be made. The of which over 300 were from British ships. Shonga asked for the weather report, An account of his services and hi? portrait which was given, and replied that the were published in The Lifeboat for February, men were keeping a stout heart and 1921. •f The tractors used by the North and South firmly relied on IJmuideu. Holland Life-saving Society are British, the As there was very little certainty that same as those originally used by the Institu- the conditions of wind and sea would, tion. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 215 if it were on a bank away from the coast, somewhat lighter, the people were for then, as a rule, it can be approached clearly observed jumping over, and at from leeward, and in any case deep last the N.C. signal was seen being water will be found all round the bank. lowered on board the Shonga and one The water had dropped 4| feet during the more man jumping over. Then both night and the sea was still very heavy. the Dorus Rijkers and the IJmuiden At about six o'clock the Dorus Rijkers Life-boat returned. The latter landed started out. Skipper C. Bot steered her nine men on the shore, and the Dorus first between the pier and the after-half Rijkers thirty-two men at IJmuiden, in of the ship in order to make sure whether the port. there were still any people on it. He A few days later the North and South then got abeam of the forward half of Holland Life-saving Society received the the ship and there made soundings and following letter : " We the undersigned, found sufficient water. He next tried Master, officers and crew of the ill-fated the powers of the Dorus Rijkers in the British steamship Shonga, desire to place surf, and found that he had the mastery on record our sincere and heartfelt thanks of it. Then he got alongside the for the magnificent response made by forward half of the ship. Just a little the Life-boat Institution whilst we lay later, the IJmuiden Life-boat, with in deadly peril of our lives on the beach, Skipper P. J. A. Kramer, also reached north of IJmuiden." the Shonga, and found a fine berth Thanks also came from the Elder behind the Dorus Rijkers. Dempster Line, which sent a contribu- Although very heavy seas were still tion of £150, by which the expenses running, the rescue now proceeded incurred by the Life-saving Society speedily, especially owing to the good were fully covered, and, in addition, a order which prevailed on board the sum of £100 to be distributed among Shonga. From the shore, when it grew the crews of the Life-boats.

A New Fast Type of Motor Life-boat. Ax important development in Motor Straits, there is now a considerable daily Life-boat construction has been decided traffic by aeroplane, maintained in all upon. The aim of the Institution in the but the worst weather. The time during design and construction of Motor Life- which an aeroplane is exposed to the risk boats and their engines, suitable,for the of coming down while over the sea is work of rescuing life from shipwreck very short. On the other hand, once an under all conditions, has been, not high aeroplane is down in anything but a speed, but a great reserve of power. It calm sea, the time during which she is this reserve of power, enabling the will remain afloat is generally so short Life-boat to maintain her speed in face that the ordinary Motor Life-boat of the worst conditions of weather, could scarcely hope to reach the which may make all the difference casualty soon enough to rescue those on between success and disaster at that board. In the case of a vessel the time critical moment when a Life-boat is between first being in distress and being mano3uvring to get alongside or to get in imminent danger of destruction may away from a wreck. be many hours, and even two or three There is no intention of departing days. In the case of an aeroplane it from this as the general policy of may be only a matter of minutes. construction. It has, however, been The original proposal considered was felt that the present conditions of for the provision of a very fast Motor cross-Channel traffic point to the desir- Boat, able to travel between 25 and 30 ability of providing a special and faster knots, but an examination of this pro- type of Motor Life-boat in the Straits posal resulted in the decision to build a of Dover. In addition to the very heavy boat with a speed of 17 to 18 knots, this passenger-steamer traffic across the being the fastest speed obtainable with- 216 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

By courtesy of] [./. ./. IliU, Xeichurcn. ICE-BOUND. The new Motor Life-boat for the Humber arriving at Newhaven from Cowes on February 13th, 1929, during the severe frost.

By courtesy of] [Central Sen's. LIFE-BOAT IN THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW. The Life-boat "Robert and Catherine," late of Appledore, now of the Reserve Fleet at Poplar, in the Lord Mayor's Show of the 9th November, 1928, with Coxswain W. T. Hammond and members of the Walton-on-Naze Crew on board. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 217 out sacrificing the essential qualities of inshore and on the Sands are provided a Life-boat. for by the Life-boats stationed at Rams- Such a Life-boat has been laid down. gate, Deal, "VValmer and Folkestone, and She will be 64 feet by 14 feet, with a further defence in this direction is nine main water-tight compartments under consideration. The new Boat and eighty air cases. Like the Harriett will be stationed at Dover, with a Crew type of Motor Life-boat, she will have of whom some will be permanently em- two cabins, with room in them for about ployed by the Institution. The Boat fifty people, will be lighted with elec- will cost "between £17,000 and £18,000 tricity, and will have an electrically and the cost of upkeep will be some driven capstan, a searchlight and line- £1,750 a year. throwing gun. Whereas the most power- ful Life-boats at present on the coast A Keel of Kentish Oak. have two 80-h.p. engines, this new type will have two engines of 375 h.p. \ The boat is being built at the Hamp- each. ton Launch Works, on an island in the Another departure which is being Thames, Platt's Eyot at Hampton-on- made with this boat is that she will be Thames, and the keel and hog of this fitted with wireless telephony, which will new boat for the Kentish coast have, enable her to take and send messages most fittingly, been cut from a Kentish over a distance of fifty miles. Both boat oak. The tree was grown on the and engines have been designed and are Tongues Wood Estate at Hawkhurst, being built by Messrs. Thornycroft, the and was felled in 1921. Its length was engines being of the type which has been 48 feet, and its girth over 9 feet. It used on coastal motor boats. was then approximately 130 years old. This new boat will be capable of going That is to say, the acorn, from which to sea in any weather not too heavy for j the keel of this latest Life-boat has been the cross-Channel passenger service, but ! grown, took root just two years after she will not be suitable for work inshore the first Life-boat, Original, was or on the Goodwin Sands. Casualties launched at Tvnemouth in 1789.

The Prince's Appeal to Shipping.

The First Response: Gift of Three Motor Life-boats. FOUR of the leading shipping companies The four shipping companies which have responded to the appeal on behalf have responded to this appeal are the of the Life-boat Service which the Peninsular and Oriental Group, the Prince of Wales made to shipping in his Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., the presidential address at the Annual Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., and Meeting of the Institution last year. the White Star Line. The Peninsular In that address the Prince said : " May and Oriental Group, through Lord I also make a suggestion to our great | Inchcape, have given the Institution Shipping Lines ? 1 know their wonder- I £14,500 to provide the Motor Life-boat ful seamen's charities, but may I suggest of the Barnett type, 61 feet by 15 feet, that one or two of them might give a with two 80 h.p. engines, which is Life-boat ? What prouder thing could being built for the Station at Padstow, a great Shipping Line have than its Cornwall. She will be named Princess name on one of our Life-boats ? It is Mary. true that the Life-boat will not be seen The White Star Line, through Lord by many people : it will not have very Kylsant, have given £8,500 to provide much publicity ; but think what it can the new^Motor Life-boat which is to be do ! " built for Fishguard, and which will be 218 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. named White Star. She will be of the This Boat will be named Lady Watson type, 45 feet 6 inches by 12 feet Kylsant. 6 inches, with two 40 h.p. engines. The Committee of Management The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. and desire to record their hearty apprecia- the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., tion of the generous manner in which have given jointly, also through Lord these Companies have answered the Kylsant, £6.500 to provide the Watson Prince's appeal, and they earnestly hope Life-boat, 40 feet by 11 feet 8 inches, that other companies will follow the which is being built for Weymouth. fine example of these four great lines.

The Value of a Life. The Cost of the Life-boat Service compared with the Value of the Lives Saved. No one can calculate the full value of a money, it is generally agreed that a man life saved, or a life risked. But certain or a woman is a very definite asset calculations can be made, and have been during the working period of life, and a made, by Insurance Companies and others, very definite liability at other periods. based on the wage-earning capacity of a This note must not therefore be regarded man and the cost of providing for those as showing a lack of sense of proportion dependent on him. The following note in that it neglects the non-material has been sent to the Institution by one of aspect of a life. Its object is simply to the leading life assurance companies in show that, leaving aside the non-material Great Britain, in which, as will be seen, and incalculable value of a life, the the cost to the Institution of each life value of even a part of the material side which it saved last year is compared with is sufficiently great to justify the the minimum cost simply of providing expenses incurred by any of our great

VALUE TO DEPENDENTS OF ASSUMED INDIVIDUAL MALE LIVES SAVED.

