It might have been that at such a disadvantage the _Broke_ would fall
speedy victim to superior numbers. But something more than numbers and
preponderance of force enter into the audit of the militant; and the
“something more” in this instance was the spirit and understanding of
Midshipman Gyles. Although wounded in the eye he kept all the foremost
guns in action, himself helping the sorely reduced crew to load. While
he was occupied in this way Germans began swarming over the _Broke’s_
forecastle from the rammed destroyer, and to escape the blinding
flashes of the forecastle guns began pushing aft, roaring and shouting
like a frenzied mob. A graphic account of what happened was published
right after the event:
“The midshipman, amid the dead and wounded of his own gun-crews, and
half blinded himself by blood, met the onset single-handed with an
automatic revolver. He was grappled by a German, who tried to wrest the
revolver away. Cutlasses and bayonets being among the British equipment
in anticipation of such an event, the German was promptly bayoneted by
Seaman Ingleson. The remainder of the invaders, except two who feigned
death, were driven over the side, the two being taken prisoner.
“Two minutes after ramming, the _Broke_ wrenched herself free from her
sinking adversary and turned to ram the last of the three remaining
German boats. She failed in this object but, in swinging around,
succeeded in hitting the boat’s consort on the stem with a torpedo.
Hotly engaged with the two fleeing destroyers, the _Broke_ attempted to
follow the _Swift_ in the direction she was last seen, but a shell
struck the _Broke’s_ boiler-room, disabling her main engines.”
[Illustration:
_Courtesy of Hunter._