ANOTHER SKIPPER'S V.C. 



The son obeyed and the message was sent — 

 "Nelson being attacked by submarine. Skipper 



killed. Set: 1 assistance at once." 



All this time the smack was sinking and there 

 were only h\<: rounds of ammunition left. 



The skipper was lying on the deck, and going to 

 him, the son heard him say, " Abandon ship. 

 Throw the books overboard." 



The son asked the dying father if they could lift 

 him into the boat; but the skipper was too badly 

 wounded to be moved and he answered, " Tom, I'm 

 irow me overboard." 



They left him on the deck and took to the small 

 boat, and a quarter of an hour later the Nelson 

 went down by the head. 



By this time it was nearly dusk. Throughout 

 the night the crew of the boat pulled. Towards 

 morning they were blown out of their course by a 

 freshening wind ; but all that day the}' continued 

 pulling, having hoisted a pair of trousers and a 

 large piece of oilskin fastened to two oars to attract 

 attention. 



Once a vessel was seen and once a group of mine- 

 sweepers, but they passed out of sight. 



The weather became finer at night, and this was 

 thing to the advantage of the weary men who 

 continued toiling at the oars. 



During that second night the i i rew went on 



pulling until daybreak, and at half-past ten o'clock 

 in the morning they found a buoy and made fast to 



it. By aftei ighted and rescued, 



