THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 14 January 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

LLOYD'S WAR MEDAL

I • COLD RESCUE PERFORMED IN SHARK-INFESTED WATERS GALLANT BRITISH SEAMAN David Hay went to Eton; then he went to sea. He went on a holiday and the next thing his father, Lord Edward Hay, knew was that David had joined the Merchant Navy. And the next was that David .had won Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery. The story is told by Hilde Miarchant in the Daily Express.

The ship in which Davicl Hay, cadet was serving as an apprentice, was hit by several shells from a surface raider. The steering gear was blasted, the gun was out of action, the boats were smashed. The rafts were thrown from tlir* vessel, and David Hay swam to one of them. Many on board, had been killed and wounded. The ship was sinking, and in the water the radio officer struggled to reach the rat'ts. Hay saw him struggling some way off, and lie saw something even worse than shells. The sea Avas filled with sharks, ready to attack the man who struggled for the raft. David Hay threw himself off the raft and SAvam to the, radio officer.

The sharks came cutting through the water. David Hay is a strong swimmer. He is six feet tall and has a. powerful stroke. He swam out and began to drag the officer back. As he swam for the raft the sharks attacked liim. One made a grab at his legs and tore off his clothing. He kicked and swerved away. He reached the raft as tho shark dived to tear at him again. The two men were lifted on the raft and the sharks swam away. The radio officer was safe. For this, Cadet Hay has been awarded the medal. R is a rare award, and the announcement says: "The heroic figure symbolises courage and endurance, and the trident sea power. The oak leaves and acorns fittingly suggest these qualities of sturdiness and endurance, which are present in our seamen who serve in ships of steel as ever they Avere in their predecessors who manned the Wooden Walls of Old England." David Hay had fulfilled that tradition. Yet there had been difficulties in his life. All through childhood lie had suffered frc;m asthma and could not join in his school sports. He grew out of it, and took to boating and swimming. He loved to play round in beats down at Frinton. He was always in lioats. Lord Echvard Hay rather wanted his son to go into business but he would have none of it. He liked ships. It Avas not a surprise •hat lie had joined the Merchant Navy. Lady Edward, his step-mother said: "The sea fascinated him. All his time he spent in or on the Avatcr. Ho came home after the shipwreck, but he doesn't tell us much about it. Certainly no sharks Avere mentioned" He-was rescued from the raft, and noAv he is in a naval training school. David Hay has maintained the symbel of the medal —for the men in steel ships.