ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

“Gee, I’m late tonight,” mused Jim, as he threaded his way through the crowded thoroughfare, “it must be after ten o’clock.” Five minutes later he arrived at his room in one of the tenement houses in the poor area of Plymouth. He had had no father since he could remember for he had been killed in a railway accident when Jim was two. Two days ago his mother had died and so now he was left on his own.

“I s’pose I’d better get the key,” he said to himself, but just as he turned to recross the road something hit him.

The next time he woke the whole world seemed changed, everything was white around him. “Where am I?” he naturally asked himself. Somebody spoke, “Who was it?” He turned his head. Gee! how it ached. The person who spoke was dressed in white also. “Ah! I know,” he told himself. He turned over and went to sleep. When he awoke the headache was gone and a man, apparently an officer cf some ship, stood by his bed. “Oh! I’m glad you’re awake. I knocked you down in Wood Street when I was going back to the ship.” “What ship?” “The H.M.S. Vivien. I’m her first officer. Look here,” he added, “I’ve found out that you have no parents. Would you like to become a sailor?”

“You bet, yes,” replied Jim eagerly.

“Well, then, when you are discharged from hospital, come down to the Queen’s Wharf and you will find the Vivien there, ask the gangway watchman if you can see Mr Drayton. By the way,” he added as an afterthought, “what is your name?” “Jim Fortesque.”

A week later when Jim was pronounced fit to leave the hospital he made his way to the wharf and duly Jound his new friend. Mr Drayton led him into a small office and gave him a seat.

“Before you can become a sailor it is necessary for you to have training, and I think the best place is Shotley. But tomorrow at eleven o’clock we set sail for Dover so you can go with us, then I will put you on the train, d’ye see?” '

“Thank you, Mr er-er Drayton. But where—how—why—?”

“Never mind.”

Next day at the appointed time the Vivien, a fast cruiser of 41,000 tons, with four 12in guns, six 6in and three 4in, weighed anchor and at nightfall land was out of sight. Jim was enjoying every minute cf his adventure and it was not before the early hours of dawn that he slept. But hardly had he fallen asleep seemingly, before he was awakened by great shouting and thumping above him. It was daylight and he jumped out of bed, dressed and was on deck in record time.

“Get down below before yer head leaves yer.” Jim obeyed reluctantly. Clearly something was wrong. Hardly had his.head disappeared below when an ear-splitting boom shook the whole ship. A far off crash followed. A cheer rose on deck. Jim could stand it no longer. He crept out of the hatchway into a coil of rope where he could watch the proceedings.

About two hundred yards away was another large battleship, apparently German. As he watched here there was a great cloud of smoke, a boom and a .lev/ whining overhead. The Vivien replied, but with little result. The German thereupon gave the English ship a broadside. One shell struck and exploded, another took the wireless away. A feeble shout arose, “The flag’s gone!” “Now’s the time to act,” thought Jim.Nbt far from him was a flag shelf. He jumped up, grabbed the White Ensign, climbed up on the bridge, jumped past the captain and began ascending the rope ladder leading up the mast. Up, up, up, he went. Was he ever going to reach the top? A bullet whined past him, a second, a third. He dare not look down. Three more steps, two, one. Then came the task of tying the flag on. Twice he nearly fell. Twice the flag all but blew away. She’s on! Another piece of lead shaved his leg as he began descending. For the first time he looked down. “Not far now.” Oh! something hit his shoulder. He let go. Down, Wn Slackness. When he awoke someone was bending over him.

Well done, boy,” that someone said. What for?” he asked himself. “Oh! I know.” “Ach! my shoulder.” He seemed to be still on board ship, judging by the roll. How’s Jim,” said a familiar voice. Doing well, Mr Drayton. “You can speak to him.”

My word, that was a plucky act, lad. Your future is made for sure.”