MR. BALDWIN’S HERO

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 7

MR. BALDWIN’S HERO

SEAMEN WHO DEFIED DEATH PRIME MINISTER’S STORY A war hero story was told by the Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin at the banquet of the newly-formed Company of Master Mariners at the Mansion House, London. “Those on board a trawler hi the North Sea heard gunfire,” said the Premier, and went to investigate. They sighted two German light cruisers, and, being a British trawler, it attacked. The cruisers paid tribute to our men by two broadsides, and left the trawler to sink. The only man who was unhurt was the skipper. His mate—and I only know his name was Charlie —still alive, was pinned under a 12-pounder. The skipper raised the gun, carried Charlie off, and placed him in a skiff. The ktshinga were cut just before the trawler sank, and all the rest of the crew were dead or dying. The men were picked up, and Charlie went to Chatham for an opera ' tion, and spent six months on his bed He was invalided from Chatham Hos pital with a disability pension. He went straight home to Fleetwood where he lived, and was met by hie wife. Before he left the station—there was a north-west gale biowinj —he heard the lifeboat called by gun fire. He pushed his kitbag into hii wife's hands, took his usual place ii the boat, and helped to rescue i schooner's crew before he came homi to supper. “Let us never forget airs. Charlie As the kitbag was pushed into he hands, in her husband’s words, sh said 'nowt.' “I do not know Charlie’s other name ; t do not know whether he is alive ■ but if lie is, and it he is listening, should like to say that every man her takes his hat off to him.”