DAUNTLESS MEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 February 1941, Page 6

DAUNTLESS MEN

PRIVATIONS IN OPEN BOAT BRITISH SEAMEN DECORATED RECORDS OF ADVENTURES ON HIGH SEAS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 4th February. Stirring records of adventure on the high seas lie behind a series of awards that are announced to officers and men of the Mercantile Marine. The story of Captain Kippins, who is appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire, and of Able Seaman Light, who receives the George Medal, is typical though no more courageous than the many other deeds which have been recorded. Captain Kippins’s ship was torpedoed at night in the North Atlantic. With a strong gale blowing and a high, confused sea it was hard work launching the boats and keeping them from being stove in. After making a thorough search to see that no one was being left behind. Captain Kippins took command of the No. 2 boat with 26 men. During the night two men were seen in the water and were rescued only with great difficulty. In heavy seas the boat was almost overturned; four men were thrown overboard and were rescued, but the mast and sails and several oars were lost and the boat was filled to the thwarts She was righted, and two more men were picked up. The sea anchor was lost and all through the night the men had to work at the oars. SHIPS SAIL PAST On the next day, as the sea went down, tired men made a sail i#om a part of the boat-cover and hoisted it, using a boathook as a mast. Several ships were sighted as the boat sailed east, but they failed to see its signals. After that, for 14 days, often in heavy seas, exhausted and running short of water, the boat’s crew sailed and rowed in spite of weakness, cold and hardship. At last a merchant vessel was sighted and the boat’s crew were rescued.

Throughout this heroic voyage Captain Kippins never faltered. His inspiring leadership and fine seamanship heartened his men and brought them to safety after facing for many days what seemed to be certain death. Another boat, of which Able Seaman Light had taken charge, got away from the ship. He stepped the mast and set sail, and some ships were sighted. but they failed to see the low-lying boat. The weather became worse and they had to shorten sail, while heavy rainsqualls caused the exhausted crew great hardships. Seaman Light kept his men in heart, and they sailed on till a lifeboat was sighted with no oars, sail or any sign of life except for a canvas tent amidships.

SIXTEEN MEN FOUND This boat was closed and found to have 16 men from a torpedoed merchant ship on board. Seaman Light towed the derelict boat in spite of rising seas and wind which made continuous baling necessary. They sighted an unknown rocky shore and decided to wait near till daylight, but the boats were driven out to sea again, and they saw no more of that coast. Later, in a dead calm, the men rowed all day till they were worn out. In the towed boat the men were giving up, and Seaman Light went over into it and himself massaged two of the men, gave one his stockings, and dressed their wounds. Later, in his own boat again, he massaged a deck boy who was in agony and bound his feet with strips of blankets. After 10 terrible days of privation, exhaustion and .danger they sighted a British ship. She answered a flare from the boat and came to its rescue, and on a steep sea the exhausted crews were with difficulty transferred to the steamer, where every care was given them. Seaman Light’s courage, leadership, self-sacrifice and stout heart thus saved not only his own crew but also the 16 men whose boat he had towed.