BRITISH SUBMARINE SUNK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 9

BRITISH SUBMARINE SUNK

Collision with Another TWENTY-TWO MEN PERISH Went Down In Deep Water (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright; (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 11 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. FE Admiralty announces that the British submarine H 47 was sunk by submarine Ll2 in St. George’s Channel, 12 miles north-west of St. David’s Head, Pembrokeshire. The sunken craft carried a crew of 22 officers and men. Of these there were only two survivors, one of whom, Able Seaman Samson, has since died.

The complement of the Ll2 num- . bered 36, of whom one man, Leading Signalman Bull, is missing. The officers of the H 47 included Lieutenant-Commander R. S. Gardner (who was saved), Lieutenant R. W. Moir and Sub-Lie.utenant R. G. Cronin. The lost submarine, which was launched in 191 S, was attached to the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, and had been acting as a tender to the depotship Vulcan. The submarine sank in 45 fathoms of water, 20 miles west of Fishguard. A British Official Wireless message says the commanding officer of the H 47, Lieutenant-Commander Gardner, and Petty-Officer Telegraphist Cleburn have been saved. Arrangements are being made with all dispatch to attempt salvage of the H 47. The disaster was the subject of a question in the House of Commons

, this afternoon, -when the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, made a statement giving the facts disclosed in the communique. He added that the submarines involved formed part of the instructional submarine flotilla proceeding from Lamlasli to Portland. No details were yet available as to the circumstances of the collision. Steps were being taken with all dispatch to locate the H 47, nut her salvage in such deep water was most improbable. The best diving apparatus available had been dispatched to the scene. Professor Leonard Hill was on his way to advise and to deal with the diving operations. “I regret, however,” added the First Lord, “that no hope can be entertained of any of the remainder of her crew being alive. I am sure the whole House will desire to join in conveying our heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved relatives.” The submarine H 47 is of the Holland type, which is the smallest and slowest of the British submarines.