"WENT DOWN WITH HIS SHIP"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 146, 15 March 1919, Page 8

"WENT DOWN WITH HIS SHIP"

HEROIC MERCANTILE MARINE CAPTAIN. Tho King has been pleased, on the recommendation of the President of the Board of Trade, to make a posthumous award of tho Silver Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea in recognition of the gallantry displayed by the lato Captain Edward John Holl, D.S'.C., a master in the mercantile marine. A transport under the .command of Captain Holl was torpedoed at night. The ship's engines were slopped and way taken oft her; tho troops who were on hoard and the ship's company went to their emergency stations, and by the master's orders the boats were lowered. Tho ship was settling down by tho stern, but in less than an hour 2000 men had boon taken off her. The after well-deck was then awash, and one of the escorting vessels managed to come under her starboard bow, and 400 men were saved by jumping aboard. In about an hour and a quarter after the vessel was torpedoed her bulkheads gave way and sho sank. Further survivors were still picked up, and of those who had been on board all but 90 wore eventually saved. Captain Holl went down with his ship aftw having superintended with conspicuous courage and devotion tho work of rescuing those under his charge. His coolness and ability were chiefly responsible for the small joss of life, and though fully awaro of his own danger he elected to remain on tho bridge io tho end. His Majesty also made a posthumous award of tho Silver Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea in recognition of tho gallantry displayed by Mr. Leonard Ford Raybould, lato third engineer of the steamship lnnisfallen, of Cork, when his ship was torpedoed and sunk on May 23 last in tho Irish Sea. Tho torpedo struck tho vessel in the stokehold and caused hea 1 to sink in about four minutes, eleven lives being lost. Mr. Haybould, who was on watcli in tho engine-room, without any thought for his own safety, immediately proceeded fo slop the engines. The way was thus taken off the ship, and this made it possible for the lifeboats to bo launched I without accident, and probably saved 1 lie i lives of tho twenty-four survivors. ' It meant, however, that Jl'r. Haybould | did not liavo time to effect his own e* cape, and ho went down with the ship.