BRAVETS FLAG THAT FLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23955, 3 May 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRAVETS FLAG THAT FLIES

<CZ"T"I ( ' roam m . v sa ' f ' i? the captain of that fast J~ freighter in which 1 recently took passage, "was to get 'on the beach.' A snug little hotel near the docks, and a few cronies to come into the bar-parlour and send royal yards down—ah ! ' And you didn't realise it? 1 asked. It. was foggy, and there was a whimper in the wind presaging ugly weather outside, as we backed and filled while the stately convoy assembled. realised it all right—a nice place we not; but—well, when war came, you know " When the Call Came The last war gave him a D.S.C. for sinking U-boat with his own unaruioured bow. This war fetched him jrom honest retirement to face the worst the seven seas could show. He couldn't resist the call any more than most seamen can. A mighty good thing for hungry Britain it is that these veterans are 6till sea-hungry. These are the men who are risking everything to maintain our go-necessary export trade and keep our iuod lockers filled. It may be a bias on my part, but I'm inclined to think the dingy Bed Ensign the bravest Hag that flies. '•And' when I got a ship," my skipper went on, "the Hun spitchered her two days out. They gave me a gun this next time; but I'd have welcomed depth-charges. Still—we strafed one eon of a gun " He hud been attacked by U-boats, E-boats, Q-boats and aircraft. Once,

hurrying at lull speed to succour the crew ol' ii torpedoed ship, he had again been torpedoed even as he lowered his boats; but he persuaded the captain of the ship that salved liini to hunt the predatory U-boat and so damage her that it is doubtful if she ever reached Kiel again. To hi- tlirico torpedoed is an ordeal — but he didn't seem to mind, tie hated to see good tonnage wasted; but lie counted it his—and every merchantmen's—duty to keep on sen taring so long as the country needed him. He has added an Empire Gallantry medal to his D.S.C.; and, if there is justice, should also sport the ribbon of the George Cross: for he is a heartstrand of the Belleroplion's mainstay, 65 years old, troubled with rheumatism -—earned in windjamming days—and somewhat astlunatical. But he is far from unique. I have met scores of his kind. Grand Old Sailor Villagers of Belton, Suffolk, which has a population of 833, claim that their oldest inhabitant is the oldest Briton on active service. He is 76-year-old William Home, a seaman for 60 years, who is now serving in a balloon barrage unit at sea as a deck hand. The women of Belton have knitted him a special blanket of many colours, and a pair of mittens. The blanket consists of 63 coloured squares. During the last war Home served in the Royal Naval Trawler Reserve. His youngest son, Lewis, a sailor for 21 years, is also on active service ill the Navy. The "Royal Air Force and the Navy collect much adulation, and rightly so; but behind all—and before all, to those who understand the inner workings

Men Under the R Risk All To Keep Larders Full

By Captain FRANK H. SHAW

of life and fate —is the Merchant Navy; tlit? It limbic carrying trade, officially non-combatant, actually most combatant of all our wartime services. I went to the docks the other day to welcome a close relative home, after nine months of harsh travel. Lie commands a 12,000-tori freighter Having navigated his ship through Channel waters, mined every fathom of the way, and troubled with log. ho was haggard and shaking at the knees. At his age most men enjoy a well-won retirement. "We Shot 'Em Off" "What lucky" "Mines in Tasman Sea —and we dodged a surface raider south of .Japan. A torpedo missed us by the paint's thickness west of Fastnct; and then some bombers came. • Missed us—and we shot 'em off. "Those Calais guns, too—but we've learned how to make smoke now; and though we were bracketed more than once, they didn't do any damage." The concrete slabs protecting the wheelhouse were chipped and scarred. He saw my interest. "A near-miss; isn't that what they call it! J " he asked. "Quarter-master

and third mate hit; but we were "You'd better come for a quiet week and rest," I invited. "We're aiming to get n quick turnround," he replied. "Plenty of time to rest when we've won the war; there'll be nothing but rest, then." He changed into shore-going rig before accompanying me on to the "beach" for a meal—because lie didn t want to advertise his calling. Going up in the train he looked out at England, rubbed his chilled hands, and said: "She's worth it all, you know —it's an honour to do what we can." As Kipling said when speaking of the winds that, bring terrible storms to the merchant ships on the ocean's highways : Jillfc whether in calm or wrack-wreath, whether by dark or day, L heave them whole to the conger or rip their plates awa.v, First of the scattered legions, under a shrieking sky, Dipping between the rollers, the English Flag goes by. It. goes by now to assure our Empire ultimate victory.