John-Evans-diary

 

 

(As recorded in a Red Hard Cover notebook)

(Capitals have been used in accordance with recording)

Inside Cover:

Diary Leading Signalman J.Evans. D/JX 151224

H.M.S. NEPTUNE. Sept. lst 1939 to:

South Atlantic Squadron        April 20^th 1940

Mediterranian Fleet                 August 1940

East Indies Squadron              September 1940

Freetown Sept 1939.

In this diary of the war “as I saw it”, I do not intend to enter all daily happenings, just things of interest and any actions in which I happen to take part.

At Freetown where we are stationed it is damnably hot.   Bathed in sweat and taking Quinine regularly to avoid Yellow Fever.   To go ashore is to go amongst nothing but Black West African Negros.   Men die regularly among the Fleet from effects of the sun. It’s enough to drive one crazy.

We are now at Alexandria Egypt.   The heat is just as intense but not so damp.   Shore is a little better as there are some French and British people there.

Looks like we are again moving on to other hunting grounds.   Where this time? Down through the Suez Canal, through the Red Sea and now on South again.

Sunday, Sept 3^rd.   At Sea.

At 11am on Sunday Sept 3^rd we learned that Great Britain had declared war on Germany.   We did not know whether to be happy or sad, so we just sat tight and waited to see what the future held in store for us.

Our aircraft returned from patrol to report sighting unknown S.S “INN” who was flying no colours.   Lloyds Register told us she was German so we proceeded at high speed to intercept her.  

At about 1800 we sighted her ahead and she stopped and abandoned ship by signal.   We took off 35 passengers and crew – including one lady.

2000 – after filling her with 6” H.K. Shells we left her burning furiously and sinking (passengers were disembarked at Dakar)

At 0800 November 22^nd we sighted the German Passenger Liner “Adolf Woermann”.   We hoisted the signed “You should abandon your vessel I am going to sink you”.   They lowered boats and pulled away from the ship.   We took all passenger and crew on board.   At 1105 we opened fire and “Adolf Woermann” and on the 6^th she was burning furiously.   Her weight was 6,600 tons.   Passengers – 62.   She was disguised as NYASSA-LISBOA.   Portuguese colours painted on her side.   Hoisted NAZI ensign before abandoning ship.   We took passengers and crew to Freetown where they were taken by an Armed Merchant Cruiser to England.   Intercepted her between St. Helena and Ascension Islands

Sunk German Sub when leaving Rio.   About 1500 on December 17^th we arrived at the Brazilian port of Rio De Janiero where we were to oil land then proceed to patrol for Graph Spee but she didn’t want to play, so we stayed at Rio overnight and sailed on 18^th.   Rio seemed a paradise of its own.   We were tied up right alongside the main street.   Hundreds of people welcomed us.   We were with Ark Royal and Renown.

Note: Xmas we spent at Sea.   For weeks on end we patrol the South Atlantic under a boiling maddening sun, seeing nothing but a stray neutral ship.   Our aircraft forced a landing once and when we go to her she was surrounded by sharks, but we fooled them and took the passengers and plane back on board.   On another occasion we had to take two male passengers (Germans) from the Portuguese ship QUANZA who were wanted for espionage and murder by the South African U.D.F.   We got them OK.

After 6 months in the West African Tropics they decided to give us a rest who were sent to Simonstown, C>P. where we had a marvellous time   We arrived there on March 13^th and left again on Monday 8^th April.   We then returned to Freetown with a convoy under our guiding wing.   We were all under the impression that we were going home to England but on arrival at Sierra Seonne we learnt that trouble was expected in the Mediterranean so proceeded to Gibraltar.   Arrived Gibraltar on 20^th April 1940 and later sailed for Malta.   We were not there long before we proceeded again to Alexandria on the coast of Egypt and stayed there for some time doing exercises and waiting for Musso to start.

Wednesday 10 June Musso decided to play, so we were going to start a brand new war of our own in the Med.

Leaving Alexandria at noon on 20^th June we steamed North all day and doubled back during the night towards the coast of Libya (Neptune – Orion – Sydney – Lorraine French B.S.).

