ON LEAVE IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 30, 30 October 1942, Page 5

ON LEAVE IN LONDON

N.Z. Naval Men Tell Of

Varied Experiences (By Telegraph. —Press Asen. —--Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) (Received, October 29, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. Three members of the R.N.Z.V.R. were recently on leave in London after a variety of experiences. Lieutenant K. D. Hall, Auckland, went to hospital to have shrapnel extracted. He was wounded- after the landing or the Canadians at Dieppe. Petty Officer Radio Mechanic I* M. Hadley Wellington, epent his first day ashore since June last week, after serving in H.M.iS. Scylla, which was the flagship during the 18th Russian convoy in September. Able Seanian 11. Hutchison, le,muka, returned to England after serving in Russian waters. He is now taking a commission in H.M.S. King Alfred. ‘ Hall, who commanded a flotilla or landing craft at Dieppe, said: “We landed Canadians between the west jetty of the harbour moles, and a tobacco factory immediately in front of Dieppe. Flights of four-cannon Hurricanes prepared the way, shooting up the defences, and then a number ol two-cannon bomber Hurricanes continued the good work. The R.A.F. co-operation throughout the raid was superb. We withdrew to sea after lauding the soldiers at 5.30 a.m. and then returned at 11 a.m. to pick them up. My most hectic period was when a shell or mortar, bursting 20 yards from the craft, planted splinters in my ankle -and side which I did not notice till later. “We picked up a South African pilot who had baled out over the sea just as we were leaving. Dieppe certainly proved that wo can land troops in a fortified area on hostile territory.” Hall has now participated in five landings, including the Vaagso and Bruneval raids. Russian Convoy Bombed. Hadley operated a radio during a Russian'convoy on which a big wave of torpedo-bombers attacked. “We picked up several of them miles away, and I was able‘to see the whole action,” he said. “Four bombers attacked our ship, two on the bow and two astern, They all missed. Highlevel bombers dropped two . 10001 b. bombs on either side of the ship. The Scylla is a grand ship. I have served in her since March.” Hadley has been recommended for a commission. Hutchison had the unusual experience of swimming in the White Sen. After 48 hours of brilliant sunshine, the water became 58 degrees. He was also badly bitten by mosquitoes. “My worst experience,” he said, “was being ice-bound for 20 hours in ice-floes when we were a sitting target for bombers which fortunately did not appear. Torpedo-bombers once fired five tin fish at us, but we dodged them all. We also picked up the survivors of a United -States merchantman who had been adrift on rafts for 13 days. Fortunately for them it was the warm season. The U-boat commander gave them food and the route. We searched for them for four days and were within a quarter of an hour of abandoning the search when we nearly ra,mined them in a fog. They had ail taken turns at rowing and were not alowed to sleep in case they never woke up. They were all right till they relaxed, and were then unable to use their legs and feet for some time, but eventually recovered."