NAVAL DEEDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 128, 26 February 1940, Page 6

NAVAL DEEDS

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE AND HIS DRUM The return to Plymouth Hoe of the cruiser Exeter, covered with honour from the thrilling engagement with the Admiral Graf Spee off Montevideo, has aroused memories in the mind of Mr F. W. Burley, of Hamilton. The mention in the cabled mes-t sage of Drake's drum and sword recalled to Mr Burley that he was present at Plymouth Hoe in the eighties when Drake"s Monument was unveiled. Mr Burley was one of the thousands of children who on that occasion sang:— A song let us sing of old Drake, the great Sea King, Who was born in the West Countree, Whose name and whose fame shall be told with loud acclaim, For he fought for his liberty. I Then sing to Francis Drake, Who made the Spanish quake. For he never would let them be, On sea or on the land, They could not him withstand, For a true British tar was he. And when his days were done, Like a true and loyal son, Drake returned to the deep once more. Dying, D al-e bequeathed his drum and sword to England, will} the promise to return should England ever be in sore straits and beat the drum "of recall." "I can imagine," said M" Burley, "the shade of Drake in Plymouth Guildhall las'; week saying: 'Men of the British Navy, 19!0, there remains no need for my l-eturn. You a< - c all r at least, equal to my old Sea Dogs. 1570-90 Spanish Main and .Armada hemos. liur'ah H.M.S. Achilles. Exeter, Ajax—hurrah. H.M.S. Cossack, Caotnin P. C. Vian and ship's comp'eine it."