At 0500 on 21 June we entered the Italian Port of BADHIA where troops were concentrated and an oil dump was known to be.   At 0547 we opened fire ahead and kept firing for an hour with 6” H.E.   French Battleship with 12”.   The sun was well up and behind us.   Lorraine destroyed two shore Batteries and one Destroyer is believed to have been sunk.   Targets were all blown to pieces.   At about 0640 we ceased fire and continued on disengaging course   Each ship fired about 140 rounds of High Explosive shells.   We left BARDIA a smouldering mass of ruins and a job well done.

We arrived back from the bombardment alright and hoped for a quiet week-end but NO.   On Sunday morning at 0115 of all times, bombs began to drop on the harbour.   One exploded on the coal jetty near us. Fleet opened fire and the bombers turned tail.   They came back twice more but didn’t come close enough to the fleet.   Bombs dropped on Aboukir and one behind the Palace.   2 Aircraft were brought down.

Note: Up to now we have sunk about six enemy submarines.   Two minefields were spread by enemy submarines outside Alex.   On our first Patrol to Tobruk, Italians admit one minelayer sunk and second damaged.

We were on patrol covering the first convoy through the Med when we received an enemy report.   Enemy consisted of three destroyers who, we learned later were each carrying 50 Italian soldiers to Libya.   We increased speed and were lucky enough to find them about 1830.   Time was limited as darkness would soon fall.   It was a running fight for about one and a half hours. Speed 32 knots.   We were as fast as the destroyers but they were a target not to be envied.   They kept up a constant smoke screen.   About 1930 we hit and disabled one who began to fall astern.   We all put a salvoe into him at the same time and he literally “fell to pieces”.   A second ship was badly damaged but darkness enabled him to get away.   They had been leading us up into the ADRIATIC and into probable minefields so chase was abandoned at dark.   There were about 40 survivors out of about 200.   Like BARDIA it was more or less a mad slaughter.

We joined a 50 ship convoy about 5 miles from GREECE.   Out intentions were to distract aircraft from the Convoy and get them to bomb us instead.   Up to 1330 we knew enemy aircraft are shadowing us but we can do nothing about it – yet.

1515 Aircraft have attacked but we drove them off with A.A. fire.  

1725 We have just had an attack by four Italian Savoia bombers.   They flew over us and Neptune, being centre ship o the line was the point of aim.   Eight bombs were dropped and they landed within ten years of our Starboard side.   Three men were injured by flying shrapnel.   The attack, being our first was more or less a novelty but now we have heard the sinister exploding of bombs in the water it is to us more of a menace.   We got the convoy through without loss.   Our Aircraft was catapulted, being useless and splintered. Aircraft returned three times to Neptune.

At 0715 today we were again attacked by enemy aircraft.   We put up a 4” barrage and managed to dodge all bombs.   Entered Alexandria Harbour about 1930.

Note; Although Italian aircraft fly as high as 20,000 feet, giving us no chance to bring them down as they are usually out of sight.   Yet, the bombing seems to be uncannily accurate.   If it wasn’t for the fact that the bombs could be heard a long way off as they speed toward us, 9 out of 10 attacks would be successful.   Never before have I heard of men cursing so clear a sky with plenty of sunshine, but to us now, it is a curse, helping only attacking aircraft.   We pray for darkness to fall so that we can have a little peace from them.

It is now 0820.   We closed up at action stations early this morning as we had learned that the French Fleet had thrown in their hands.  At 0755 we were subject to a heavy air attack by 9 bombers.   All the bombs dropped between Neptune and the French Cruiser Duguay-Trouin.   We felt helpless in harbour as we could not dodge them by turning to Port or Starboard.   Bombing continued throughout the forenoon.   Our fighter aircraft accounted for most of the bombers.   A direct hit was made at 46 shed.   One killed 3 injured.

French Warships looked as though they were going to put to sea and return to France but we did not want them to go, as it would mean that they would fall into German hands.   CinC told them he didn’t want to give orders for French fleet to be sunk by gunfire in harbour as it would mean a lot of slaughter among ourselves.   Our guns were trained.   French obeyed.

