HOW SHIP'S NAME WAS SIGNALLED

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 11

HOW SHIP'S NAME WAS SIGNALLED

EXHAUSTED BOY'S FORTITUDE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. (Received September 28, at 1 p.m.) How an exhausted child who spent days in an open boat in the rough Atlantic signalled the name of the torpedoed liner City of Benares to a Sunderland flying boat which came down to I,oooft and circled over the drifting boat was told by the captain of the flying boat. “ 1 could see people on her quite clearly,” lie said. “ They were prostrate and pretty well exhausted. Yet, as 1 watched, a little chap in what looked like a Scout’s uniform, sitting down amidships, suddenly spotted us. He stood up at once and began waving. Then he picked up something white, probably a handkerchief, and began waving. I did not got his meaning for a second ; then it dawned on me what he was up to—‘ City of Benares.’ Weak as ho was, that kid signalled the ship’s name, • which told us the whole story. That was enough. We were off right away tt> get help.”