INTERESTING STORIES

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1928, Page 1

INTERESTING STORIES

OF THE LATE ADMIRAL DE ROBECK. BLENHEIM, .Tan. 24. Some interesting stories in regard to the late Admiral de Robeck, whose death was announced a few days ago, are related by Air A. L. Clement, of Ttia Afarina, Alnrlborough, who was yeoman of signals under Captain de Robeck on H.Af.S. Dominion in 190". 1908 and 1909, when that vessel was attached to the old Channel Squadron and who saw service under Admiral de Roheek at the Dardanelles. Air Clement says Admiral de Robeck, a great naval tactician, was of the old school of hardy, brainy and brawny, rough-weather sailors. AYith such men as Lord Charles Beresford, Sir Perry Scott, Sir Berkley Alilne, Captain Lionel Halsey (now Sir Lionel Halsey), Captain Browning (known a.s “Hookey” Browning, owing to a hooked arm caused through a gun explosion). Captain John Michael de Roheek and others, the British Navy was worked up to the wonderful efficiency demonstrated in the tactical manoeuvres of the Grand Elect during the Great War. Sir John de Robeck stood over six feel in height and was a fine, stately man, very firm and strict, hut just, with a Keen sense of humour. One day on hoard the old Dominion, whose crew were some of the hardest eases in the navy, there was a hit of a fight going on in a quiet corner of the-upper deck, with a few other .seamen trying to distract the captain’s attention elsewhere than on the lighters. hut the captain had seen it and ordered it to stop, and the seamen to he brought before him on “the carpet.” The fighters thought they were in for some still punishment, hut when Captain do Robeck said he would let thorn off if they would each doll the

gloves with him for three rounds each, their faces were wrinkled in smiles, ns each of them turned the scales at over thirteen stone. So that evening the officers and ship’s company vere given a brief entertainment. The first to step into tlie ring with the captain was an ex- ' champion heavy-weight of the navy, and he was quite ready to demonstrate even to the captain that he was a master in his own line of goods, and so started the first round with a real blood and slaughter fury which gave ‘ the captain a few seconds of sur- 1 prise, until he got himself shaped up a hit and put over two blows which finished the evening’s entertainment. ' The other sparring partner could not j he found fpr over an hour, until the captain said they could call on his steward for a bottle of beer each. Another incident was at the discharge of a very able seaman who had only on the day of the expiration of his twenty-one years’ service come out of the cells for some disobedience of orders. The contain said he would

uiuvim. me vapiam saia ne houiu give the man an excellent personal character if ho could sail the cutter ashore on the one tack to starboard. A very heavy sea was running and half a gale blowing, hut the seaman said he could do it. “Very well.” said Captain de Robeck, “good-bye and good luck to you in your new life outside the navy.” The seaman managed the boat and ran inshore to the pier on the one tack, although there was not a man in the boat who was not drenched to the skin. The coxswain of the boat then handed the man his discharge papers, with a personal reference from Captain John Alichael do Robeck, and enclosed a cheque for £lO. The boat was the duty cutter of the fleet, and the Prince of Males was the midshipman in charge at the time. “Sir John de Roheek will he greatly mourned li.v the nation, and even T, amongst others, feel, that it is the passing away of another silent Nelson

of the modern navy,” said Mr Clement.