“BOY, FIRST CLASS.”

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144671, 4 May 1915, Page 7

“BOY, FIRST CLASS.”

SHE POST OF DUTY. Columns of the London Gazette were occupied by the names of military officers mentioned in Sir John French’s last dispatch on whom honours, from the K.C.M.G. "downwards, had been bestowed. Ton lines are sufficient fnr tho naval officers who receive rewards for their part in the sea lights off tho Falklands and off the Dogger Bank on January 2t. There is one striking human note in the honours a warded to the lower deck (says H. C. Forraby, naval correspondent of the Daily Express). The. Distinguished Service AJedal is allotted to Boy, First Class, F. G. It. Bamford, and Boy, first Class, J. F. Rogers, both of tho Tiger. Y’ouugstcrs of 18 do not often* win such high rewards in war, and it would surely he possible for the Admiralty to make public some details of tho feat which won the medal for these two very first-class boys.

1 have been told (a rather familiar opening that, to tales about the war!) of a remarkable feat performed by one of the boys of the Tiger, though whether it refers to either Bamford or Rogers I cannot say. During the light the glasses to the gun-sighting apparatus became clouded by smoke. A volunteer was asked for to clamber outside the turret and wipe them clean.

A boy, first class, undertook this difficult and dangerous tusk—-remember that the Tiger, who nominal speed is 30 knots, was steaming her fastest, and that the fire of tho enemy was at the time concentrated on her—and succeeded in cleaning the glasses. FORGOTTEN! The gun’s crew, delighted at rediscovering tiio enemy, forgot all about the boy. first class, outside tho turret, and firing began again. Anyone who lies been wittiin a few miles of the discharge of big guns can form a faint idea of the ordeal that youngster went through. But he had volunteered for the job, and lie stuck it. He remained outside that turret when every other man in the ship practically was behind armour to the end of the action, and when suddenly somebody remembered him he was discovered nearly deafened, but still methodically . wiping smoke from tho vital sighting apparatus of the guns. Now that story may or may not be true, but I submit that if it is true the enemy can gain no possible advantage frot». the official publication of tho facts, while the country »it largo will gain a very clear insight into the magnificent spirit which animates all ranks of the Navy. Only once before has the D.S.AI. been awarded to a boy in tho Navy, and that was for some also uudescribcd feat in the course of the operations off the Belgian coast in November. In the Now Year Honours there appeared just tho brief statement:— “Alerscy, Boy, First Class, Herbert Sturman.’’ la its way that entry is of considerable historic interest, but apparently it is to go down for all time that the British nation was not sufficiently interested in its Fleet to care to learn for what dec! M bravery this boy was the first a our lu.nats to receive this particular .iecoration.