LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

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timlewin
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by timlewin »

Another week in the life of TTL, midshipman in HMAS Valiant, available as an eBook “He who would Valiant be”


Sunday 5 January 1941
The day passed very quietly. We were still duty battleship and A.A. guard, so there was no leave. I was on boom patrol from midnight until sunrise, and for the first time that I have been on the sea was smooth enough to allow us to get well outside the breakwater and up into the Great Pass. We went well out to sea twice during the patrol, and were surprised to find all the flashing lights on the buoys marking the channel were lit. As the port was closed and no ships expected, this seemed unnecessary, as well as a dangerous aid to enemy submarines, large or midget.
The only arrivals during the day were the gunboat Aphis and the Hospital Ship Dorsetshire. The gunboats have been busily bombarding Bardia and the flank of the Italian defences. Although bombed from a high level many times, there have been no hits, only very few splinter casualties from near misses.
Bardia is now almost completely overwhelmed, but full details of numbers captured or killed have not yet been published by the Headquarters in Cairo, the source of all information regarding the fighting in the Western desert.

Monday 6 January 1941
Eagle went to sea early today, the first time in nearly two months. She was escorted by Greyhound and Gallant only, so we realised that she couldn’t be going far. There is a persistent rumour that she is to get six Italian C.R. 42’s captured by the army, and she had gone out on this trip to fly them on and do flying trials with them. She returned to harbour again during the first dog, but there was no evidence that the rumour was true.
Protector arrived during the forenoon, the forerunner of the stream of ships bringing prisoners from Bardia. She was packed with them. All resistance ceased there yesterday afternoon, and twenty-five thousand prisoners have been taken. This brings the total of prisoners up to over sixty-thousand, and it is estimated that the Libyan army has been depleted by ninety-thousand men, or a third of its initial strength.
Gloucester, Southampton and Janus went to sea in the afternoon. The Janus has a number of ratings for passage home. They will probably be taken to Malta and transferred to a West-bound ship from there. In her present company, Janus provides
R. D/F protection.
The second in command of the fleet, Vice Admiral Pridham-Wipple, in Orion, sailed at 1630. Earlier in the day she had been calibrating her newly fitted R. D/F just outside the harbour, but she returned to her buoy before sailing.
With the sailing of the cruisers, the rumour that we were leaving too was strengthened, but the usual leave was given.
The Dorsetshire, after her short stay here, sailed again. She is probably going along the coast to add to the assets of our new base at Sidi Barrani.

Tuesday 7 January 1941
Rumour proved correct, and at 0500, we followed Warspite and Illustrious out of harbour. The crack destroyer flotilla, the fourteenth, is screening us. Janus is the only absentee, she is already out. Our immediate destination is Suda Bay; there the destroyers will oil in readiness for operations to the Westward. There are a number of convoys to be covered, the most important one of M.T. ships that is coming through the narrows.
We set course for the Kaso Strait, and expected to arrive at Suda next morning. Late in the afternoon an aircraft was sighted which we considered to be friendly, but the C-in-C thought it was a shadower. We soon altered course to the North of West. In the evening it was announced that our plans were changed. We would now go to Suda Bay Westabout, passing through the Antikythera Channel and arriving about noon.

Wednesday 8 January 1941
The Western headlands of Crete were in sight at dawn, and we passed through the Antikythera Channel during the forenoon. The destroyers preceded us into harbour, and were all alongside oilers by the time we had anchored. Illustrious, ourselves and Captain D all sent boats to the flagship. Our boat also took some books for the naval ratings ashore.
Suda Bay seems to be a very efficiently run base. The destroyers are allocated oilers and the business of fuelling is quickly completed. We sailed again at five bells of the afternoon.
Our efforts to get in and out P.V.’s, usually so good, met with no success today. When getting them in before entering harbour. The standing after guy of the port derrick was slipped while the P.V. was still running, so that it came in against the ship’s side, nearly under the bilge keel, but we managed to hoist it inboard slowly, and undamaged. The next catastrophe occurred when we were streaming paravanes again when leaving Suda. We slipped the paravanes while the front of the bow was still being hove down, and this, coupled with a slightly excessive speed, put too much strain on the messenger. This parted in the turns round the capstan, so that all whip was taken out in these turns and no one was hurt. The chains rushed forward and the weight was taken on the fairleads. We quickly got up a new messenger, and shackled it on to each monkey-face in turn, heaving in enough to get the slips on. Then we set up the messenger properly, hove up the point of tow in the normal way, and recovered the paravanes. C-in-C decided that we needn’t stream them again. I learnt three things by the experience: Always heave the point of tow right down before shipping; be sure that the speed has been reduced enough and; never let anyone stand in the bight of the chains while moving the point of tow.
When we left Suda we steered West, and passed through the Antikythera Channel during the last dog.

