national tribi i i 



" Their simple modesty " was an expression" 



which was understood by workers amongst fisher- 

 men. In the old days it needed uncommon patience 

 and tact to get a fisherman who had done great 



things to talk about them. For one reason he was 

 not accustomed to boast, and for another he was the 

 last man in the world to labour under the impres- 

 sion that there was anything to boast about. 



How terrible was the experience through which 

 these brave men went on that memorable February 

 night was shown by the details which were given in 

 the awards — details which, though very brief, sug- 

 gested such complete pictures of strife and endur- 

 ance. " His ship was sunk with the loss of seven 

 hands and he himself was injured." " Ten" of his 

 crew had been killed and three badly injured." 

 These extracts told in sentences the dreadful but 

 noble story, for it was known that time after time 

 men who had been through similar experiences in 

 trawlers, mine-sweepers and drifters had gone back 

 to sea without delay and had unflinchingly faced 

 afresh the dangers of mine and submarine and all 

 other enemy devices and ships. 



J 8. r > 



