7430-S-MAN OVERBOARD
MAN OVERBOARD
Thursday, 8th October 1914
We had just finished our usual little drop of "Control Drill" at 11 a.m., and were steaming along at 12 knots. I was in the waist and heard the shout 'Man Overboard." Running on to the Q.D., I saw a man's head in the water about 50 yards astern of the ship. Urged by an irresistible impulse I ran aft and dived in after him. My actions were quite out of my control, and I only realised the state of affairs on finding myself swimming briskly towards him. I only saw him once, over the waves, and spectators on the ship inform me he was observed to sink just before I reached him. On getting to the place where I had seen him, I saw nothing, and looking round noted :
I had swallowed a lot of the N. Sea.
The water was devilish chilly.
The ship was about a mile away.
I also felt a beastly lassitude coming over me. However I had the sense not to give way to that and its attendant consequences. I then started to undress. Removed my coat, shoes and socks, and trousers, the latter frightened me catching round my knees. However, with every inducement to keep cool I worked them off gradually. I then cruised round a bit (my word, it was cold) but I am sorry to say saw no signs of Maclean who, I afterwards heard, had fallen over from P.3, on stepping off the sight-setter's seat. I was eventually extremely glad to see old Peters bearing down on me in the seaboat, and after a bit of an effort I was hauled in over the bows. The bowmen at first appeared to experience a certain delicacy at manhandling a naked officer, but my language soon put them at ease. I found I had been in the ditch, temperature 45', for 20 minutes, and quite long enough for me. A day in bed put me all right.
[For this action Stephen was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze medal]