MEN OF H.M.S PHILOMEL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 75, 31 March 1915, Page 5

MEN OF H.M.S PHILOMEL

A STIRRING STORY.

BRAVELY AND RESOURCE UN-

OER ENEMY’S FIRE.

Pu Pbkm Association. Wellington, March 31. A stirring story has come to hand regarding the officers and men of H.M.S. Philomel, which was recently in action against the Turks. It is still inadvisable to mention the locality in which the operations took place, but the whole Story from beginning to end is one of bravery and resource such as New Zealanders may well be proud of.

Tlie men were landed from a cruiser at 7 for ie purpose of discovering wliat was being done with a large number pi' pack animals. There were in the landing party only seventeen officers and men, and very soon they found themselves surrounded by a party numbering from ■ 80 to 100 of the enemy. They had to fight their way through this greatly superior force, and , this they did, with the ship’s guns supporting them, the retreat being earned out with the utmost sang froid under the most trying.conditions. Quite a number of casualties occurred through the men exposing themselves in order to assist the wounded until darkness should come to fheir further aid. Lieutenant V' Millar, who was in command of the landing ■ party, carried out his duties with great coolness and ability.

Lieutenant P. Gordon was also specially,.mentioned for devotion to duty and for saving a wounded man, and also was Petty Officer Mollanby for coolness under fire and devotion to duty.

Perhaps the most moving incident ot the whole operations re-

lates to the wounding and rescue V of an A. 8., , named' John T. i ■,, More ton. He was left in the cutter, but subsequently endeavoured to follow his comrades ashore. He was wounded before reaching.them and subsequently was found to be missing. The landing party did not , discover the fact until after they

left the shore. It appears he had been shot whilst running across an open field, and was subsequently'located under the ship’s search light. The men , on the ship undef the bright light saw him moving once or ■;e, so they knew he w*as not I, and immediately a yolun- , search party set off in the c with' a view to rescuing . After two attempts and four ij hours oh sliorp in the locality of the enemy, tney brought him in dangerously wounrlpd, and witht, out having suffered any casualty. •S’. Hulortunately, he died two days . * . ~ , ~ ~ i Our men inflicted considerable loss upon the enemy, and the lesson 'taughtThem is said to have

had a very noticeable effect upon the Turkish authorities.

In confirmation of the coolness of the men, it is noted as a remarkable fact that only two rifles were lost, one being shattered by a bullet and one belonging to Moreton who was mortally wounded.