THE FIRST SWEEPERS 



ler Number 99 being blown up and Numbers 58 and 

 465 damaged, " all in the space of about ten 

 minutes." That explanation as to time was a clear 

 indication of the strenuous and thrilling nature of 

 the work which Lieutenant Parsons and those who 

 were acting with him did. Special mention was 

 made of Skipper George W. Thornton, of Number 

 58, which was the trawler Passing, for the great 

 coolness he showed and the valuable help he gave 

 Lieutenant Parsons in controlling the crew when 

 the vessel had been mined. 



The perilous character of the work was well 

 shown in the case of Lieutenant M. H. Boothby, 

 R.N.R., H.M.S. Pekin. He was serving in the 

 trawler Orianda, Number 99, on December 19, when 

 she was blown up by a mine. With the exception 

 of one man, who was killed, the officer got all his 

 crew into safety. A few days only were to pass 

 before Lieutenant Boothby had to undergo this un- 

 pleasant experience for the second time. On Janu- 

 ary 6, 1915, he was again blown up in the trawler 

 The Bayiycrs, No. 450. The Banyers was a fine 

 new vessel of 2S1 tons and 89 horse-power, built at 

 J^verley in 1914, and she was an example of the 

 numerous powerful up-to-date craft of this descrip- 

 tion which the Admiralty were able to take over for 

 the purposes of sweeping and other war-work. 



Lieutenant C. V. Crossley, R.N.R., also of 

 H.M.S. /'. kin, performed on that memorable De- 

 cember 19 one of those brave and resourceful acts 

 which became closely associated with the work of 



51 



