IN A SUNKEN SUBMARINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 241, 29 June 1918, Page 8

IN A SUNKEN SUBMARINE

The, King has been pleased to approvel of the posthumous award of the Albeit Medal m gold for gallantly m. saving life at sea to Commander irancis HeiI,nit lleavingham (joodhr.rt, D.S.U., li The account of the services in respect iof which the medal has been conferred is as follows:— , Owing to an accident one or Majesty's submarines sank and became \ fast oil the bottom in 38-feet of water, parte of the. vessel becoming Hooded. . After several hours the only prospect o£ saving those remaining on board appeared to be for some one to escape from the submarine in order to concert measures with the rescuers, who were bv this time present on the surface. Commander Goodhart, after consultation with the commanding officer, volunteered to make the. attempt Accordingly, after placing ,m his belt a smalt tin cylinder with instructions for tl resoners, Commander Goodhart went into the conning tower with the commanding officer. The conning tower was flooded up to their waists, and the high pressure air was turned on; the clips of the conning tower were knocked off, and the conning tower lid j jvas soon wide open. Commander lioodhart then stooa up in the dome, took a deep brea h and made his esoape, but unfortunately was blown by the pressure of air against part of the siiperetnioturo and killed "by the forco of the blow, lhe commanding officor whose intention it had been to return inside the subniar ine after Commander Goodharts escape, was involuntarily forced to the surface bv the air pressure, and it was thus ren dered possible for the nlaas for rescuing those still inside to be carried out. Commander Goodhart displayed .. • treme and heroic daring 111 attempting to escape from the submarine in order to saw the lives of tho» mainiM on board, and thoroughly realised the: foilorn nature, of his act. His last iemark to the commanding officer was. "If I don't get up, the tin cylinder Goodhart who lost-his life on January SO, 917< *Vv 82, was the youngest son of the. hev. Charles 41fred Goodhart, vicar of bt. §Srnab M ; Sheffield .He was gtart- ■ ed at Chigwoll, and. in H.M.S. Britan _ nia. He took part lA the action in the Heligoland Bight on August 28, WH.