How my grand-father got his Navy Cross and I got my middle name

[james_davis_nicoll]

Longish.

In the paper version of this I have seen, the back of the letter has a note to my grandmother telling her not to worry.

ND: Rdb.
File No. 133-G

Base Eighteen
9 February 1919

From: Commanding Officer RED ROSE
To: Secretary of the Navy.
Via : Force Commander.
Commanding Officer, U.S.Naval Bases 17 and 18
Commander Minesweeping Detachment.

Subject: Strachan P.J. Q.M. 2c USNRF -- Recommendation
For Navy Cross and advancement in rating .

1) In accordance with instructions from Force Commander, two British sailing smacks were obtained from the Admiralty for conducting experimental minesweeping in the North Sea Barrage to ascertain the effectiveness of these in field. Due to the late delivery of the vessels it was not possible to fit them out and carry on the experiments until after the armistice had been signed. On account of the peculiar sensitiveness of the American Mark V1 Mine, considerable doubt was expressed whether it would be possible for any type of vessel to cross the minefield without being destroyed, even if the vessel itself were protected. The possibility of adjacent mines countermining was considered a grave source of danger to any vessel.

2) The two vessels supplied by the Admiralty were Lowestoft fishing smacks,
ketch rigged, sixty-nine feet overall. They were fitted out at Base Eighteen
with crews of picked men who had volunteered for this work. The drifter Red Fern was received in very good condition, but the other vessel – RED ROSE –was extremely old, the timbers rotted and the hull leaking badly.. It is understood that this vessel had been sunk for approximately three months and had been raised sometime prior to sending her to Inverness for experimental purposes.

3) The vessels got underway on 21 December 1918 and were towed to the minefield where they made sail on 22 December 1918, put out the sweep and set course to cross the minefield. The minefield laid by Mine Squadron One on 19 August 1918 was crossed and recrossed four times, resulting in exploding six mines., two of which were so close astern of the RED ROSE that the water thrown up was blown aboard that vessel. The explosion also caused considerable additional leakage which necessitated keeping the pumps going approximately fifty percent of the time to keep the hull free of water. By three o’clock the wind had freshened to force six, with the barometer still falling rapidly and a bad sea coming on. The sweep was cut adrift and the vessels stood off to the southward to get clear of the minefield before dark. At 9:00 PM a gale was blowing and an

File No 133 G 9 February 1919




extremely heavy sea which made it necessary for the RED ROSE to heave to under a storm jib and triple- reefed mizzen. The storm was increasing in violence until it began to appear doubtful whether it would be possible to keep the ship afloat until the weather abated.

4) At about 2:00 AM the main topmast ,which was carrying no sails snapped and hung about half way down the mast, suspended by the topsail halyards.This mast suspended in this fashion was whipping about wildly, striking the sail and rigging violently ,with grave danger of carrying away the headsail as well as the shrouds and other rigging attached to the mast. The only solution was to go aloft and cut it adrift. This involved climbing the shrouds while the topmast was whipping across them at intervals of approximately four seconds and with such force that it would have killed a man had he been struck by it.

P.J. Strachan, quartermaster second class ,U.S.Naval Reserve Force ,realizing the situation jumped into the rigging and , watching the mast as it whipped back and forth across the shrowds finally succeeded in climbing above it and on to the crosstrees where he cut it free and it fell on deck.

Later on the same night while the Commanding Officer was securing some rigging which had come adrift a heavy sea broke over the bulwark washing him across the deck. He would undoubtedly have been carried overboard had it not been for the assistance of Strachan who caught him and held him until the sea had passed. During the remainder of this storm and another storm of equal violence , Strachan displayed the most remarkable courage and seamanship I have ever seen.

4) It is therefore recommended that P.J.Strachan quarter master second class U.S. Naval Reserve Force be awarded the Navy Cross for most distinguished service and extraordinary heroism in the line of duty and that he be advanced to the rating of Chief Quartermaster .It is further requested that a copy of this letter be attached to his service record .

Commanding Officer Davis

Retyped from original by HJO May 2009

My uncle Davis was named for the commanding officer and I am named for Davis.