UNSUNG HEROES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 5, 19 January 1942, Page 3

UNSUNG HEROES

CREWS OF SMALL COASTERS

LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES

This is the unvarnished report of the chief officer of a small coaster —senior survivor of the crew after the ship had been attacked by enemy aircraft. The Master I cannot speak too highly of the Master. He had no protection where he stood on the bridge outside the •.vlieelhouse to watch the aircraft, and twice he swung the ship to avoid the bombs. EVen after being shot in the stomach, lie continued at his post until he was killed by a bomb. He saved the ship twice fiom bombs in the face of machine-gun (ire and cannon shells. The Bos'n Another grand fellow was the bos'n, a cockney. The help he gave and his cheerfulness were magnificent. He was shot through the thigh, but he continued to help with the avountied as though he were unhurt. He worked like a slave Avhen lie picked up survivors. There Avas nothing he jibbed at doing. The Cook One other man T should to mention is the chief cook. The enemy's bullets Avere direccted at such an angle that they were Hying through the alleyway. The cook knew this and Avhen lie s'aAV the chief steAvard coming out of his room into danger he threAV himself in front of him to push him back thereby being killed himscll, but saving the life 1 of the stcwaid.