LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

[timlewin]

Anniversary tomorrow Ivor, 19th November 1920, just time for a refill, consider the previous one "battle practice"!....

[ivorthediver]

With what we have been through in the last few days Tim , Battle Practice has an appropriate ring to it .
Karens mum has been on another planet and mumbling to herself for three days day and night and following a visit by her respiratory Nurse instigated by Karen was whisked into hospital with an irregular heart beat and possibly fluid on the lungs .

She seems to have had one infection after another and been taking nine sets of antibiotics and steroids over the last few months , and lapsing back a week after she ceased each course .

The atmosphere has to put it mildly has been "Tense" over this period and poor Karen our " Shoreham Girl" has been a rock but has been down low and not as good as she pretends to be at hiding it with a Cheery Smile ......but I know and try to help where I can , but like her Dad Chalky is stubborn and does not give in lightly without a fight ....

So what with the Covid death toll in Addenbrooks our hospital a couple of miles away has reached 230 odd yesterday Karen is very low ...but calm

So I will certainly avail myself of a TOT and an early night Tim ....and drink to TTL's memory with gusto ......but I do have to drive early in the morning down to "Herts" so only the one bottle........

[jbryce1437]

Up spirits at 2100hrs

Jim

[ivorthediver]

duly noted Jim ......thanks ......hic

[timlewin]

Another active week although TTL refers to it as peaceful suggesting enhanced training might be needed; corvettes make their first appearance in the Med.

Sunday 24 November 1940
In the forenoon we embarked about three hundred soldiers and their equipment,
with a fortnight’s stores. They comprise a “Commando”, a band of volunteers
trained in guerrilla warfare and analogous to the troops that were so much a
thorn in our side towards the end of the Boer War. These men come from widely
different units, some Highlanders, South Africans, Durham Light Infantry, but no
Australians or New Zealanders. While onboard they were referred to as the
“Raiders”. They are armed with a diversity of weapons, as wide as the units from
which they are drawn; rifles, Brens, Tommy guns, Mauser automatic pistols and
Colt revolvers. The only weapon common to them all was a knife, with a knuckle
duster as a handle.
They told us that they were the Fiftieth (50 ) Commando, and that most of the
others were at home, raiding the French coast. We heard on the news the exploits
of one of these parties some time ago, but nothing since. The raids are still going
on however, but they are not made public because they are used as a cover for
passing potential fifth columnists in. If we boasted them in the news, the
Germans would make more effort to stop them.
All the soldiers were hoping for an air raid, so that they could see our barrage
from first hand.
The fame of it had reached even them, especially after last nights effort, when we
fired all our 4.5’s and pom-poms. The first time we had fired our pom-poms in a
harbour barrage.

Monday 25 November 1940
We weighed and proceeded at the end of the middle watch. During the morning
we saw, out to starboard, a first class night encounter. Star-shells and
searchlights were being used and we could see the flashes of gunfire. We took
this to be the cruisers exercising, and shortly afterwards we recognised the York’s
profile in a searchlight beam. No signal had been made warning us of this
exercise. If we had been alone the omission might have had serious results.
With us on this trip are Warspite and Illustrious, and the third cruiser squadron
are in company. We are to go first to Suda Bay, where the raiders in both
Warspite and Valiant will be landed, and then we go on towards Malta to cover
the passage of more reinforcements.

Tuesday 26 November 1940
We passed through Kaso Straights undisturbed during the night. The C-in-C
didn’t even think it worth while to go to the second degree of readiness. At the
end of the middle, Illustrious left us and went off astern. We could see aircraft
ranged on her flight deck, which looked as if she was about to send off a raid, but
we were told nothing about it.
Just before dawn the R. D/F picked up aircraft closing, some showing I.F.F., to
land on Illustrious. The destroyers didn’t know that these aircraft were friendly
and one opened fire. She used a Breda gun, one of those captured in the Western
Desert by the army, and red tracer bullets. These guns have not got a high rate of
fire, but a high muzzle velocity sends the bullet straighter and further.
We anchored in Suda Bay about 0830 and the carefully planned landing
organisation started at once. The launch, both picket boats and a cutter were
lowered and ran successive trips inshore with soldiers and their stores and
equipment, until all were ashore, then all boats were at once hoisted, so we were
ready for sea again, in under two hours.
The raiders were to be taken by other sea transport to Candia later in the day. We
couldn’t take them straight there as there is no boom. Immediately they got
ashore on the stone pier, they set up a Bren gun post as a protection against low
flying aircraft.
We left the bay again at half past ten. All our destroyer screen had been in with
us and oiled, as well as HMS York. We took up a Westerly course and passed
through the Antikythera channel. We are now to meet the reinforcements, in our
usual rendezvous about forty miles West of Malta. They are Manchester,
Southampton, four corvettes, and three motor transport vessels. The corvettes
are new patrol vessels, bigger than asdic trawlers. They are fitted with anti-submarine
arrangements and one four-inch gun. They are capable of sixteen
knots.

