Jack 'Spud' Yates, who was born in Oldham on September 13, 1918, accumulated four impressive medals during his service in the Royal Navy, including an extremely rare Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. Jack later described the battle as a "David and Goliath" encounter which helped the crew ahead of its next 'epic' fight with the Japanese heavy cruiser, Haguro. Meanwhile, Jack and three others, Stoker Marten, Stoker 'Ginger' Elliot and Stoker 'Jock' Hendren, went into the hot, cramped and noisy Number 1 boiler room. In the boiler room, Jack said he saw a "flash" on the main steam pipe as a shell entered the boiler and partly detonated. He said: "Both were very hefty lads and the boiler room ladders are very steep."

Source: The Times February 10, 2024 13:10 UTC