FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



" This time the Germans helped themselves to 

 fish, food, flour, and other things of ours before 

 putting bombs on board the smack and blowing her 

 up. She went just as the other two had gone — my 

 third floating home to be blown up by the Germans. 



" Again we were left to it in a little open boat at 

 sea, and for nearly five hours we were cruising 

 about, doing our best to get to shore. We pulled 

 into Hasborough Roads, and then H.M.S. Halcyon 

 picked us up, and we were aboard her all that night 

 and next day, chasing the submarine and a Dutch 

 craft ; but we hadn't the luck to catch them, and I 

 was sent ashore. 



" I had had my third escape from the Germans, 

 and was thankful to be ashore again. When my 

 wife met me she said, ' Haven't you brought a bit 

 of fish home?' 



" My brother-in-law, who was present, and had 

 heard about my last adventure, chimed in with, 

 ' You may think yourself lucky he's home at all — 

 he's been blown up again.' 



" The name ' Submarine Billy ' had stuck to me; 

 but next time I went to sea I was to have a change. 



" After being ashore only two weeks I went trawl- 

 ing again — for I have to live. That was the only 

 reason for my going out once more in a smack. 

 This time I was second hand in the Francis 

 Roberts. 



" At about half-past one in the morning of July 

 31 I was on watch, the rest of the crew being below. 

 There was a thick fog over the water, but it was 

 lovely and bright up aloft and the stars were out. 



120 



