§ Mr. M'GUFFINasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been directed to the ingenuity and heroism of the late Chief Artificer Gibson, of Belfast, who, on two occasions, was instrumental in raising submarines sunk in thirty-two fathoms of water by an ingenious and scientific discovery, thereby saving the lives of the crews from certain death; whether this device, of which he was the discoverer, has been brought to the notice of the Admiralty; and whether any suitable recognition of this great achievement has been made by the Admiralty in respect of his dependants, seeing that this man ultimately lost his life by the sinking of his submarine by collision with His Majesty's ship "Fearless," on the night of the 31st January, 1918?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAChief Engine-room Artificer Gibson was serving in a submarine in September, 1914, when the boat accidentally sank to about 170 feet. She646W was brought to the surface by her commanding officer and crew by the aid of the usual mechanism installed. Except in so far as, with others, he performed his ordinary duty, Mr. Gibson did not specially contribute to bringing the vessel to the surface. At a later date Mr. Gibson, in conjunction with his commanding officer, devised the adaptation of means for raising the boat from an even greater depth. I am advised that as this device was developed in the normal course of duty, and was not in the nature of an original invention (being, in fact, fitted in all other classes of submarines than in commission), it is regretted that the question of financial recognition does not arise. I regret to say that Mr. Gibson lost his life, as stated in the last part of the question, on the 31st January, 1918. His widow and orphans are, of course, entitled to the usual pensions, etc., administered by the Ministry of Pensions, and any sum earned by him on account of war gratuity and prize will be payable to his estate.