: Capital value of i Total Capital Age of first Age of secondj £1 10 0 weekly Capital value of i value of the life child uring 51- weekly per

£ £ 30 27 1,508 140 1,648 30 27 3 1,508 279 1,787 40 37 12 1,355 48 1,403 50 47 1,160 1.160 60 57 923 923 for the dependents of men who lose their Services and Institutions in saving life, lives. This cost naturally is greater the or, to the same end, in combating younger the man, but it will be seen that disease. even in the case of a man of sixty, the cost The Metropolitan Life Insurance Com- of providing for his widow is much greater pany of America published some two than the average cost of saving a life last years ago a series of studies on " The year. It need only be added that the note Value of Human Life " in the pages of was not prepared in consultation with the its monthly Statistical Bulletin. Briefly, Institution; nor did the Institution ask the value of a life is there expressed as for it. It represents a quite independent the present capital worth of all future calculation.] earnings less the present capital worth of all future net costs. These studies While it is not contended that a were, however, of a very detailed nature human life can be equated to a sum of and from that point of view not alto- MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 219

gether suitable for our present purpose. shipwreck is well justified economically, Moreover, the method of treatment even if regard is had only to this one necessitated separate consideration of aspect of a life's value, the cost of persons in different ranks of society, and providing for the dependents. it is felt that such distinctions should be It has been assumed that £1 10s. is omitted from this note. the minimum weekly amount necessary In order to keep this note on simple to the continued existence of the widow, lines the only point considered is the and 5s. the minimum weekly amount financial value of a man to his depen- necessary for the maintenance of each dents alone, although from other points child up to the age of sixteen. While of view, it would, on the lines of the the bread-winner is alive he provides American studies, be possible to show these amounts or more ; should he die in most cases a further and additional he cannot provide them. The capitalised financial value. It is understood that value of these weekly amounts during about 80 per cent, of the lives saved by the remaining lifetime of the wife, or in the Royal National Life-boat Institution the case of the children until they attain are A.B.'s in the Mercantile Marine the age of sixteen, seems to be a fair earning an average weekly wage of minimum financial value of the life to about £3 3s. This fact guides the the dependents, and the calculations are argument, but does not affect its con- based on the mortality shown by the clusion, unless it could be proved that a 1911 Census, with Interest at 4 per cent. very large proportion of the lives The minimum weekly amounts assumed actually saved have been without are possibly open to argument, but there dependents of any kind whatso- is plenty of margin if even smaller ever. amounts are taken. With the same idea of keeping the It is observed that in 1928, the note on simple lines, no attempt has expenses of the National Life-boat In- been made to find the average age of stitution were £319,905, or £541 in lives saved, or the average number of respect of each life saved. This assumes dependents per life saved. Considera- that no services other than life-saving are tion has merely been given to assumed performed by the Institution. This is, of individual cases. The examples taken, course, not the case ; but it does show however, indicate clearly that the ex- that the maximum expense is well below pense incurred in rescuing life from the minimum value of each life saved.

The Royal Life-boat Matinee. THE second annual Life-boat Matinee at Queen to be present, but during the last the Lyceum Theatre, organised by the week of preparation there was continual Central London Women's Committee of uncertainty as to whether or not the the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, was held on Matinee could be held at all. This uncer- the llth December, and realised £992 tainty, and the general and deep anxiety after all expenses had been paid. about the King, made the work of It was held at a time of great anxiety organisation and ticket-selling excep- and in circumstances of exceptional tionally difficult. The ticket-selling was difficulty—just at that time when the in the hands of the whole Committee, long illness of the King was at its most while a special Matinee Committee of dangerous and critical stage. The King four members arranged the programme and Queen had both promised to be and performance : Lady Bertie of Thame present, and it would have been the (Chairman of the Central Committee), first occasion on which their Majesties who acted as chairman of the Matinee had been present together at a Life-boat Committee, Lady Florence Pery (Deputy function. Not only did his illness make Chairman of the Committee, and it impossible for the King himself or the Honorary Secretary of the Ladies' Life- THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. boat Guild), Lady Dorothy d'Oyly by Miss Dorothy d'Orsay and Mr. Carte and Mrs. Toye. Thorpe Bates. The programme was In spite of the deep anxiety of the completed with a charming pas seul by Royal Family with regard to the King's the child-dancer, Miss Wendy Toye, health, the Duke of York attended the and three ballets—" The F eerie Cvag •. Matinee in place of their Majesties, and A Highland Legend," produced by H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Miss Euphan MacLaren, " Orpheus," Argyll, Patron of the Ladies' Life-boat a burlesque in mime, written and pro- Guild, was also present. Among the duced by Mr. Leighton Lucas, arvd others present were the Duchess of " The Masque of the Sea," by Mr. Norfolk, Vice-Patron of the Guild, the Leighton Lucas, the production and Duchess of Sutherland, President, Susan choreography being by Miss Ruby Duchess of Somerset, Lady Cynthia G inner. Colville and Lady Baring. Among In the interval Sir Godfrey Baring, those who gave their patronage were the Bt., Chairman of the Committee of German, French and Italian Ambassa- Management, expressed the thanks of the dors, the Norwegian and Latvian Institution to the authors, composers, Ministers, the Prime Minister and Mrs. producers, actors, actresses, musicians, Baldwin, and the Lady Mayoress. singers and dancers, numbering over The programme consisted of drama, fifty, who had given their services, to opera and ballet. Mr. Louis N. Parker Messrs. Frederick and Walter Melville, wrote a one-act Life-boat play, " Their who had lent the theatre, to the theatre Business in Great Waters," specially for staff, and to the many others who in the occasion, and a description of the different ways had given their help. play and the names of the cast will The first Lyceum matinee, organised be found below. The opera was an by the Central London Women's Com- act from " The Rhythm Eternal," an mittee, was held in May, 1927. There opera on jazz, by Mr. T. C. Fairbairn, was a variety programme, and H.RJL with music by Mr. Leighton Lucas, Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles, in which the principal parts were taken was present.

Their Business in Great Waters. Mr. Louis N. Parker's Life-boat Play. WHEX the programme for the Royal [ exceptional cast of leading actors and Life-boat Matinee, at the Lyceum, on actresses was obtained. The eight parts the llth December, was being arranged were taken by Mr. Edmund Gwenn, Miss Mr. Louis N. Parker, the author of many Lena Ashwell, Miss Sara Allgood, Miss plays, and the organiser of some of Tallulah Bankhead, Miss Marjorie Mars, the most successful historical pageants, Mr. Leslie Howard, Mr. Frank Lawton, was asked if he could arrange for a and Mr. Edgar Norfolk. The play was performance of his play " Drake." He produced by Mr. Norman Page, and the pointed out the difficulties of producing honorary stage manager was Mr. George such an elaborate play, with its very Desmond. long cast, and offered to write a one-act Mr. Parker has generously presented Life-boat play specially for the matinee. ] the entire rights in this play to the This generous offer the Institution most I Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and it is hoped gratefully accepted. ! that the performance on 11th. December Mr. Parker's kindness did not end last, in the presence of the Duke of York here. In addition to writing the play I and Princess Louise, will be only the he came over from Switzerland, where first of many performances of the play he now lives, to conduct the rehearsals, on behalf of the Life-boat Service. and through the help of his friend The title of the play is " Their Busi- and agent, Mr. Golding Bright, an ness in Great Waters," and there are MARCH, 1929. THE LIFEBOAT. 221

eight parts, four women and four men. The entire rights of the play belong The scene of the play is in the living- to the Institution, and it can only be room of a Life-boat Coxswain's cottage produced by obtaining the licence of the on a wild night. A signal of distress is Institution. For this licence a charge heard, and the Coxswain and his son, will be made of one guinea, but where the Second Coxswain, hurry to the Boat- the performance is given in aid of the house. From the window of the room Institution or one of its Branches, no fee the Coxswain's wife watches the Life- is charged. It is, however, advisable boat's searchlight, as she goes out, sees for Branches which think of arranging it disappear, believes the Life-boat to for a performance of the play to apply be lost with all her crew, and waits in to the Institution for the licence. agony until the Coxswain and his son Copies of the play may be obtained by return triumphant with the whole crew Honorary Secretaries at the cost price saved. of 6rf., and may be sold at Is., the profit The play is a noble expression of the ; going to the funds of the Branch. unaffected courage and the deep The simplicity of the characters of the humanity of the Life-boat Service. play, and the simplicity of the produc- It moves naturally, inevitably, and tion, scenery and dresses, make the play without any exaggeration, from a simple specially suitable for good amateurs. human interest to a tense atmosphere The only special dresses required are created by the storm, increasing from Life-boatmen's oil-skins, and these can anxiety to terror and anguish and always be provided by the Institution culminating in a noble close, where the for any performance of the play given joy and thankfulness at lives rescued on its behalf. It lasts half an hour, so from death, men returned in safety from that with, the addition of Life-boat a terrible ordeal, and a family re-united, films and some sea songs, a complete find fitting expression in the words from entertainment can be easily arranged. the Bible which the Coxswain reads, We hope that many Honorary Secre- "And He arose, and rebuked the wind, taries will find the play a means of and said unto the sea, Peace, be still, increasing interest in the work of and the wind ceased, and there was their Branches and of adding to their a great calm."' funds.

Obituary. SINCE the last issue of The Lifeboat the Honorary Secretary of the Cardiff Institution has lost a number of friends Branch ; Mr. A. J. G. Anson, late and workers : Sir Charles Macara, Bt., Honorary Secretary of the Hastings and J.P., Chairman of the St. Anne's-on- St. Leonards Branch ; Mr. Felix Ruble, the-Sea Branch, and founder of the Life- M.I.N.A., the Institution's late Surveyor boat Saturday Fund ; the Lady Shef- of Life-boats ; Coxswain William Robin- field. Honorary Secretary of the son, of Newbiggin : and Coxswain Manchester, Salford and District Ladies' William Stephen, of Montrose. It is Life-boat Guild ; Miss Annie Swallow, hoped to publish an account of their late Honorary Secretary of the Peter- work for the Institution in the next borough Branch : Mr. C. B. Stoddard, issue of The Lifeboat.

Acknowledgment. THE photograph of the presentation of of The Lifeboat, was taken by Mr. R. L. the Centenary Vellum at Appleclore, Knight, photographer of Barnstaple, and which was reproduced in the last issue was reproduced by his kind permission. 222 THE LIFEBOAT. MARCH, 1929.;

THEIR BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS.

By courtesy of] [Photo Press Jill coiirtrxi/ o/l \/'lmtH JVc« MR. EDMUND GWENN AS THE WATCHING THE LIFEBOAT. COXSWAIN. Miss Tallulah Bankhead and Miss Lena Ash well.

