ATTACK ON THE MERCIAN

Southland Times, Issue 17663, 22 February 1916, Page 3

ATTACK ON THE MERCIAN

“CAPTAIN DESERVES TEN V.C.'S.” Full particulars of the submarine attack on the troopship Mercian in the Mediterranean on November 3, have been obtained from a number of letters which have been received in Lincoln, as the first contingent of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry sent out to one of the scenes of action were on board. This was the occasion on which Lord Kestcven lost ills life. Corporal H. Harrod writes that at two o’clock in the afternoon lie was on deck dozing, when "bang and a whizz,” and a shell passed over the vessel. “Looking out to sea,*' he says, “we saw a submarine just on the sky-line. The hooter was immediately sounded, and the troops and sailors stood by the boats. The second shot carried away the wireless installation.” "The firing started at 2.47 p.m., and , finished at 3.20, and more “Tan 100 shells were fired at the ti’&opship. “The captain of our boat deserves ten V.C.’s. The way lie worked the ship in and out was simply wonderful.” “All we could do was to duck as soon as the bang went, and trust to luck to hear the shell whistle above, but they didn't all miss. 'Tt was no good running about, because no one know where the next shell would drop. We took as much cover as possible.” Sergeant Laverack writes:— “The captain stuck to his post like a man, and kept a zig-zag course, altering the speed of the ship every minute to dodge the shells, and to him we all owe our lives.” Trooper R. Peel, of Lincoln, had a terhible experience in a half-swamped boat. Mo was with 13 other yeomen in the boat which got away. A shell struck the boat as it was being lowered, and he writer:—• “I have been two days in a half-sunk boat with water up to the waist and nothing to cat. My poor pal, Percy, had half his head blown away. We were picked up by a French ship.”