The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956)(about) |
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Monday 2 April 1945
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BOY'S FIVE YEARS
OF WARFARE
Told to Victory Loan Audience
Victor Haggith, 17-year-old British Merchant Navy sailor, held an audi- ence of several thousand at a Third Victory War Loan rally at St Kilda yesterday. Without any showman- ship or any effort at style, he told the story of his five years of war. He spoke with youthful sincerity.
Five minutes after he had finished speaking £3,100 had been subscribed
to the loan.
He plunged right into war as it began for him at the age of 12 when the first sirens brought the people of Wembley, England, into the streets. His story of that first bomb- ing was graphic, because it dealt with his own boyhood reactions,
which two years later made him decide that he might as well die by torpedo at sea as by bombing on land. So he switched his age on a couple of years, cycled into London, and joined the Merchant Navy.
Torpedoed twice in one week: adrift for six days in a lifeboat with only four biscuits and two inches of water daily, questioning by the German submarine's captain, who said he was sorry but that it was war; their reply that it was all right, they didn't mind a bit - these things and many more were crammed into the 20- minute address.
When he spoke of England and "our people" a sudden burst of clapping stopped him, but his audience grew still again when he spoke of the children of England. "I've got a
little brother," he said, "and five of his seven years of life have been spent dodging in and out of shel-
ters."
Victor Haggith will speak at Chel- sea Oval at 3pm today. Tomorrow he will address employees of United Felt Hats Pty Ltd, Abbotsford, and McColl Electric Works, Fitzroy. On Wednesday he will be heard in a lunchtime rally in Bourke st.
VICTOR HAGGITH speaking at
St Kilda yesterday.