IN THE COXSWAIN'S COTTAGE. Left to right : Miss Marjorie Mars, Mr. Edmund Gwenn, Miss Tallulah Bankhead, Miss Sara Allgood and Miss Lena Ashwell. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 223

Summary of Meetings of the Committee of Management. Thursday, 21st June, 1928. Voted the Thanks of the Institution in- SIR GODFREY BARING, Bt., in the Chair. scribed on Vellum and framed to ERIC G. MUNDELL and STANLEY A. DARKIN, school- Passed a special Vote of Thanks to H.R.H. boys of about fifteen years of age, in recogni- PRINCE GEORGE for graciously visiting the tion of their plucky conduct in putting off in a Orkney Islands in order to perform the 10-feet dinghy during a fresh N.E. breeze with naming ceremonies of the Stromness and a rough sea, and, at grave personal risk, Longhope Life-boats. rescuing a man and a boy whose sailing boat Passed a cordial Vote of Thanks to H.R.H. had capsized off Worthing on 2nd June. PRINCESS BEATRICE for graciously attending Voted £2 to two men for going to the help a Garden Party given for the Institution by of the motor fishing boat Spitfire, of Dunbar, Mrs. Hillier Holt, and rescuing her only occupant on 24th May. Reported the resignation from the Com- Also granted 10*. to the owner of the boat mittee of Management of Mr. HAROLD CLAY- for petrol used and loss of gear. While TON, and co-opted Engineer Vice-Admiral returning from the fishing grounds the Spit- Sir ROBERT B. DIXON, K.C.B. fire's engine had failed and she was in danger Reported that Sir WOODBURN KIRBY had of being driven on to the Wildfire rocks. The tendered his resignation as a member of the rescuers put out at once, and, at some risk Committee of Management. owing to the rocks, succeeded in getting hold of the disabled boat before she got into the Reported the receipt of the following special surf. A moderate E.S.E. wind was blowing contributions :— with a heavy ground sea. F. Newson, Esq., London & North £ s, d. Voted £1 to ERNEST HUGEN for rescuing Eastern Railway 5 per cent. two boys who were adrift in a small boat Preference Stock to provide an without oars, off Brighton, on 30th May. Annual Subscription . . 200 0 0 Also £2 15s. to the crew and launchers of a Anonymous (Additional Donation) 50 0 0 motor boat which made an unsuccessful Col. F. J. A. Trench, C.V.O., search, and £1 Os. od. for stores consumed, etc. D.S.O., R.A. (Additional Dona- At about 5 P.M. information was received from tion) 26 5 0 the police that a small rowing boat was drifting To be thanked. out with the off-shore wind. The sea was Paid £20,552 12s. for sundry charges in smooth. Manning his motor boat, the Life- connexion with the construction of Life-boats, boat Coxswain, with three other men, put out, Life-boat Houses and Slipways, and the but although afloat for five hours saw no sign maintenance of the various Life-boat establish- of the boat. In the meantime Ernest Hugen ments. had also gone out in a small boat, found the Voted £59 2,9. 6(7. to pay the expenses of two bo}"s and rescued them. the following Life-boat services :— Lives Life-boat. Vessel. Rescued. Hartlepool . Coble Margaret, of Sea- Thursday, 19th July, 1928. (Motor) ham Harbour. Saved THE HON. GEORGE COLVILLE, in the Chair. boat and rescued . . 2 Reported the death of Mr. T. B. GABRIEL, The Humbcr . Steam trawler Abelia, a member of the Committee of Management. (Motor) of Grimsby. Stood by- Reported the receipt of the following vessel. special contributions :— Scarborough . Motor fishing boat 1'j'c- £ s. d. (Motor) tory, of Scarborough. Douglas Cow, Esq., special gift Escorted boat into to produce an Annual Sub- harbour. scription .... 1,000 0 0 Tenby . . . Fishing vessel Leonora Anonymous (Donation) . . 100 0 0 (Motor) Minnie, of Brixham. White Star Steamers' Charity Landed 3. Account (Additional Donation) 50 0 0 The Porthdinliaen Motor Life-boat saved the To be thanked. yacht Arrow, of London, and rescued her only occupant. Paid £31,312 3s. lid. for sundry charges in connexion with the construction of Life-boats, Also voted £116 18s.

Lives ance to the crew oi the motor ketch 3/arffc?/ Lil'e-boat. Vessel. Kescued. Lowestoft . Sailing boat £'

£ x. d. Lowestoft (Motor), The Mumbles (Motor), Frederick W. Peabody, Esq. (per New Romney, Newcastle, Co. Down, New- Philip G. Peabody, Esq.) haven (Motor), Palling No. 1, Port Erin (Donation) . ." . . 26 5 0 (Motor), Port St. Mary, Ramsey, Ramsgate, Major Herbert Weeks, A.M. (per Redcar and Rosslare Harbour (Motor). Philip G. Peabody, Esq.) Granted £84 13s. 8d. to men for injury in the (Donation) . .' . . 2(> 5 0 Life-boat Service at Flamborough, Scar- Mrs. Emily Best (per Philip G. borough and Winterton. Peabody, Esq.) (Donation) . 26 5 0 Reginald Best, Esq. (per Philip G. Reported the death, at the age of 81. of Peabody, Esq.) (Donation) . 26 5 0 H. F. Belsey, a survivor of the Indian Chief The late Madame Jessie Hart- rescue of 1881, who had been in receipt of an mann, Gift from Estate of . 25 0 0 allowance from the Institution since 1914. To be thanked. Granted £17 16*. to defray the funeral j expenses of the late Coxswain Richard j Paid £25,848 10.S. 'Ad. for sundry charges in Wedge, of St. Ives, Cornwall, and voted a connexion with the construction of Life-boats, compassionate grant of £10 to his widow, who Life-boat Houses and Slipways, and the main- was left in poor circumstances. tenance of the various Life-boat establish- ments. Voted a compassionate grant of £5 to the widow of the late Sidney Harris, who was in Voted £145 12s. 6d. to pay the expenses of poor circumstances. Harris, an ex-Coxswain, the following Life-boat launches :— Lives had been connected with the Gorleston Life- Life-boat. Vessel. res uetl. boats for many years. Berwick-on- Boat of motor vessel Granted £8 16-s. to defray the funeral j Tweed . . Heather Pet. Stood expenses of Mrs. M. P. Cook, the dependent by boat. mother of Wm. W. Lamble, a Life-boatman Helvick Head . Yacht Estere.l, of Dublin. who was drowned in the Salcombe Life-boat Assisted yacht into Disaster of 1916. harbour. Voted a special gratuity of £10 to Donald Lowestoft . . S.S. K. Hone, of Yar- Smith, Signalman at Stroma in connexion with (Motor) mouth 8 the Huna Life-boat, on his resignation on Montrose No. 1 Motor boat Angora. account of age and infirmity after many years (Motor) Rendered assistance. service. Newhaven . . Fishing boat YSi-a Hawk. crew of four of the fishing boat Kate, of Ballin- Saved yacht and agoul, Helvick, on the 30th July. During a rescued .... .'! strong S.S.E. breeze, with a rough sea and rain, the boat was seen about a quarter of a mile The Margate (Motor) Life-boat rendered from the shore, dismasted and showing signals assistance to the motor yacht Musntf, of of distress. Another fishing boat, about two London, and assisted the motor yacht Froth- miles distant, saw the signals, went to the blower, of Lcridon, into harbour ; the Ross- rescue and brought the disabled boat and her lare Harbour (Motor) Life-boat rescued from crew of four safely into harbour. shipwreck the crew, eleven in number, of the trawler Oldhani, of Milford Haven, and saved Voted £1 10s. to two men in a motor coble for saving the coble Vera, of Whitby, and the yacht Temptress and rescued her crew of rescuing her two occupants on the 31st July. three. The Galway Bay (motor) Life-boat Also granted 5s. to the owner of the motor took out a pilot to the S.S. Yorck, of Bremen. coble for petrol used. The Ytra, containing a Also voted £347 '2s. 'Ad. to pay the expenses man and a boy, was engaged in salmon fishing, of the following Life-boat launches, assemblies when owing to an increase in wind and sea, of crews, etc., with a view to assisting persons they were obliged to leave their nets. After on vessels in distress :—Abersoch, Alnmouth, exhausting themselves in their efforts to reach Caister, Caister No. 2, Clacton-on-Sea (Motor), the shore under oars, they hoisted signals of Clovelly, Cullercoats, Folkestone, Great Yar- distress. The salvors who were in the coble mouth and Gorleston. Holyhead No. 1, Holy Gratitude, and had a salmon coble in tow, Island No. 1 (Motor), Huna, Kessingland, slipped their tow when they saw the signals, 226 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. and went to the help of the distressed boat, Voted £2 to four men for rescuing four which they towed to Whitby. boys, at Margate, on the 9th September. Also Directed that a Letter of Thanks should be granted Is. Qd. for fuel used. At about 7 P.M. addressed to Robert Hooper, Second Coxswain during a sudden heavy north-westerly squall, of the Tenby Life-boat, for rescuing the six the boys' boat was seen to be in trouble about occupants of the open boat Ivy on the 25th one mile from the shore. The men promptly August. Whilst going to sea with a pleasure put off in a motor boat and rescued the boys, party, he saw a boat apparently in distress together with their boat, which had nearly been about one and a half miles N.E. of Victoria swamped. No risk was incurred. Pier, Tenby, and went to her help. A strong Voted £1 2s. Gd. to three men for landing S.S.W. wind was blowing, but no special risk two men from the fishing boat Korers Belle, at was incurred. Birr Point, Co. Down, on the 18th August. Voted Is. 6d. to Mr. George Dyke for rescuing At about 3 A.ii. signals of distress "were seeu, a man and woman in a small rowing boat at and the three men put off and found the fishing Swanage, on the 17th August. At about boat on Burial Island in a dangerous position. 2.20 P.M. the Coastguard reported the boat to They landed two men from the boat, and these be out of control and getting into difficulties. men went to Sandiland harbour, near by, and The weather at the time was fine, with a obtained help. The boat was got off the rocks slight westerly breeze and moderate sea. Mr. the same day. Dyke at once went to the rescue and brought Voted £1 10s. to the Life-boat Coxswain at the boat to shore. Moderate risk was incurred, New Brighton, and another man, who, as the boat was near the Peveril Ledge with a accompanied by the two Motor Life-boat strong ebb tide running. mechanics, put off on the 2nd September in Voted £5 12s. 6d. to nine men, three of the Life-boat's boarding boat, as flares had been whom rescued and six of whom endeavoured reported, by the Coastguard, to have been seen to rescue, the crew, ten in number, of the S.8. on the Burbo Bank. The weather was fine, Mellanear of Penzance, on the 4th September. with a smooth sea and moderate N.W. breeze, Also granted 10s. for fuel consumed. The when the boat went out at 8.30 P.M. After steamer, which was laden with coal, and searching for two hours, she returned, having bound from Cardiff to France, ran ashore at found nothing. Peel Point, Land's Knd, during thick weather. Voted £1 10s. to the Coxswain of the Penlee On learning that the steamer was ashore, the Life-boat and three other men for putting off six men put out from Sennen Cove, but on from Mousehole, on the 4th September, to the reaching her found that the crew had been help of a fishing boat which the Coastguard had taken off by the three men on the fishing boat reported as stranded on the rocks. The sea Silver Stream, which, when returning from was smooth, but there was a very thick fog. fishing, had heard the vessel's whistle and gone On reaching the boat, the four men found that to her help. The boats stood by the Mellanear she had refloated. After giving the skipper for about two hours, and then abandoned her. his position and finding out that his boat was She became a total wreck. undamaged, they returned home.

