BRITISH GUNBOAT’S EPIC FIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21854, 26 October 1945, Page 3

BRITISH GUNBOAT’S EPIC FIGHT

SHANGHAI PORT

BIG ODDS FACED

BATTLED TO DEATH

N.Z. SKIPPER'S D.S.C. (11 am ) LONDON, Oct, 25, Rather than obey an order to surrender, 18 men in the 3CO- - gunboat Peterel, led by their 63-year-old commandingofficer, chose to fight it out with a Japanese cruiser, a destroyer and a gunboat. They fought until they were swamped in fire and smoke and,

with every man on board wounded, their little craft sank under them.

This gallant episode was described in an announcement in the London Gazette that the D.S.C. was awarded three years ago to Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn, R.N.R., of Waiuku. It occurred m a harbour when the Japanese took over the Shanghai International Settlement on December 8, 1941.

All the armament in working order possessed by the Peterel was two machine-gnuns. Lieutenant Polkinghorn was severely wounded. When the news of his action reached the Admiralty he was awarded the. D.S.C., but the a-.vard was not announced for fear of Japanese reprisals. Now he has been released from a nrisorer-of-war camp and is returning to New Zealand.