THE MYSTERY V.C.'S
FIGHTS WITH SUBMARINES, J&ETAILS NOW DISCLOSED. SUEREME Ti£ST OF DISCIPLINE. Eighty "mystery" V.C'S wore awarded to the Navy during tlie war, among' tiierj being one to Commander Saunders, of AueKiand, whose deeus have already been described. The more notable oi the other actions to will "mystery" V.C.'s are thus oflicially amiounctd:— Commanders Gordon Campbell, D.S.Q., R.X.: On February 17, 1017, H.M-S. Q3, under the command of Commander Campbell, D.5.0., KX„ was struck by a torpedo abreast of No. 3 hold. Action stations were sounded and the "panic party" abandoned ship. The engineer officer reported that the engine-room was flooding, and was ordered to remain at his post as long as possible, which he and his staff, several of whom were severely wounded, most gallantly did. The submarine was observed on the starboard quarter 20O,vds distant, watching the proceedings through his periscope lie ran past the ship on the starboard side so closely that the whole hull was visible beneath the surface, finally emerging about 300 yard-; on the port bow. The enemy eamo down the port side of the ship, and fire was withheld until all guns could bear at point blank range. The first shot beheaded the captain of the submarine, as he was climbing out of the conning tower, and the submarine finally sank with conning tower open and crew pouring cut. One officer and one man were rescued on the surface and taken prisoner, after which the boats were recalled and all hands proceeded to do their utmost to keep the sum afloat. A wireless signal for had been sent out when (but not until) the fate of the submarines was assured, and a destroyer and sloop arrived a couple of hours later and took Q5 in tow. She finally beached in safety the following evening.
Tim p."tion may be'it- -idrrl as tho supreme test o£ naval discipline. The oli iff engineer and engine-room watch remained at their posts to keen the dynamo working until driven out by the ■water, then remaining concealed oil toi> of the cylinders- The guns' crewg had to remain concealed in their gun bouses for nearly half an hour, while the ship slowly sank lower in the water. SKIPPER'S LAST REQUEST. Skipper Thomas Crisp, D.S-C:—On August 15, 1917, the sin&ek Nelson was engaged in fishing when she was attacked by gunfire from an enemy submarine. The gear was let go and the submarine's fire was returned. The submarine's fourth shot went through the port bow just 'below the water-line, and the seventh shell struck the skipper, Thomas Crisp, partially disembowelling him, and passed through the deck and out through the side of the ship. In spite of the terrible nature of his wound Skippw Crisp retained' consciousness, and his first thought was 1o send off a message that, he was being attacked, and giving his position. He continued to command his ship until the ammunition was almost exhausted and the smack was sinking. He refused to be moved into the small boat when the rest of the crew were obliced to abandon the vessel as she sank, his bust request being thaf he might bo thrown overhosrd. SANK A SUBMARINE.
.Seaman William Williams: On June 7. 1917, while disguised as a British merchant veisi'l, with a dummy gun mAmted nft, H.il.S. Pargust was torpedoed at vcr.v closo range. Her boiler-room, engine-room, and No. 5 hold were iimne'lately ilooded, and the starboard lifa!boat was blown to pieces. The weather was misty at the time, fresh breeze anil a clioppy sea. The "panic party," tinder the command of Lieutenant F. R. Hereford, D.S.C., TC.N.TI, abandoned ship and a? the last boat was shoving oft' the periscope of the submarine was observed close before the port beam about 400 yd: distant. The enemy then submerged, and the periscope reappeared directly astern, passing to the starboard quarter, and then round to the port beam, when it turned again towards the ship, breaking surface ;übout 50yds away. The lifeboat, acting as a lure, commenced to pull round the stern; submarine folluwdosely, and Lieutenant Hereford, with complete disregard of tb.e danger incurred from lire of either sbip or submarine (who had trained a maxim on the lifeboat), continued to decoy her to within 50yds of the ship. The Pargust then opened lire with all guns, and the submarine, with oil squirting from her side and the crew pouring out of her cmtring tower, steamed slowly across the bows with a heavy list. The enemy crew held up their hands in token of surrender, whereupon fire immediately ceased. The submarine then began to mnvf! away at a gradually increasing speed, apparently endeavoring to escape in the mist. Fire was reopened until she san!r'. r»n-3 man clinging to the bow as she went down. The boats, after a severe pull to windward, sueci/ded in saving one officer and one man. American destroyers and a British sloop arrived shortly afterward*, and the Par«u«t was towed Slack V; port. .fs on the previous occasions, officers and men displayed lio utmost eonragv and ennin their captain, and the action serve,4 as an example of what perfect discipline, when coupled with such confidence, can achieve. *
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Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1919, Page 3
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864THE MYSTERY V.C.'S Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1919, Page 3
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