(_A 12-in. shell weighs about 8 cwt. High explosives were painted
yellow and "common" painted black._)
In October 1914 H.M.S. _Venerable_ was bombarding the Belgian coast
and Thames tugs were pressed into service to carry ammunition to ships
taking part in the bombardment.
The sea was pretty rough when a tug came alongside the _Venerable_
loaded with 12-in. shells, both high explosive and common. Deck hands
jumped down into the tug to sling the shells on the hoist. The tug
skipper, seeing them jumping on the high explosives, shouted: "Hi!
dahn there! Stop jumping on them yaller 'uns"; and, turning to the
Commander, who was leaning over the ship's rail directing operations,
he called out: "Get them yaller 'uns aht fust, guvnor, or them blokes
dahn there 'll blow us sky high."--_A. Gill, 21 Down Road, Teddington,
Middlesex._