CADET DAVID HAY’S GALLANT RESCUE
Diving overboard from his sinking ship the Eurylochus, which had been shelled by a German surface raider, Cadet David Hay reached a raft. Then, although sharks were about, he dived in again to rescue the radio officer.
Cadet Hay, an 18-year-old Etonian who joined the Merchant Navy as an apprentice, has been awarded the Lloyds War Medal for exceptional gallantry at sea in time of war.
He is the son of Major Lord Edward Hay, also an Old Etonian, of Hill Hall, Theydon Mount. The merchant ship in which Cadet Hay was serving as an apprentice was hit by several shells – the steering-gear was blasted, the gun was put out action, and the boats were smashed. Many on board had been killed or wounded.
As the ship was sinking Cadet Hay saw the radio officer struggling to reach a raft. Sharks were swimming about, but David Hay, a strong swimmer, six feet tall, dived off another raft.
As he swam to save his colleague, the sharks attacked him. One made a vicious snap at his legs and tore off his clothing He reached the raft as the shark dived to attack him again. The two men were lifted on to the raft, and the sharks swam away. Describing his swim afterwards, Cadet Hay said: “A shark had my trousers and a little skin, but I just managed to beat him to the raft before he could get some more of me.”
The sea has always fascinated David Hay. He used to play in the boats at Frinton. His father fancied a business career for him, but although as a child he suffered from asthma and could not join in his school sports, he grew out of it, and joined the Merchant Navy. Now he is in a naval training school.
Footnote:
A German boarding party examined the cargo holds and found 16 heavy bombers. The German captain, Theodore Detmets, gave the order to sink the ship with a torpedo, but as it was fired a searchlight spotted a lifeboat crew trying to re-board the Eurylochus. Detmets tried to warn them with a “torpedo fired” message but it went unheeded. As the torpedo struck the lifeboat, its occupants disappeared. In all, 38 crew were lost but the remaining 42 were taken aboard the Kormoran.
Shortly after the incident, David transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve, and ended up in Freetown, Sierra Leone where he was Officer in Charge of a small Naval Police Force that had to keep law and order in the town. There was a considerable amount of civil unrest and rioting to deal with.
On 4th July 1941, the London Gazette announced that David had been awarded the Albert Medal in Bronze for life saving at sea, and on 29th July 1941, he received his AM at Buckingham Palace from King George VI. He later took part in the North African Landings, an experience which would affect him for the rest of his life with vivid nightmares.
Towards the end of the war, he was given his own command, a mine sweeper, HMS Neave. His task was to go around the British coastline blowing up wrecks that were a hazard to shipping. After demobilisation, David found himself with little money and no career. He decided to go into business with some friends and founded the Chelsea Traders. Shortly afterwards, he married the Honorable Sonia Peake and they went on to have three sons, Edward, Charles and Alastair.
The marriage ended in divorce in the mid – 1950s.
LORD EDWARD HAY.
Lord Edward Hay, who is being added to the Commission of the Peace for Essex, is again on active service, commanding battalion of the Essex Regiment. He and Lady Edward have lived at the beautiful old mansion. Hill Hall, Theydon Mount, Essex, since 1932, and he is now a member of the Essex County Council. Lord Edward Hay, who is 51 was formerly a Major in the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, and is heir presumptive of the 11th Marquess of Tweeddale. Lady Hay is the younger daughter of Sir Thomas Latham, for many years a director of Courtauld’s Limited.
In the last war Lord Edward served in France, Gallipoli, and Egypt; and afterwards he was at the Peace Conference in Paris, and was sent later various countries on special missions. While Sir Herbert (now Lord) Samuel was High Commissioner in Palestine, Lord Edward was Military Secretary.
Chelmsford Chronicle -1st December 1939
OBITUARY LORD EDWARD HAY
The funeral of Lieut.-Colonel Lord Edward Hay, Grenadier Guards, whose death by enemy action was recorded last week, took place quietly at Theydon Mount Church on Friday The Bishop Barking, the Rev. H. G. Barclay. C.F., and the Rev. E. W. Grevatt (rector) officiated. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and brother officers of the Grenadier Guards were present.
The mourners were: Lady Edward Hay, widow; Miss Sarah Birkin, stepdaughter, Mrs. Hamilton, sister-in-law: Col Sir Piers Leigh Major Arthur Penn. representing the Lieutenant- Colonel commanding Grenadier Guards; Major the Hon. P. P. Carry, representing Westminster Garrison Barracks: Guardsman Frank Oram. Sir Drummond Smith: the Rev C. B. Mortlock, vicar of Epping; Mrs. Grevatt; Miss Inskip: Messrs R 1. C. McNarry and R. B. P. Pearce representing Ongar Rural Council: Miss G. Waters: Mrs. and Miss Chapman; Mr. and Mrs. Prior: Mr. Tyler: Mr. Edgar Smith; Mr Herbert Chapman. Mr. Walter West, employees: and Mr. Bingham.
Chelmsford Chronicle 30th June 1944
