TNA ADM 199 792

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105
4. (contd.).
197
On completion when ship had been struck and water was
level with waist the question of scuttling ship came up but
Captain decided this was unnecessary and order was given to
abandon ship. I reached one of the spare Army boats two hundred
yeard away and after collecting survivors to limit of boats
capacity went to drifter. After collecting all but two floats
we went off to head off a destroyer for the remainder.
Particular merit:-
A.B. Rawstron - courage, example & cheerfulness.
A.B:s Glover and Ord. Sea Mullins - courage & cheerfulness.
P.O. Robinson took charge well on forecastle,
A.B. Davis. Torp. although badly burned took a lively interest
in remaining action taken.
Lieut. Sowry - for tenacity of purpose with French drifter
resulting in the recovery of seventy survivors and message passed
to destroyer for remaining fifty,
5. Surg. Lieut. A.W. McHaffie.
1st. Attack, In Sick Bay - which was reduced to chaos
from concussions. Casualties arrived after attack.
Soldier compaining of burns of arms.
Stocker complaining of burns of face.
2xStanker Terpedoman complaining of extensive surface burns of
face, scalp, neck and both eyes.
Another rating complained of splinter wound of left arm.
L.S.B.A. reported A.B. Riddle lying under Pom-Pom platform. When
I arráved there I found him complaining of fracture of left femur
and very extensive burns of face and shoulders - Dressed him and
then went down into engine room where I saw two ERA's dead.
Griffeths & Griffeths& Putt (stoker) was also dead.
L.S.B.A. reported four dead in boiler room,
2nd. attack. Ordered to clear upper deck - and I went to
port side alley way. Saw Mr. Francis of Pom-Pom platform and
one rating. He called for rest of crew and I passed on call to
ratings in fore mess deck. No hands came forward. Saw Captain
climbing on to platform followed by rest of crew. Was called by
Captain to attend to Mr. Francis and I went on to Pom-Pom platform
and found Mr. Francis unconscious - splinter through lungs. Gave
1/6th. morphine.
3rd. attack. Was still on Pom-Pom platform until shortly
after attack when Mr. Francis died.
During interval between 3rd. and 4th. attacks.
Evacuated wounded into water boat lying in water amidships on
starboard side. Was helped in this by L.S.B.A and Coxswain.
Orders to do so were given by First Lieutenant.
boat
4th. attack. Most of #crew of motor, boarded ship including all
wounded except A.B. Riddle who was comatose and lying in
Robertson stretcher c. me on forecastle of motor boat - two ratings
remained in boat.
Bomb hit water 10 yards off motor boat and wave upset
and smashed boat against ship's side upsetting all within - Riddle
disappeared before I could get to him and I lost sight of other
menbers of boat's crew.
Ship by this time was being abandoned.