大象传媒

A new crew arrived at Jarrow in early 1943 to man a brand new destroyer, HMS Quail. The ship was built in the yards nearby and was now to be crewed and commissioned with Lieutenant Commander Jelks as Captain. Captain Jelks's father was the Mayor of Islington.

After a service on board the ensign was hoisted for the first time - upside down! - Due to a flag makers error. This was considered a curse and a symbol of very bad luck. Because of this one rating immediately abandoned ship; refusing to be part of the crew and was not seen again. He was probably relocated to another vessel.

I was an Able Seaman, Gunner, and Quartermaster and after sea trails on Loch Long, Scotland, we test fired our 4.7inch guns (two forward, two aft) with fixed amm unition. When all was satisfactory and the Captain had given his approval we steamed off to Malta, Italy and the 8th Army.

Once in Italy we "tested the water" ahead of the 8th Army and went with them up the coast of Italy via Anzio and Salerno with "H Force" and HMS Warsprite. At this time we escorted troops in convoy and fired at enemy guns along the toe of Italy. When not in action we sheltered in the Grand Harbour at Malta but were bombed nightly by German aircraft.

One night as we steammed around the toe of Italy we received a Morse code signal from a cottage near the coast. The message stated that an Italian doctor and nurse together with six British soldiers were hiding from the enemy who had surrounded the cottage. Could we help?
A small baot was sent inshore under cover of darkness, to pick them up. Too everyone's surprise the small boat's crew experienced no action and it was with great relief that the people were rescued and all returned safely to the ship. Some days later we were informed that the enemy had not surrounded the cottage but were in fact 8th Army soldiers working their way up Italy towards Rome! The rescued party had, in the confusion of battle, merely become detached from their unit.

Then at 11am on a fine November morning in 1943 as we sailed out of Bari, to patrol the Italian seas, a mine, placed the previous night, exploded beneath our stern blowing off the aft gun and killing its crew of 8 men. Under normal circumstances I would have been with them but on this occasion I was in the wheelhouse performing other duties. I was lucky to be in the wrong place at the right time.
The ship was stabilised and towed back to port but she was a write off due to being damaged beyond economic repair. Those of the crew that were left (27 died from this incident) were sent back to the UK to be placed on other ships. I was left with a few other hands to "watchkeep" the ship until it was taken over by the dockyard for scrap.
Sometime after leaving her I heard that she had sunk on 18th June 1944 whilst being towed to her final destination. She now lies in 90 metres of water between Bari and Taranto, Italy. The curse of the upside down ensign had caught up with her!

So goodbye to a gallant destroyer that only lived one year - farewell RIP

Philip Mudge Ex R.N.

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