Wednesday 27 November 1940
We were informed that Illustrious had been carrying out a raid at dawn
yesterday, as we had expected. Not much was given away in the C-in-C’s general
signal. It said that a raid had been carried out on an island in the Dodecanese,
and that one plane had been lost.
The second division are covering a convoy to Malta, and it is now nearly there.
Eagle’s aircraft carried out a surprise raid on the port of Tripoli last night, the
first big raid it has had. They were allowed to start their bomb-dropping
undisturbed by A.A. fire. Hits were scored on one large ship alongside, while all
the other bombs dropped on the quays and sheds. The fires started were so big
they could be seen sixty miles out to sea.
Today we are about a hundred and fifty miles East of Malta. The second division
reached Malta and has left again with an Eastbound convoy, except Ramillies,
who has gone through the Straits to join Force H, or to act as base defence ship
at Gibraltar. Resolution, whose job this used to be, is in dry dock there, having
the torpedo damage she suffered at Dakar repaired.
During the forenoon reports started coming in of a naval engagement in the
Western basin. Apparently an air search from Ark Royal reported two Italian
battleships, escorted by destroyers, steaming South-West. Renown was then
some fifty miles away. She steamed East to meet Ramillies, and then turned up
to meet them. Our next information was a brief signal saying they were seventeen
miles apart, almost within range of Renown’s fifteen-inch. By now some cruisers
had appeared on the scene, about eight in all, some eight-inch and some six-inch.
They were engaged by Southampton, Manchester, Sheffield and Berwick,
and they turned away.
Later the two battleships came in sight, but when they met their fleeing cruisers
screen, they too joined in the rout. After that the Italians seemed to get away,
probably using a smoke screen, as we were down to leeward. This part raises a
doubt as to the identification of the two battleships One Littorio is damaged in
Taranto, so one of the two battleships would have to be Cavour. This class is
credited with twenty five knots. Renown and all our cruisers should have caught
her easily, yet she seemed to be able to open the range. We got no more reports,
so we didn’t know what damage had been inflicted by either side.

Thursday 28 November 1940
During the middle we saw searchlights on Malta, about thirty miles away to
starboard. We carried on our Westerly course and soon after dawn we could see
the island of Linosa. At this time we sighted Manchester and Southampton, with
the three motor transport ships. They were escorted by four of our destroyers
who had taken the Ramillies through. The motor transport ships are loaded with
lorries, converted buses and light tanks for the army. Two are for Malta, the other
for Alexandria. Manchester is wearing the flag of C.S. 18. She has R. D/F, the
short range type, but Southampton has none. The four corvettes came along later
in the forenoon.
We cruised up and down South and West of Malta during most of the day. Malta
was subjected to a series of air raids during the day and we had various alarms
as ships opened fire on stray bombers. The sky was partly clouded, so we could
only see them in the gaps. Glasgow was attacked by seven German dive-bombers.
She shot down one with pom-poms, and was not hit.
We heard afterwards from the Vice-Admiral Malta that there were five air raids,
many bombs dropped, but little damage done. The bombers were escorted by
fighters, two of these and one bomber were shot down.
The Admiralty have issued a communiqué about the Renown’s action. One
Littorio battleship was hit by an aerial torpedo, one Zara class cruiser was hit
with an aerial torpedo, one Zara class cruiser was on fire and another hit, and a
destroyer hit. The British forces were subjected to very heavy bombing raids.
Near misses surrounded the Ark Royal, but she sailed out of the splashes. The
only damage suffered by our ships was two hits on the Berwick. There was slight
damage only, and few casualties. Her fighting efficiency is not impaired.
Two Italian seaplanes and one of Ark Royal’s Skuas were shot down.

