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This article is a transcription of a book written by Jack Taylor who served in the Royal Navy throughout World War 2. Jack saw service in a wide range of ships and in many theatres of the war. Another article, written by Jack, about the loss of H.M.S. Hood can be found on the H.M.S. Hood web site www.hmshood.com

A Destroyer and Aircraft Carrier at War
Chapter 5, We found only three

We now had a job 鈥� escort to the Hood and Prince of Wales, the latter being a new Battleship in the King George V Class. We went our nearly every day with her as she was doing her working up trials and gunnery practice. This lasted for several weeks.

We were enjoying a few days鈥� rest in harbour when the whole fleet was alerted. Boats were scurrying about and the harbour signal lamps were flashing. The Bosun piped 鈥淪pecial sea dutymen to your stations. Stand by for leaving harbour.鈥� Within 15 minutes we were moving down the harbour and out through the boom defence, minesweeper moving in front making sure the channel was clear. Six destroyers, of which we were the leader, formed up in an arrow formation and waited for the Battleship 鈥淧rince of Wales鈥� and the Battle Cruiser 鈥淗ood,鈥� known as the biggest fighting ship in the world. Once we were all on station, course was laid for the Denmark Strait. The Tannoy system sounded and a voice said, 鈥淭his is the Captain speaking. We have received a signal from H.M.S. 鈥淪heffield鈥� that she had sighted the German Battleship 鈥淏ismarck鈥� and the cruiser 鈥淧rinz Eugen鈥� and were now passing through the Denmark Strait and heading for the Atlantic. We must get ahead of them and bring them to action.鈥� As usual the weather was very bad, heavy seas running, rain and sleet and, travelling at high speed it was very uncomfortable. It was now Saturday May 24th, Empire Day 1941. We had arrived at the given position and the orders were to keep a sharp look out. The Atlantic rollers were coming in very high. Normally we would adjust speed to ride over them but as we had to keep at 30 knots it was hell crashing into them. Great walls of water were smashing along our decks. Our two whalers and motor boat were smashed to pieces on the davits. Guard rails were down and one of the ammunition lockers was torn out of the decks.

The 鈥淗ood鈥� was flying the flag of Vice Admiral Holland and as we watched she was cracking along and, being a big ship, it looked as though she was shovelling up the ocean and throwing it back behind her. It was now sleeting very hard, night had closed in and the latest buzz was that the 鈥淏ismarck鈥� was in our area. The Tannoy came to life again and the order came 鈥淗ands will go to Action Stations 0300 hours 鈥� anti flash gear to be worn. Contact with the enemy was expected at 0600 in the morning.鈥� A buzz of excitement went round the ship. One of the lads remarked 鈥淭his is it and it鈥檚 a good job we have got the big boys with us鈥�

We knew our job would be to try for a torpedo attack and go for the Prinz Eugen. We were full of confidence that we could soon see them off. The great waves crashed against us and, with a mighty roar, the water tore along our decks. Somewhere off our starboard quarter two great charges were straining forward as we were in this very heavy sea.

I came on the middle watch at midnight and was on the point five machine gun platform wearing my oilskins and sou鈥檞ester trying to keep out of the spray coming right over the ship. It was at around 0200 hours when the leading hand of the watch said, 鈥淥K Buck, your trick.鈥� So, leaving the shelter of the machine gun platform and taking hold of a lifeline which had been rigged along the deck I made my way forward. Just a I reached the break of the foc鈥檚鈥檒e a great wave came inboard and I got soaked. Finally I reached the starboard lookout position on the bridge. 鈥淟ookout relieved, Sir!鈥� I called. 鈥淰ery good,鈥� came the reply. My one hour look out duty over at 0300, hands were called to Action Stations. By now it had started to get light and as dawn was breaking visibility was not too good. We could just about make out the two ships on our quarter, their great bows dipping under and rising, lifting tons of water into the air which went cascading back along their decks. Guns had been cleared and tampions taken from the guns鈥� muzzles. Control phones were checked. Jack Ashton, up in his rangefinder, just above the bridge trained round for a look round the horizon. Gun sights were checked. Director pointers and gun pointers were lined up. The other destroyers, like us, were making heavy weather of it and rolling in the great seas. Vent covers were torn and flapping in the wind. By 0400 hours we were taking a terrific beating from the sea. How much more could these little ships take?

