Able seaman, J.C., aged 23 years, was a member of a gun’s crew during an action, in which our own and enemy light forces were concerned. A direct hit was obtained by the enemy on his gun,  and all the crew but himself were killed. He was thrown to the deck unwounded, but on regaining his feet an explosion  occurred, caused by a torpedo, and he was thrown into the sea. He began to swim, and succeeded in regaining the ship which was still above water, but she sank within a few minutes. He jumped overboard before she went down and began to swim again; a dull explosion took place almost immediately, whereupon he felt a severe pain in his back and lost consciousness. He stated that he thought he heard other men in similar plight around him cry out just before he became unconscious, but recollected nothing else until he found himself on shore.