Awards to Coxswains and Life-boatmen. IN connexion with the Bye Harbour Life-boat MR. G. H. POPE, father of Charles F. D. disaster on loth November, when the Pope, Rabsrt H. Pope and Louis A. Pope. whole of the Crew, seventeen in number, MR. J. DOWNEY, father of Maurice Downey. lost their lives, Memorial Certificates have MR. W. G. DOWNEY, father of Albert G. been awarded—in addition to the pensions Downey. and allowances mentioned elsewhere—as MR. JAMES IGGLESDEN, father of Walter follows :— Igglesden. MRS. HEAD, widow of Herbert Head, Cox- swain, mother of James A. and John 8. MR. C. SOUTHERDEN, father of Charles Head. Southerden. MRS. STONHAM, widow of Joseph Stonham, To BRYAN O'DONNELL, on his retirement, after Second Coxswain. serving 22J years as Coxswain and previously MRS. H. CUTTING, widow of Henry Cutting, 2J years as Second Coxswain of the Aran- Bowman. more Life-boat, a Certificate of Service and a Pension. MR. W. CUTTING, father of Henry Cutting, Robert R. Cutting and Albert E. Cutting. To WILLIAM ROBINSON, on his retirement, MRS. A. E. SMITH, widow of Albert E. Smith. after serving 14 years as Coxswain and previously 16 years as Second Coxswain of MRS. W. T. CLAEK, widow of William T. the Newbiggin Life-boat, a Certificate of Clark. Service. Robinson died after sending in MR. W. T. CLARK, father of William T. his resignation, and the Certificate and a Clark and Leslie G. Clark. I Gratuity were given to his widow. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 227

To HUGH HERALD, on his retirement on the previously 12 years as Bowman and 4 years closing of the Station, after serving 14 years as a member of the Crew of the New Quay, as Coxswain, and previously 3 years as Cardigan, Life-boat, a Certificate of Service Second Coxswain and 5 years as Bowman and a Pension. of the Greencastle Life-boat, a Certificate To C. McGiLLOWAY, on his retirement on the of Service and a Pension. closing of the Station, after serving 14 years To WILLIAM H. MITCHELL, on his retirement, as Second Coxswain of the Greencastle after serving lOj years as Coxswain of the Life-boat, a Pension. Kxmouth Life-boat, a Certificate of Service To WILLIAM HERALD, on his retirement on and a Pension. the closing of the Station, after serving 17 To DANIEL DAVIP.S, on his retirement, after years as Bowman of the Greencastle Life- serving 11 years a Second Coxswain and boat, a Pension.

Awards to Honorary Workers. Mr. Loris N. PARKEK has been elected an Secretary of the Southend-on-Sea Branch, a Honorary Life Governor of the Institution Binocular Glass. in recognition of his generous and valuable To Mr. P. L. HUTCHINGS, upon his retirement services to the Life-boat Cause in writing after 7 years as Honorary Secretary of the for the Institution the Life-boat play " Their Dungeness Branch, a Framed Photograph Business in Great Waters," and presenting of a Life-boat going out to a vessel in the play, with all rights of production and distress. performance, to the Institution. To Mrs. WILLIAMS, Honorary Secretary of the To the Viscountess BERTIE OF THAME, in Ladies' Life-boat Guild at Aberdovey, a recognition of her valuable co-operation as Framed Photograph of a Life-boat going out Chairman of the Central London Women's to a vessel in distress. Committee of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, To Miss W. SEATTER, in recognition of her the Gold Brooch and the Record of Thanks. valuable assistance as Central Convener To Mr. JOHN OWEN, on his retirement after of the Edinburgh Life-boat Day organisation 20 years as Honorary Secretary and pre- for 8 years, a Framed Photograph of the viously 5 years as Honorary Treasurer of the Life-boat going out to a vessel in distress. Cardigan Branch, the Thanks of the Institu- To Mr. FRED BEDFORD, upon hi retirement tion inscribed on Vellum. from the office of Honorary Secretary of the To Mr. WILLIAM MURRAY, upon his retirement Glasgow Branch, a Framed Photograph of a after 20 years as Honorary Secretary of the Life-boat going out to a vessel in distress. Newburgh Branch, the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. To 52 ladies and gentlemen, in recognition of their services in connexion with the Royal I To Alderman FRED BRITAIN, in recognition of Life-boat Matinee at the Lyceum Theatre, long and valuable co-operation as Honorary on llth December, the Record of Thanks.

Division of the North of England into Two Districts. IN making its appeals for public support, its Branches in the North of England, the Institution has decided to divide which last year contributed over into two Districts the North of £30,000 to tie funds of the Institution. England, which up to the end of last The North-Western District will consist year was one District, and which had of Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumberland, as its Organizing Secretary the late Westmorland and the Isle of Man, with Mr. Edgar H. Johnson, F.C.I.S., of an area of 5,300 square miles, and a Manchester. population of just over 6,353,000 ; the This change has become necessary North-Eastern District of Northumber- owing to the great development in the land, Durham and Yorkshire, with an Institution's work during recent years, area of 9,100 square miles, and a and the great increase in the number of population of just over 6,400,000. 228 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

News from the Branches. 1st October to 31st December. Greater London. Allenby, R.N.. Vice-President, in the BARNES (SURREY).—Concert. chair. The Annual Report showed that BERMONDSEY.—Concert. the Life-boat had been out on two occasions, and that £344 had been CLAPHAM.—Address to the Rotary raised as compared with £296 in the Club by the Organizing Secretary. previous year. Of this sum the Ladies' ; HAYES.—Annual Meeting on 15th Life-boat Guild contributed £250. as November. Speaker : The District compared with £69 in the previous year. Organizing Secretary. The Annual BLACKPOOL (LANCASHIRE).—Meeting Report showed that £51 had been raised. of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Whist ILFORD (ESSEX).—Concert and pre- Drive. sentation of Certificates in the Life-boat Dinner to the Life-boat C'rew by the Essay Competition. Speakers : The Mayor, who presented the Inscribed Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Barometers awarded to Councillor C. E. Tatham (Honorary Secretary) and Mr. ST. PAXCRAS.—Address to the Rotary E. Flower by the Institution for rescuing Club by the Organizing Secretary. a stranded yachtsman at considerable STOKE NEWIXGTON.—Address to the ri