Dawn was coming up very fast and we could see the 鈥淗ood鈥� now very close on our quarter. Then, as we watched, we saw her hoist her battle ensign and up went our won Ensign. This was the largest White Ensign in the ship. We looked around and had their Battle Ensigns streaming out proudly from their foremasts. It gave one a feeling of pride. The excitement of the coming battle had now died down and tension had taken its place. Everyone was wondering what the next few hours would bring. The reason for the Battle Ensigns is so that we can recognise our own ships in the coming battle. Captain 鈥淒鈥� 鈥� us in charge of the destroyers 鈥� had requested, by signal to 鈥淗ood鈥�, for a reduction in speed as we were taking a pounding from the heavy seas and sustaining upper deck damage. The signal from admiral Holland in 鈥淗ood鈥� was 鈥淩equest granted. Am going ahead. Catch up as soon as possible.鈥� As we eased down to a more comfortable speed, the two great ships disappeared ahead.

We were now riding the Atlantic rollers instead of crashing into them. Cookie managed to light up the stove in the galley and served hot tea and sandwiches all round. The sea abated a little and we picked up a little more speed. The sleet had given way to a fine mist and gallantly the little ships ploughed on. We were now in the contact area. Orders came from the bridge: 鈥淜eep sharp look out in case the 鈥淏ismarck鈥� should turn back in this mist.鈥� Tension and fear was on everyone鈥檚 face. We were now small ships alone without the protection of the big ship鈥檚 guns. The 鈥淗ood鈥� and 鈥淧rince of Wales鈥� were now20 minutes to half an hour ahead of us and we were desperately trying to close up.

Listen! What was that faint rumbling sound up ahead of us? Was it thunder or gunfire? No one knew. It was now approximately 0600 hours. Great activity was going on up on the bridge. Suddenly the Bosun, Petty Officer Watkins appeared. The shrill of the Bosun鈥檚 call and then the orders 鈥� 鈥淧ort make ready to pick up survivors, starboard watch stand to.鈥� The contents of the last signal went round the ship like wildfire: 鈥淗ood sunk, am taking immediate action. Prince of Wales鈥�

The truth slowly dawned on us as we make ready to pick up hundreds of men from the sea. We had no boats we could lower as they were shattered to pieces from the speed and heavy seas we had endured.

Jumping bets were lowered over the sides of the ship, men were attending by with heaving lines. Blankets, hot drinks and rum were ready. Our ship鈥檚 Doctor and Sick Berth Attendant were standing ready in their white gowns.

All eyes strained into the mist looking for any signs of what was left of this once great ship. It seemed as though the hand of God had suddenly wiped away the weather for there we were out into the clear and, on the position where the 鈥淗ood鈥� had gone down wreckage of all descriptions was floating on the surface: hammocks, broken rafts, mess tables, boots, clothes, caps, photos. Of the hundreds of men we expected, nothing! 鈥淢y God! She鈥檚 gone with all hands!鈥� We nosed our way slowly through the pitiful remains of books, letters and other personal effects floating by.

A shout went up 鈥淢an off the port bow!鈥� and there, clinging to a piece of flotsam, was our first survivor. Further away, two more heads came into view, one swimming, one on what appeared to be a small float. Men were down the scrambling nets and up to their waists in the cold Atlantic, waiting to grab hold and lift the survivors inboard. As the three men were hauled up and inboard they were quickly wrapped in blankets and taken forward onto the mess deck. We searched the area for many hours but there were only three left from a ship鈥檚 company of more than 1,400 officers, men and boys. There were not even any bodies. Everyone else had gone down with the ship. The three we had on board were Midshipman Dundas, Able Seaman Tilburn and Ordinary Signalman Briggs.

With heavy hearts we turned away and made all speed to Reykjvik in Iceland where we put all three survivors onto a hospital ship. Later 鈥淧rince of Wales鈥� came in and you could see where she had been hit by shells of the 鈥淏ismarck.鈥�

Throughout Sunday 25th May units of the fleet gave chase to the 鈥淏ismarck.鈥� She was slowed up by aircraft from the aircraft carrier 鈥淎rk Royal鈥� having out a torpedo into her. On Tuesday 27th May heavy units of the Fleet, 鈥淩odney鈥� and 鈥淜ing George V鈥� caught up with her and pounded her to pieces. The 鈥淏ismarck鈥� went down, fighting to the last.

Jack's story continues in Chapter 6: farewell Electra and on to big ships

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