V.C.’S OF THE LIFEBOAT

Evening Star, Issue 19841, 14 April 1928, Page 11

V.C.’S OF THE LIFEBOAT

THREE GIVEN LAST YEAR* 1 i Supremo heroism by lifeboatmen clmw'| ing the year just ended lias been recognised by the award of three gold j medals—the Y-C. of this particular ser-j vice. In addition, one man, the first; for many years, gets the gold medai; for the second time. The iloelfre lifeboat, in Anglesey,won the first two gold medals in the terrible gale on October 28, when gusts of wind of 85 miles an hour were registered, and ton lifeboats went out in one night. The Moclfre boat took off three men from a sinking ketch by the desperate expedient of sailing right over her. The lifeboat ‘ herself was badly damaged by striking the ketch’s deck. She had to light her way home against the gale with three holes in her, * full of water, and with her sails in ribbons. She was out altogether for seventeen hours, and one of her crew died of exposure. 'Hie third gold medal was won when the Hutch oil tanker Georgia broke in half on Haisbro Sands, off the east coast. Three motor lifeboats went cub to her help, and the Cromer boat, after being out for twenty-eight hours, rescued the fifteen men of the Georgia by running alongside the wreck. The lifeboat was turned completely round,flung against the wreck, and badly damaged. Coxswain Hlogg, who was awarded the gold medal for this magnificent rescue, won it before in 1917. The Royal National Lifeboat institution gave rewards during the year for the rescue of 55-J lives, of which eightyfour were saved during feu days in the October and November gules. It has given rewards, since the institution was founded 104 years ago, for the rescue of 01,107 lives from shipw'reeks.