A SKIPPER'S V.C. 



one-and-a-half to two miles. We heard cries for help. 

 I said, ' We shall have to do the best we can and go 

 back and pick up.' There was no waiting, no say- 

 ing ' Who shall go?' As soon as I called for volun- 

 teers, three jumped in. I kept the vessel as close as 

 I could to shelter them. I did not think any would 

 come back alive, but no one was hit, and I said, 

 ' Now we'll get the boat in.' Just as we got the 

 boat nicely clear of the water, along came a shot 

 and knocked it in splinters. I shouted, ' All hands 

 keep under cover as much as you can!' and I got 

 on the bridge and we went lull steam ahead. I 

 could not tell you what it was like, with floating and 

 sunken mines and shots everywhere. We got 

 knocked about, the mast almost gone, rigging gone, 

 and she was riddled right along the starboard side. 

 One of the hands we picked up had his left arm 

 smashed witli shrapnel. That was all the injury we 

 got. When we got out, the Commander came along- 

 side and said, ' Have you seen any more trawlers?' 

 I said ' Yes, we've gut the crew of one aboard, the 

 Manx //■ ro.* We were the last out, and I can tell 

 you, I never want to see such a sight again !" 



Subsequent to the telling of that tale, which said 

 so little and yet revealed so much of the readme 

 and hi '•;' fishermen at the Dardanelles, a spe- 



eial supplement to the London Gazette was pub- 

 on Ar .'), 1915, from Vice- Admiral J. M. 



de Rob ck. The dispatch, which was dated July 1, 

 described in detail the part which was played by 

 the British Navy in the landings on the Gallipbli 



L65 



