Hanson, Fred

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! Hanson, Fred (HMS Ajax Crew List (Photographs)) (HMS Ajax Crew List) (Index of Ship Interest Groups)'''
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WAITING FOR ANOTHER SMACK AT THE HUNS. GREENWICH LAD AND GREAT NAVAL BATTLE. SEAMAN FRED HANSON, Of Greenwich, Aboard H.M.S. Ajax, Was another Ripley lad who helped drive the German Navy back to their skulk-hole in last week's North Sea engagement. In a letter to his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W. Hanson, Fletcher’s-row, Greenwich, he says: -"" You may bit surprised to hear our ship being in last week's North Sea battle. You see we are allowed to say just a little bit but not too much. My word, we didn't half have a busy time while it was on; nothing less than all afternoon, night, and right up to the following morning, when the firing ceased about seven or eight, as near as I could make out. I may say this, every man and boy on board stood to his post without a murmur and a stoker P.O. told me the stokers worked with a very goad heart, and never grumbled or anything. They were only too pleased to know we were going into action. Well, we have had a few ships go down in the battle, but the Huns lost a lot more. I don't know myself exactly, and even if I did I could not say. But that is only one day, you may be sure there is another in store, and we shan't forget them when it comes. I have seen some sights so far, but I think the action beats them ail, for you could not realise being in battle with enemy cruisers, etc. It seemed as though we were at the pictures. We were not quite so close as the other ships, but we could see what was going on. It is the same as I say, you couldn't picture it, but we managed get in a salvo; that is all the guns firing at once, but the shot fell short. Yet another effort was made, and everything was ready for firing again, when the order came through, ' Cease firing.' The cruisers seemed to want all the medals, and they were in our way. On the morning we had a Zep. over us, and she was very lucky she didn’t land. I could write a book but am not allowed. Remember me to friends, that I am waiting for another smack."