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[Page 63]
round his body jumped over board, and swam to the raft, just then a huge sea came along and washed all the occupants off - the two who we suspected to be dead had now come to life, and seeing a chance of being saved were taking a more or less intelligent interest in things. Fortunately they were washed against the ship, where dozens of hands were waiting to pull them on board. This sounds easier than it really was. In sinking, the T.B.D's oil tanks had burst, and the sea for some two or three miles was covered in thick liquid fuel. In consequence these poor devils were one mass of oil, and as fast as we got a grip of them they slipped through our fingers. All the time they were moaning dreadfully. It was most piteous, however, by dint of getting out over the side and with the able help of the Gunner, we eventually got ropes round them and dragged them all aboard, landing them on our decks like so many gasping trout. Taking them below to the Engine Room - being the warmest place in the ship - we ripped their clothes off, cleaned the oil off them roughly, pumped the water and oil out of them, and brandy and cocoa in. One poor beggar had his teeth so tightly clenched that we had to employ a chisel to force them apart, all the time he kept on moaning "Molto fredo, molto fredo", which being interpreted means "very cold". It is not surprising, seeing he had been in the water for three and a half hours. Further search revealed no more living souls, and we were ordered to escort the damaged T.B.D. to the nearest port, which we reached some four hours later. Here we discharged our three survivors, and I have never seen men more grateful. They had fully recovered by that time, and went over the side munching "bully sandwiches" and clasping each a tin of cigarettes, which our men had given them. I called the attention of one of them to the fact that he was now an English sailor pointing to his clothes - our people had rigged them out - and they all seemed most pleased. "L'inglese marinero molto molto bono" (English sailor very very good) and insisted on shaking hands with every one. During this time - from 5 a.m. to noon, we received two other S.O.S. calls neither of which of course we could succour, but other ships went