Friday 29 November 1940
On this trip we are not going up in the Ionian Sea to be offensive, probably
because there is no moon. Raids on Taranto would have to be carried out by
moonlight, because dawn raids would not allow us to get far enough away from
the Italian coast for safety. Instead, we are going straight back to Alexandria.
Malaya and Eagle should be already there, Manchester and Southampton should
get there before us.

Saturday 30 November 1940
We continued undisturbed at twenty knots towards Alexandria. We always do
this part of the homeward journey at a good speed. The C-in-C probably
remembers the Liverpool and doesn’t like to linger near Bomba.
The ship entered harbour soon after sunset and anchored in its usual berth.
The last operation was entirely successful as far as we know. If our trips continue
to be so peaceful we shall have to carry out regular high-angle practice firings, as
everyone will get out of practice. These quiet trips are harmful to our efficiency.

[timlewin]

2020 might be a tough lost year but try serving in the RN in 1940, Valiant has been almost continuously at sea since December 1939 now,
Convoys from Halifax, Norwegian campaign, the disabling of the French Fleet at Oran after the surrender of France, and endless bombing
and skirmishes with the Italian air and Naval forces. Total leave to the men onboard is around two weeks during essential maintenance, the
ship has taken a beating with regular changes of barrels to her secondary AA weapons.


Summary of the month of December 1940 in the Mediterranean;
3rd - Battleships VALIANT and BARHAM departed Alexandria for gunnery practices. As the
battleships were setting out VALIANT was in collision with one of he escorts, the destroyer
HAVOCK. The HAVOCK sustained damage forward. HAVOCK went to Malta for repairs.
(On 9/12/40 the 30,000 strong Western Desert Force commanded by Lt Gen Richard O’Conner
launched Operation COMPASS; with the objectives of expelling the Italian forces from Egypt and
advancing as far as Tobruk. The Italians had heavily fortified Bardia and Tobruk, with Bardia
having an almost continuous anti-tank ditch around the perimeter and a double line of
underground posts linked with barbed wire, each of which was protected by its own anti-tank
ditch, anti-tank guns and machineguns. The Navy assisted in the offensive by bombarding the
Italian positions)
10th. – In the evening Force C comprising battleships VALIANT and BARHAM, anti-aircraft
ship COVENTRY and destroyers GALLANT, HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS VENDETTA, HMAS
VOYAGER, WRYNECK, DAINTY and JUNO departed Alexandria to bombard the HQ of the
Italian XXIII Corps and the 2nd Blackshirt Division at Sollum.
11th. - Destroyers HYPERION, MOHAWK and DIAMOND joined Force C at sea.
Night of 11/12, Force C was off Sollum to carry out the bombardment but were unable to
shell the Italian positions due bad weather which also stopped a projected attack on El
Adam airfield by aircraft from ILLUSTRIOUS.
13th. – Early in the morning Force C arrived back at Alexandria.
16th. - At 0100 hours the Mediterranean Fleet comprising battleships WARSPITE (Flag), and
VALIANT, aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, heavy cruisers YORK, light cruisers AJAX,
GLOUCESTER, ORION and HMAS SYDNEY and destroyers JERVIS, JANUS, JUNO,
MOHAWK, GREYHOUND, DAINTY, HYPERION, ILEX, HERO, HASTY and HEREWARD sailed
from Alexandria on Operation MC 2.
(Operation MC 2 was a complex operation involving distant cover for convoys to and from
Suda Bay to Piraeus, AS 9 and AN 10. Convoy from Malta to Alexandria, ME 5A. An air
strike against Rhodes and Stampalia. Forming part of the operation was Operation HIDE
which was the passage of the MALAYA through the Mediterranean to Gibraltar and distant
cover for convoys to Malta, MW 5A and MW 5B).
At 0745 hours YORK, GLOUCESTER, DAINTY and GREYHOUND detached and proceeded to
Suda Bay to refuel.
17th. - At 0352 hours in position 35-49N, 25-24E ILLUSTRIOUS flew off a strike force of 6
Swordfish against Rhodes.
At 0435 hours ILLUSTRIOUS flew off a strike force of 5 Swordfish against Stampalia.
At 0600 hours with all aircraft recovered the Fleet headed for Suda Bay.
At 0830 hours the Fleet entered Suda Bay to refuel.
At 1130 hours VALIANT, ILLUSTRIOUS, JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS and MOHAWK departed
Suda Bay sailing West.
At 1415 hours WARSPITE escorted by HYPERION, ILEX, HERO, HASTY and HEREWARD
departed from Suda Bay sailing West.
18th. - At 0130 hours South of Cape Matapan the WARSPITE and VALIANT forces RVed and
the Fleet then proceeded toward the Strait of Otranto to carry out Operation MC 3.
(Operation MC 3 was an anti-shipping sweep into the Adriatic and a bombardment and air
strike against the port of Valona. In the event because of the weather conditions the air
strike was abandoned).
At 1600 hours South West of the Island of Zante ORION, AJAX, SYDNEY, JERVIS, JUNO
and MOHAWK detached and proceeded ahead into the Adriatic to carry out the anti-shipping sweep.
(This force went as far North as 41-08N without sighting any shipping).
At 1800 hours North West of the Island of Cephalonia ILLUSTRIOUS, YORK, GLOUCESTER,
DAINTY, GREYHOUND, GALLANT and GRIFFIN detached and proceeded to position 39N,
20E to fly off the air strike, but due to the weather the strike was abandoned.
19th. - At 0115 hours off Valona WARSPITE and VALIANT opened fire with a indirect area
bombardment, spotting not possible as weather conditions prevented the launch of aircraft,
on the port area and airfield.
At 0120 hours after the firing of 96 rounds of 15in the bombardment was checked and
WARSPITE, VALIANT, HYPERION, ILEX, HERO, HASTY and HEREWARD proceeded South
West for Malta.
At 0630 hours the ILLUSTRIOUS force and the ORION force rejoined.
At 1200 hours YORK, GLOUCESTER, ORION, AJAX, SYDNEY, DAINTY, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and HASTY detached to cover the Malta convoys MW 5A and MW
5B
20th. -At 1440 hours WARSPITE, JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO arrived at Malta.
21st. - Early in the morning WARSPITE sailed from Malta.
24th. – The Fleet arrived back at Alexandria.



