ADMIRATION FOR COURAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 6

ADMIRATION FOR COURAGE

Men’s Appreciation Of Achilles Captain TRIBUTES TO CONTROL OF SHIP (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 20. How Captain Parry, in command of the Achilles, said he wished he could cut up the Companion of the Bath he was awarded into pieces and give one to every member of the ship’s company, is told in some of the letters received by Auckland relations. To a man, the ratings of the cruiser express unbounded admiration for the skill and courage of their captain, and say that to his superb control was due the escape of the ship with such little damage. “We all assembled and congratulated him upon the honour conferred on him by the King,” says one of the letters. “He said he wished he could cut it up into pieces and give all of us a bit. In his speech he said he could not have done anything if it had not been for us.” , , „ “The captain was hit in the leg, says another letter, “but he refused to leave the bridge and it is to him and the way he handled the ship that we owe our lives. He seemed to know just where the shells would land and always got out of the way a, second before they burst in our wake.” “After we had buried our dead at sea the next day,” says the same letter, “the captain gave us a lecture. It was very hard for him not to break down as he told us how proud he was of his ship and men and the way they had behaved and fought under fire. He said he never expected the results he got and after the show we put up he was not frightened to take us up against anything. He is a marvel with his ship and there is nothing the men would not do for him. It won’t be our fault if he ever leaves this ship.”