A SAILOR HERO.

Waikato Times, Volume 2537, Issue XXXI, 13 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SAILOR HERO.

Jack Crawford, :i Sutulcrlun-1 sailor, who nailed Admiral Dii'iean's flag to the mist of H«r M ijjsty's ship Veivira'i!'! at th ■■ Int.tle of Campcnlown in 1797, ha-. 1) tii memorialised in his native town t>y ;i granite tombstone, which Mr. Suniid Story. M. P., unveiled, over hi-; g are in Sutherland churchy ml. Tin; I■ I' l ntical fljg which Crawford mile; I t<» the mast was lent for the occasion 1)..' Iflu'l "f I'amperdown. The stone was imjribcd : —" I'he crave uf Jack Crawford, the hero of Camperdown. tho sulor who heroically nailed Admiral Duncan's (1 ig to the maintop gallant mast of 11. M. S. Venerable, after it had been shot away in the glorious action of Cunperdowu, lltli October. 1797. Jack Crawford was born in Pottery Bank, Sin lerland. 177i>, and died i'.i his native town IS3I, aged 55 years." Jack was a Sunderland mm of 22 when he found himself a sailor on Ailmiral Duncan's flagship at the famous battle of Camperdown. In that ylorious fight the Admiral's flag was shot away, and for a time the signal that the Admiral was still holding out was missing. It'was a critical moment, for had a rumour once spread that the Admiral had surrendered irreparable panic might have been the result; but the ordinary means of replacing the flag were gone, and the Io3S seemed irremediable. It was then that Jack Crawford came forward, offered to swarm tho mast, and did so amidst the fire of the enemy. Flag in hand ho reached the summit, nailed the symbol of perseverance to the mast and then descended unhurt. In those days no Victoria Cross or special distinctions for bravery were known. Jaek received no inedal for his bravery ; but it has been reserved for his townsmen, nearly a century later, to erect over his grave a granite tablet to commemorate his valor, and to show Sunderland lads what their forefathers could do in the brave days of old.