Sunday 1 December 1940
The depot ship Woolwich arrived today. She has come out from home round the
Cape. She was at Scapa when we last saw her. Her entry into harbour was not as
triumphant as it might have been. She steamed past the capital ships in fine
style at a destroyer’s speed. She had to pick up bow and stern buoys in the
harbour, past the coaling jetty. She had too much way on, went right past her
buoy and hit the Maine, who was lying athwart her course. Luckily, the force of
the collision was taken on a lifeboat. This was smashed. Superficial damage only
was done to Maine’s superstructure, and Woolwich damaged her stem slightly.
She was then taken in hand by the tugs, which she had previously ignored.

Monday 2 December 1940
We embarked thirty-two fifteen-inch practice shells today, indications of a shoot
in the near future. The guns of P1 are being changed while we are in harbour this
time. Now the ordnance staff knows exactly what the snags are in this gun
changing, they completed the job very quickly.
Terror arrived from Suda Bay today. She, Aphis and Ladybird are expected to
play a large part in the winter offensive in the Western desert that we hear is
almost due to begin. Only in winter time is the weather favourable to our troops.
Manchester and Southampton sailed today. They have not stayed for long. I don’t
think they had joined us permanently, because the Vice-Admiral commanding
the 18 C.S. is senior to Vice-Admiral Pridham-Wipple, the V.A.L.F. and second
in command of the fleet, so a large reorganisation would have been necessary.

