Thor Erling Bille

Ex gratia-arkivet:

Registernummer under krigen: 86983, NY 535.

Gift med (jf. London-kort): Margot Bille.

Daily News, 17. februar 1940:

"The tale of a dramatic rescue in mountainous seas 540 miles east of St. John's, Newfoundland, last Saturday was told yesterday when the Norwegian freighter Mosdale docked with 12 survivors of the foundered British freighter Sea Rambler.

The hero of the rescue, Mosdale's 29-year-old third mate, Thor Bille, could speak little English and said only, "It looked bad." His shipmates and the survivors supplied the details.

Bille, volunteering to take a lifeboat into the gale-swept seas amid darkness and blinding snow, set out for the sinking Sea Rambler at 4 A. M. Saturday after the Mosdale had stood by all night in answer to an SOS. Three crewmen of the stricken vessel leaped over the side when they saw the lifeboat coming. Nine more were pulled to safety when the Sea Rambler's decks were already awash.

Getting back to the Mosdale, the lifeboat was dashed against its mother ship several times threatening last-minute tragedy, but after repeated attempts Bille got his men aboard".

Merk at i www.warsailors.com står det at det var 7 frivillige fra Mosdale som reddet de 12 på Sea Rambler.