HERO OF ZEEBRUGGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1869, 27 August 1918, Page 4

HERO OF ZEEBRUGGE.

ENGINEER’S EXPERTENCE. .STORY OK A TERRIBLE ORDEAL. Some idea of what was endured by the men of the navy who took part in the raid on Zeobrugge is conveyed by a letter from Artificer Engineer W. H. Edgar, son of a Sydney resident, who Inis been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his services on this famous occasion. Mr Edgar belongs to H.M.A.S. Australia, but left that vessel last February for special service, and joined another warship, on which careful special training was given for some time prior to the eventful night of April 22nd. “We started off at noon on April 22nd,” says Mr Edgar, “and at midnight arrived at Zeehrugge Mole, disembarking some of the storming party, and pushed off at 12.50 without any mishap. But, on leaving, 1 lie German batteries commenced, firing, and we had live shells into us iu quick succession, which did a good deal of damage, killing about 75 men outright and wounding many. Fortunately, no damage was done to (he engines and Ihe boilers, though a tube in the latter was leaking badly, and (he whistle steampipe was shot away, and the funnel was much perforated. I was the. chief engineer, so, of course, had some responsibility in keeping things going, but I managed to gel the ship buck to Dover under her own steam the next afternoon, and then I was finished —the strain and the horror of the night broke me up. “I was on my feet feeling very anxious about the machinery all the time, from 7 a.m. on Monday until Tuesday night, with nothing to eat from 8.30 a.m. Tuesday, and driving the men down below to get every ounce of steam. For 18 hours they watched and worked like Tropins without food, and then the shells one killed about TO men outright, another about 20; 10 died during the trip back, and 102 were wounded. The upper dock electric wires were shot away, so we were in darkness Irving to get at thenlead and injured all night. There was only one doctor until 5 a.m., when we met a ship, and another one with an assistant came on hoard. All the firstaid and stretcher party were knocked out, se we could not find the keys for the medical chests, which I eventually broke open with a hummer and chisel. Men were dying all night, and it was just something awful. I felt nothing all night, and cared for nothing, (hough T was nearly hit; hut on arrival in port after the worry of the engines and feeling that so much was at stake if anything happened, the reaction of that awful night absolutely did for me. I was finished—my nerves went to nieces for three days, and 1 just rested in London, lying about the hotel, and being taken out. I returned to the Australia, ami was immediately given 12 days’ leave, which I am now spending, and feeling quite myself again.”