Thursday 9 January 1941
During the day we steered South of West towards Malta. We rendezvoused with Orion, Ajax, York and Perth in one group, and Sydney, Stuart in another, all during the forenoon. The two Australian ships have come from Malta where they have been refitting. The first four joined us, the other two left after being in company for two hours.
We tried to R. D/F high-angle shell bursts, S3 turret doing the firing, but we had no success.
In the Western desert, some motorised units that are not engaged in mopping up operations near Bardia have pressed on as far as Tobruk, capturing several Italian aerodromes on the way, and finding others deserted.
In the early evening we passed to the Southward of Malta, and at 1900 we altered up to the North Westward, steering for a rendezvous some twenty miles from Pantellaria. There we meet the convoy, escorted by Bonaventure and some destroyers, at dawn tomorrow.

Friday 10 January 1941
We came to the first degree of readiness soon after seven o’clock. We had not been closed up for long when we sighted gun flashes ahead, in the direction of Pantellaria. The main cages of the guns were loaded up and we prepared for action. Then we got an enemy report from Bonaventure, to say she was engaging two enemy destroyers at a range of three miles. The convoy was sighted, escorted by Gloucester and destroyers. They passed close on our port hand, steaming an opposite course, while we carried on towards the action at twenty knots. Soon we could see Southampton, leaving the action, and Bonaventure, backed up by a destroyer still hotly engaged with one enemy ship, which was just distinguishable against the dim shape of Pantellaria. The Italian destroyer was on fire amidships and only firing back spasmodically. As we closed, Hereward, the destroyer with Bonaventure, scored three successive hits forward before she fired a torpedo to deal the death blow. The other destroyer that Bonaventure reported had escaped. We all turned to the South Eastward to follow the convoy.
Hardly had we steadied on our new course when the Gallant, starboard wing destroyer, struck a mine. Her bows were blown off and left afloat, stem uppermost. The break was between A and B guns. Greyhound and Griffin went over to stand by their flotilla-mate, and boats were lowered. Mohawk also went over. Greyhound was then ordered to rejoin C-in-C, while Bonaventure, Griffin and Mohawk stood by. Griffin went alongside to take off survivors, but when it was found that the bulkhead was holding, Mohawk took her in tow, stern first. These four ships followed on, gradually falling further astern. Greyhound, Griffin and Gallant are the only three left of the G class flotilla in the Royal Navy. The Garland, fourth remaining, was given to the Polish navy when they lost the Grom off Norway.
During the forenoon we had several R. D/F alarms but nothing materialised. Bonaventure reported that she was engaging two enemy bombers.
Just as the watches were changing over for the afternoon, our attention was drawn to two torpedo bombers by a destroyer which opened fire on them. Repel Aircraft was sounded, pom-poms opened fire, but the two came in to a mile, then one torpedo was dropped. We swung to port, and had the satisfaction of seeing the track cross our stern and come up our port side. Why the two aircraft (which were Savoia 79’s) dropped only one torpedo remains a mystery. While we were waiting for the second torpedo to come, more aircraft were sighted.
High up on our starboard quarter was a loose formation of about sixteen aircraft. They were engaged by the after group. On closer observation through binoculars those aircraft were identified as dive-bombers, German JU 87’s, so we knew what to expect. Almost immediately they broke off and delivered the most determined and fearless attack to which we have ever been subjected. Illustrious was hit four times and fires broke out inside her hangar and on her flight deck. We had five near misses, all on the port side. All the time our high-angle armament was in fierce action, but although the aircraft swooped low over the water, quite close to us, we saw none hit. The whole attack lasted only eight minutes.
Illustrious was then steaming about in rather a wild way, with not-under-control balls up. Her steering was apparently damaged. We left her to make her way towards Malta, steering by main engines, while we covered the convoy “Excess”. We had a short respite towards the end of the afternoon, but early in the first dog we closed up again. The situation was rather obscure. There were several large groups of aircraft about, some of which might have been friendly. Malta was in sight on the port bow. Illustrious, just on the horizon towards Malta was high level bombed by nine aircraft. She made a signal to say that all was well, her speed seventeen knots, but that one fire was still burning. Three Savoias approached us from ahead, but our four-five fire turned them before they dropped their bombs. Then we sighted another formation of dive bombers, high up. They attacked Warspite and ourselves, and we were lucky not to be hit. The thousand pound bombs came so close to us and in such quick succession that it was impossible to try and keep pace with the diving aircraft. Our guns could do nothing but fire in the general direction of the attackers. We were ringed by about eight bombs, all very close. This time one aircraft was seen to fall into the sea. Some of the aircraft machine-gunned us, and we had four casualties from splinters and bullets. All these were machine guns or pom-poms crews. Two were seriously injured, one of those died later in the evening.
The day’s attacks proved that a covered bridge is useless in war. Illustrious, with a covered bridge, was hit, Warspite and ourselves, although attacked with as much determination, managed to avoid the bombs.
We were left in peace for the short time left before dark. During the night we stood on to the East, covering “Excess”. Illustrious went in to Malta. As we had heard nothing from Bonaventure during the day we believed her to be quite safe. She will be going back through the Straits very shortly. She used three quarters of her low angle ammunition in her dawn engagement, and there are no 5.25 shells East of Gibraltar.

