大象传媒

The Patroclus originally was a part of the Blue Funnel Line's Fleet and was converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Patroclus was torpedoed and sunk on November 3rd 1940. While rescuing seamen from HMS Laurentic also an armed merchant cruiser which had been torpedoed and was sinking. Both ships were sunk by U-99. The captain of U99 was Otto Kretschmer the top U-boat ace with the highest tonnage to his torpedoes.

"On the night we were sunk we were watching as we picked up survivors of the Laurentic. When someone shouted "TORPEDO!" we looked up and sure enough we could see coming toward us a line of white foaming water, at that we all ran to the other side of the ship and then there was an enormous bang which rocked the ship. We were all trained in what to do in the event of a mine or torpedo attack, to go to the appropriate station (The boat deck). Which we did and were then addressed by Lieutenant Commander Martin, who was the captains second in command.

He told us what had been happening that other ships had been sunk and that was probably the U-boats last torpedo. Almost as he said it, another torpedo hit us and another enormous bang; a great big sheet of flame flew up. In the light of the sheet of flame you could see debris flying through the air. Not wishing to be hit by any of the flying debris I ran and crouched by the bottom of the funnel.


Things were getting serious then and we were told to go to our "Abandon ship" stations This in my case was the portside after well deck. When we got there the Petty Officer in charge told us to scout round for anything that would float and throw it overboard, hatch covers, wooden fenders, anything that would float. We were fairly close to the after gun position where I knew the guns crew had wooden forms that they used to sit on when they were on watch. I told Arthur I was going there and he came with me.

It was while we were rooting out these wooden forms and stuff that the third torpedo hit us .At that I thought it was time we got back to our "Abandon Ship" positions. We did and there was no one there, I looked over the side and saw them disappearing in a boat, I also saw an empty carley float about to pass by and decided it was time to go. I called to Arthur to tell him I was going and I jumped, I didn't dive because I was wearing an inflatable lifebelt at the time and wasn't sure whether diving would injure my neck.

Having jumped in I then had to reach the "Carley Float", swimming in my uniform, with boots on and wearing a duffle coat was difficult but I managed to haul myself aboard. The carley float soon filled up there was about twelve of us altogether with our combined weight it was partially submerged and we were all sitting on it waist deep in water. Some of the others thought it was a good idea to sing but that didn't last long. We just sat there in the dark.

About 2 o'clock in the morning a destroyer appeared (I knew it was 2 o'clock because I had wristwatch on and I always carried a torch with me.) we all shouted and cheered, we felt a great relief, then it disappeared again, I never felt so down in my life. We sat in the water again for another five hours until the destroyer came back and picked us up. I never saw, or heard of Arthur again since that night on the port side after well deck."

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