"TREMENDOUS THRILL"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1939, Page 11

"TREMENDOUS THRILL"

RESCUE BY AIR

CREW OF SUNK SHIP

SPLENDOUR OF THE R.A.F-

(By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London Representative.)

LONDON, September 22.

How his ship was sunk by a German submarine and how his crew of 34 were subsequently picked up by three R.A.F. flying boats was told by Captain I. Schofleld, of South Shields, after their rescue. He was master of the Kensington Court (4860 tons).

"The first thing we knew Of the at- ** tack was the screaming of shells over the ship," Captain Schofleld said. "The look-out spotted the U-boat about five miles away, coming towards us on the surface at full speed, spray fiying from her bows. Immediately I gave the order to reverse engines at full speed. I brought the ship round bows on in an attempt to defeat the attack of the submarine, but there came a loud explosion, and the ship settled down by the head."

The first lifeboat fell upside down and was lost. The second was crowded and men sat on the gunwales with their legs dangling in the water. They had to bale to keep the boat from sinking.

"We could see our ship sinking by the bows and the submarine had come to the surface and was standing by some way off. We rowed round the ship for Ford, a steward who was missing. For an hour we searched and by that time the Kensington Court had settled right down. At last we found Ford and towed him behind the lifeboat; he was in an exhausted condition.

"Then someone cried, 'Listen!' We stopped rowing and looked up into the sky. Three small dots high up came nearer and nearer. We looked round for the submarine and saw it submerging and making off at top speed. Then all eyes were turned again to the oncoming planes—were they British? The question was on everyone's lips. "In a flash it was answered. The seaplanes swooped down low over the lifeboat. We saw the red, white, and blue rings and every man in the boat cheered lustily. Just when we were thinking that things were all up and that the SOS we had flashed out had*. not been heard these seaplanes arrived. It was like a miracle. . "We waited breathlessly while one plane circled and came to rest on the water some yards away. It taxied!

across'the sea towards us. The-pilot

leaned out and shouted 'Everyone safe?' We shouted that we were all safe and steered the lifeboat, alongside. "The first man to be taken in was Ford, who was still suffering from im'mersicft. Then one by one the crew entered the flying-boat. Twenty were taken aboard the first craft, which then taxied away and took off heading back home. The second plane landed and the 14 men left in the lifeboat were taken aboard. "It was a wonderful effort by the

R.A.F. men and nothing I could say

cguld ever do justice to the way in iPKich -they handled their.ihachinesf^as, ythey took off with their heavy;loads. *• All the time we were being picked; :- up tlie third seaplane flew overhead " searching for any signs of the enemy.

"Inside the plane as we : flew home—, it-was the first flight^for most of-the. crew, and my second—we were given, hot tea from flasks, and sandwiches. It was a tremendous thrill. We-have to thank the R.A.F. for savin_. every man of us. I take off my hat to those men." I

Built at Glasgow in 1927, the Kensington Court was owned by the Court Line, Ltd., and registered in London. /