Saturday 11 January 1941
Just before the end of dawn action we sighted a floating Italian mine. P1 pom- pom sunk it with a second burst of three rounds.
Our immediate plan is to go to Suda Bay to refuel the destroyers. “Excess”, with supplies for our forces in Greece, is bound for Piraeus, and is escorted by Calcutta. Later in the forenoon the plan was changed. We were to cover the convoy until dusk, and then set course for Alexandria. Both capital ships had aircraft at short notice during the day, in readiness to fly off with despatches, but the message was passed to a Sunderland that flew round the fleet.
Janus joined us from Malta and told us the latest news about Illustrious. She was hit by four bombs, two of those were aft. One hit the after lift and burst in the hangar, another penetrated to the steering compartment. She had sixty killed and seventy cot cases.
In the afternoon we had a signal from C.S. 3 in Gloucester to say that both she and Southampton had been hit in a raid by dive-bombers. They were about two- hundred miles South-East of Syracuse, the supposed base of the German squadron. When we received the first report they were doing seventeen knots but later reports said that Southampton was badly damaged and had now stopped. Fires over her after magazine and after engine room were not under control. C-in- C then changed his plans again. He ordered Gloucester to get Southampton in tow after dark and make for Suda. The seventh C.S. were despatched from our squadron to join C.S. 3 (The seventh C.S. were Orion and Perth). Barham and Eagle, with Ajax were ordered to steer for the damaged ships with all convenient despatch. The fact that Mohawk and Griffin, out from Malta, were also ordered to the spot, told us that Gallant was safely in. The Battle fleet then left the convoy and turned to the South-West.
Even this vast re-distribution of forces did not last long. Another report from Gloucester told us that it was unlikely that the fires could be got under control. At half past ten, Southampton sunk, we do not yet know whether she blew up or had to be sunk. Gloucester took off survivors. The final orders were then issued. Eagle’s aircraft carried out their projected attack on Tobruk, and all forces at sea, except convoy escorts, were ordered to rendezvous West of Crete at 0800 next morning.

Sunday 12 January 1941
During dawn action the detached groups joined the C-in-C’s flag, Barham, Eagle and Ajax, up from the South, Orion and Perth with Gloucester. After an exchange of signals, R.A. 1, with Eagle and the seventh cruiser squadron left us for the North-Westward, while we carried on towards Alexandria with Gloucester.
We could see that C.S. three flagship had had a very near miss on her starboard side, abreast the bridge. The ship’s side had numerous small splinter holes, and was bulged inwards so that the frames stuck out like ribs. She had another direct hit on her D.C.T., but the bomb failed to explode.
During the day we did not steer directly for Alexandria, but wasted time by steering to the Northward and Southward of our mean line. This adjusted our time of arrival for the next morning.
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ivorthediver
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Thank you Tim for the next episode which we have just read .
Never ceases to surprise me the damage caused by bombs that are not direct hits on a ships plating and the obvious effect it has on the crew physiologically [ I know it would ruin my day ] and the relief felt when a bomb fails to explode [ although it must be a terrifying job going to see what happened and reporting back to the CO .and keeping an eye on the action see when a bomb is dropped and or missed a case of needing eyes in the front and back of your head ;)

