THE IRRESISTIBLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9076, 22 June 1915, Page 6

THE IRRESISTIBLE

HER LAST ACT AFLOAT HOW SHE WAS SUNK AT THE DARDANELLES. From Our Special Correspondent. LONDON, April 30. In another of these letters homo npon which we depend so much for penpictures of the stirring events of the wax, a private of the Rcjal Marine Light Infantry gives a grapnic account of the sinking of the Irresistible in the Dardanelles. “It was about 4 in the afternoon,” ho writes, ‘‘when it happened. A minute before we hit that mine a shell struck Us; overhead somewhere, for inside our casement we could feel a distinct shock and hear the noise of falling pieces. Then, before we had recovered from that; came the real hit—such a tremendous blow, I was thrown completely off my feet. When I got up and looked at the blanched faces of our crew,- I oould see that the old Irresistible had finished her career. There was not much said; our officer told us all to remain inside nntil we knew what to do. By this time the ship had listed heavily over to port, sloping almost to an angle of 45 degrees. WHAT DEVILfe THEY WERE.

“The next ' order was ‘Everybody aft,’ bo, we all went aft and fell in. I never saw the slightest panic, just everybody going along as if we were in Portsmouth harbour. We fell in,, the marines right aft. I took off my boots and coat, all ready. I cannot describe my feelings to you. Lots or things were surging through my mind —thoughts of you and of all. But we were not given much time for thinking. All hands were soon busy throwing overboard anything ‘floatable,’ barrels, tables, chairs, boxes, and anything wo could lay hands on. Then we sighted, tearing towards us, a destroyer. How far off she seemed. We could do nothing but wait until she came up to us. Now came the worst part of all, and even now I cannot recall it without a shudder. The forts ashore, or rather, the Turks in them, must have seen that we were sinking, and soon we were the target for scores of guns. My word, what devils they were! Imagine oUr ship, listing right over, her decks covered with us all, helpless, and all around us, growing ever nearer as they found the range, were those awful shells bursting! THROUGH AN INFERNO.

Never can I forget the scene, if I live to be a hundred. But soon the destroyer came ug and alongside, and then began the task .of transferring ourselves to her. Nearly all were off the Irresistible, when a shell burst right amongst .a group of bur men on deck, killing several and wounding several more. It was horrible to sec the wounds some of the poor chaps had. But soon we were all aboard, living, wounded and dead, and so we tqro away at full speed to safety. How wo escaped being nit while rushing away I don’t know. We passed through a very ipferno of shells, and yet escaped untouched! Our captain, as fine a man as one could wish for, would not come with us, and the last I saw of the poor old Irresistible was the ship gradually sinking, great shells bursting all around her, and the captain standing on the bridge, so cool and calm. He was saved later, and if it had not been for those horrible shells, no doubt all hands would have been saved. From the destroyer we were taken'to the Queen Elizabeth, and there we were fitted out with what clothing we required. The next day we were all sent to different ships. I and several others going to the Ark Royal, the aeroplane ship. So endled it all. I never want to go through another experience like it. I shall never be able to forget it.”