大象传媒

My father sent this report to the Abbey building society (later to become The Abbey National) who produced a news letter during the war and printed news from ex employees now serving in the forces. He joined the navy in 1942 serving as a wireless operator (S.O)till 1946. He received the last message from the Scharnhorst as she sank.

H.M.S Duke of York left England on 12th December 1943, bound for Russia, together with H.M. Cruiser Jamaica and four Destroyers: H.M.S. Stord (Norwegian), H.M.S. Sumaurez (Indian), H.M.S. Scorpion and H.M.S. Matchless. It was quite an uneventful journey, except for one storm on the way up. Arrived Russia on 16th Dec and found the Russian people quite friendly. Left Russia on 18th covering a convoy going back to England, ariving at Akarayri (Iceland) on the 21st Dec. We stayed there for three days, getting some shore leave and leaving again on the 24th.

On the 24th we had a buzz to say that the Battleship Scharnhorst was out and everybody was keyed up although we did not really believe we would get her. We received a singal from H.M. Cruiser Belfast to say that an unidentified enemy ship (Believed to be the Scharnhorst) had been sighted steaming towards the Convoy. One attack had already been made by the Scharnhorst but this had been diverted by Cruiser Squadron DS 10. During the first action the Cruiser Norfolk was hit aft by one 11" shell and had to drop out of the fight.

H.M. Duke of York was making 32 knots towards the Scharnhorst, trying to head her off before she could get to her base in Alton Fjiord.

On the 26th we sighted the Scharnhorst at 32,000 yards. The commander (H.M.S. Duke of York) was giving a running commentary on the distances covered and the positions being taken up. The Scharnhorst was turning towards us now, and we were told to stand by ready to engage at 15,000 yards. The Commander then started counting off the yards, i.e. 32,000 yards, 31,000 yards, 30,000 yards and so on. At 18,000 yards star shells were fired by our 5.25 armament. We closed in to 15,000 yards and fired the first salvo. All the lights on the ship went out and everybody was told to lie on their back with their feet facing the port side, as this was the side from which we were going to engage the enemy. The Scharnhorst received two direct hits from this first salvo and turned towards the coast as by this time she had discovered that we were a Battleship and not a Cruiser !! (as she had at first suspected). We were now steaming at 32 knots trying to get between the Scharnhorst and the coast. The enemy then turned east and we ordered our Destroyers to cut her off. When the enemy saw this she turned south again, but by this time we were in position between her and the coast. An hour later our Commander, sounding very excited and the guns firing like hell shouted "The Scharnhorst is on fire", everyone, including the five men in our room below decks literally danced with joy.

We were still closing in, firing all we had. Our 5.25 armament was now within range and the enemy was also pumping shells.

We sent the Destroyers in to pick up survivors who had abandoned ship before ordered. The Destroyer Stord picked up some of these on one side, beat them up and then threw them over the other side. While the Destroyers were closing in, the Scharnhorst opened fire on them again. H.M.S. Duke of York and the Destroyers withdrew for half-an-hour so that we could get our main armament (14" guns) within range, as it was, the guns were at only 1 degree of depression. We let her have the full salvo at point blank range - nearly blowing her out of the water. The Destroyers closed in again to pick up the remaining survivors, but the Scharnhorst still had one gun firing. This last gun was slienced by H.M.S. Duke of York. The Germans were lined up on the forcastle and quarter deck of the Scharnhorst ready to abandon ship, but the last salvo blew them all up. During the action the Sumaurez was hit and received heavy casualties. The Cruisers Belfast and Jamaica were ordered to finish the Scharnhorst off. H.M.S. Belfast stuck four torpedoes in from the starboard tubes and the Jamaica put three in. Belfast turned around to put four more in but by this time the Scharnhorst had disappeared.

In the meantime U Boats were reported 50 miles away, so we decided to turn back to Russia - The Kola Inlet. We arrived there ahead of the Destroyers and Cruisers as we had ordered them to make their own speed back. When the Stord was coming in we received three hearty cheers from the Norwegians on board.

We left Russia again the next night with H.M.S. Jamaica, Stord, Sumaurez, Matchless, Scorpion, Milne. H.M.S. Belfast and Norfolk had been left in the Kola Inlet - the Belfast to escort the Norfolk home. When we left the bay with only three Oerlikans left (i.e AA guns) our of 40, we picked up Submarines, but managed to evade them. H.M.S. Matchless was sent back to disperse these Subs. While the Norfolk and Belfast we in the Inlet, they were attacked by four enemy aircraft, but received no damage.

When we reached our Home Port, we were greeted with cheers from the other ships. The Destroyers came in "line ahead" and went round each ship of the Home Fleet, receiving cheers to the sound of Hooter and Whistles. All the flags were out and there were more lights blinking than in peacetime London.

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