A SKIPPER'S V.C. 



although the drifter was being riddled by shells, 

 until he was killed by a piece of shrapnel whilst 

 writing in the log. The piece of shell perforated the 

 log, and the line made by his pencil when ho was hit 

 and collapsed can be seen on the page upon which 

 he was writing. The operator was found dead in 

 his chair, lying over the log." 



This was one more story of cool courage to add to 

 the already long record of brave deeds which stood 

 to the credit of the men in trawlers, drifters and 

 patrol boats on many seas. 



Amongst decorations which had been conferred 

 by the Allied Powers on officers and men of the 

 British Naval Forces for distinguished services dur- 

 ing the war were silver medals for military valour 

 conferred by the King of Italy. These awards, an- 

 nounced by the British Admiralty on November 17, 

 191 7, included silver medals to Chief Skipper H. J. 

 Idspink, D.S.C. ; Chief Skipper J. Watt, V.C. ; 



Lief Skipper D. J. Nichols, D.S.C. ; Chief Skipper 

 D. Watson, Skipper A. C. Bruce and Skipper P. 

 id. Awards of bronze medals for military valour 

 conferred by the King of Italy included the follow- 

 ing recipients : — Chief Skipper A. Lyall, Skipper 



F. Newton, Skipper W. Ii. Maunder, Skipper W. 

 rquhar, D.S.C; Skipper R. Scott, Skipper R. 



. tephen, D.S.C. Skipper J. Strachant, Skipper R. 

 Cowe, D.S.C; Skipper D. S. Ralph, Skipper W. 



G. Smith, Skipper \V. G. Mayhew and Skipper J. 

 Findlay. A number of trawler ratings of lesser 

 rank were included in the list of award:, of the silver 



PIT 