Tuesday 3 December 1940
Barham left harbour in the forenoon to carry out a practice shoot. There was a
strong wind and a big swell running in the Great Pass. The target-towing tug had
difficulty in getting out, while a submarine made several attempts before she got
in through the boom. There was some doubt as to whether the weather would be
good enough for our shoots in the afternoon, but at one o’clock we went ahead.
We met Barham on her way in. Her destroyer screen, Hyperion (Captain D2),
Havoc, Hero and Ilex, turned to take on the duty of our screen.
We catapulted both aircraft, one with wheels, the other with floats, to witness our
shoots. The fifteen-inch full calibre came first, and turned out to be our worst yet.
Something went wrong with the deflection, and we could not get in line. We did
get one straddle, with the seventh salvo.
The 4.5 full calibre, battery firings, were slightly better, although the first salvo of
the starboard battery’s shoot pitched about a mile away from the ship and four
from the target.
The night shoots were an improvement. On the port side, neither searchlights nor
star-shell, illuminated the target well enough for fall of shot to be observed, but
on the other side, illumination was good, and several direct hits were seen. The
pom-poms obviously, could not see the target and were a long way short.
On our way back to harbour we had a collision with Havoc. The destroyers had
been ordered to proceed into harbour, and three were ahead. Havoc was just
going up, passing us on our starboard side, when she saw the Great Pass beacon
dead ahead. He altered in, which brought him close, then a big sea swept him
against us, broadside on. His bows were abreast “B” turret, his stern abreast the
quarterdeck. Here most damage was done. Havoc’s side was split just above the
waterline on one of the projections on our side, probably the fitting for the leg of
our ladder. The davit for the after ladder was bent and the socket was torn off.
Havoc dropped astern and followed us in.

Wednesday 4 December 1940
Work started during the forenoon repairing the damage caused by the collision.
Divers were sent down to inspect the bulge. A few guard-rails have been torn off
aft. The damaged davit was removed.
We had our first day air raid warning for some time about twelve-noon today. It
was only a yellow, and lasted for half an hour.

Thursday 5 December 1940
During the middle watch, Glasgow entered harbour. She was hit by two aircraft
torpedoes while in Suda Bay, but they didn’t explode. Her screws were damaged
but she got back here at seventeen knots. From her movements she experienced
difficulty in manoeuvring. She had to turn the 180º to get alongside the
quarantine jetty.
The seventh cruiser squadron left harbour with the same destroyers today.
Warspite went out to do a shoot. While she was thus engaged the C-in-C
transferred his flag to Hyacinth.
The Greeks are now pushing forward at the seaward end of the Albanian frontier,
the only part where their advance was resisted with any vigour. In Santa
Quaranta, the port they have nearly reached, an Italian destroyer was hit by
R.A.F. bombs today. Santa Quaranta is the advance base for landing Italian
supplies and reinforcements.

Friday 6 December 1940
We ammunitioned today, with fifteen-inch practice shells. We also made up our
deficiency in charges. Barham was out during the day carrying out a practice
shoot. She anchored just outside the harbour entrance and from there, fire at a
sleeve target.
The Greeks have now captured Santa Quaranta, together with most of its stores
of war material.
The destroyer that the R.A.F. claimed to have hit with bombs was found sunk in
the harbour.
Lieutenant Commander Marriott left the ship to join the staff of the Rear Admiral
Liaison.

Saturday 7 December 1940
HMS Carnarvon Castle, once a liner, now an armed merchant cruiser, has been
in action with a German Raider. The scene of her battle was a position in the
Southern Atlantic, seven hundred miles to the North East of Montevideo. The
raider, although faster and heavier armed, could not stay and risk fighting it out
with a ship that could give nearly as good as got, but made off to the Northward
at high speed. Damage of any sort to a raider is fatal. She has then to put into
port for repairs, and her position is no longer secret.
Although hit by six-inch shells from Carnarvon Castle, it is doubtful that any
serious damage was done. The Carnarvon Castle sustained slight damage and is
putting in to Montevideo to make this good.
Now that the air raids on Britain are being checked, attacks on our merchant
shipping by submarines and armed raiders are becoming the sharpest thorn in
our side. Sinking’s by enemy submarines increasing lately, and as many as thirty-one
S.O.S. have been received in one day. We are led to believe the Germans are
using a smaller submarine now, a class that doesn’t take long to build, has a
small crew, and is a minor loss if it fails to return. Flotillas of these concentrate
round our Western coasts, and off Ireland, so that the last few hundred miles of
the journey across the Atlantic from America are the most dangerous. The loss of
the ships themselves matters little, we have by far the largest tonnage of
merchant shipping in the world, and we can command the use of other nation’s
cargo fleets, but the loss of war material is far more serious matter. The only
answer to the problem is more and more destroyers and escort vessels, fitted with
asdic.
German submarines are now believed to be fitted with a new blind-firing device.
By using this they can fire their torpedo without seeing their target, and with
greater accuracy. This is supposed to account for their many recent successes.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Italian forces in Dodecanese has resigned his
position. We are now wondering how he will get back to Italy. It has been
suggested that he will commandeer the last of the petrol and fly back.
The Captain talked to the ship’s company on the bombing of London, of which he
has a complete personal experience. He brightened a rather gruesome subject by
recounting amusing incidents, and he left us enlightened and reassured.


