We heard so much during the war about German submarines that many
people forgot that we had under-water craft of our own. If the German
fleet had come out from the harbours of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven they
would have learnt a little about the number and efficiency of the
British submarines, as well as about the chivalry of their commanders.
The British submarines had a better chance to show what they could do
at the Dardanelles; and some of the bravest deeds of the naval warfare
were done in this quarter. Take a large map of Europe and find out the
Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmora and Constantinople; and remember that
at the time we are now considering a British fleet was lying off the
entrance to the straits known as the Dardanelles.
[Illustration: THE B11 PASSING UNDER THE MINES.]
Remember, also, that the strait was strongly guarded on either side
by a number of Turkish forts, while mines were laid in the water
all around. The distance from the entrance of the Dardanelles to
Constantinople is about 230 miles.
One day the British submarine E11, under Lieutenant-Commander Nasmith,
set out on a voyage to Constantinople, where there were several
Turkish troopships carrying men who were to be sent to fight us in the
Gallipoli Peninsula. This little boat had to pass under or round the
mine-fields; to dodge the Turkish destroyers; to avoid being detected
by the guns of the shore batteries; and to be prepared to spend long
hours under water.
All these things were done, and a great deal more, so much, indeed,
that it is difficult to believe that one little boat could do so much.
It was the means of destroying a Turkish gunboat, two troopships, one
powder-ship, and three storeships, while it drove another storeship
ashore. Then the plucky little E11 set out for home and passed safely
through the most difficult part of the return journey. But even yet
its daring work was not completed; for it returned to torpedo another
Turkish troopship! The brave and resourceful commander well deserved
the Victoria Cross which was granted to him by King George.
The British submarine B11 had an even more adventurous journey in the
same quarter. In the month of December of the first year of the war
the British fleet was waiting for a fitting time to bombard the forts
at the entrance to the Dardanelles; and in order to pass the time of
waiting Lieutenant-Commander Norman D. Holbrook set out on a voyage of
adventure.
There was a large mine-field at the entrance to the Straits consisting
of several rows of mines. The B11 dived under these mines and came
safely within the straits. Then a torpedo was fired at a Turkish
battleship named the _Messudiyeh_, and in a very short time the vessel
heeled over and then settled slowly down. Meanwhile the periscope was
sighted from the batteries on the shore as well as by the torpedo boats
which were patrolling the Straits, and in a very short time the shells
were hissing around it. But it dodged them cleverly, and after sighting
the battleship so as to make quite sure that it was really sinking, the
B11 set out on the return journey.
It was now so much harried by the Turkish guns from various quarters,
that it was forced to keep under water as much as possible. At one part
of its journey it was submerged for no less than nine and a half hours.
Then the compass got out of order, and the boat was driven about in
the strong undercurrents of the Straits. Sometimes the men could feel
it grating upon the bottom; then it would be suddenly carried near
the surface and every man held his breath while he waited for a mine
to go off. But passing through all the dangers, the little craft at
last reached “home” in safety, to be given a warm reception by men and
officers of the Allied fleets. Lieutenant Holbrook was awarded the V.C.
for this daring deed, while every other man in the submarine was given
a medal. On the following day the B9 tried to rival the exploit, but
was soon detected and was forced to come back.
In one of the actions against the Turks the _Inflexible_ was hit in the
foremast by a shell. Several of the men in the control station at the
top of this steel tripod mast were badly wounded by the explosion; and
those on the deck began to make preparations for bringing the men who
had been hurt down from the control.
As they looked upward, they saw to their astonishment that one of the
wounded men was already tackling the problem. He had taken on his
shoulders one of his comrades who was more hurt than himself and was
carrying him down the steel ladder attached to one of the legs of the
tripod.
After him came another carrying a second wounded man in a similar
manner, and after a painful and perilous descent both the carriers
reached the deck in safety. It must not be forgotten that the rungs of
the ladder were coated with greasy soot from the smoke of the funnels;
and they were therefore by no means secure resting places for the feet
of wounded men so heavily burdened as these brave rescuers were.