Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 24, 2023 21:36:21 GMT 12
TORPEDOED BY E-BOAT
AUCKLANDER'S ESCAPE
RISKS FOR PHOTOGRAPH
(Special Correspondent) (Recd. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 11
Concern for a girl's photograph when the destroyer Lightning was torpedoed off the Sardinian coast nearly cost Able Seaman Albert Ernest Gregory, of Auckland, his life.
The Lightning was patrolling when seven E-boats attacked her. One torpedo struck her when she was travelling at 32 knots, carrying away the bows and leaving her a sitting target for the second torpedo.
Able Seaman Gregory had just come off watch and was sleeping. When orders were given to stand by he went on the quarterdeck, but he remembered the photograph of Miss Mavis Garratt, of Sydney. He returned and got the photo, and was running along the quarterdeck when a second torpedo struck the ship, causing the searchlight platform to crash on to the deck six feet from him, killing one man.
Able Seaman Gregory dived into the icy water and was swimming with his lifebelt. Someone suggested that it was better swimming without trousers, so he kicked them off, forgetting the girl's photograph in the pocket. The trousers floated back, so he put them on again.
Able Seaman Gregory was in the water for three and a-half hours. He said: "The E-boats came around asking for the captain. One German told us he would be picked up, to which a sailor replied: 'Not by you.' The German laughed and said. 'Der Britisher,' and then all of us in the sea began to sing 'There'll Always be An England.'
"It had been a pitch black night," he continued, "but the star shells from the escorting ships put up a marvellous firework display. The ships attacked the E-boats, three of which were sunk and two damaged."
Able Seaman Gregory has now returned to London, where the naval liaison officer is hoping to have him transferred to New Zealand. Sub-Lieutenant D. Callow, of Wellington, the only other New Zealander in the Lightning, was killed.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12 APRIL 1943
AUCKLANDER'S ESCAPE
RISKS FOR PHOTOGRAPH
(Special Correspondent) (Recd. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 11
Concern for a girl's photograph when the destroyer Lightning was torpedoed off the Sardinian coast nearly cost Able Seaman Albert Ernest Gregory, of Auckland, his life.
The Lightning was patrolling when seven E-boats attacked her. One torpedo struck her when she was travelling at 32 knots, carrying away the bows and leaving her a sitting target for the second torpedo.
Able Seaman Gregory had just come off watch and was sleeping. When orders were given to stand by he went on the quarterdeck, but he remembered the photograph of Miss Mavis Garratt, of Sydney. He returned and got the photo, and was running along the quarterdeck when a second torpedo struck the ship, causing the searchlight platform to crash on to the deck six feet from him, killing one man.
Able Seaman Gregory dived into the icy water and was swimming with his lifebelt. Someone suggested that it was better swimming without trousers, so he kicked them off, forgetting the girl's photograph in the pocket. The trousers floated back, so he put them on again.
Able Seaman Gregory was in the water for three and a-half hours. He said: "The E-boats came around asking for the captain. One German told us he would be picked up, to which a sailor replied: 'Not by you.' The German laughed and said. 'Der Britisher,' and then all of us in the sea began to sing 'There'll Always be An England.'
"It had been a pitch black night," he continued, "but the star shells from the escorting ships put up a marvellous firework display. The ships attacked the E-boats, three of which were sunk and two damaged."
Able Seaman Gregory has now returned to London, where the naval liaison officer is hoping to have him transferred to New Zealand. Sub-Lieutenant D. Callow, of Wellington, the only other New Zealander in the Lightning, was killed.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 12 APRIL 1943
