MISTAKEN FOR ENEMY CRAFT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 5

MISTAKEN FOR ENEMY CRAFT

SEA TRAGEDY RECALLED

RRiTISH GUNS KILL JJiiITiSH

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LOiNDUN, Jan. 8. How the mis-reading or a submarine's title caused British gunners to Kill it) of the crew 01 it jjritrsji snt»jiuirine «imt receive congratulations on their nuu-K.s man ship is disclosed for the ui*st time in William uuy Carr’s boo.u, ‘By Guess and By Goa.’’

The vessels concerned were submarine J 6 and an old topsail schooner which inid been transformed at great expense into a Q-boat or mystery ship and which was keenly watching for German U-boats. The Q-ooat was going down the channel near Blyth in tricky \ isibility when J 6 hove m sight. Something hanging from its eoitnmgtower completed the vertical line oi the •J, converting it into U. The Q-boat’s commander, who had been many times decorated for gallantry, shouted ‘‘Break out ensign and nre.” Then a.s the ensign dropped it could not be identified owing to the absence of windl ’ The {submarine’s ensign also liung motionless. The first shot from the Q-boat smashed the arm of a man standing at the conning-tower who was about to hre a recognition signal from a rifle, it also killed an officer beside him. The second' shot pierced the submarine’s water-line and wrecked the control room. Then the Q-boat’s fourinch gun registered a direct hit. The officer of the submarine sprang on to the after hatch frantically waving a, white cloth.

The Q-boat ceased fire and the submarine entered a fog bank. When it emerged its bows were in the air and the conning-tower was awash. Men were observed struggling in the water in a newly-launched collapsible boat. The Q-boat went to their assistance and were stunned to perceive “H.M. submarine J 6” on the survivors’ caps. Fifteen of the submarine’s crew were rescued.

A court of inquiry exonerated the Q-boat commander and congratulated the gun crews on the accuracy of their lire. The surviors of J 6 sprang to attention and saluted them as the Qhoni crew filed out of court.