大象传媒

Surrender of U-Boat fleet at Loch Eriboll 8th May 1945

On VE Day 8th May 45, I was serving in HMS Byron, an anti-
submarine frigate built in the USA. On VE Day, we, together with
the rest of the 21st Escort Group, were ordered from Belfast to
Loch Eriboll, a sea loch near Cape Wrath on the NW corner of
Scotland, remote, rugged, grand; a sheet of water about ten miles
long with the hills of Sutherland in the background, to accept
the surrender of the U Boat fleet operating in the North Atlantic
and Arctic.

The Group arrived at Loch Eriboll during the early morning
of 9th May. We waited. The boarding parties drew weapons and
rations, a Motor Launch patrolled the entrance and then on 10th
May at 8.15am DBST (Double British Summer Time), the first U
Boat, U 1009, arrived on the surface flying a tattered black flag
from its periscope as a sign that it was ready to surrender.
Everyone went to action stations.

Byron was guard ship and the motor boat was launched with
the boarding party aboard. The U Boat was boarded, guns and
torpedo firing pistols were thrown overboard and log books and
other documents were removed in preparation for the escorted
passage to Loch Alsh where the crew were to be taken into
captivity. Next morning we arrived at Loch Alsh and took the boat
alongside a submarine depot ship. The U Boat Captain read a
message to his ship's company telling them that they were leaving
their boat and I think there were a few tears.

The 21st Escort Group/Loch Eriboll surrender operation
lasted from 10th to 21st May and during that time 33 U Boats gave
themselves up. On 22nd May, the Group escorted four boats across
the Irish Sea to Moville on the shores of Loch Foyle ready for
the formal surrender to Admiral Sir Max Horton, C in C Western
Approaches in Londonderry.

The KriegsMarine? We found them to be sailors much like
ourselves, well disciplined, responsive to the orders of their
officers, still motivated to work their ships and with their
morale intact even at the moment of surrender, despite the U Boat
service having sustained casualties unsurpassed by any other
enemy or allied fighting service. When shown photographs in
'Picture Post' of Auschwitz and Belsen, they were unable to
believe that their country could do such things and called it
Allied propaganda.

Such was the drama of those days in May 1945, played out on
the quiet waters of a Scottish loch when peace returned to the
Atlantic, when history was made. My remaining memories are of the
White Ensign flying proudly over the swastika ensign of Hitler's
navy on the first U Boat to enter an Allied harbour and of the
short service which was conducted by our Captain at 'divisions'
on the first Sunday morning of peace. We sang 'O God our help in
ages past' and 'Eternal Father strong to save'. We recited the
Navy prayer and the reading was from Psalm 107 (verses 23 - 30)
which seemed to sum it all up. We were glad that the war
in Europe was over, we 'spliced the mainbrace' and were thankful.

We now had to prepare ourselves for transfer to the Pacific
war against Japan, which still raged. We heard that HMS Byron had
been allocated to the British Pacific Fleet.

The Navy prayer.

"O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and
rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with
bounds until day and night come to an end; Be pleased to receive
into thy Almighty and gracious protection the persons of us thy
servants and the Fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the
dangers of the sea and from the violence of the enemy; that we
may be a safeguard to our most gracious Sovereign Lord, King
George and his dominions and a security for such as pass on the
seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our
island may in peace and quietness serve thee our God; and that we
may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with
fruits of our labours and with a thankful remembrance of thy
mercies to praise and glorify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen."

Psalm 107

23. They that go down to the sea in ships that do business in
great waters;
24. These see the works of the LORD and his wonders in the deep.
25. For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth
up the waves thereof.
26. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the
depths; their soul is melted because of trouble.
27. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are
at their wits' end.
28. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble and he bringeth
them out of their distresses.
29. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are
still.
30. Then they are glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them
to their desired haven.

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