worth thinking about, when Valiant reloads with 15" ammunition, or uses it in a bombardment, each one of those shells weighs in at around a ton depending on HE, AP or whatever, plus the cordite charges when are also extremely heavy and all of which need a high degree on man-handling.

[timlewin]

Sunday 8 December 1940
The Carnarvon Castle has been given seventy-two hours to complete her repairs
in Montevideo. Her damage is entirely superficial. Apart from the six killed; her
casualties were not bad enough to need shore hospital assistance.
Our forces in the Western desert have started to advance to the South of Sidi
Barrani, using high speed mechanised division. This move should catch the
Italians by surprise.
In a place of a mixed population like Alexandria, secrets leak out in an alarming
manner. An instance of this was the bombardment of Fort Capuzzo by Warspite
before Valiant came out to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Italians knew in
advance, so that when the bombardment came, the Fort was deserted. This time,
however, General Headquarters have been wise. For some weeks now it has been
an open secret that the fifteenth was the zero date for the advance. Soldiers,
sailors and airmen have all been whispering “Wait for the fifteenth” to one
another. Preparations for an advance cannot be kept secret, the Italians
obviously knew that one was planned; the “secret” date completed their
knowledge, but an advance that starts a week before the zero day has taken them
by surprise.

Monday 9 December 1940
Liverpool left the floating dock today. All the wooden structure round her bows
has been taken away. She has been made watertight by a bulkhead just forward
of the trunk of “A” turret. She is cut off square forward of this, so that she looks
as if her bows have been cleanly cut off.
Glasgow was towed by, astern of us, on her way to the dock. She has a large hole
on her waterline forward, which goes right through the ship. Aft, most of the
damage is apparently under water. Above, all that can be seen is a twisting of the
plates. When she tried to get into the dock, she found that one shaft was hanging
down fourteen feet below the ship’s bottom, so she was towed back to her
previous berth alongside.
Our troops continue their advance towards Libya. The Italian line seems to be
broken up into well-armed camps, in between which our mechanised units
advance, meeting little or no resistance. They are now West of Sidi Barrani,
although we have made no direct assault on the port. Over four hundred
prisoners have been taken so far.
There was an air raid warning during the night. We were closed up for about half
an hour, but no aircraft came near, so no one opened fire.

Tuesday 10 December 1940
Last night, Hitler made a speech to the munitions workers of Berlin. The
conclusions drawn from this are nothing but favourable to us. His tone was far
less bombastic than usual. He was not full of the invasion of Britain, he hardly
mentioned it; instead he talked about the invasion of Europe by the British! This,
he said, would be met with dogged resistance; our forces would not be allowed to
set foot on the shores of the continent. He stressed the point that Germany had
to win the war or go under. The policy now adopted is one of caution that was
why the invasion had not started. Although he admitted that bombing was
causing transport difficulties, he made his biggest mistake when he denied any
damage to munitions works. Perhaps because of this understatement his
audience failed to applaud at the end.
This is the first speech that Hitler has made in which he has failed to promise a
great victory to the German people. The tone of this speech, together with the
falling off in the bombing (London has been immune for two nights) and the
defeats of the German ally in Albania and Egypt, all are convincing us that the
tide has turned, and we are at least heading towards peace.
In the Western desert, our troops have now reached the coast West of Sidi
Barrani, and between that place and Buq Buq. This means that an Italian force is
completely cut off in Sidi Barrani. Prisoners now number four thousand, and one
General has been killed.
Although the raids on Britain are confined to isolated aircraft, the R.A.F. are
sending large formations over to such old targets as Bremen, Lorient and the
invasion ports.
At the end of the afternoon watch we weighed and proceeded to sea. We are part
of a squadron under the immediate command of Rear Admiral Rawlings, wearing
his flag in Barham. With us is the A.A. cruiser Coventry. Before we sailed we
secured not only for a moderate sea that was running outside, but also for a
fifteen-inch firing as we expect to carry out a bombardment.
We learnt after we had sailed that our fire would be used if the army asked for it.
The probable target is the road West of where it cuts through the escarpment
near Sollum. Through here, all reinforcements for the plain to the East have to
pass, or all retreating troops heading West. Our fire might be able to cause a
landslide and block the pass. If, however, our troops are advancing almost
without opposition, blocking the pass would be more of a hindrance than a help.
We steamed West during the night, to be in a position to help should we be
required in the morning.

