V.C. HERO'S DEATH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 129, 14 July 1941, Page 8

V.C. HERO'S DEATH

EPIC OF OSIEND HARBOUR CLOSING RECALLED REJOINED SERVICE AT 55 He was a lieutenant-commander R.N.V.R. when he won the V.C. in the last war. In this he had died as an ordinary seaman—killed by an accident while carrying a sack of coal because he insisted on serving again at the age of 55. When the Vindictive Mas sunk to close Qstend Harbour in 1918, Lieu-tenant-Commander Heneage Drummond volunteered to take out a launch to rescue the warship's skeleton crew. A shall burst in his launch, seriously wounding him in the leg and two other places. But he carried on under fire, and when he finally collapsed it was only after everyone had been taken off the Vindictive. King George V, when he decorated him, asked him what had been his. profession. "I'!m sorry to stay I was a professed invalid," the naval officer replied. He had dislocated his neck at the age of nine and had been unable to, work until he was 20. Gave up Everything. In September, 1939, Geoffrey Drummond held an important post in Imperial Chemical Industries. But in spite of his age and the fact that his Gstend wounds still pained him, he gave up this and everything el so tb rejoin the navy. His disappointment, at failing to get a commission and the rest of his epic story were told by hist sdiin, grey-haired widow, in a semi-de-tac.hed villa at Shalfront St. Petprs Buckinghamshire. The day before the war was de clared he managed to join the emergency reserve, and from there,-aftc* nine month, got into the navy aa an ordinary seaman on the Thames Patrol. He found his job a very hard one, said his, widow. At the time of Dunkirk, he got hold of a boat and spent five sleepless days and nights getting it to the south coast. There the authorities said he was too exhausted to take it across. He was bitterly disappointed at having to remain on this side while his, boat went out. to rescue work. Injured While Carrying Coal. Since then he has been doing hi< jobs as an ordinary seaman, mending ropes, scrubbing decks —and still hoping to get his commission. Last January he was promised it ''soon." All the time his old wound gave him pain. A fortnight ago he was carrying coal aboard his boat when his injured leg gave way. He fell, received n number of injuries and was taken to hospital. "I saw him there just before he died," his widow said. "He smiled ftnd said: 'Don't worry, I'll be better soon and getting my commission.* [ am told he would have had it in a few days. His 'JO year old midshipman son—» whom he would have had to salute had ho met him in the street—i? abroad. But a few weeks ago he ■?nid: "I'm prouder of what my father's doing to-day than of whal he did in the last war.'*