A SKIPPER'S V.C. 

 by Austrian light cruisers on the morning of May 



When hailed by an Austrian cruiser at about 100 

 yards range and ordered to stop and abandon his 

 drifter, the Gowan Lea, Skipper Watt ordered full 

 speed ahead and called upon his crew to give three 

 cheers and fight to the finish. The cruiser was then 

 engaged, but after one round had been fired a shot 

 from the enemy disabled the breech of the drifter's 

 gun. The gun's crew, however, stuck to the gun, 

 endeavouring to make it work, being under heavy 

 fire all the time. After the cruiser had passed on, 

 Skipper Watt took the Gowan Lea alongside the 

 badly damaged drifter Floandi and assisted to re- 

 move the dead and wounded." 



It was not until the Gazette announced the award 

 of the Victoria Cross and other distinctions in con- 

 nection with this fight between cruisers and drifters 

 that it was possible to get a clear understanding of 

 what had happened in the Straits of Otranto. No 

 explanation had been given as to the origin of the 

 aitair; but a few weeks earlier Admiral Viscount 

 Jellicoe, in a public speech, had mentioned the case 

 of a gallant skipper in the Adriatic, who proved to 

 be Watt. 



It was stated by the Admiral that the drifter's 

 weapon was a six-pounder. He also mentioned the 

 case of one of the hands who had his leg shattered, 

 but continued at his gun and fired it throughout the 

 action. This was the spirit, remarked the Admiral, 

 which would never allow us to be defeated ; this was 



J 55 