Italians must be making a point of bombing us on Sundays.   Tonight enemy aircraft are over us again, but 6” and 4” barrage fire is keeping them away.   Sky is bright with searchlights.   No damage done.   At 2000 we passed the boom on the way to sea again.   It MAY be safer there.

Lovely and quiet until 1005.   Bombs began to drop from everywhere.   Guns and bombs are making hell between them   Three times they have attacked and dropped dozens of bombs before we drove them off.   They’ll be back soon.   A few minutes ago (1431 to be exact) bombs again began to rain all around us.   Aircraft are dammably high.   It feels as if you are being bullied.   The only thing we can pray for is sunset and darkness.   1840.   Closed up at action stations again. Force is subject to the heaviest bombing raid I have the bad luck to take part in.   HMS Gloucester was hit on the bridge by a bomb which killed 18 including her Captain.   Others were wounded.   Estimate about a dozen heavy raids during the day.   Darkness was a blanket of comfort.   We received an enemy report to say that the enemy Battlefleet were at sea so we increased speed to try and get them.

About 1500 today we were steaming fast towards Italy, Neptune in the lead by a few miles.   We sighted the enemy fleet with a little surprise to ourselves.   We had our mast full of flags passing in reports of the enemy by V/S and W/T.   At our 4 cruisers had only 6” guns and the enemy 6”- 8”: and 12” they opened fire long before we got within range of our guns.   The first Italian salvoe was a perfect straddle on Neptune.   We went straight at them at full speed and soon brought out guns into action.   Then Warspite and 12 destroyers came to the scene.   That made in all – one battleship, 4 cruisers and 12 destroyers (who weren’t firing as they were well out of range) engaging 2 enemy battlement -16 enemy cruisers and 24 enemy destroyers.   C in C ordered the destroyers to go in and deliver a torpedo attack with the cruisers supporting them, but the enemy, although vastly superior in every way, and with every advantage to them “THEY TURNED AND FLED”  but we chased on for some time with the destroyers.   We also sent off torpedo bombers from Eagle and together they disabled a cruiser who was taken in tow.   Warspite hit a battleship with a 15’ shell.   Neptune hit 2 cruisers and a destroyer.   Other cruisers had hits.   By this time the coast of Italy was five miles away and we couldn’t risk going in further, we would come under fire of shore batteries.   Then the Italian Air force arrived.   We kept cruising up and down the Italian coast for two hours waiting for them to come out and continue the fight, but they didn’t want to play.   Instead the aircraft came over in two’s, three’s, four’s, five’s and at times there were ten in a flight.   After being in continual action for over five hours, we steamed away from the coast of Italy.   Although we have fought the Italian Navy and Air force, they did not register a hit throughout the action.

After an almost uncanny peacefulness yesterday, we were bombed again today by a few formations of enemy aircraft.   At 1450, six bombs dropped very close.   After that they came on all day long.   They seem determined to do some damage.   At 1900, two of them came down low.   One of them stayed in the Sea.

At 0853 they started bombing again, coming over 2 and 3 at a time   Up to 1130 we have had 6 raids.   Four of them were directed on Neptune, two on Orion   Bombs fell very close, but so far we have dodged them.   Time is now 1330.   At 1305 we were just steaming along, doing no harm to anyone, when a stick of bombs exploded on our Starboard quarter.   We did not even see the aircraft.   At 1630 we sighted three bombers flying very low.   We opened fire on them, then discovered they were our own planes.   No damage done.

Note: We normally carry just over two thousand rounds of 4inch.   Now, after all these raids in 6 days at sea we have only a couple of hundred left   Hope we get to Alex soon.

After a peaceful weekend in harbour they have started again   About 2300, 20 bombs fell just outside the harbour.   No damage done

At about 2200 we were raided by Italian aircraft, who, for a change dropped incendiary bombs, most of which landed in the town.   One bomb hit a merchant ship in harbour and set her ablaze, but it was soon put out.

Note.   Wish they’d drop some leaflets instead.

