Rag,

I have a bit of a problem when one part of the British forces are raining shells down on another part of the British forces

Eye witnesses sometimes lie, and myths are created.
He claims that the gunners, suddenly provided with a game changing weapon, use it to blaze away at a flagpole instead of the rebels.
Why?

He says that the shells landed near the Helga which is ridiculous. They would have landed two miles further on.

He says the spray soaked the crew. Such puny rounds could not even splash the deck.

The log of the Helga would report coming under fire if it really happened.
It does not. The whole thing is a fantasy. A lie on which a myth has grown.

Log of Helga
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XxV4CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT52&lpg=PT52&dq=log+of+the++helga+dublin&source=bl&ots=DXOF7sGF7f&sig=-Y1GA