The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-09-15
HAS TRAVELLED OVER
WORLD AS SEAMAN
Gets Recognition from Crown When
He Proves Himself Fearless
in0Ocesn Fighting
Against Turks
BY WILBUR s. FORREST.


Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
London, Sept -(By mail)-The
type of men that are becoming ma
tional heroes in England's greatest
war is exemplified today in the story
of the adventurous career of Midship-
man George l.. Drewry of London.
who has been decorated with the Vic
toria Cross for valor at the Darda-
nelles.
Not yet of age, Drewry's brief TWEEN
ty years have been packed with thrills
that rival the most romantic heroes of
Marryat's tales of the sea- He has
sailed the world around, had thrilling
rescues from water graves and has
been shipwrecked on desert isle, but
no finer story of heroism has been told
during the war than his conduct while
disembarking troops from the Steam
ship River Clyde off Gallipoli penin-
sula.
The young midshipman was placed
in charge of flat boat at 5 a. m. on
the memorable day of the landing of
the British expeditionary force against
the Turks. From thelside of the River
Clyde the vessel which was later run
ashore to facilitate the landing of
soldiers from a hole cut out in its
plates, he steered straight toward
Cape Helles in the face of furious
fire, to beach his craft where, with
others, it would act as a landing stage
for the soldiers Behind him came
the River Clyde. AS the transport
crunched its bow on the sandy shore,
Drewery's lighter hit the beach at her
port bow Jumping ashore with a
hawser he secured the small craft and
went to the aid of Capt. Unwin, who
by this time had jumped into the wa
ter in an effort to place another light
er. Both, despite machine gun and
schrapnel, escaped death by inches
but we're unable at once to accomplish
their task. Drewry leaped aboard the
lighted and then into the water again
to assist a wounded soldier. He then
threw away his revolvers. coat and
hat and went back to tue aid of the
captain. Shortly afterward a bit of
shrapnel, escaped death by inches
knocking him down He was carried
aboard the River Clyde, his wound
dressed. and he Immediately rushed
back to the aid of Capt Unwin. With
rope in his teeth he swan to other
lighters and fastened them to the
grounded craft. Twice he executed
this feat under sniping fire until res
cued completely exhausted.
The story of Drewry's gallantry at
Dardanelles drew the story of his
other adventures from his father and
mother in London today. He left
school at the age of sixteen, Joined the
merchant marine and was apprenticed
aboard the Indian Empire, large Lon
don sailing ship. An incident OF his
first year at sea was a fall from a
high mast into the sea- He was res
cued with difficulty. This incident
vas nothing compared to the adven-
ture which befell him later.
While sailing around Cape Horn In
the Indian Empire storm arose and
the vessel was wrecked on a desert
island. A heavy sea literally washed
the crew into shallow bay, which was
filled with seaweed Swimming and
crawling over the vegetable mass, the
crew succeeded in reaching shore. For
fourteen days they sustained existence
on edible roots and shell fish and man
aged to hold out until rescued by q
Chilean man-of-war.
After this in 1912. the youthful ad
i venturer returned to England and was
given an officers berth on merchant
liner Since then he has travelled al
over the world, and happened to be il
Port Said in July. 1918. when he join
ed the Royal Naval Reserve as mid
shipman. In August, 1914. he was ap
pointed to II. NJ S. Egmont, guardshil
at Malta and later to the torpedo guT