THE NELSON TOUCH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 7

THE NELSON TOUCH

STORY OF SMACK SKIPPER'S GALLANTRY FIGHT WITH A PIRATE '' ' t A thrilling story of dauntless heroism has been revealed by the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Skipper Thomas Crisp, R.N.R., who died in action on the Bmack Nelson, giving orders up to the last minute. Skipper Crisp's- son, second hand Thomas William Crisp, R.N.R., 0.N., has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his gallant , conduct during the same engagement. On au 'August afternoon, at about a quarter to three,' the trawl was shot from the smack Nelson, when the smack was on the port tack. The skipper was below packing fish. Ono hand ,was on deck cleaning fish for the next morning's breakfast. The skipper came on deck, saw an object on the horizon, examined it closely, and sent for his glasses. Almost directly he sang , out "Clear for action. S UDm & r ine." And he had scarcely spoken when a shot fell about a hundred yards away on tho port bow. The motor-man got to his motor, the deck hand dropped his fish and went to the ammunition room, the other hands at tho skipper's, order, "Lot go your gear," let go the warp, put a buoy on the end of it. Meanwhile the gun-layer held his fire until the skipper said, "It is no uso waiting any longer; we will havo to lot thorn have it." Away in tho distance the submarine sent shell after shell at the smack, and about the fourth shot the shell went through the port bow just ■ bcloiv tho wnferline, and then !fche skipper shoved her round.

The Skipper Hit. There was no confusion on board, not even when tho seventh shell struck the skipper , , passed through his - side, through the deck, and out through tho side of the' ship. The second hand at onco toot charge of the tiller, and the firing continued. All the time water was pouring into tho ship, and sho was sinking. One man, the gun-layer, went to the skipper to see if he could render first aid, but it was obvious that ho was mortally wounded. "It's all right, boy, do your best," said tho skipper; and then, to tho second hand, "Send a niessago off." This was the message:— Nelson being attacked by submarine. Skipper killed. Send assistance at once." iAnd all this time the smack was sinking, and only five rounds of ammunition were left. The second hand went to the skipper lying on the deck, and; heard him say, "Abandon ship. Throw the books overboard." He was asked them if they should lift him into the; boal, but his • answer was, ' "Tom, throw me overboard." Ho was in too bad a condition to bo moved, and they left him there on the deck of the doomed smack, and took to tho small boat. About a quarter of an liour afterwards the Nelson went down by the.head. / It was just drawing'into dusk then, and the crew of the boat pulled all that night. Towards morning the wind freshened, and biew them out of , their course. They pulled all that day, and had a pair of trousers and a largo piece of oilskin fastened to two oars to attract attention. Once a vessel was sighted, and once a group of minesweepers, but they passed out of sight. At night the weather hecamo finer, nncl through that night they pulled until daybreak, when, at 10.30 a.m. they found a buoy and made- fast to it. That afternoon they wero sighted and rescued. The second hand, who took charge of the tiller after the skipper. had been shot down, was his son. And so the great tradition goes oii.