Wednesday 11 December 1940
We arrived in position, about fifty miles to the North-East of Sollum in the
forenoon. We were told that our bombardment would not be required that day at
least. All that was necessary was being done by Terror and destroyers. We spent
the day steaming round in the same position about fifty miles off the coast. We
had one air alarm, but the aircraft were probably our own on the way to or from
bombing raids.
Illustrious, with Gloucester and York, who sailed before us yesterday, joined us
in the forenoon, and R.A.A. took over command of the squadron for manoeuvring
purposes.
Our only news of the advance comes to us from the B.B.C. and we anxiously
listen to their broadcasts. Our troops are still making great progress, while the
R.A.F. have complete air supremacy.

Thursday 12 December 1940
Instead of bombardment of Sollum, our target was changed to Bardia. We were
due to open fire at 0800, but we were delayed. There was quite a heavy swell
running, the wind had been blowing strongly from the West for some days, and in
this sea the destroyers had difficulty streaming their T.S.D.S. Three destroyers
were sweeping for us, Juno, Hero and Ilex.
We sighted land about 0630, but a sand storm obscured the coast further on,
towards Bardia. We finally took station behind the three destroyers and steamed
down towards the position from which we should open fire. As we got nearer,
visibility grew worse; sand was being blown directly off-shore. Our Swordfish was
catapulted to spot for us. We were in line ahead, Barham, Valiant and York.
Illustrious, covered by Gloucester, was operating aircraft about six miles to
seaward of us.
The Swordfish reported that they were ready to observe, but visibility round our
squadron had by then decreased to a mile. From the aircraft our observer could
see troops and armoured columns, all heading towards Bardia and then another
column coming out of Bardia and going still further West, towards Tobruk.
Conditions for our bombardment were obviously impossible, as R.A. One made a
signal saying “Push up”, we turned away to the Eastward.
It was about this time that our aircraft signalled “Help, I am being attacked by
many aircraft”. This failed to rouse the expected sympathy and apprehension in
the ship; in fact it was treated as rather a joke. We heard the whole story
afterwards, a C.R. 42 sighted our Swordfish, and they both, as if by mutual
agreement, decided to let well alone, and turned off in reciprocal directions. We
told our aircraft to return to Alexandria, and the rest of its journey was
uninterrupted.
We were all disappointed that after Narvik and Trondjeheim, this should have
been our third foiled attempt to fire our big guns in anger. It seems unlikely that
we just struck an unlucky time when the visibility was bad, as the wind had been
blowing strongly from the same quarter for several days. We shall have to wait
and see how the army progress before we can say that the bombardment would
have been of invaluable assistance.
The squadron turned unwillingly away, and shaped a course for Alexandria. We
were only about thirty-five miles from the coast during the day we repeatedly got
R. D/F reports of aircraft over the land. We closed up for one group that was
getting rather close, and soon after, Gloucester opened fire. We saw the aircraft,
and after some deliberation and many references to the book of silhouettes we
identified them as Wellingtons and Martins.
Indeed, after quite an interval, and after Gloucester had fired about twenty
rounds, they made the correct identification signal. They also sheered off towards
the land, to make assurance doubly sure.
Our forces have now occupied Sidi Barrani. Isolated by the cut through to the
coast, and bombarded by gunboats and destroyers, it was only a matter of time
before it fell. With it we capture all the reserve war material that Graziani has
been amassing for his advance further into Egypt, for Sidi Barrani was his
advanced base.
Prisoners, although still uncounted, total over twenty-thousand. All manner of
ships, tugs and even lighters, are coming from Alexandria to ferry them from
Mersa Matruh.