GATESHEAD (DURHAM). — Annual which was shown the film of the New fleeting on 2nd November. The Annual Brighton Motor Life-boat returning Report showed that £183 had been with the 23 men rescued on 24th Novem- raised, as compared with £105 in the ber from the French steamer Emile previous year. Delmas. GOLBOURXE (LANCASHIRE).—Annual ORRELL (LANCASHIRE).—Whist Drive : Meeting on 18th October, at which steps and Dance. were taken to revive the activities of the PADIHAM (LANCASHIRE). — Whist Branch. Drive. HALIFAX (YORKSHIRE). — Annual PIEL, BARROW (LANCASHIRE). — Meeting on 5th October. The Annual Annual Meeting of the Branch and Report showed that £233 had been Ladies' Life-boat Guild on 27th Novem- raised as compared with £144 in the ber, Mr. ,T. M. Mawson, J.P. (Honorary previous year, the expenses being only Secretary), presiding in the absence of £1 9.s. Id." the Mayor. The Annual Report showed Bridge Drive organized by the that there had been one launch on Mayoress. service, and that £258 had been raised, HECKMOXDWIKE (YORKSHIRE). — as compared with £133 in the previous Whist Drive. year. To this sum the Guild had contri- IXCE (LANCASHIRE).— Annual Meeting buted £70. of the Branch and Ladies' Life-boat PORT ERIX (!SLE OF MAN).—Annual Guild on 3rd October. The Annual Meeting on 12th October. The Annual Report showed that the Guild, which Report showed that there had been one was only formed in February, had raised launch on service, and that £363 had over £66 by the end of September. The been raised, as compared with £389 in Honorary Secretary, Mrs. W. Smith, the previous year. The Ladies' Life- was cordially thanked. boat Guild was cordially thanked. KEXDAI. (WESTMORLAND).—Annual PORT ST. MARY (!SLE OF MAN).— Meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild, Annual Meeting on 10th December, 3rd December. A sum of £135 had been Mr. F. W. Lawson, J.P., the Chairman, collected as compared with £106 the presiding. The Annual Report showed previous year. that £74 had been raised as compared KIRKBY STEPHEN (LANCASHIRE).— with £49 in the previous year. Whist Drive and Dance. RADCLIFFE (LANCASHIRE). — Annual 31eeting on 8th October, fit which steps KlRKHEATOX (YORKSHIRE). HoUSe- to-house Collection. were taken to revive the activities of the Branch. LVMM AND HEATLEY (CHESHIRE).— Whist Drive and Dance. RAMSEY (!SLE OF MAN).—Annual Meeting on 17th December, the Rev. MARKET WEIGHTOX (YORKSHIRE).— W. M. Harrison, M.A., Chairman, pre- Whist Drive. siding. The Annual Report showed MELTHAM (YORKSHIRE). — Annual that there had been one launch on Meeting. The Annual Report showed service, and that the sum of £152 had that £36 had been raised. been collected, as compared with £150 Whist Drive and Dance, with an in the previous year. A presentation address by Sir Charles Wilson, M.P., was made to the Bowman, Harry Chairman of the Leeds Branch. Sharpe, who has been connected with the Station for 40 years. MYTHOLMROYD (YORKSHIRE). — House-to-house Collection. RAWMARSK (YORKSHIRE). — Organ ' NEW BRIGHTON (CHESHIRE).—Two Recital. special performances at the Trocadero ROCHDALE (LANCASHIRE).—Meeting Cinema, attended by the New Brighton at the Town Hall at which the Ladies' Committee and the Life-boat Crew, at Life-boat Guild was reconstituted. 230 THE LIFEBOAT. MARCH, 1929 ROMILEY (CHESHIRE) .—The first HANDSWORTH. (STAFFORDSHIRE). — Annual Meeting was held on 9th Octo- Address to the Brotherhood. ber, Mrs. Kinsey, President of the HEAGE AND BELPER (DERBYSHIRE).— Guild, in the chair. The Annual Report Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, showed that £40 had been raised. Mr. Joseph Allsop. | SALFORD (MANCHESTER, SALFORD HINCKLEY (LEICESTERSHIRE). — | AND DISTRICT BRANCH, LANCASHIRE).— Special Works and Banks Appeal. j Whist Drive, attended by the Mayor HORNCASTLE (LINCOLNSHIRE). — and Mayoress. Dance at Coningsby. STAINLAND (YORKSHIRE). — Whist ILKESTON (DERBYSHIRE).—Meeting Drive and Dance organized by the to restart the Branch. Life-boat Day. Ladies' Life-boat Guild. LETCHLADE AND FAIRFORD (GLOUCES- STANDISH (LANCASHIRE).—Annual TERSHIRE). —Branch formed. Honorary Meeting on 1st November. The Annual Secretary, Mr. W. Birkley-Forrester. Report showed that £55 had been raised, as compared with £88 in the previous NOTTINGHAM (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE).— year. Annual Meeting on 20th November, the Lord Mayor (Alderman AtYiey) presiding. STOCKTON AND THORNABY (DURHAM). Speaker : Sir Godfrey Baring, Bart., —Annual Meeting on 24th September. Chairman of the Committee of Manage- The Annual Report showed that £170 ment of the Institution. The Annual had been raised. Report showed that £342 had been Whist Drive and Dance. raised, as compared with £581 in the URMSTON (LANCASHIRE). — Whist previous year. Drive. NUNEATON (WARWICKSHIRE). — WESTHOUGHTON (LANCASHIRE). — Branch revived. Honorary Secretary, Whist Drive. Mr. George Cross, Junr. Life-boat Day. WIGAN (LANCASHIRE).—" Bring and RETFORD (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE). — Buy" Sale arranged by the Ladies' Whist Drive and Dance. Life-boat Guild. STOKE-ON-TREXT (STAFFORDSHIRE).— Life-boat Day. Midlands. SUTTON - IN - ASHFIELD (NOTTING- BARNT GREEN (WARWICKSHIRE) — HAMSHIRE).—Dance and Whist Drive. Branch formed (district of Birmingham ToWCESTER (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE) .— Branch). Honorary Secretary, Mrs. Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, Newman. Mr. W. W. Baker. Dance." BIRMINGHAM (WARWICKSHIRE). — UPPIXGHAM (RUTLANDSHIRE). — Dance, Concert, Wireless Appeal. Concert. BRISTOL (GLoucESTERSHrRE). — WEDNESFIELU (STAFFORDSHIRE).— Annual Ball Whist Drive and Dance. CANNOCK (STAFFORDSHIRE). — Life- WOLVERHAMPTON (STAFFORDSHIRE). boat Day. Address at Sunday Concert. —Address to the Rotary Club. CHADSMORE (STAFFORDSHIRE). — Life-boat Address in the church. South-East of England. COSELEY AND SEDGELEY (STAFFORD- AMERSHAM (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE).— SHIRE).—Branch formed. Honorary Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, Secretary, Mr. T. B. Davies. Mr. A. E. Whitcomb. DAVENTRY (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE). — ASHFORD (KENT).—Branch formed. Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, Honorary Secretary. Mrs. Alexander. Mrs. W. Edgar. AYLSHAM (NORFOLK.). — Branch GRIMSBY (LINCOLNSHIRE). — Whist formed. Honorary Secretary, . Com- Drive and Dance. Concert. mander E. A. Day, R.N. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 231 BEDFORD (BEDFORDSHIRE).—House- GUILDFORD (SURREY). — House-to- to-house Collection. House Collection. Special Meeting, BRENTWOOD (ESSEX). — Branch with Alderman W. T. Patrick presiding, formed. Honorary Secretary, Mrs. at which Mr. H. Hargood, O.B.E., a Churchill. Vice-President of the Institution, gave an address and received the cheque for BROADSTAIRS (KENT). — Branch the collection. formed. Honorary Secretary, H. E. Slade, Esq. HORSHAM (Si'SSEx).—Address to the Rotary Club by the Organizing Secretary. BYFLEET AXD PYRFORD (SURREY).— Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, HUNTINGDON (HUNTINGDONSHIRE). Paymaster-Rear-Admiral C. S. Wonham, —Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, C.B.E. Mr. J. H. Howgate, B.A., F~C.S. KESSINGLAND (SUFFOLK).—Life-boat CAMBERLEY (SURREY).—Drawing- Service in the Parish Church. room Meeting. Branch formed. Hono- rary Secretary, Miss J. Hilary. MARGATE (KENT).—Dinner and En- tertainment for the Life-boat Crew by CANTERBURY (KENT).—Lecture by the 'Mrs. T. W. Gomm, wife of the Honorary Organizing Secretary to St. Edmund's Secretary. Among tho.se present were School. the Mayor and Mayoress and Colonel DORKING (SURREY).—Branch formed. E. 0. Skey, Chairman of the Branch. Honorary Secretary, Miss Stilhvell. ROCHESTER (KENT).—Church Collec- DOVER (KENT).—Branch formed. tion. Honorary Secretary, Dr. Richardson. ST. IVES (HUNTINGDONSHIRE).—Life- Ladies' Life-boat Guild formed. boat Day. Honorary Secretary, Miss Jordan. SHERINGHAM (NORFOLK).—Life-boat EASTBOURNE (SUSSEX).—Annual Day. Meeting on Hth November, Mr. Ernest UCKFIELD (SUSSEX).—Branch formed. Armstrong, Chairman, presiding. Honorary Secretary, Rev. K. H. Mac- Speaker : Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Dermott. Secretary of the Institution. The WESTGATE-ON-SEA (KENT).—Branch Annual Report showed that the Life- formed. Honorary Secretary, Mr. G. L. boat had been out once on service, and Watson. that £1,397 had been raised, as com- WOLVERTON (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE).— pared with £1,489 in the previous year. Branch formed. Honorary Secretary, Mr. Armstrong's resignation as Chair- Mr. Albert Brown, J.P. man was accepted with regret. Mr. Shee paid a tribute to his services, and South-West of England. spoke of the invaluable work done by BATH (SOMERSET).—Annual Meeting Mrs. Astley Roberts as President of the The Report showed that £341 had been Guild, and Mr. A. Robertson as Hono- raised as compared with £345 in the rary Secretary of the Branch. Mr. previous year. Entertainment at the Norman Holland was elected Chairman. Theatre. Whist Drive. EGHAM AND ENGLEFIELD GREEN BUDE (CORNWALL).—Annual Meeting (SURREY).—Branch formed. Honorary on 2nd October. The Annual Report Secretary, Paymaster-Rear-Admiral B. showed that £161 had been raised, as U. Colclough, C.B.E., R.N. compared with £143 in the previous year. ELY (CAMBRIDGESHIRE).— Life-boat CREDITON (DEVONSHIRE).—Lecture Day. and Life-boat films at the Cinema. FOLKESTONE (KENT).—Annual Meet- • EXETER (DEVONSHIRE). — Monthly ing. The Annual Report showed that Whist Drives. Bridge Drive and Dance, there had been one launch on service, organized by the Master Butchers' Asso- and that £353 had been raised as com- ciation. pared with £258 in the previous year. LAUNCESTON (CORNWALL). — Meeting Bridge Tournament. and display of films at the Cinema. '232 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929. NEWTOX ABBOT (DEVONSHIRE). — DUMFRIES (DUMFRIES-SHIRE). — House-to-house Collection. Address by Captain A. S. Balfour, OKEHAMPTOX (DEVOXSHIRE).—Meet- O.B.E., a member of the Edinburgh ing and display of films at the Cinema. Committee. OXFORD (OXFORDSHIRE).—Life-boat DfMBARTOX (l)UMBARTOXSHTRE).— Day. "' At Home " to collectors, with Life-boat Day. Life-boat Address. DUNDEE (FORFARSHIHE).—Annual PORTSMOUTH (HAMPSHIRE). — Annual Meeting on 5th October. Speaker : Meeting. The Annual Report showed The Duke of Montrose, Chairman of the that £417 had been raised, as compared Scottish Council. The Annual Report with £429 in the previous year. Pre- showed that there had been one launch sentation by the Lady Mayoress of the on service of the Broughty Ferry Life- Challenge Shield (South of England), boat, and that £385 had been raised as won by Harold Mills, Drayton Road compared with £170 in the previous Boys' School, Portsmouth. year. The reason for this increase is that SALCOMBE AXD HOPE COVE (Dsvox). the bulk of the 1927 House-to-House —Annual Meeting on 9th October. The Collection was received just after the Annual Report showed that £173 had close of the financial year, so that the been raised, as compared with £162 in 1928 figure includes this part of the the previous year. A special vote of 1927 Collection. thanks was passed to Mrs. Street, Mrs. EDIXBURGH.—Annual Meeting on Prowse and Mrs. Trevenar for their 20th November. Speakers : The Senior efforts in obtaining the largest sum so Magistrate (Bailie Hay), Admiral Sir far raised by the Branch. John F. E. Green, Captain C. K. SHERBORXE (DORSET).—Special meet- M'Intosh, R.N.R., and Dr. A. Darling. ing organized by the Ladies' Life-boat The Annual Report showed that £1,978 Guild to increase interest in the Institu- had been raised as compared with £1,595 tion. Speakers : Rear-Admiral Isorris, in the previous year. C.B., C.M.G., the Rev. Canon S. H. GOUROCK (REXFREWSHIRE).—Whist Wingfield Digby and Mr. George F. Drive arranged by the Ladies' Guild. Shee, 31.A.. Secretary of the Institution. JOHXSTOXE (RENFREWSHIRE).—Life- SWIXDOX (WILTSHIRE). — Special boat Day. meeting arranged by the Mayoress. WINCHESTER (HAMPSHIRE) . —House- KILMARXOCK (AYRSHIRE).—Address to-house Collection, Bridge Drive, Sale to the Rotary Club. and Tea. Both organized by the Ladies' KIRKCUDBRIGHT (KIRKCUDBRIGHT- Life-boat Guild. SHIRE).—Annual Meeting on 30th No- Scotland. vember, Dr. Norris presiding. The ARBROATH (FORFARSHIRE).—Whist Annual Report showed that £137 had Drive. been collected as compared with £102 in the previous year. ARDRISHAIG (ARGYLLSHIRE).—Whist Drive, Children's Concert. MoXTHOSE (FORFARSHIRE).—Whist BRIDGE OF ALLAX (STIRLIXGSHIRE).— Drive. Life-boat Day. MOTHERWELL (LAXARKSHIRE).—Life- CAMPBELTOWX, MACHRIHAXISH AXD boat Day. SOUTHEXD (ARGYLLSHIRE). — Annual NEWBURGH (ABERDEEXSHIRE). — Meeting on 15th October, Ex-Provost Ladies' Life-boat Guild formed. Ad- Mitchell, Chairman, presiding. The dress by Captain A. S. Balfour, O.B.E., Annual Report showed that there had a member of the Committee of the Edin- been one launch on service, 15 lives burgh Branch. being rescued, and that £173 had been raised, as compared with £172 in the PAISLEY (REXFREWSHIRE).—Life- previous year. boat Day. MABCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 233 STOBNOWAY (ISLAND or LEWIS).— PORTRUSH (Co. ANTRIM).—Cinema Whist Drive and Dance. Entertainment and Cinema Collection. WISHAW (LANARKSHIRE).—Life-boat TUAM (Co. GAL WAY) .—Branch formed. Day. Honorary Treasurer, Mr. W. F. Pur- Thirty-four Lantern Lectures were cell ; Honorary Secretary, Mr. R. M. given during the Quarter. Burke. Dance. Ireland. WATERFORD (Co. WATERFORD).— Life-boat Day. ABBEYFEALE (Co. LIMERICK).—Life- boat Day. WEXFORD (Co. WEXFORD).—Life- CLONMEL (Co. TIPPERARY).—Life- boat Day. Wales. boat Day. (Including Herefordshire and Shropshire.) ENNIS (Co. CLARE).—Children's Dance. ABERGAVENNY (MONMOUTHSHIRE).— Whist Drive. ENNISKILLEN (Co. FERMANAGH).—By the death of Lady Mary Lowry-Corry on BANGOR (CAERNARVONSHIRE).—Con- 5th October the Institution has lost an cert. Honorary Secretary who, for over BASCHURCH (SALOP).—Church ser- twenty years, had carried on the work vice. of the Branch. CONWAY (CAERNARVONSHIRE). — KILLORGLIN (Co. KERRY).—Life-boat Dance at which the Mayor and Mayoress Day. were present, the Mayor making a LISTOWEL (Co. KERRY).—Life-boat special appeal. Day. NEWPORT (MONMOUTHSHIRE).—Whist NEWCASTLE WEST (Co. LIMERICK).— Drive. Life-boat Day. WELLINGTON (SALOP).—Whist Drive.

