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This story has been written onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by Callington U3A — Meg Bassett — on behalf of Mr A M Wilkie, my deceased uncle, who donated his memoirs to me.

(After evacuation from Dunkirk, and after a short spell in Britain, the convoy left the Clyde for an ‘unknown destination’ which proved, eventually, to be Suez, via Freetown. The convoy was accompanied by H.M.S. Hood until this point, and the following is an account of her departure.)

Two days after reaching Freetown, where wounded men and survivors from the previous convoy were picked up, the giant battleship H.M.S. Hood received orders to return to the U.K. to resume fresh escort duties. She was a magnificent example of British naval might. Her Royal Marines, in spotless whites, played traditional music as she slowly headed seawards. There were tears and cheers from every ship, while the terrific noise caused hundreds of jungle birds to fly upwards in panic. We cheered loudly until she was out of sight. Many months later we mourned her terrible fate and the tragic loss of such a gallant crew.

Extract from the memoirs of ex-Sapper Alastair Mackenzie Wilkie 19004664

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