A NAVAL HERO

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 146, 9 March 1918, Page 8

A NAVAL HERO

LIEUT-COMMANDER SANDERS, V.C.

NEW ZEALANDER WHO SANK

SUBMARINES

Lord Jellicoe, in a speech reported by cablegram from London, stated that "the late Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, V.C., was one of the great heroes of the waj." He added th.t.t the Btory i.i this sailor's exploits had not yet been written. He was sending some iuformation to New Zealand, where the gallant officer belonged. Lieutenant-Commander William Edward Sanders, V.C, D.5.0., R.N.R., was born in Auckland, where his father now resides. He went to sea as a lad, served on the Kapuni, the Hinemoa, and the Joseph Craig (in which he was wrecked on too Kaipara bar), and then entered the service of the U.S.S.. Company. He gained.his lirst mate's certificato while in the. employ of the company. When the war began Sanders immediately offered his services to the Admiralty. He was not given naval emnloyment at once, and in the meantime" he served on ships engaged in the transport of New Zealand troops. In January, 1916, Sanders was summoned by the Admiralty,to England, and in the following April he was given his commission aa a sublieutenant of the Royal Naval Reserve. His career was a brilliant one, and little more than a year later he was a lieutenant-commander in control of quo of the "mystery ships" that deal with tiie enemy submarines. He saw much fighting. On November 9, 1916, he wrote to his father: "Since last writing I have been in action. I had my first brush with the enemy four days ago. We had four small engagements, and came through all right. Wp are now in port for 6mall repairs, and w;> be away again in three days. I can give you no details, but you shall hear nil about it some day. I have been promoted lieutenant (acting), and am now second in command of jfliis ship. The officer commanding is a New Zealnnder."

He had some more to say about his work in December, 1916, when he wrote:—"We are now in port for a general overhaul.' The ship lam in is a special class for patrol work to find the enemy. Ws are all volunteers on thies fighting ship, and picked men. For • our last action our commander received the D.S.O. and two D.C.M.'s for the crew. I have been recommended twice for the Naval Cross, but so far have not received it. 1 have also been recommended by our admiral to have command of one of these ships, but I may be too young. Still, I have had a good innings, and have had the satisfaction of meeting the enemy twice. Should our Fleet ever get the chance of a fair tight we shall finish them off. I am confident of that. We should all like to have Christmas at home, but the enemy must first be smashed for all time. A patehed-up peace is not wanted by the Navy or the Army."

The i\ew Zealander's nest step in promotion came a little later. "I nave been .appointed to command , a uhip from February o for good work on our last ship," he wrote on March 9, 1917. "1 am the youngest in command of a ship of this sort. . . . The enemy submarine war is not proving the 'success anticipated. From their point of view it has been a failure, It is true they have sunk many of our merchant ships, but they'hare lost a large number or submarines.^'

On May 10, 1917, Lieutenant-Com-mander banders wrote that he was in Liverpool enjoying a rest, which he felt lie needed. "1 have been in another good scrap, and am still living to tell the tale," ho said. "I can give you no names, hut it will give you some idea when I tell you wo were only 80 yards apart. We are badly holed, and our internal fittings all smashed up, but the enemy is no more. We are the victors. My first command has been very successful, and it is now I shall receive my decoration." As a matter' of fact ho had been awarded tho Victoria Cross for splendid gallantry. Two months later the New Zaaland sailor mentioned that he had been wounded and that his wounds were healing well. "Did I tell you I had a sword given me by all my fellowofficers on the boat,.'and presented to me by our Vice-Admiral ? he wrote. "It is a splendid piece of workmanship, all engraved. I should have gone to London on the 21 st of this month to receive the V 0. from the Kjing, but Imve to go to 'sea 'tomorrowi and they have consequently put it off." A cablegram received from the Admiralty by his father in August, 1917, reported that he had been "killed in the Sea." Just how he met his death does not appear to he known, for the ship he commanded was sunk with all hands by an enemy mine or torpedo. The deed which earned him the Victoria Cross remains undescribed as far as tho Naval authorities are concerned. The official statement is that particulars cannot be supplied until the end of the war, but an indication has been given in a London newspaper, which published the following statement:—

'•Lieutenant-Commander Sanders was in charge of an anti-submarine craft, which was attacked by tho enemy, the vessel being riddled with shell and every member of the crew except himself wounded. Undaunted, he fought the submarine, handled a gun personally, and eventually sank the enemy, in the process killing thirteen of her crew and capturing four, whom he brought prisoners into port. He was also in charge of a vessel which sent four other U-boats to the bottom, so he well earned the undying gratitude and admiration of all haters of marine deviltry.

The father of the hero has since received letters from the King, Lord Jellicoe, and the Lords of the Admiralty. The King sent the following message, bearing his own signature:—

Buckingham Palace, September 13, 1917.—1t is a matter for sincere regret to me that the' death of Lieutenant-Commander William E. Sanders, V.C., D.5.0., U.N.R., deprived me of the pride of personally conferring upon him the Victoria Cross, the greatest of all rewards for valour and devotion to duty.—

(Sgd.) George R.I. The letter from Lord Jellicoe, dated August 20, 1917,' read as fol.-ws:— "Dear Sir,—Will you please accept my deep sympathy at the loss you have sustained in the death of your gallant son I have greatly admired his bravery on the occasion of his previous fight with the enemy, and it was a pleasure, to see him after that when ho visited the Admiralty. Although there is no one living to tell the story, I have no doubt that he and all those under his command died fighting with the utmost irallantry, and all who are aware of the circumstances deplore the loss of such a brave man. At the end ,of the war I hope to send you some photographs which I know will be of interest to yon and which I feel quite sure jouml keep as heirlooms in your family. With my heartfelt regret at the loss of so bravo a man and so good an ofheer, believe me, yours sincerely, John Jellicoe." „ ~ T -, The third letter was from the Lords of the Admiralty, through the Secretary It read as follows:— In confirmation of the Admiralty telegram I am commanded to inform you that a telegram has been received stating that your son, Lieutenant-Commander William E. Sar-b-s.'V.C R.N.R., was killed on August 14, 1917, as a result

of the vessel on which ha was serving being blown up, "My Lords of the Admiralty deeply deplore the death of this gallant, officer, whose services against the enemy submarines have been of sneh value to the Empire, and they desire me to assure you of their profound sympathy in the loss you have sustained.

"Since the award of the Victoria Cross to your son in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry, consummate skill, and coolness while in command of one of His Majesty's ships in action, the King had also approved of his appointment to be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order iu recognition of his services in action with an enemy submarine on June 12. This award has not been gazetted, but the announcement will be made, shortly." The letter added that arrangements would be made for the presentation of the two decorations to Mr. Sanders, senior, in New Zealand.