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Re: crewlist HMS Waterfly
Posted by:
Nick Clark
()
Date: July 27, 2008 10:18PM
Just to add a little with regard to the circumstances surrounding the loss of HMS Waterfly and survivors. Below is a passage from Ewart Brookes - Glory Passed Them By (Jarrolds 1958)
In time, after many sweeps, the field was cleared but the effort cost us another unsung, grim and battered veteran. H.M.T. Waterfly, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Richard Hawes, R.N.V.R., had been one of the first of the few. Waterfly, under Hawes as Unit Officer of two ships, the other being H.M.T. Andradite, which I later commanded, had started sweeping at Scapa Flow within hours of the outbreak of war, fitted for Oropesa sweeping only, of course. She had gradually worked down the east coast, taking part in the Norwegian debacle and the collapse of the Netherlands; she had been in the famed Nore Command, sweeping from Harwich, and finally had arrived at Dover to strengthen that command's puny force.
On that June afternoon, bright, calm and sunny, as the last of the mines in the field were surrendering to Lieutenant Collier, R.N.V.R., and his colleagues in the Mickey Mouse sweepers, a lone Focke Wulf raider swept low over the water, swung in through intense gunfire, and hit Waterfly in the magazine.
There were only a few survivors and Hawes was not among them. To me, personally, it was a sad day. Apart from my natural sorrow at the loss of a gallant comrade, it was my last day at Dover,after two years, before going to a larger command.
A small, personal tragedy but symptomatic of the gradual passing of the trawlers from the minesweeping force, the trawlers which had gone forth like Kipling's immortal five.
Hope this is of interest.
Perhaps there's an official Admiralty document/Board Of Enquiry into the loss of HMS Waterfly?
Nick Clark
www.harry-tates.org.uk
In time, after many sweeps, the field was cleared but the effort cost us another unsung, grim and battered veteran. H.M.T. Waterfly, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Richard Hawes, R.N.V.R., had been one of the first of the few. Waterfly, under Hawes as Unit Officer of two ships, the other being H.M.T. Andradite, which I later commanded, had started sweeping at Scapa Flow within hours of the outbreak of war, fitted for Oropesa sweeping only, of course. She had gradually worked down the east coast, taking part in the Norwegian debacle and the collapse of the Netherlands; she had been in the famed Nore Command, sweeping from Harwich, and finally had arrived at Dover to strengthen that command's puny force.
On that June afternoon, bright, calm and sunny, as the last of the mines in the field were surrendering to Lieutenant Collier, R.N.V.R., and his colleagues in the Mickey Mouse sweepers, a lone Focke Wulf raider swept low over the water, swung in through intense gunfire, and hit Waterfly in the magazine.
There were only a few survivors and Hawes was not among them. To me, personally, it was a sad day. Apart from my natural sorrow at the loss of a gallant comrade, it was my last day at Dover,after two years, before going to a larger command.
A small, personal tragedy but symptomatic of the gradual passing of the trawlers from the minesweeping force, the trawlers which had gone forth like Kipling's immortal five.
Hope this is of interest.
Perhaps there's an official Admiralty document/Board Of Enquiry into the loss of HMS Waterfly?
Nick Clark
www.harry-tates.org.uk
