ZEEBRUGGE “HERO”

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1933, Page 5

ZEEBRUGGE “HERO”

FALSE CLAIM FOR PENSION.

NOT PRESENT AT ACTION

Major tryon, the British Minister of Pensions, informed an astonished yet amused House of Commons recently that an ex-naval rating who had claimed a disability pension for war services bad; confessed that lie 1 had never been at the famous naval attack on Zeebrugge in April, 1918, in which lie alleged he was severely gassed when s/rimming away from a submarine that had been sunk.

The question was raised by a member who asked the Minister whether his attention had been drawn to the case of an ex-naval rating, named Watts, who had failed to obtain a pension which he claimed on the ground that he was disabled as a result of the prominent part which he took in the attack on Zeebrugge on April, 1918; and whether lie would make full inquiry into the case. Major Tryon, replying, said that lie was “obliged for an opportunity of stating the facts of this case,” which had received some publicity owing to the supposed connection between the disability claimed by the man; and his alleged part in the naval action at Zeebrugge. “Watts,” he continued “first made a claim to pension last year—l 4 years after the end of the war—for a disability which the Ministry was unable to find to be connected with his war service, but in view of recent statements I again ordered ail exhaustive investigation of all the circumstances . “Watts is reported to have claimed that lie took part in the action at Zeebrugge, being stationed on a; submarine, which lie was charged to sink by explosion in Zeebrugge Harbour,, and that lie was severely gassed while swimming away from the explosion.