NAVAL Y.C. HERO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 7

NAVAL Y.C. HERO.

LATE LIEUT.-COM. SANDERS. ' UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL. TRIBUTE BY LORD JELLICOE. A stirring tribute to the splendid valour and sterling leadership of the late Lieutenant-Commander \V. E. Sanders, V.C, D.5.0., of the Royal Naval Reserve, was paid yesterday *by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellicoe on the occasion of the unveiling of the memorial to the naval hero at the Takapuna public school. The Admiral and Lady Jellicoe, who motored from Devonport to Takapuna, were welcomed on arrival at the Takapuna Borough Council Chambers by the Mayor, Mr. W. Blomfield. When the party reached the school the grounds presented an animated scene. The residents of Takapuna had assembled to do honour to the memory of their distinguished sailor, and when the admiral took his seat under the awning where the memorial had been temporarily erected the children of the. school were lined up in military formation. The father of Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, Mr. E. H. C. Sanders, of Takapuna, had the place of honour on the admiral's right. Colonel H. R. Potter, C.M.U., officer commanding the Auckland Military District, was present with his staff. Three Victoria Cross winners were present— tenants C. R. G. Kassett and S. Judson, and Private J. Cr.chton—and there was also a good attendance of representatives of the Royal Navy, Naval Reserve and Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Borough's Proud Distinction. The Mayor said Takapuna had the proud distinction of possessing two "V\C.'s, Lieutenant-Commander Sanders and Private Crichton. He spoke of the deeds of Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, whose record would ever be an inspiration to future generations. He mentioned that a fund was now being raised for the purpose of establishing a. scholarship as a memorial to their hero, the purpose being to enable New Zealand lads to obtain certificates in the mercantile marine. There was no national school of seamanship in New Zealand, and it was hoped that the visit of the admiral to the district would awaken the public to the need for bringing the Sanders scholarship memorial to fruition.

Mr. J. R. Penning, chairman of the Takapuna School Committee, reviewed the deeds of Lieutenant Commander Sanders, and spoke of the feeling of pride in his exploits which would ever be cherished by the people of Takapuna. Mr. James Boddie, who represented the chairman of the Education Board, said the day should be a memorable one. The future children of the district would always have before them the incomparable deeds of a former pupil of the school. Admirable Work Becognised. Lord Jellicoe said it was his proud privilege to be present to do honour to a hero, and on such an occasion he was glad to see so many members of the sea profession present. Dealing with the career of Lieutenant - Commander Sanders, the admiral said he started life by going to sea as a boy. He worked his way up cniickly, and when war broke out offered his services to the Admiralty, which was not able to make use of him in the Navy until 1916, when the call came, and he responded gladly. (Applause.) His service from the first, as far as the admiral was aware, was in 'he "Q" or decoy ships, whose object in life was to destroy submarines. In 1916 submarine warfare began to assume dangerous proportions, and by April, 1917, it was very serious. LieutenantCommander Sanders was promoted to his I rank within 12 months of joining the R.N.R., and that, said the admiral, as far as he was aware, was almost a record. For his admirable work in the "Q" ships he was placed in charge of the Prize, which was manned and officered by men of the mercantile marine.

After relating the details of the famous fight between the Prize and an enemy submarine, in which both were badly damaged, and for which Lieutenant-Com-mander Sanders received the V.C., Admiral Jellicoe said he feared that as the result of information taken back to Germany the Prize became a marked ship. Her eventual loss came about in an action with a submarine, the captain of which discovered the identity of the Prize, followed her, and, standing out of range, torpedoed her. ° ( "That, I fear," said Admiral Jellicoe, "was the end of as gallant a craft and as L«llant a captain and crew as ever sailed the seas " (Applause.)

Inspiration and Incentive. Lord Jellicoe added that on a previous occasion the Prize was in action, but the submarine did not venture sufficiently close to enable Lieutenant-Commander Sanders to deal effectively with her. For this action her commander received the D.S.O. In conclusion, Lord Jellicoe said this was the record, as far as he knew it, of '.he man in whose honour they had assembled, and it only remained for him to unveil, in the presence of the father of the hero, the memorial which he hoped would always be a source of inspiration and incentive to the children of Takapuna. Lord Jellicoe then unveiled the memorial, which is later to be erected in the school building. A description of the memorial was published in the Herald of yesterday. Rounds- of cheers for the late Lieuten-ant-Commander Sanders, his father, and •or Lord and Lady Jellicoe concluded the ceremony. The Ponsonby Boys' Fife and Drum Band was in attendance, and plaved the -National Anthem and other appropriate Lady Jellicoe received a number of beautiful bouquets during the afternoon.