Forthcoming Articles. OWING to the space given in this number successful balls held at Glasgow and to the Rye disaster a number of articles Belfast, of a very successful theatrical which would otherwise have appeared entertainment at Exeter, and of Life- have been held over until the next issue. boat carol singing last Christmas. They include an article on the Life-boat We are glad to say, however, that Service in Iceland (which will be fol- the work done all over the United King- lowed in a later issue by an article on dom by our Honorary workers, and the present Russian Service) ; the especially by the devoted women who article, mentioned in the last issue, on are members of the Ladies' Life-boat the work of the International Hydro- Guild, is increasing to such an extent graphic Bureau ; and accounts of the that it is becoming impossible to give centenary presentations at Blyth and more than a very brief notice of many Aberdeen, of the Aberdeen Conference events which deserve, and have fully of Life-boat Workers, of two most earned, our heartfelt thanks.

Notice. The next number of THE LIFEBOAT will be published in MAY, 1929.

When you have read this number, will you kindly pass it on to a friend, unless you are keeping a complete set of the Journal ? 234 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

Services of the Life-boats of the Institution during 1928.

Persons Time of rescued from 1928. Launching. shipwreck. Jan. 1. 2.30a.m. S.S. Hesperides, of Liverpool. Hauxley Life-boat rendered assistance. 6.32 a.m. Steam drifter Paramount, of Ramsgate. Kamsgate Life-boat . 5 10.15 a.m. S.S. Lady Gertrude Cochrane, of Glasgow. Rosslare Harbour Life- boat landed one sick man. 11.50a.m. Motor fishing boat Dewdrop, of Whitehills. Whitehills Life-boat stood by boat. 1.30 p.m. Motor yawl Rejoice, of Spittal. Holy Island No. 1 Life-boat saved yawl and rescued 3 Motor yawl Ellen Fairbairn, of Eyemouth. Holy Island No. 1 Life-boat stood by yawl. 2.35 p.m. Fishing boats Remembrance, Irene and Faith, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. 3. 0 p.m. S.S. Moyle, of London. Porthdinllaen Life-boat stood by vessel. 3.15 p.m. Fishing coble Guide Me, of Whitby. Scarborough Life-boat stood by coble. 3.55 p.m. Motor fishing boat Fife's Own, of Scarborough. Filey Life-boat stood by boat. „ 10. 11. 0 a.m. The fishing fleet of Montrose. Montrose No. 1 Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 10. 12 noon. The fishing fleet of Abroath. Abroath Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 12. 4.30 p.m. A motor fishing boat of Montrose. Johnshaven Life-boat stood by boat. 7. 5 p.m. Fishing smack Golinda, of Lowestoft. Lowestoft Life-boat . . 4 1.15p.m. Motor fishing boats Irene, Faith, Diligence, Remembrance, Lady Kitchener, and Pilot Me, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. Motor fishing boats Fortuna, and Guide Me, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat saved boats and rescued 9 2.45 a.m. S.S. Cewea, of Hamburg. Palling No. 1 Life-boat stood by vessel. 3.30 p.m. S.S. Ferento, of Genoa. North Deal Life-boat stood by vessel. 11.10 a.m. Motor fishing coble Isaac Edward, of Boulmer. Boulmer Life-boat stood by coble. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 235

