- Contributed by听
- eskimo
- People in story:听
- C.E.R.A. Bushell
- Location of story:听
- North Sea near Humber light vessel
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A2053081
- Contributed on:听
- 17 November 2003
Sat 18th May 1940 I was awakene at 11.20 by alarm bells and slight shock as of a depth charge. When I got on deck we were approaching the Princess Victoria (PV an Irish Ferry) which had been mined. One or two of our chaps had seen the explosion - no flame just a column of water - she had listed to starboard and tilted bows down. We lowered both whalers and put survivor nets over the side then stood by to pick up as many as possible. As we slowly circled we could see flares lighting as she sank lower and water reached lifebelts fitted with automatic flares. Then we were busy on board helping survivors up our sides - not an easy job. I climbed down a net to help one fellow but he swimming strongly and climbed up a rope ladder very nimbly... PV eventually settled with masts and top of funnel above surface...It seems we have 27 survivors aboard several badly cut through jumping from saloon windows. PV is a converted Irish mail boat quite a new vessel and fitted for 300 mines.
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