Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 94
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 94]
The Carnarvon apparently Rear Admiral Stoddart told us did not take a very active part in the battle we had plenty of ships and she had no vis a vis but it fell to her lot to pick up the prisoners. According to prisoners their stories both surgical stations in the Gneisenau were blown to pieces and the surgeons killed early in the action, and the Chaplain who was assisting, was decapitated and his head blown up a hatch.
Towards the close of the action when the ship was nearly finished the stokers asked permission to go on deck and save themselves the Eng. Commander refused and was stuffed into the flames by his men. The Commander of the Gneisenau came upon the quarter deck of the Carnarvon and spat to show his contempt of the English. According to one story for the truth of which the writer cannot vouch he was quietly pushed over the side.
Another tried to come up over the side with a revolver and was knocked on the head. One fears that our sailors under provocation do not always observe the niceties of war when provoked and they still had in mind the dastardly treatment afforded the helpless Monmouth a few weeks before.
One German Officer from the Gneisenau came aboard the Carnarvon and asked if there were a Stoddart aboard. He was told "yes" that was the Admirals name. And he turned out to be the Admirals cousin one of whose relations had married into a German family. What a reunion!