SEA HEROES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 5

SEA HEROES

iADIEIRAL JELLICOK'S' STORY OF A DKIKTEKi Two fine stories of our mercantile ««»■ fuen were told by Sir John Jellicoe at a recent Mansion House meeting: "The unarmed steamer Palm Branch was attacked by a submarine on November 21 and hit in several places. A young apprentice remained at his post .•ilthough badly wounded. The ship escaped. Some .time later she was given a gun and put to sea again, , and last March she was once more attacked by two submarines, fihe set up a fine fight, and not.'only get tuvay safely but. also sank one of the submarines first. . V. "! ' "Then there is the case of a drifter Known as the Gowanlea. She only had a 6-pound gmn aboard. Three Austrian cruisers came along and ordered the drifter to surrender. Although the captaiu only had the 6-ponnd gun ho called for three cheers and started to fire away with his C-pounder and engaged the three cruisers. ■ Ho brought his.ship away in safety. One of the deck hands had his leg shattered by an explosion. He continued at and fought his gun throughout the action."

A detailed story of the-brave apprentice of the Palm Branch, Harry C. Forest, relates that "lie is a. Sunderland lad only lfl yeara old. Both his father and brother are on active service with the Array. It was in November last that the Palm Branch was attacked. Forest was oh duty on tins bridge at the steering-wheel-wlien .the submarine was °ighted. An order.-was immediately givea to him to steer a zigzag: course, and the submarine at once opened fire. One of the earliest shots etruck the vessel above the water-line. Another crashed into tho ship and wrecked several of the officers' rooms, setting them on fire. The crew rttacked the flames and put them out. Still the Biibmarino went on firing. One shell, bursting about 10 .yards away, woumded one of the crew. Another shell sent a ehower of fragments on to the bridge,' one piece striking Forest on the ton of the head, inflicting a wound which bled freely.

The captain told Mm. "You had better Ro below." "No." replied Forest, "I'm r>ll right; I wonld like to stay on the bridge with you, sir." .ind'-seeing tho Jad's determination ( tlio captain gave way and Forest continued to steer with shells constantly drooping Around..

Luckily the vessel drew gradually ahead nnd escaped. Forest coon recovered from his wound, and after a brief visit home went to sea ag.iin, where he still is.