COMMANDER SANDERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16230, 3 January 1927, Page 10

COMMANDER SANDERS

HOW HE WON THE V.C. BOAT CIUNNF.R TELLS STORY Mr. J. M. Wall, master-at-arms on the tourist ship Carinthia, served as gunner and boatswain on tho mystery ship Prize under tho late Lieutenant-Obm-maniier W. E. Sanders, V.C, D. 5.0., Auckland's naval hero, whose exploits against German submarines during the war will live m history. Mr. Wall was a boy cai the Calliope. He was in the naval expeditionary force that fought the Germans and their colored troops in tho Gameroons. Upon going Home after that disturbance- had subsided, he was posjted to the destroyer Narwhal, «pon which ho went through the Battle of Jutland. This ship got a couple of scratches on the funnel, but otherwise came through seathless. Then came a call for volunteers to man the Q. boats, the mystery craft which had to tackle the submarine menare. One was a three-masted 1 schooner which, under tho German flag, had been engaged in the prosaic occupation of carrying salt from Spain to Newfoundland and bringing back salt fish. The outbreak of war caught her in Falmouth, and because she was the first prize taken was so named. The last kind of vessel to Iki suspected of being a submarine killer, she was commissioned for the job. A 20h.p. motor engine was put in her, which, according to Mr. Wall, was able to drive her at six knots when it did go. Lieutenant-Commander Sanders was given command, and Petty Officer Wall became her gunner. She had three 12-poynder guns—two aft and one forward. Those aft were hidden behind a kind of lattice, and the other was in what was called a lighthouse. Screens dlropped at the touch of a lever, but contrary to common impression the guns were not instantly ready to fire. They had to be hoisted by levers into position, then loaded and sighted. Point-blank was practically their only range because the German submarines were then mounting four-inch guns. They had to be lured close to enable the small guns of the Prize to sink them. FORTUNE FAVORS THE. BRAVE. The exploit in which his commander received the V.C. occurred abbut 100 miles south-west of Fastnet, on tho south-west coast of Ireland. A submarine, one of the'latest Germany had produced, came to the surface about 1000 yards away, and at once opened fire. She circled' round tho schooner at about that distance, pounding her all the time. At the outset the " panic party," well rehearsed in this most realistio drama, had done its piece. " Actors." exclaimed the ex : gunner.

" you couldn't imagine it. They dashed about the ship letting go ropes and Starting to let one boat drop and then chasing off to the other side to have a go at a boat there. The skipper was a great man for a. .smart ship, but by the time hits panic 'boys had got a boat do\yn and were pulling off like mad they had done almost as much mischief,as tho shells from the submarine. All the svliile the gun crews were lying flat on .tho deck .behind their screened guns, ami it was a .damned-unpleasant job. There Wasn't an inch of armor anywhere, 'and the only thing to do.was to lie* tight, hope for the best, and wait for the submarine [to do the s.illy thing by coming in close. Tho commander was the only mail who saw everything. He was in a thins? that was supposed to be a galley at the foot of the main mast. I think' - the reason why everyone was able to, 'stick it out Was his' example. He did not know fear, and any man could he bravo who was near him. He had an I extraordinary influence. In . his room, he had a motto -yi "fretwork above the door, ' Fortuna favet fortibus.' When I found oiit 'that it meant ' Fortune favors the brave.' t reckoned tho ship had the right sort of command, and if ever a man followed his motto to the last letter it wai Sanders—the coolest man I ever met. " OUT FOR. ENGLAND.'' t " Well, the submarine, having decided that the abandoned shin' was burning and sinking, came up astern and her shells then had the most effect. How anyone lived I don't know, but we had only six wounded. ' As she got in close the cbmniancJer came creeping along tho deck from his galley, but he held fire 'until she was within 60yds. If We had opened sooner the submarine could have brought his fore torpedo tube to hear. ' Now let her have it," said Sanders to me in a quiet, matter of fact kind of way. Down went the screens, up came the guns, and before the Germans had time to realise the trap two guns had shells into her. Her gun crew might ■have put up « fu'ht, hat our hUe was too sudden, and down when the submarine."

The /'panic crew" picked up ono man. the German Hp was taken to the poop, wlier'e • hb asked what wewould do with him. A man who had been seeing red replied, "What would you do with us?" Then the commander appeared, and 1 shall never fertiet'l,n"rs qniet greeting to the German ' Gcori evening, captain." "It was .hist as if they were meeting at tea. For everyone's ears he added. "He has fought and lost,", and he will not bo illtreated;' The. Navy does not traiji men to spin words, bii,t Mr Wall conveyed a wonderful impress,ioh 0 f the personality of the late Lieutepant-Ccmmander Sanders, a, man who wa!s always up uloft in the sense that he remaiped aloof. He was a commander who at vhe same time had not merely the respect but the devotion of his men "Wo are oitt for England/,'* was frequently on his tongue, and it carried inspiration.