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Friday 2nd August 1940. British pluck combined with readiness for instant action has never been better illustrated than by the stirring narrative of the coastal steamer Highlander, of 1,220 tons. Incidentally, it set up two records, one of which is likely to stand unchallenged, for her master, bringing his vessel safely into port, brought with him all that remained of a German aircraft (Heinkel He-115) which was still lying where it fell on the ships stern. Captain William Giflord was the particular hero of the exploit. The Highlander was passing along the East Coast, about three and a half miles from land, just before mid night, when the sound of a plane flying low was heard. This might have been British, as at first was thought, but the master was taking no chances. The ships two light guns were manned and speed increased. In a few minutes the plane disclosed its nationality. Machine-gun bullets swept the steamers superstructure, riddling the funnel and deck fittings and piercing the side. There were no casualties. The plane passed astern, circled, and then returned for a second attack, at still closer range. The Highlander opened fire upon the attacker as he came on, and probably a shot reached the pilot, for the plane collided with the ships port lifeboat, twisted round after the contact, and crashed over her stern. A couple of cranes were demolished, a light gun smashed flat on to the deck, and the two seamen who manned it knocked outneither, it happened, were seriously hurt. Shedding its port wing, most of which remained on the ships deck, the rest of the plane went on for one hundred yards or so, then at great speed hit the water and disappeared. It was a good nights work, but unfinished. The Highlander had started zig-zagging. Within ten minutes there came a second plane, (another He-115) burning her side lights and flying low. Again the Highlander was the target for machine-gun fire, which he returned with interest with her remaining gun. Her bullets were seen to hit the plane. A few moments later it dived into the North Sea with a great splash, a little distance astern. The bag was two enemy planes in ten minutes, a great feat for a small, lightly-armed coasting vessel. The Highlander, battered and scarred, duly landed her trophy seen above. Taken from the book - The Battle of the Seas by Sir Archibald Hurd published in 1941.
Some months later she herself was sunk by enemy action off NE Scotland.
Some months later she herself was sunk by enemy action off NE Scotland.
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