You cant help but admire and respect the crews that came through this terrible war and the long term effects it had on crews , indeed my own uncle who was a Leading Stocker on a patrol ship [ HMS Puffin ] was a nervous wreck and became an alcoholic after the war and spent along time with PSTD after the war , and it effect's so many in different ways .

Again my thanks for taking the time to post these episodes on our Forum .
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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jbryce1437
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

I have just been sent a link to a documentary on YouTube about the Mediterranean campaign which covers this period. It lasts just over 50 minutes.

Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
timlewin
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by timlewin »

Valiant 80 years ago; a lesson in boat-work; Illustrious leave Malta after repairs: War in north Africa continues with British victories, but the Germans are coming, it will all go badly wrong in the near future.

Sunday 19 January 1941
Early in the morning the wind was blowing harder than ever. My boat was sent to pick up a box of ammunition. This we managed with difficulty. It was too heavy to lift and so we had to tow it back to the gangway. After this we were sent in to Gabbari Dock. To get alongside we had to go into a U-shaped opening in a lee- shore. This was deceptively easy, and we picked up the officers we had been sent to fetch. The trouble came when we tried to get out. There was no choice but stern first, as the dock was not wide enough to turn, and a picket boat will not turn into the wind ahead, but will astern. However, the wind caught the stern and turned the boat broadside. I then went ahead and had nearly got the boat heading straight out when the stern was lifted by a sea on to an underwater ledge at the dockside. This jammed the rudders hard a-starboard, and we were helpless. Luckily we managed to get a line ashore before the boat was swept down onto the dock gate, and we secured her in a lee. The weather eased slightly and the launch came in later, stern first, and towed us off.
By the experience I learnt practically the danger of approaching a lee shore. The best plan would have been to anchor just outside, and veer cable until the boat was alongside.
The Tetrarch entered during the forenoon. In her last trip she sank an Italian transport.

Monday 20 January 1941
Ajax, after a very short stay in harbour, sailed again today. She is probably going to Suda Bay. It is an obvious policy to keep at least one cruiser at Suda. From there it may operate as convoy escort to Piraeus, or as a light strike force to the Westward.
The operations against Libya are extending and progressing. Abyssinia has now been attacked on three fronts, and fighting has recommenced on the Kenya front. Sand storms are holding up the advance in the Western desert and the R.A.F. cannot operate.
Mussolini met Hitler at Berchtesgarten, although the meeting is denied in Berlin, Rome papers discuss it. Italian rumours put the date for the German offensive on Britain between seventy or ninety days hence.

Tuesday 21 January 1941
Parthian came in today, flying the skull and cross-bones. To what particular sinking this refers has yet to be announced. Calcutta also came in, after escort duties with a Greek convoy.
As our troops have now reached Tobruk, the siege has begun. The Italians are retreating from stronghold to stronghold along the coast. They make no effort to resist in between forts.

Wednesday 22 January 1941
Although our period of duty battleship ended at 0800 this morning, we were kept at two hours notice for sea. About 1000 o’clock we were ordered to raise steam for eighteen knots, and the hands secured for sea. Early in the afternoon we weighed and proceeded astern of Barham. Perth came with us, and six screening destroyers. We are acting as covering force for Illustrious during her return from Malta. Presumably she will leave harbour soon after dark and meet us next morning, so that we shall not be within range of the dive-bombers.
As our tanks have penetrated Tobruk’s outer defences, it is considered to be on the point of capitulation. This will be one of the most important captures. The harbour is a good one, and will take quite heavy ships, while the town commands the two roads to Benghazi. In the harbour is the old Italian cruiser San Giorgio, now used as a submarine depot ship. She has been immobilised for some time, probably as a result of R.A.F. raids.

