On the morning of September 22, 1914, when the cruisers _Aboukir_,
_Hogue_, and _Cressy_ were torpedoed, we were dotted about in the
water, helping each other where possible and all trying to get some
support. When one piece got overloaded it meant the best swimmers
trying their luck elsewhere.
Such was my position, when I saw a piece of wreckage resembling a
chicken coop, large enough to support four men. I reached it just ahead
of another man who had been badly scalded.
We were both exhausted and unable to help another man coming towards
us. He was nearly done, and my companion, seeing his condition, shouted
between breaths: "Come along, ole cock. Shake yer bloomin' feavers.
There's a perch 'ere for anover rooster."
Both were stokers on watch when torpedoed, and in a bad state from
scalds. Exposure did the rest. I was alone, when picked up.--_W.
Stevens (late R.M.L.I.), 23 Lower Range Road, Denton, near Gravesend._