大象传媒

The following story by Terence Robertson is out of copyright and appears courtesy of and with thanks to Mike Kemble, and Captain Frederic John Walker.

Walker pointed Wild Goose at the target and called in Wren to steam slowly past him under his directions. As she came level, he shouted his instructions over the loudhailer. She was to move directly between himself and the target, 1000 yards ahead of Wild Goose, and proceed dead ahead at five knots. He would instruct her over the R/T, how and when to drop her charges. Wren crept stealthily into the direct line of attack and moved forward while Wild Goose kept the echo at a steady range and bearing. When Wren reached the same range and bearing as the U-boat, he called out on R/T: 鈥淔ire a deep pattern and then continue dropping charges set to maximum depth at five second intervals.鈥� They watched Wren quiver under the impact of the explosions. Nothing came up. The first 鈥渃reeping attack鈥� had failed. Walker called up Kite and Woodpecker and they set off in line abreast for an 鈥淥peration Plaster鈥� barrage attack, dropping more than fifty charges in the next few minutes. He then ordered Kite and Wren to approach slowly for another attack. It is doubtful if the U-boat鈥� ever knew what hit her. (Confirmed as U-449) By the wreckage that came bubbling up to the surface it looked as if she must have disintegrated under the blast of the charges from ships she could not have heard coming. Oil spread over the area, and Wren lowered a boat to investigate and pick up evidence of destruction to be forwarded to the Admiralty. It was then nearly 4 pm, and Walker took Wild Goose into the centre of the oil to see what they could find in the way of trophies. While leaning over the side of the bridge, the sailors nearest to Walker heard a loud rending noise come from the vicinity of his seat. They burst into scarcely-controlled giggles at the large hole that had appeared in his trousers. When he looked round startled and realised what had happened he collapsed in loud laughter. In his report of the action he wrote: 鈥淚n my eagerness to view some of the wreckage floating nearby I split, most indecently, the only pair of trousers I had brought with me from Starling.鈥� Making little more than eight knots, Starling was still in sight. Walker signalled the Group his now familiar 鈥渟plice the mainbrace鈥� and detached Kite to escort Starling back to Plymouth. The remainder of the patrol is best described by Walker鈥檚 personal record:
鈥淒uring the night Wild Goose, Woodpecker and Wren proceeded in line abreast carrying out independent zigzags and searched at twelve knots. After the swift moving events of the forenoon and a second, if less dramatic success, while the sun was still high, the dark hours produced only an anti-climax. Nothing was seen of a U-boat and if any had been there to provide a hat trick to crown the splendour of this Midsummer鈥檚 Day, it passed peacefully on its way outside the range of the reduced but no less bloodthirsty Second Support Group. 鈥淥n June 12th, Kite rejoined us, having handed over the safety of my Starling to a Hunt class destroyer sent from Plymouth, and immediately reported a periscope. Our hopes stirred but she soon dashed them by amending her report saying the periscope was the horn of a floating mine. Nothing exciting happened in the next two days and we set sail for Plymouth.鈥� Meanwhile, the weather favoured the crippled Starling who arrived in Plymouth safely, the shouts and laughter of bathers in front of the Hoe reaching the men lined up on the tilting decks. Some bathers could be seen standing up and shading their eyes as they stared curiously at the odd-looking ship with her flooded bows buried deep in the water and her stern sticking grotesquely into the air. From the Commander- in-Chief鈥檚 flagstaff ashore flew the signal: 鈥淲ell done, Second Support Group.鈥� When at last they tied up alongside a jetty, she was immediately overrun by officials equipped with the largest water pumps they could find, apparently under the impression that Starling was about to sink at any minute. The officers led by Filleul, Burn and 鈥淒oc鈥� Fraser headed for the nearest pub. On their return to the jetty, 鈥淒oc鈥� acknowledged the salute of a naval patrol and promptly tripped in a pothole, falling flat on his face. He was the Group鈥檚 only casualty in the first blockade of the Biscayan ports. On June 3 Wild Goose, Wren, Woodpecker and Kite entered Plymouth harbour and tied up near Starling. From then on the dockyard superintendents were to have the full weight of Walker鈥檚 rank and energy to have Starling ready for sea within a month. Meanwhile, the First Sea Lord, Commander-in-Chief; Western Approaches, and Commander-in-Chief; Plymouth, had sent signals saying much in few words: 鈥淲ell done again, Second Support Group.鈥� At a special conference held by Admiral Sir Charles Forbes in Plymouth, Walker tended to play down the Group鈥檚 success with the first U-boat. 鈥淭his one,鈥� he said, 鈥渞eally rather deserved its fate. It did not even pay us the compliment of going deep or taking any appreciable avoiding action. I think we must have accidentally caught him with his pants down.鈥� But, in a letter to the Admiralty, Admiral Forbes said: 鈥淭his was the first occasion of a force of British vessels being sent into the Bay of Biscay itself. Much valuable experience was gained and the successes of the Second Support Group have made this strategy undoubtedly worthwhile.鈥� Starling could look forward to a spell in harbour under repair. Walker was impatient, however, to strike again in the Bay before the enemy could change his tactics. He stayed in Wild Goose, leaving Commander Wemyss to supervise the healing of Starling鈥檚 wounds. Only three days after returning from the first blockade trip, the Group went to sea for the second time.

Continued.....
'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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