Thursday 23 January 1941
Our course during this trip has kept us farther South than usual, so that we were nearly equidistant from both Crete and North Africa.
At about three bells of the afternoon watch, anti-aircraft action stations closed up because the R. D/F had picked up two aircraft closing from Northward. They came straight in on a steady course, and when they were sighted, identified as C.A.N.T. 507’s, the familiar shadowing floatplane. We opened fire at once.
For the first few salvos the aircraft maintained their course, but as soon as shells started bursting near them they turned away ahead and half-circled the fleet, just out of range. They watched us for a short while, on the port beam, and then went away to the Southward. It looked very much as if these aircraft were flying from the Dodecanese to Libya, and had been surprised by our bursting shells. They probably had to disconnect the robot pilot before they could turn away. Illustrious left Malta at 1900, and we expect to see her some time tomorrow. There is now no moon.

Friday 24 January 1941
Visibility was poor, and we detected the carrier’s R. D/F with our own before we could see her. She passed us in the afternoon, escorted by Jervis, Juno, Janus and Greyhound. As she was making good twenty-four knots we couldn’t keep up with her, but we followed on at twenty-two.
We expected to detect twelve hurricanes flying from North Africa to Malta during the day but they must have passed out of range. They are going as reinforcements. A recent repetition of operation “Hurry” failed because of an unexpected adverse wind. Only three out of twelve Hurricanes reached Hal Far. We have received a report that German high level bombers have now reached Rhodes and Benghazi. It seems that Italy is already weakening. Germans are coming into Northern Italy under the pretext that they are ground staff and technicians for the units of the Luftwaffe already based in Italy.
Haile Selassie has returned to Abyssinia. He was landed near the border by a British aircraft and he intends to direct operations against the Italians.

Saturday 25 January 1941
During the forenoon the heavy ships carried out a main armament full calibre throw-off shoot at the Perth. We fired only sixteen rounds, but the results were entirely satisfactory. At the same time, we fired 4.5 barrage at smoke bursts fired by Barham. This was not an unqualified success.
We entered harbour slightly earlier than we expected, and moored in B4 berth during the first dog. Illustrious was at her old buoy, having arrived during the forenoon. Eagle, who had been at the buoy when we sailed, was in the floating dock, undergoing a minor refit.
Glasgow, who has made way for Eagle, is now alongside the coaling jetty. Her repairs are as complete as they can be made at Alexandria. She can do twenty- one knots, and has three turrets in action.
Gloucester is now back in harbour with no fore D.C.T. As there is no crane high enough in Alexandria to lift the damaged one out, she had to go round to Port Said. There the D.C.T. was lifted on to her upper deck and she steamed back. It is now standing on the jetty by 46 shed.
King George the fifth, although in commission for a short time only, is already in the news. She has arrived at Annapolis with Lord and Lady Halifax, the new ambassador and his wife. They were met there by President Roosevelt.
timlewin
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by timlewin »

thanks Jim, very interesting; this story fits well with some of the splendid pictures posted on the Queen Elizabeth battleship thread as well.
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jbryce1437
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

timlewin wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:58 am thanks Jim, very interesting; this story fits well with some of the splendid pictures posted on the Queen Elizabeth battleship thread as well.
Thats what I thought, especially the mention of Valiant in the timeframe that TTL was aboard.

Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
timlewin
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by timlewin »

Sunday 26 January 1941
This forenoon we made up our deficiency of fifteen-inch cordite, but we embarked no practice shells. Work started on changing the guns of our last 4.5 turret, S4. Our forces have now completely taken Tobruk and are on as far as Derna.
A large convoy of big ships entered harbour today, but there was no indication of their port of origin. One Clan Line ship was torpedoed when only a few hours out from Piraeus recently. She was hit forward, but managed to get back into the Greek port, where there are docking facilities for her repair.
We have had news of the dive-bombing attacks on Malta. Illustrious was damaged further, by a direct hit on her quarterdeck, and by a near miss which damaged her main machinery. The merchant ship Essex was alongside. All her holds were full of ammunition, but the bomb that hit her, luckily, got the engine room.

