ANOTHER WAR SECRET.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 December 1918, Page 3

ANOTHER WAR SECRET.

3 HOW A V.C. WAS WON. ) " ~ i SUBMARINE AND A SHIP. i ——- ) In April, 1917, it was announced that ! the Victoria Cross had been awarded I to Commander Gordon Campbell, of ■ the British Navy, in “recognition of i conspicuous gallantry and consummate coolness and skill in command of one of His Majesty’s ships in action.” Commander Campbell had previously won the award of the Distinguished Service Order. No particulars wei;c allowed to be published at the time of the deed for which the Victoria Cross was gained Now, however, the Admiralty gives the account of the incident as fob. lows:—“Commander Campbell’s Victoria Cross was won in February, 1917, on board a Q ship in the Irish Sea. A submarine suddenly torpedoed the vessel, and a big hole was caused near the engine room, but the gun crews were called to their lighting stations. To deceive the submarine, some boats were lowered, and a few of the crew rowed away as if the Q ship were sinking. When the submarine’s periscope appeared 200 yards away, the ensign was hoisted and the gunners of the Q ship fired at her point-blank. The first shot struck the conning tower and blew off the I head of her commander. The submarine sank. Commander Campbell picked up an officer and a man. Though , the Q ship herself was slowly sinking during the fight, the chief 'engineer and his staff remained in the flooded engine room, keeping the machinery going until the water drove them away. The Q ship was beached 24 i hours later.” !