English fiction -- 20th century; Sea stories, English; War stories, English; World War, 1914-1918 -- Fiction
As soon as it was realised that the water was no longer gaining on
them, the attention of the Commanding Officer of the _Prize_ was
devoted to an attempt to restarting the motors. In the course of
this work a fire broke out in the engine-room, due to sparks from the
motor igniting the oil which had leaked from the damaged tank. This
was successfully extinguished, and the wounded Stoker Petty Officer,
assisted by the German Stoker Petty Officer, succeeded in getting one
motor started. By 11.45 P.M. on April 30 all sail was set, and with
one engine working the _Prize_ shaped a course for the Irish Coast,
120 miles to the north-eastward.
Land was not sighted until the afternoon of May 2, during which time
the crew, assisted by the prisoners, laboured at the pumps day and
night. They were finally picked up 5 miles to the westward of the
Old Head of Kinsale by one of H.M. Motor Launches and towed into
Kinsale Harbour. Here two of the wounded were disembarked, and
improvised leak-stoppers, made out of the pieces of plank with
blankets stretched over them, were bolted over the shot-holes.
On May 4 the _Prize_, with her three prisoners still on board, left
Kinsale Harbour in tow of one of H.M. Drifters, and arrived at
Milford Haven, where she was based, at 8 A.M. on May 4.
During the passage an enemy minelaying-submarine was sighted on the
surface to the southward about two miles away. The crew of the
_Prize_ immediately went to "Action Stations" in the hope that the
enemy would close to within effective range, and for an hour they
waited in tense excitement, while the submarine steered a parallel
course to theirs. Apparently, however, her caution got the better of
her curiosity, for she finally drew ahead and was not seen again.
The remainder of the voyage passed uneventfully.
His Majesty the King, in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry
displayed by the Officers and men of the _Prize_, was pleased to
award the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant W. E. Saunders, who was also
promoted to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Commander, Royal Naval
Reserve.
Lieutenant W. D. Beaton, R.N.R., the Second-in-Command, was made a
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the two Skippers,
R.N.R. (T), were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, and
the remainder of the ship's company received the Distinguished
Service Medal.
A few months later H.M.S. _Prize_, under the command of
Lieutenant-Commander Saunders, V.C., R.N.R., was lost with all hands,
presumably as the result of an engagement with one or more enemy
submarines. The death of this most gallant officer and his efficient
and highly trained crew was a disaster the Navy and the nation could
ill afford.
V
THE FORFEIT
(1916)
1
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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