Monday 27 January 1941
Dive-bombing practices started again today. Gladiators and Skuas are now being used, and are more realistic than the Swordfish.
A convoy of small Greek ships arrived during the afternoon. They had probably been escorted by Coventry for the greater part of the journey; she came in during the morning.
The hospital ship Dorsetshire came in from the Westward with wounded, it was impossible to tell their nationality.
Wendell Willkie, the defeated candidate for the American presidency, has arrived in England with a personal message for the Prime Minister from Roosevelt.
In Albania, the Italians have started a determined counter attack, they are bringing up reinforcements, but they are suffering heavy losses, and are making no headway.

Tuesday 28 January 1941
Free French Forces have come into the picture in the Libyan war with a hit and run raid on an Italian aerodrome and garrison in the South. They advanced the three hundred miles from their base overnight, mad a surprise attack at dawn, destroyed hangars, aircraft and ammunition dumps. They retired at dusk with a few prisoners.
Derna is apparently proving no stumbling block to the advance in the Western desert. Although it has not already fallen, our troops have surrounded it and are pushing on further West.

Wednesday 29 January 1941
An enemy aircraft, believed to be a German Heinkel, reconnoitered the harbour at the end of the forenoon today. Anti-aircraft batteries at Dekheila opened fire, but as he kept well out, the fleet were given no opportunity to shoot. There was another Red warning in the dogs, at dusk, it lasted for ten minutes only and no one opened fire.
The Prime Minister, who has done so much to further the Greeks victorious campaigning, General Metaxas, died yesterday. He was in no small way responsible for the successful conduct of the war in Greece, and his death will be severely felt. It is hoped that the Greeks have a worthy successor to carry on when the advance is going so well.
Ciano, who as Foreign Minister in Mussolini’s government, had much to do with Italy’s entry into the war, has been transferred to the command of a bomber Squadron; while Mussolini adds his ministerial post to his already long list of duties.
Calcutta sailed for further convoy duties today.

Thursday 30 January 1941
The presence of enemy aircraft was detected towards the end of the middle watch, and we went to repel aircraft stations. When the aircraft approached to ten miles we prepared to fire a blind barrage, but shore searchlights switched on and the raiders made off. It is probable that they were returning from a raid on the canal zone, and that they were lost, but the searchlights immediately gave them their position. The enemy would probably lose more aircraft if the over- eager soldiery ashore could be restrained when aircraft, obviously returning bombers from a raid, are passing near.
Eagle came out of dock today and very soon sailed for trials.
We embarked an R/T set today and started to install it in the Admiral’s charthouse. With this we are to direct Eagle’s fighters. It is a temporary measure only, to last until we get another aircraft carrier with R. D/F out here.
Hitler made a speech last night directed mainly against America. He said that countries that continue to send help to belligerents would render their ships liable to attack by U-boats. As most of the supplies from America come over in British ships, his tirade was wasted.
Derna has now fallen; there are no more big garrisons between our troops and Benghazi.

Friday 31 January 1941
We exercised tow forward today and made several small improvements for the execution. With the growing air attacks on the fleet at sea, these damage evolutions assume a growing importance.
A number of army and air force officers visited the ship today. This is part of a scheme for closer cooperation between the services, in case we carry out a combined operation in future.
Illustrious went into the floating dock for the minor underwater repairs necessary to make her completely seaworthy.

Saturday 1 February 1941
We expected to sail early in the morning, about five o’clock, but this was postponed because Devis, one of the more modern merchant ships used in Mediterranean convoys, rammed the anti-torpedo baffle during the night, and fouled her screws. She was left helpless just in the harbour entrance. We weighed and proceeded at eight o’clock, following Warspite, Barham and Eagle. We were the only private ship. Although all four ships were under way, Barham sounded off to the C-in-C as he passed, and we had to follow suit for all three. A pipe would have been correct.
This operation is likely to prove uninteresting. We are at sea only to create a diversion while Force H acts offensively in the Eastern basin. We shall go to the area West of Crete, stay there for a short time and then return. Orion and Bonaventure are operating among the Dodecanese with the same object as ourselves.
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ivorthediver
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Thank you Tim for this post from the series , greatly appreciated as I am sure you already know .
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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jbryce1437
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

I agree, the highlight of the week. Thanks Tim.


Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
timlewin
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Re: LEWIN OF GREENWICH, THE BOOK SERIALISED FOR FORUM MEMBERS

Unread post by timlewin »

thanks Ivor & Jim, good to hear feedback, the reader numbers are great but I rarely hear any feedback.
Be nice to see more sales figures as well!
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