Friday 13 December 1940
We moored in our normal berth towards the end of the forenoon. The Terror was
in, hastily ammunitioning before going out for more sport. We heard that when
she had expended her fifteen-inch shell, she went in closer and used four-inch,
then pom-poms, and finally piped stokers off watch to muster, served them out
with rifles, so that they could snipe at the retreating army on the coast road.
Juno arrived soon after sunset, her decks packed with prisoners. As they could
not tell the difference between British or a French warship, our fleet must have
looked even more impressive. A depressing sight to them too for the fleet has
been decimated, by Rome radio, once a week since Italy entered the war.
The prisoners in Juno were a representative collection, including black-shirts,
Libyans and even two Generals. The black-shirts refused to associate themselves
with the natives, and kept to the opposite side of the deck.
All were singularly uninformed. Even the Generals thought that their campaign
in Greece was proceeding favourably; they knew nothing of their defeats. The
officers had heard of the Fleet Air Arm’s exploit at Taranto, but believed the
damage to be trivial. The troops knew nothing about it.
The staff officers were, in all seriousness, annoyed with our conduct of the
advance. They thought that to use bombers and tanks was a prerogative of
European warfare, and that to use such methods against the uncivilised Libyans
was not fair. They also thought that our advance starting a week before the
rumoured date was the lowest piece of double-dealing; it had taken them
completely by surprise. Bullets from their Breda guns, in which they put much
faith, took no effect on our mechanised striking forces.
Their whole attitude was a good testimonial for Italian propaganda methods. They
were all convinced that the British news was all lies, and that The Axis was sure
to be triumphant in all spheres of the war.

Saturday 14 December 1940
During the night, while I was on boom patrol, the Knight of Malta, St Issey, and
the destroyer Hereward sailed. They are probably going along the coast to pick up
prisoners. St Issey was towing a lighter. The Knight of Malta, the ship that was
used to bring the fleet’s mail from Sicily to Malta in peacetime, now wears the
White Ensign.
Prisoners arrived in their hundreds today. They were disembarked near 46 shed,
and loaded into open railway trucks. Most of them seemed to be Libyans. As soon
as one train was filled, it steamed out and another one took its place. The
ultimate destination of these prisoners is India, where special camps are now
being built.
Although the Italian people know little of the reverses that their forces are
suffering, there are signs of dissention in the High Command. The Commanders-in-Chiefs
of the Air Force and Navy have resigned. It is impossible to say whether
they wish to dissociate themselves from any future defeats, or whether they are
paying for defeats already taken.

[ivorthediver]

A dramatic turn of events it seems Tim , and no doubt boosted moral after months of being on the attack .

All reads like boys own as TTL had a flare for this type of documentary reporting [ were glad to say] and keeps you on tender hooks as to what is going to happen next , although at the time it was a relief to be in this state albeit temporarily lapse ......

As always many thanks for your efforts and time spent doing this from us avid followers

[timlewin]

being in "real time" Ivor, he didn't know what would happen next! every day was a new day, looking back at it with our knowledge of how it all ends its fascinating to follow the hopes and sorry as the war progresses, the expectation of peace in Europe this week is not something we remember, but back then they must all have felt to possibility as the Captain made no "don't be daft" adverse comments. All this is only history now because its all happened, back when he wrote it, it was still ongoing.

Its slightly strange that so many people are reading this as it goes out weekly, its serialised to the RNA and Ganges Association as well, but book sales are very modest. So, time for another commercial break"

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=he+who+wou ... nb_sb_noss

[ivorthediver]

Well as I have said in the past Tim , I don't use Kindle at all .......audiobooks yes .....use it daily and certain if it was read by you sales would be global .......I would certainly buy it and listen daily as I was out and about as I do ......