In company with the Fleet at sea, we have been subject to very heavy bombing raids.   About 30 bombs were dropped alongside WARSPITE in one heap – No damage done

Received orders to proceed with Sydney under our orders to the CORINTH Islands and to sink Greek Ship THERMOINE who was carrying petrol for Italians.   About 1730 we were caught in the THERMIA STRAIT by a dozen Caproni bombers.   We turned and twisted this way and that, and managed to dodge all attacks.   In the narrow Strait the noise was horrible.   Aircraft made five attacks altogether.   It was damned hot without the bombers, but with them we sweated drops of ink.   At about 2000 we sighted the THERMIONE right ahead and she abandoned ship by signal.   With the crew safely away, we put a few rounds of 4” H.E. in her and the hundred thousand gallons of patrol along with 200 tons of lubricating oil went up in a lovely blaze.

With Sydney, Orion and three destroyers we are covering the Ark Royal and Argus on their trip to Malta.   Today we have been attacked three times by enemy bombers, but they didn’t score any hits.

Note: The constant bombing is getting on our nerves.   Most of these entries are written with a shaky hand, hence the scrawl.   Two men on the Sydney have gone mad and had to be put ashore, but we can still keep smiling.

Neptune Sydney and four destroyers left Alexandria on patrol.   We steamed up past BARDIA, TOBRUK and then turned North towards CRETE.   On the thirteenth we were well towards the East of Crete.   At midnight two torpedoes shaved the paint off our bows.   At about 11am on the 14^th another torpedo just missed the Nubian and slid past us.   We sent two destroyers after the sub.   2000 we re-entered harbour.   Throughout the patrol we did not see a single aircraft.

At about 1700 today we slipped from our buoys in Alex. We have taken all our spare stores aboard and it looks as though we are leaving the Med Station altogether.   We are not even hoping that we are going home as we have been disappointed too many times already.

At 0600 today we arrived at PORT SAID.   Picking up a pilot we proceeded immediately through the SUEZ CANAL.   Although it was terribly hot all the day going through, it was quite interesting looking at different outposts in the desert.   The Canal is 99 miles long and it took us 9 hours to get through.   We arrived at SUEZ at 1600 and took oil water and medical stores onboard   Don’t know who the medical stores are for.   We left SUEZ at 2200 and proceeded into the RED SEA bound for ADEN. Where we are going after that?   Goodness knows.

Steaming at high speed all day through the damned heat, east of SUEZ.   Everything quiet until 2230 when a torpedo passed just astern of us.   We circulated and depth charged and continued.   Suicide to stay in one spot too long.

We arrived at ADEN (Arabia) at about 1130 am. Very disappointed at the place. Wednesday 21 August we sailed from Aden bound for MOMBASA in East Africa.   The first two days out was pretty rough but it cleared by Saturday 24^th.

At 0930 we arrived at MOMBASA. Very nice place and we actually saw some Green fields again “and it rained”.

At about 0930 we sailed from Mombasa, steaming South at high speed, in an attempt to intercept a German Raider.

At 1430 we arrived at DURBAN.   We have now completely circled Africa.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

Italy declared war on June 10^th 1940.

NEPTUNE was then at Alexandria (EGYPT)

NEPTUNE arrived ADEN (ARABIA) Monday August 20^th 1940 leaving Italian war behind.

During those hectic 10 weeks:-

NEPTUNE steamed 15,000 miles, mostly at high speed.

NEPTUNE was in action:-

AGAINST ITALIAN NAVY.

28 June 1940.   Enemy destroyer action off Greece.   Sunk enemy destroyer ESPERO

9 July 1940.   Fleet action off CALABRIA.   Neptune engaged 6inch cruisers GARIBALDI and 8 inch cruiser BOLZARO.

21 June 1940. bombardment of BARDIA.

NEPTUNE destroyed: - MILITARY BARRACKS – MILITARY STORES, PETROL STOCKS.

Times without number at sea and in Alexandria Harbour.

Notes: NEPTUNE intercepted and sank the HERMOINE in the AEGEAN SEA.   She was carrying nearly a quarter of a million gallons of petrol and oil to the Dordecanese.

