Modern naval guns are of very long range; and in most of the fights on
the sea the enemy ships were several miles apart.
In the Battle of the Falklands the fighting was at a range of about
nine miles. When the Battle of Jutland Bank began Beatty’s cruisers
were about eleven miles from the leading ships of the Germans. When the
_Queen Elizabeth_ was at the Dardanelles her gunners said that they
could “land on a penny at 15,000 yards.”
But in the little fight off Dover on the night of April 20, 1917,
British and German ships came close together, and there was a struggle
with a boarding party as in the “good old days” of the story books.
Moreover, a brave British boy played a very prominent part in this
older type of fighting.
Half an hour after midnight, two British destroyers, _Swift_ and
_Broke_, came up with six German ships of the same kind. The latter
opened fire at 600 yards and were instantly answered by the _Swift_.
Then Commander Peck quickly made up his mind to ram the first German
destroyer and drove straight for her.
The Germans were steaming at high speed, the night was pitch dark, and
the _Swift_ missed her mark. But she torpedoed another enemy boat and
then went in hot pursuit of the first. The German got away and without
firing another shot made off into the darkness with the _Swift_ after
her at full speed.
Meanwhile the _Broke_ (Commander Evans) had launched a torpedo at the
second boat, which hit her. Then he swung round and rammed the third
boat at full speed. After that the fight was at closest range.
The gunners of the _Broke_ swept the decks of the boat which had been
rammed amidships. The two remaining German destroyers opened a heavy
fire, and before long the crews of the foremost guns of the _Broke_
were reduced from eighteen men to six. On the forecastle Midshipman
Donald A. Gyles was in charge; and though he had been wounded in the
eye as soon as he came on deck, he did all he could to keep his guns in
action.
Then a number of Germans climbed up over the forecastle of the _Broke_
and jumped down upon her deck. They were rushing aft, shouting loudly,
when they were met by Gyles, revolver in hand, and half blinded with
blood from the wound in his eye.
A big German seized him by the wrist and tried to take his revolver
from him, but a well-aimed blow from a petty officer made the man
loosen his hold. He dodged round to take the middy in the rear; but
a British gunner promptly ran him through with his cutlass. Two of
the Germans then tumbled over and pretended to be dead; and in a few
breathless moments the rest were hustled over the side. The “dead” men
were then secured.
The _Broke_ had now wrenched herself free from the German boat, which
was settling down, and turned to ram another of the enemy destroyers.
She missed it, but as she swung round she hit another boat with a
well-aimed torpedo. Then the German boats moved off into the darkness,
just as an unlucky shot found out the boiler-room of the _Broke_ and
disabled her main engines.
She moved off, however, as best she could, towards a German destroyer
which was on fire. As she drew near, shouts for help were heard which
served to draw the _Broke_ still closer. Then the German treacherously
opened fire; so also did the _Broke_; and four rounds followed by a
torpedo quickly settled the enemy.
The whole fight lasted only about seven or eight minutes. For his
gallant share in it Midshipman Gyles received the Distinguished Conduct
Medal. He had been wounded not only in the eye but also in the right
leg and the right arm.
His story was modestly told to friends who visited him in hospital.
He had, like Sir Richard Grenville, “only done his duty as a man is
bound to do.” He was off duty and asleep when the call came to take up
positions for action, but he did not take long to summon all his wits
and a little over.
The bursting of the shell which gave him his first wound “floored him,”
but he was quickly on his feet again and undertook the loading of the
starboard gun. It was at this moment that the “boarders” appeared, and
“he guessed that the reception they received would teach Germans a
lesson.”