Persons Time of rescued from 1928. Launching. shipwreck. Jan. 22. 8. Op.m. Motor launch Bessie, of Swansea. The Mumbles Life-boat saved 2 „ 24. 12.15p.m. Barge Lily, of Whitstable. Dungeness No. 2 Life-boat saved vessel and rescued . . 3 „ 24. 12.55p.m. A motor fishing boat of Wicklow. Wicklow Life-boat stood by boat. ,, 25. 9.15 a.m. Ketch Harold, of London. Cromer No. 1 Life-boat assisted to save vessel and rescued ...... 3 „ 28. 12.55p.m. Fishing boat Our Willie, of Brixham. Torbay Life-boat saved boat and rescued . . ... 2 Feb. 2. 7.50 a.m. S.S. Achill, of Belfast. Maryport Life-boat stood by vessel, 1 rendered assistance and landed 3. „ 4-5. 7.12 a.m. Steam trawler Cyclone, of Boulogne. Bamsgate Life-boat assisted to save vessel and rescued .... 16 „ 7. 12.37 p.m. Fishing boat Boy Bob, of Yarmouth. Palling No. 2 Life-boat . 1 „ 10. 9.15 a.m. The fishing fleet of Newbiggin. Newbiggiu Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 10. 11. Oa.m. The fishing fleet of Montrose. Montrose No. 1 Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 10. 12.30 p.m. The fiahing fleet of Arbroath. Arbroath Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 10. 2. Op.m. Fishing cobles of Bridlington. Bridlington Life-boat stood by cobles. „ 10. 4.45 p.m. Barge Link Light, of London. Margate Life-boat landed 3. „ 10. 5.55 p.m. French yawl Barbara. Bembridge Life-boat saved vessel. „ 10. 9.25p.m. Fishing sm&rk Arrowvale, of Milford. Angle Life-boat . 4 „ 10. 10.58 p.m. Schooner Agnes Qlover, of Castletown. Holyhead No. 1 (Steam) Life-boat .... 4 „ 10. 11.10p.m. Barge Emma, of Portland. Weymouth Life-boat stood by vessel. 11. 2. 5 p.m. S S Taortnina of Oslo P&dstow No I Life- boat 18 „ 15. 11.40a.m. Motor fishing yawl Sarah Brigham, of Holy Island. Holy Island No. 1 Life-boat rendered assistance. Motor fishing yawl Nellie, of Holy Island. Holy Island No. 1 Life- boat saved vessel and rescued 2 Motor fishing yawls Water Lily, Blossom and Marquis of Lassie, of Sea Houses. Holy Island No. 1 Life-boat saved boats and rescued ...... 11 „ 15. 9. Op.m. S.S. Orlockhead, of Belfast. Ardrossan Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 17. 6.15a.m. S.S. Varand, of London. New Brighton No. 2 Life-boat . 42 „ 17. 7.15p.m. Barque Jeanne D'Arc, of Havre. Dungeness No. 1 Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 20. 10.45 p.m. S.S. Marta, of Hamburg. Cresswell Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 25. 10. Op.m. Steam trawler Isle of Wight, of Hull. Newburgh Life-boat 10 „ 28. 2.15p.m. Coble Morning Star, of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat escorted coble into harbour. Mar. 1. 1.30 p.m. Steam drifter John Somers, of Galway. Galway Bay Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 4. 12.20a.m. Schooner Matilda, of Wexford. Appledore Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 10. 7.45 a.m. Coble Florence, of Bunswiok. Bunswick Life-boat stood by coble. „ 14- 11.10a.m. Four cobles of Filey. Filey Life-boat stood by cobles. „ 15. 3.20 p.m. S.S. Peggy Grieve, of Grimsby. Hauxley Life-boat stood by vessel. 236 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

Persons Time of rescued from 1928. Launching, shipwreck . Mar. 16. 2.45 a.m. Steam trawler Night Hawk, of Grimsby. The Humber Life-boat rendered assistance.

» 16*vr», 10. 0 p.m. 15 „ 17. 9.30 a.m. S.S. Alicia, of Libau. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Life-boat 11 „ 19. 10.15 a.m. Steam trawler Lard Devonport, of Hull. Stromness Life-boat . 6 „ 20. 1. Op.m. Motor fishing cobles Eagle, Morning Star and Golden Gate, of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat stood by eoblea. „ 20. 1. Op.m. Fishing yawl Hero, of Dunbar. Dunbar Life-boat saved yawl and 1 „ 21. 4.50 a.m. S.S. Deal, of London. Donaghadee Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 21. 5.45 a.m. S.S. Deal, of London. Glou.gb.ey Life-boat stood by vessel. ,, 22. 4.30 a.m. Smack Wave Crest, of Lowestoft. Palling No. 1 Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 23. 11.30 a.m. S.S. Gatwick, of London. Kobin Hood's Bay Life-boat stood by vessel, and rendered assistance. „ 25. 8.50 a.m. Trawler Renaissance, of Aberdeen. Peterhead No. 2 Life-boat . 7 Trawler Firsby, of Granton. Peterhead No. 2 Life-boat landed 2 and stood by vessel. „ 25. 10.30 a.m. Steam trawler Star of Britain, of Aberdeen. Fraserburgh Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 29. 10.50 a.m. Eleven motor fishing boats of Newbiggin. Newbiggin Life-boat stood by boats. „ 29. 11.40 a.m. Fishing vessels Wayside Flower, Boys Own, Premier II,, Excelsior, Ilex and Rosamond, of Bridlington. Bridlington Life-boat stood by fishing vessels. „ 29 12.15p.m. Motor fishing cobles Morning Star, Jack and Reliance II., of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat stood by cobles. Motor fishing boat Dawn, of Bridlington. Scarborough Life-boat stood by boat. „ 29. 5.53 p.m. Barge Greenhithe, of London. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Life-boat stood by vessel. April 3. 12.25 p.m. Yacht Coquette, of London. Clacton-on-Sea Life-boat saved vessel and rescued ...... 4 „ 3. 4.11 p.m. Admiralty drifter Cold Snap. Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 8. 6.40 a.m. Motor coble Eagle, of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat escorted coble into harbour. „ 10. 1.20 a.m. Motor barge Ramble, of London. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Life-boat saved vessel and rescued 5 ,, 13. 9.20 a.m. Motor fishing cobles Ebeneezer and Golden Gate, of Scarborough, Scarborough Life-boat stood by cobles. „ 13. 1. Op.m. Fishing boat Premier II., of Bridlington. Scarborough Life-boat stood by boat. „ 13. 5. 0 p.m. Motor fishing boat Miseltoe, of Bridlington. Scarborough Life-boat stood by boat. ,, 17. 8.15p.m. Motor fishing coble Our Boys, of Newbiggin. Newbiggin Life-boat saved coble and rescued 4 „ 18. 12 noon. Motor fishing boats Pilot Me and Guide Me, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. „ 18. 3.35 p.m. Motor coble Heather, of Filey. Filey Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 20. 2.15 p.m. Motor fishing boats Guide Me, Pilot Me and Remembrance, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. MABCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 237

Persona Time of rescued from 1928. Launching. shipwreck. April29. 6.40a.m. S.S. 8t. Sunniva, of Aberdeen. Peterheid No. 2 Life-boat landed 45. „ 30. 2.15 a.m. Steam trawler Sarah, of North Shields. Newbiggin Life-boat . 9 May 7. 11.45a.m. The fishing fleet of Wexford. Rosslare Harbour Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 16. 6.15 p.m. Motor fishing boat Victor and Millie, of Southwold. Southwold Life-boat saved boat and rescued 2 „ 17. 4. 5 a.m. Schooner Isabella, of Barrow. Bamsgate Life-boat saved vessel and rescued 4 ,, 18. 9. 8a.m. Yacht Valetta, of Falmouth. Weymouth Life-boat stood by vessel. June 6. 2.50 a.m. Steam trawler Abelia, of Grimsby. The Humber Life-boat stood by vessel. ,, 9. 11.30a.m. Yacht Arrow, of London. Porthdinllaen Life-boat saved boat and rescued 1 ,, 9. 7.40 p.m. Ketch Leonora Minnie, of Brixham. Tenby Life-boat landed 3. „ 14. 11.0a.m. Fishing yawl Jane, of Wexford. Rosslare Harbour Life-boat saved boat and rescued 3 ,, 14. 2. 0 p.m. Motor fishing boat Victory, of Grimsby. Scarborough Life-boat escorted boat into harbour. „ 16. 11. 0 a.m. Coble Margaret, of Seaham Harbour. Hartlepool Life-boat saved boat and rescued 2 „ 22. 6.30 a.m. S.S. Pelican, of Cardiff. Minehead Life-boat 5 ,, 22. 4.55p.m. Steam drifter Regain, of Lowestoft. Aberdeen No. 1 Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 22. 5.45p.m. Sailing boat Ugly, of London. Lowestoft Life-boat saved boat and rescued 1 „ 23. 1. Oa.m. Schooner Mary Ann, of Guernsey. Caister No. 1 Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 25. 3.45 a.m. Motor fishing boat Mica, of Lowestoft. Lowestoft Life-boat stood by boat. ,, 26. 4.10 a.m. Fishing boat Mallard, of Brighton. Newhaven Life-boat stood by boat. „ 26. 6.30p.m. Cutter Borem/ Jean, of Poole. Weymouth Life-boat saved boat and rescued 2 ,, 30. 4. 0 p.m. Yacht Esterel, of Dublin. Helvick Head Life-boat assisted yacht. July 6. 1.12 p.m. A small fishing boat of Eastbourne. Hastings Life-boat stood by boat. „ 14. 6.20 p.m. Cobles Klondike and Frank, of Seaham. Sunderland Life-boat saved boats and rescued 7 „ 22. 11.5a.m. Yacht Frebelle, of the Northern Yacht Club. Peterhead Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 30. 4. 0 p.m. Motor Yacht Musme, of London. Margate Life-boat rendered assistance. Aug. 5. 12.15 a.m. Motor yacht Frothblower, of London. Margate Life-boat assisted vessel into harbour. „ 6. 11.0a.m. A small boat of Porthdinllaen. Porthdinllaen Life-boat saved boat and rescued 4 „ 12. 11.15p.m. Steam trawler Oldham, of Milford Haven. Rosslare Harbour Life - boat 11 „ 20. 9.30 p.m. Motor launches Sussex Queen and Sussex Maid. Southend-on-Sea Life-boat saved launches and rescued 4 „ 25. 11.15 a.m. Norwegian motor schooner Bru. Stromness Life-boat assisted to save vessel. 238 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

Persons Time of rescued from 1928. Launching. shipwreck. Aug. 26. 4.40 p.m. A ship's boat of motor vessel Heather Pet. Berwiok-on-Tweed Life- boat stood by boat. ,, 26. 7.37 p.m. Yacht Temptress, of Glasgow. Rosslare Harbour Life-boat saved 3 26. 10.30 p.m. S S. JE. Rose, of Yarmouth. Lowestoft Life-boat 8 Jt 27. 11. Op.m. Yacht Iris, of Colchester. Clacton-on-Sea Life-boat saved yacht. ,, 29, 1.50 p.m. Small motor boat Angora. Montrose No. 1 Life-boat rendered assistance. Sept. 6. 7.45 p.m. Motor yacht Sea Hawk. Worthing Life-boat saved yacht and rescued . . 3

» 11. 11.10p.m. Fishing boat Young Cecil, of Brighton. Newhaven Life-boat ren- dered assistance.

,, 12. 3.20 p.m. Yacht Pamela, of Southampton. Southend-on-Sea Life-boat stood by vessel.