NEPTUNE FIRED AT THE ITALIANS –

4,413 ROUNDS 4 INCH AMMUNITION

3 Depth Charges.

ITALIANS FIRED AT NEPTUNE –

Over 1,000 shells ranging in calibre from 4 inch to 12.2 inch.

Over 1,000 bombs dropped near (too near)

About 30 Torpedoes.

We passed over one minefield in the Gulf of ADEN.

Three men slightly wounded.

Two aircraft jettisoned

Shrapnel holes

Oil fuel tanks damaged.

About 1530 today one hostile aircraft came towards the Rock to take photographs (presumably). Fire opened by AA guns all over the place and after three attempts she flew away.

 

Our wishes have at last been granted.   We are on the way to England, with the Furious.   Since starting home from Alexandria 60,000 miles and visited – apart from the places previously mentioned –

MAURITIUS – ST. PAULS – KERGUELEN (temperature here 6 degrees below) – CROZETS – AMSTERDAM – LAGOS – VICTORIA MAYUMBRA – GABON – FERNANDO PO – and a few other small places   The trip home to SCAPA FLOW in Scotland was pretty bad and cold but now that we are in England everything is OK.   Greeted outside Chatham by German Dive Bomber.   He was shot down by three spitfires.

 

 

Behind the Admiralty announcement of the loss of cruiser Neptune and the destroyer Kandahar lies the story of the bravery of the captain of another unnamed British destroyer.   The Neptune (7,175 tons) was trying to intercept reinforcements for General Rommel when she ran into a thick minefield, blew up and sank in seconds.   Near her was the Kandahar (1,690 tons) which went at once to the rescue.   She too, ran on the minefield, hit one and was so damaged as to become unnavigable.   For hours the Kandahar drifted.   Enemy aircraft flew over, but did not attack.   Signals of her plight were flashed across the Mediterranean and, despite terrible weather, ice-cold seas and a raging wind – a British destroyer left for the rescue.   The senior naval officer said to me today “The captain of this destroyer and the crew showed outstanding bravery.   The conditions were appalling, yet they managed to save most of the Kandahar’s complement of 183”.   This destroyer also tried to tow the Kandahar, but after a struggle lasting several hours gave up the attempt and sank her.   All the rescue work went on to a sea thickly sown with mines and virtually under the nose of the enemy ashore – Touter.   It is feared writes the Express Naval Report, that the Neptune’s casualty list will be heavy.   Britain has now lost 12 cruisers – including AA ships – and 50 destroyers.

Two British warships – the cruiser Neptune and the destroyer Kandahar – have been sunk by enemy mines in the Mediterranean, the Admiralty announced yesterday.   Neptune was commanded by Captain R.C. O’Connor, R.N.   She had a compliment of 550.   Despair in many homes was turned to hope by the news that some of the ship’s company have been picked up and are prisoners of war.   This comes from enemy sources.   Kandahar Commander W.G. A Robson, D.S.O. D.S. C. RN which was in company with HMS Neptune, was damaged by a mine, and was later sunk by our forces.   The greater part of her ship’s company is safe   Next-of-kin of casualties have been informed.   Neptune (7,000 tons displacement) 6inch gun cruiser of the Leander class, and commissioned in February 1934 was the fifth British warship of that name.

This is a picture of Captain Rory O’Connor, R.N. the captain of the cruiser Neptune, lost in the Mediterranean.   The man with the fighting Irish name has fought his last fight.   For twenty-eight years he had loved the sea and ships and sailor men.   A mine blew his ship up.   For four days he drifted in a lifeboat.   Then he passed on – to join his ship.   And the navy mourns a man sho was a great captain and a very human being   This was a man who never forgot the young men in his Service.   He was a midshipman in 1914.   Five years ago, when he got his captaincy, he was the youngest captain in the Navy.   So he remembered his own youth and put the lessons in a book.   He said that a Commander should turn out with his men in the early morning to wash down the ship.   He said that a Captain should always be accessible. He gave his life to the Navy.   Rory O’Connor was 42 and unmarried   Salute to a great sailor.

