SHELL THROUGH ENGINE-ROOM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16258, 8 July 1918, Page 4

SHELL THROUGH ENGINE-ROOM.

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

CKRISTCHTJRCH MAN AT

ZEEBRUGGE,

From, the brief details received by Mr and ilrs F. Meyer, of 127 Moorhouse avenue, Christchurch, it would appear that their son,- chief motor mechanic, Roland Albert'Meyer, had a miraculous escape from ' sudden death during tho Royal .Navy's operations in blocking the' German submarine base at Zeefa ruggo. Beyond a brief letter stating that he was quito well, Chief Motor Mechanic Meyer has not yet written of his experience. Chief Motor Mechanic Lew Wilson, who has been a chum of Chief Motor Mechanic Meyer from boyhood, has written a brief account to Mr and Mrs Meyer, which makes thrilling reading. Both young men, at the outbreak of the war, offered their services, but were rejected on account of their youth. Later, they were-called on for coast defence duty, and still later, when recruits were called for tho motor patrol service, they offered and were accepted. As will be seen from Chief Motor Mechanic Wilson's .letter, they are still sticking to one another.

Writing from Portsmouth, under date April 27th, Chief Motor Mechanic Wilson says:—

"I've been trying to get a few lines written for several days, but have been on the movo so much, and so busy, 1 haven't had a cfianco to write to anyone—in fact, have just managed to get"one home. As you may have guessed, or foresaw before now by Ron.'s and my movements, wo were in the raid on the Belgian coast a few nights back. I will, of necessity, have to make this note short, but will try, when I'm more settled and clear, to give you a better account of things. The main thing just now i~ about Ron. Perhaps .vou have heard luforo now that Ron.'s boat was sunk, fr-it, thank God, Ron. is all right, and. although a bit shaken, was none the worse for the shaking he (had. I just had a quarter of an hour with him in Dover when we returned, and he' was away on his leave. I hope to join him in a day or so, for all boats participating havo been granted seven days' special leave. "Tho main facts are;, Ron.'s, like the rest, was.iip making the smoke screen for tho_ larger boats and, if neoossary, to pick up' any. men of thfe ships which were sunk in Zeebrugge. They wero slowing, running, when a shell struck tho boat in the engineroom. It's a marvel to me and all who know, how ■ both engineers escaped without hurt, except that Ron.'s niato had a small wound on the hip. The. shell, when exploding, carried away tho port engine and many of the fittings, but the other engine carried on. Seemingly the shell burst upwards, for it carried away the deck, killing the C.O.i coxswain, and one or two hands! What a shr.nio! for they were such, a fine crew,- and their boat always looked well. Ron. lost all his gear, but I fixed him up as best. I could, and he was going to Jjondon to. see the High Commissioner for. help, so I trust that ei« now he is well set nn again: 1 heaid the - following day that his boat had gone : down, but did not see him for two days after, for we remained in a French port, and I could not hear how things were by. any .means. Ron. asked |ra? npfc, to. say. much, but .what I havo said is just briefly what happened, for. I think it- best for you to know, anVl, in knowing, rest assured that Ron is welj. .. He. is shaken,, but has no . sign of shock,.and I'm sure he will be soon himself again. "When we returned to port—nine of the craft—we received such a welcome as .'I . shall never forget. The lowest estimates consider 30,000 neople were assembled in the docks—soldiers, sailors and civilians—and their cheers, with the howl and screech of tli© dozens of sirens in the harbour, were awe-inspor-ing. Such a reception was too much for us—in fact, not fair for the poor boys' who are going daily.'