,, 17. 10.20 p.m. S.S. Oliva, of London. Campbeltown No. 1 Life-boat .... 15

5> 28. 10.10 a.m. Motor fishing yawls Isabella and jBuentide, of Holy Island. Holy Island No. 1 Life-boat stood by boats.

f 28. 3.20 p.m. Fishing boats Protect Me and Sceptre, of Scarborough. Scar- borough Life-boat stood by boats.

„ 28. 5.55 p.m. Schooner Bracldey, of Wicklow. Kilmore Life-boat .... 4 Oct. 5. 1. Op.m. Yacht Jimbet, of Ramsgate. Hastings Life-boat saved vessel and rescued 2 >» 6. 6.45 a.m. Steam trawler Darwen, of Fleetwood. Cresswell Life-boat rendered assistance. ,, 6. 10.50 p.m. S.S. City of Lancaster, of Liverpool. Southend-on-Sea Life-boat stood by vessel. »» 7. 7. 0 p.m. Steam trawler Kilgerran Castle, of Swansea. Galway Bay Life- boat stood by vessel. »> 14. 2.35 p.m. Motor ketch Nelly Mary, of Bideford. Lynmouth Life-boat . 2 „ 18. 12.50 p.m. Ketch Ivy, of Falmouth. Torbay Life-boat stood by vessel. ,, 18. 2.15 p.m. Motor fishing boat Fulgens, of Yarmouth. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Life-boat saved boat and rescued 3 *» 18. 11. Op.m. St. Mary's Life-boat took a sick girl to hospital at Penzance. 19. 7.16p.m. Small boat Gem. New Brighton No. 2 Life-boat 3 ^ 20. 3.45 a.m. Hopper Iron Duke, of Barrow. Piel (Barrow) Life-boat 2 » 23. 6.48 a.m. Motor drifter Fisher Lass, of Fraserburgh. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 25. 2.37 a.m. H.M. Drifter Lunar Bow. Aberdeen No. 1 Life-boat assisted to save vessel. »» 25. 4.15 a.m. H.M. Drifter Lunar Bow. Aberdeen No. 2 Life-boat landed 2. »> 26. 4.20 p.m. Schooner Hanna, of Poole. Dungeness No. 2 Life-boat 4 » 27. 12.47 p.m. S.S. Mona, of Antwerp. Penlee Life-boat stood by vessel. ft 27. 2. 0 p.m. Ketch Ivy, of Falmouth. Torbay Life-boat rendered assistance. 27. 3. 0 t>.mf *~*. S.S. Gap. Coverack Life-boat . . . 6 *> 29. 10.15 p.m. Barge Florence Scholey, of London. Ramsgate Life-boat saved vessel and rescued 3 » 31. 4.30 p.m. Cutter Kate, of Ballinagoul. Helvick Head Life-boat stood by vessel* Nov. 3. 10.15 a.m. The fishing fleet of Gourdon. Gourdon Life- boat stood by fishing fleet. ,, 5. 11.45 p.m. Motor fishing coble Mary Eose, of Whitby. Whitby No. 2 Life- boat escorted coble into harbour. MARCH, 1929.] THE LIFEBOAT. 239

Persons Time of rescued from 1928. Launching. shipwreck. Nov. 6. 8.10 a.m. S.S. Solway Firth, of Glasgow. Margate Life-boat 10 „ 8. 10. 0 a.m. Eight motor fishing cobles of Staithes. Staithes Life-boat stood by cobles. „ 14. 8. 0 p.m. Two fishing boats. Poolbeg Life-boat 10 „ 15. 8. 0 a.m. Schooner Oosterschelde, of Amsterdam. Hythe Life-boat stood by vessel. ,, 16. 12 noon. Motor trawler Test, of Brixham. Torbay Life-boat saved vessel and rescued 2 Tug Heros, of Hamburg, and a floating dock. Torbay Life-boat stood by vessels. „ 16. 12 noon. Fishing cobles Unity and Doris, of Flamborough. Flamborough No. 1 Life-boat stood by cobles. „ 16. 1. 0 p.m. S.S. Kentish Coast, of Liverpool. Plymouth Life-boat .... 7 „ 16. 1.45p.m. Ten fishing vessels of Bridlington. Bridlington Life-loat stood by

„ 16. 1.50 p.m. Motor fishing boat Elsie, of Kirkcudbright. Kirdcudbright Life- boat 1 „ 16. 6. 5 p.m. Schooner Mary Barrow, of Barrow. Ramsgate Life-boat ... 6 „ 16. 8.50 p.m. S.S. HurUerfield, of Leith. Southend-on-Sea Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 16. 6.40p.m. Barge Ethel Everard, of London. Margate Life-boat .... 11 „ 17. 5. 0 a.m. Barge Ethel Everard, of London. Margate Life-boat assisted to save vessel. ,, 17. 7.20a.m. Schooner Mary Barrow, of Barrow. Eamsgate Life-boat assisted to save vessel. „ 20. 8.30 p.m. Steam trawler Tynemouth Castle, of North Shields. Cresswell Life- boat landed 9. „ 21. 11.20a.m. Four fishing vessels of Montrose. Montrose No. 1 Life-boat stood by vessels. ,, 21. 11.45a.m. The fishing fleet of Gourdon. Gourdon Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 21. 10.30 p.m. Steam trawler Tynemouth Castle, of North Shields. Cresswell Life- boat landed 9. „ 22. 4.15p.m. Two fishing boats of Bembridge. Bembridge Life-boat saved boats and rescued 4 ,, 23. 9.0a.m. Herring drifter Battling Jack, of Clovelly. Clovelly Life-boat . 2 „ 23. 10.15 a.m. Three fishing boats of Southwold. Southwold Life-boat stood by boats. Fishing boats Betsy and Vigilant, of Southwold. Southwold Life- boat saved boats and rescued 6 „ 23. 10.17 a.m. The fishing fleet of Newbiggin. Newbiggin Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. „ 23. 10.45 a.m. Fishing cobles Jock, Oeoffery, Pelican, Kingfisher and Eagle, of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat escorted cobles into harbour. „ 23. 11.20a.m. The fishing fleet of Bridlington. Bridlington Life-boat stood by fishing fleet. ,, 23. 11.45a.m. Fishing boats Dorothy, Ida and Ted, of Deal. North Deal Life-boat saved boats and 6 ,, 23. 11.53a.m. Fishing boat Allright, of Deal. Ramsgate Life-boat saved boat and rescued 2 „ 23. 12 noon. Fishing coble Doris, of Flamborough. Flamborough No. I Life- boat stood by coble. 240 THE LIFEBOAT. [MARCH, 1929.

Persons Time of rescued from 1928. Launching. shipwreck. Nov. 23. 12.14p.m. Fishing boat Sparkling Sea, of Deal. Ramsgate Life-boat saved boat and rescued 2 „ 23. 12.15 p.m. Three fishing boats of Arbroath. Arbroath Life-boat stood by boats. „ 24. 7.45 a.m. S.S. Emile Ddmas, of La Rochelle. New Brighton No. 2 Life-boat 23 „ 24. 10.40 a.m. S.S. Chislehurst, of London. Fishguard Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 27. 5.30 a.m. Motor fishing boat Our Girlie, of Port Isaac. Padstow Steam Tug „ 27. 11.15a.m. Motor fishing boats Pilot Me and Remembrance, of Whit by. Whit by No. 2 Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. Dec. 6. 9.30 a.m. Small boat Florrie, of Aberystwyth. Aberystwyth Life-boat saved boat and rescued „ 7. 3.25 a.m. Boat of S.S. Corcrest, of London, and ketch Kate, of Gloucester. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Life-boat rescued .... 11 „ 10-11. 8.20 a.m. S.S. Celtic, of Liverpool. Ballycotton Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 11. 6.42 a.m. Schooner Thursonian, of Wiek. Cromer No. 1 Life-boat . „ 11. 1.20 p.m. Nine motor fishing boats of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. 1.45 p.m. Motor fishing boats Remembrance and Guide Me, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. 10. 0 a.m. Coble King Fisher, of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat escorted coble into harbour. „ 18. 6.15 a.m. Steam trawler Chimaera, of Grimsby. Montrose No. 1 Life-boat . 8 „ 20. 10. Oa.m. Six fishing boats of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life-boat escorted boats into harbour. 22. 7.40 a.m. S.S. Duris, of Newcastle. Waltou-on-the-Naze Life-boat saved vessel and rescued 14 25. 8.30 p.m. Ketch Henrietta, of Kilkeel. Moelfre Life-boat landed 3. 26. 1.16a.m. The East Goodwin Lightvessel. Ramsgate Life-boat stood by vessel. 26. 1.45 a.m. Schooner Orne, of Svendborg. Teesmouth Life-boat stood by vessel. „ 27. 11.15p.m. Schooner Mountblairy, of Plymouth. Moelfre Life-boat landed 4. „ 28. 4. 0 p.m. Motor fishing boat Diligence, of Whitby. Whitby (Motor) Life- boat escorted boat into harbour. „ 30. 11.15 a.m. Motor fishing coble Dorothy, of Filey. Filey Life-boat stood by coble. „ 30. 11.40a.m. Five motor fishing cobles of Scarborough. Scarborough Life-boat escorted cobles into harbour. „ 30. 4.40 p.m. Steam trawler Elnet, of Ymuiden. Lowestoft Life-boat stood by

„ 31. 1.25 p.m. Schooner Jane Banks, of Fowey. Torbay Life-boat .... 5 Total lives rescued from shipwreck by the Life-boats in 1928, in addition to which the Life-boats saved, or assisted to save, 52 vessels and boats 446 Life-boats also took 84 persons off vessels as a precau- tionary measure and either landed them or transferred them to other vessels. Rewards were also granted by the Institution in the same periods for rescuing from Shipwreck by means of Fishing and other Boats, etc 145 Total for 1928 591