£40,935 IN PRIZE BOUNTY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1917, Page 4

£40,935 IN PRIZE BOUNTY

Money Tales of the Navy’s Silent Work

Between March 27 and December 31 claims for bounty were heard in the Prize Court for the destruction of 23 enemy ships. The total bounty awarded was £40,935, awards ranging from £135 to £12,160. The total awarded indicated 8187 officers and men on board the enemy vessels at the beginning of the engagements in which they were either captured or destroyed. The highest award was £12,160 in respect of the sinking of fonr German warships in the Falkland Islands battle.

Not the least of the daring sub> marine exploits to come before the Court was the destruction in the Sea of Marmora and the Dardanelles of three Turkish warships by E 11, with a loss of 866 men to the enemy. The bounty awarded was £4339, and by the scale nf sharing the commander (Captain Eric Nasmith, who received the Y.C. for his exploits) received £SBO 11/. Other officers each received £306 6/6,, and each able seaman £76 1/6. This was one of the largest share-outs of bounty daring the year to individual crews. Where men lose their lives in the capture or destruction of enemy warships the bounty award is given to the next-of kin. In comparison with these modern awards it is interesting to recall that after tha Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson received £18,517 18/6 aa his share of bounty, aud lHat his four subordinate admirals (Collingwood, Norfchesk, John Knighr, and 'Thomas Louis) each received £4,629 B'4. But Parliament thought the prize bounty insufficient recompense and voted £300,000 for the Fleet.