“Get them aboard!”
Survivors must be picked up, irrespectiveof nationality. The Germans did the same.
Almost all were wounded as well as part drowned.At a guess, they were sailors who had been on deck, manning guns or tubes or onthe bridge. Those belowdecks did not normally survive a torpedo strike on asmall ship.
“What’s the word from Lightning?”
“Gone, sir. Lynx reports taking the mostof her men aboard, sir. She was able to get alongside.”
That was well done, must be highlighted inhis report of the action. Bringing one’s own ship so close that men could jumpfrom the burning deck to safety was out of the ordinary run. Williams must berecommended for a gong for that.
“Anything from Lucifer?”
“Taken casualties, sir. Five inch hitamidships. Jettisoned torpedoes.”
“Well done her Gunner! What’s the time,Number One?”
“Forty minutes till first light, sir.”
“Signal ‘Search for survivors till dawn.’”
An hour later, the three ships remainingformed a line and made course for Harwich.
“Going home with our tails between our legs,sir.”
“Defeated, Strachan. Not a pleasantfeeling. At least we sank one of them in exchange. What has Lucifer reported?”
“Twelve dead and eighteen wounded, sir. Noofficers whole, sir. Midshipman has the bridge, Commissioned Gunner in chargeof damage control. Pumping but able to hold the inflow of water, sir.Engineroom taken damage and casualties, able to make twelve knots.”
“Eleven hours to Harwich. Message Commodore.‘Position such and such. ETA Harwich, 1700 hours. Severely wounded in urgentneed of medical attention. Figures for half-flotilla forty dead, sixty wounded.Prisoners number thirteen, all in need of medical assistance.’”
Strachan ran below with the message,adding the precise position.
A first message with the bald facts of theaction had been sent almost as soon as the guns fell silent.
Twenty minutes and there was a reply.
“Medical aid despatched. ETA 1300.”
“That should be one of the light cruisers,sir. They can make the better part of thirty knots and carry a doctor.”
“Inform Lynx and Lucifer.”
Eight of the wounded had succumbed beforeArethusa appeared at full steam, lowering her boats as she reached the threeships.
“Looks like a doctor in each going to Lynxand Lucifer, sir. Must have put extra bodies aboard at Harwich. Sick berthorderlies coming to us. Engineer in the boat for Lucifer as well, sir.”
An hour and Lucifer reported that repairshad been impossible, she would continue at twelve knots on one shaft.
“Orderly from Arethusa requesting to speakto you, sir.”
Simon went belowdecks, found the orderlyand his party of three packing their bags.
“Patched up the prisoners, sir. All shouldmake it to shore hospital, though one at least has swallowed fuel oil. Done hisguts no favours at all! Might I request a boat, sir, to one of the other ships?”
“Certainly. Thank you for your help.Lucifer was worst hit, I will send you there.”
The orderlies were often Quakers or otherswho would not shed blood but wished to serve, refusing the commissions theireducation and class would normally have expected. They were commonly to befound where the need was greatest.
They reached the yard at Harwich, tied upat spaces hastily cleared for them. There were ambulances waiting and photographersfrom the Press, accompanied by a Lieutenant.
“Orders from the Admiralty, sir. Picturesof survivors from the ship you sank, rescued at great risk. Lightning’s losswill be announced tomorrow.”
It seemed more than ordinarily dishonest.Lieutenant commanders did not argue with the Admiralty.
“Mr Strachan, prisoners to the brow, please.Hand them over to the Military Police who are waiting for them.”
The Germans left the ship in silence,apart from the calls of the photographers as they posed them for the best drama,British hands carrying the single stretcher.
“Bastards!”
“Admiralty, Military Police, Press orGermans, Number One? Might be a difficult choice.”
Strachan chose not to reply.
“Commodore’s staff lieutenant coming aboard,sir.”
Simon was invited to the offices, not tospeak to the newspapers until he had briefed his master.
“Coming up to Christmas and the Admiraltydoes not want bad news, Sturton. Lightning’s loss will be slipped out in theevening papers tomorrow. As it stands, there will be photographs of your damagedgun and mention of a few brave tars who lost their lives and over all will bethe German prisoners, ‘plucked from the night seas’, no doubt. Such honourablefellows we are!”
“They get more dishonest every month, sir.”
“I think you are right, Sturton. Don’t matter,do it? We have no choice other than to fight on. Back to the yard at Chathamfor your ships, it would seem, Sturton, possibly for a long time. Might wellend up simply transferring the bulk of your crews into different boats. I shallwait for orders from on high for that. What happened?”
“Five German destroyers, waiting for us.They spotted us first, how I do not know. They opened the party with just fourtorpedoes, fortunately. Had they each fired four, crossing, we would have beenhit for sure.”
Tyrwhitt nodded.
“Confirms a bit of intelligence we havereceived. Shortage of munitions. They are permitted to use only one torpedo ona small ship such as a destroyer. They fired one for each of you, in a singlesalvo to increase their chance of hitting any. Bending the rules, you mightsay.”
“They might have done better to waitanother minute or two and then use gunfire only, sir. As it was, we were ableto commence evasive action. The question arises, how did they see us first?”
“They knew where you were, within a mile.A submarine spotted you and sent a wireless message when it surfaced afterdark. Then it followed you at two or three miles distant, continuing to sendmessages. Not worth using their few torpedoes on small, fast ships. So theycalled for help. Our people picked up the transmissions, did not decode them intime. You were patrolling at low speed. I think in future we must set a minimumof fifteen knots on night patrol. No sub will match that.”
“At least it was not a question ofefficiency, of their lookouts being better than ours.”
“No. An effective ambush. We have a newlight cruiser on station, sister to Arethusa. Naiad. She is yours, Sturton, withseven destroyers, all L Class. Take command tomorrow with your fellow Strachanas your Number One. I don’t think he is ready for command yet, do you agree?”
“Three more months, sir. He is learningfast.
