"BRAVE BROKE."

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 43, 4 June 1917, Page 3

"BRAVE BROKE."

The circumstances in which the name of Broke gained a. worthy name in the annals of the British Navy, apropos of the recent gallant fight of H.M. Broke and H.M. Swift against six German destroyers, aro narrated by Major Sir Robert J. Walker, Coldsrteam Guards, who is at present on the headquarters staff of the Auckland military district.

"The destroyer Broke, which has earned immortal fame in the recent action in'the Channel," he says, "derives her name from the hero of tho duel between H.M. Shannon and tho United States frigate Chesapeake. Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke, rear-admiral, born at Broke Hall, near Ipswich, in 1776f entered the Royal Navy in. 1792, was promoted captain in 1801, and appointed to command H.M. Shannon in 1806. In her he fought the memorable duel with the Chesapeake, off Boston, on June 1, 1813, which has made 'brave Broke' ever since a hero in popular English song. Tho Americans were confident of success, but proved no match for Broke's hardy and thoroughly disciplined men, who, after delivering with excellent effect two terrific broadsides—the Shannon was a 38-gun frigate—sprang across the gunwale, and, after a moment's struggle, ran up the English colors 15 minutes after the commencement of. the action. A blow received in boarding seriously affected Broke's health, and he retired from active service with a fearonetcy, dying in 1841. "The words of the popular old English song .commemorate this achievement:— Tho Chesapeake so bold out of Boston, I've been told, Came to take a British frigate Heat and handy-oh, "But now, although Broke has lived up to the example set her by the famous captain of the Shannon, the gallant American Navy is allied with Biitain against a common foe."