The
Famous Landing From The River Clyde At V Beach.
At 6.10 a.m. on April 25th 1915, the River Clyde
struck V Beach, and the hopper went ahead and grounded on the port bow,
in the charge of Midshipman Drewry.
In the midst of very dangerous firing from the opposite shore,
Drewry jumped over the bow and waded towards the beach.
Meeting a soldier wounded in the water, he tried to carry him
ashore with the assistance of another soldier, but the man was shot in
the arms of the rescuers. Drewry then ran along the bridge, but seeing Commander Unwin
and Able seaman Williams towing the lighters he waded out and assisted
them in securing the boats under heavy rifle and maxim fire. He was wounded in the head, but continued his work and twice
subsequently attempted to swim from lighter to lighter with a line.
He was awarded the V.C.
Midshipman
Malleson Jumping With a Line From A Barge to Link up Another Barge Which
Was Drifting.
Lieutenant Morse and Midshipman Drewry were on board the barge,
which lay nearest to the shore when a shot severed the rope by which the
barges were lashed, again setting them adrift.
Midshipman Drewry was hit in the head by a fragment of shell, but
hastily binding his wound he jumped overboard with a fresh line.
For the second time the rope proved too short, whereupon
Midshipman Wilfred Malleson threw himself over the side and made fast
the drifting barges. Once
more the line was broken, and though Malleson made two further gallant
efforts to carry a rope he was unsuccessful.
He was however, rewarded with the V.C. for his great gallantry.
