The remarkable adventures of a young fireman have been brought to light through the sinking of the "Donegal."
John Priest, who lives in Southampton, is only 29 years of age. He has been on the sea since his youth, and has served in many waters.
He has seen four of the vessels in which he was serving sink, and three others have been damaged.
Several years ago he was in the "Asturias" when she met with an accident on her maiden voyage. He was one of the survivors of the disaster which overtook the "Titanic" on her maiden voyage five years ago, escaping with frost-bitten toes and an injured leg.
He was also in the "Olympic" when that vessel and the "Hawke" came into collision near the Isle of Wight some years ago, and he served in the "Alcantra" during her gallant fight with the German raider "Greif" in the North Sea.
The "Alcantra" was sunk by a torpedo and Priest was wounded by shrapnel during the fight.
Later he joined the "Britannic," and was serving in that ship when she sank last November.
His last ship was the "Donegal" from which he escaped with a rather serious injury to his head.