ADVENTURE ON HIGH SEAS

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 7

ADVENTURE ON HIGH SEAS

THRILLING STORIES OF ENDURANCE ADRIFT FOR DAYS IN OPEN BOATS (British Official Wireless) (Received February 5, 11 p.m.) RUGBY, February 4. A stirring record of adventures on the high seas lies behind a series of awards announced to officers and men of the mercantile marine. The story of Captain Kippens, who was appointed an officer of the British Empire Order, and of Able Seaman Light, who receives the George Medal, is typical, but no more courageous than the many other deeds which have been recorded. Captain Kippens’s ship was torpedoed at night in the North Atlantic. With a strong gale blowing and a high, confused sea, it was hard work launching boats and keeping them from being stove in. After making a thorough search to see that none was left behind, Captain Kippens took command of number two boat with 26 men. During the night two men were seen in the water, and were only rescued with great difficulty. In heavy seas the boat was almost overturned. Four men thrown overboard were rescued, but the mast, sails and several oars were lost, and the boat was filled to the thwarts. She was righted and two more were picked up. The sea anchor was lost, and all through the night men had to work at the oars. 11 DAYS ON HEAVY SEAS Next day, as the sea went down, the tired men made a sail from a part of a boat cover, and hoisted it using a boat hook as a mast. Several ships were sighted as the boat sailed east, but failed to see the signals. Thereafter for 14 days, often in heavy seas, exhausted and running short of water, the boat’s crew sailed and rowed, in spite ol weakness, cold and hardship. At last a merchant vessel was sighted, and the boat’s crew rescued. Throughout this heroic voyage Captain Kibbins never faltered. His inspiring leadership heartened his men and brought them to safety after facing, for many days, what seemed 'o be certain death. Another boat, of which Able Seaman Light had taken charge, got away from the ship. He stepped the mast and set sail. Some ships were sighted, but they failed to see the low-lying boat. The weather became worse, and they had to \ shorten sail. Heavy rain squalls caused ■ the exhausted crew great hardships. DERELICT BOAT FOUND Seaman Light kept his men in heart, and they sailed on until a lifeboat was sighted with no oars, sails or any sign | of life except a canvas tent amidships. | This boat was found to have 16 men 1 from a torpedoed merchant ship on board. Seaman Light towed the derelict boat in spite of rising seas and wind, which made continuous baling necessary. They sighted an unknown rocky shore and decided to hold off until daylight, but the boats were driven out to sea again, and they saw no more of that coast.

In dead calm the men rowed all day till wom out. In the towed boat the men were giving up, and Seaman Light went over into it and himself massaged two men and gave them his stockings and dressed their wounds. Later, in his own boat again he massaged the deck boy, who was in agony and bound his feet with strips of blankets.

After 10 terrible days of privation, exhaustion and danger they sighted a British ship. She answered a flare from the boat and came to the rescue on a steep sea. The exhausted crews were with difficulty transferred to the steamer, where every care was given them. Light’s courage, leadership, self-sacrifice and stout heart thus saved not only his own crew but the 16 men whose boat he had towed.