 

The following messages were received by the Captain, on the occasion of HMS “Neptune” being ordered home from:

·         Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham. Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet

·         Admiral John C. Tovey. Appointed Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet (formerly Vice-Admiral Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet)

From Admiral Cunningham.

I was very sorry to lose “Neptune” from the Mediterranean Fleet, in which she showed herself to be a highly efficient and well-ordered ship, and I am happy to remember that my flag was hoisted in her when the Italian war was imminent   “Neptune” took part in all the operations against the Italians and conducted a most successful operation herself in the Aegean.   She also had the distinction of being the first ship to report to me that the enemy battle fleet was in sight off Calabria on 9^th July.   You have been away from home a long time, so for all your sakes I am glad you are on your way home now.   I thank you all for your excellent, willing and distinguished service while under my command and I wish you one and all the best of luck in the future and a very happy homecoming.

From Admiral Tovey

I deeply regret that the requirements of secrecy prevented me coming on board to say goodbye to you personally, before you left the Mediterranean. One of the penalties of Flag rank is the difficulty of maintaining close personal touch with those working with you, but I can assure you that my interest and feeling of friendship with those with whom I serve are as deep and sincere as ever.   The “Neptune” proved herself to be as efficient a fighting ship as I could have wished for.   I always knew that, if and when, we went into action, I could be supremely confident that your Captain and you, his officers and men, would give all you had.   I would like to stress that I include every mother’s son on board a ship in war must not only be a good shooting and a good steaming ship, but every department must be up to the highest standard of efficiency, which means that each individual must be; the failure of any one of us may tend to defeat the best efforts of the remainder.   If I may, I will give one word of advice, particularly to the younger ones of you.   However anxious your officers and senior rating may be to help you, whether you make good in life must, as it should depend upon yourselves    One is constantly coming up against some difficulty, occasionally one gets fed up, we have to call on all the “guts” we have got and then we need to have little fear of the result.   Wherever you go and whatever ship you serve in, I know that you “Neptunes” will give me good cause to be proud of having been Squadron mates with you.   Good luck to you and God bless you.

 

A bunch of pups were whooping it up in the old canteen, when through the glass they saw pass, a new entry, verdant green.   

They fetched him within that piercing din, and he found it hard to tell.

whether he’d got to that awful spot that rhymes with Nell so well.

Once in that door he felt still more that he was one more victim; 

when a bump right in the rump some caddish coward kicked him. 

 He looked around, surprised, and found, that everyone was grinning; 

but to that lad ‘twas not so bad, his ‘life’ was just beginning.

With a lusty shout he jumped about, big hairy fists he showed;

the boys all backed with wary tact from those baleful eyes that glowed.  

“Avast” said he, now who kicked me but not a mother’s son would admit the least little bit that he had kicked in fun.

With a deafening roar, out through the door, the boys came flying fast;

they all got licked and duly kicked, the kicker kicked out last.  

Then Typhoon Tim, for it was him, got really under way;

he didn’t roar out through that door but pushed the wall away.  

Without a pause for any doors (his speed was over eighty),

he gave one sock at the nearest block, for that was nothing weighty.

As the terror went past the tallest mast, first shivered, then uprooted;

it split in three, dropped into the sea, so severely was it booted.

Now you may guess the Instructors’ Mess was a place he would have barred;

when I saw it last ‘twas steaming fast by the boat pound, Clarence Yard.  

The remaining blocks piled up like rocks, it was a terrible ruin;

but Typhoon swore he’d kick some more and start some trouble brewin‘.

In some pretext for the Wardroom next, he made a rushing dive;

when he got through I heard it’s true, there was no one left alive.  

Now when his fight was at its height, some spoil-sport comes and robs,

a real good day of Typhoon’s play by simply shouting “Lobs”.

We caught Typhoon, the silly loon, and put him in a cell: 

then chained him down in case he’d drown in the tears that began to swell.

For now he knew as his terror grew that he’d get more than six;

as the Jaunty’s scout was sent straight out to buy up lots of sticks.

Now Typhoon’s cooled, but we were fooled that day when we all ran;

from a boy who’s made the greatest grade, he’s turning out a man.

 

J. Evans (6836) 246 Class