Personal information

Stanley Fredrick Rudling later described the sinking of HMS Vervain as follows: I was laying on my bunk making out a list of seamen to take to the bridge for compass and helm, when a hell of a lot of water came down the hatchway, going up on top there was about two thirds of the ship under water. I got the Carley floats over telling all unwanted hands to get over the side, sent a leading hand to check the depth charges to see if there were any settings on them then told him to go. A young officer arrived with a badly cut face and said we were to abandon ship. I told him I had already given the order not knowing if any officers were still alive, in the meantime he should get on a Carley float and not to worry about being the last on the ship. So we were left - me the coxswain and ordinary seaman Owen, who was a non swimmer - we put on a cork belt over his and off we went to the last Carly float. As the corvette sank I was hoping the depth charges was set safe, but they did not go off. We were picked up first because the rescue ship came up on our side.