Diary of Percival Holman Pascoe, 1940-1941 - Part 2

into contact with enemy at 4.30 pm. Four

hours running battle, two escaped under 

cover of smoke screen, third one sunk.

Dark by this time, no chance of catching

the others. Stop & pick up survivors. Picked

up forty eight, many more left in water

so enemy submarine reported in

vicinity so we had to clear out. Left a cutter

with compass & stores for remaining

survivors. Destroyers name R.C.T. "Espero".

Three nara prisoners died on way back

to Alex, buried at sea.

On day after action H.M.S. Dainty, destroyer

sank two enemy subs, in vicinity of our

action.

30.6.40. Meet convoy, which we are to

escort back, off the island of Crete.

First bombing attacks we've had at

sea. Bombs landed about 100 yards

from ship, planes flying very low.

4.7.40. By the look of things we won't

have to go out to sea to have a battle.

By the look of things there's going

to be a nice little battle right

here in Alexandria harbour.

France has fallen & the French

ships here want to go back to France

but England says no. She demands

the surrender of the ships. The French

force consists of one battleship, four

cruisers, two destroyers & a submarine.

We outnumber them four to one but

it will be lively while it lasts, if

they do get stuck into it.

5.7.40. After the news of Oran the

French decide to surrender and

everybody breathes easier.

The French sailors who want to go home

are to be repatriated to a French colony, &

any who wish to stay can live on their

ships f & be paid by the Admiraltly

All ammunition is to be taken off the

ships & all the oil, excepting a few tons

for heating purposes on the ship.

Another air raid over Alex tonight.

no bombs were dropped. In the last raid

a bomb dropped close to the "Protector" a

minelayer, shrapnel went through the

ships side & injured three men.

8.7.40. Out at sea again with the

Fleet & experienced the heaviest bombing

attack yet. It looked as if the "Gloucester"

was hit. At one stage it disappeared in

a cloud of smoke & water, but it came

through allright.

The Italian Fleet is at sea and

we are hoping to meet them.

9.7.40. The Italians he must have been

found out that we're at sea & they raced

for home. Luckily we were between

them & their base & they ran into us.

Our force consisted of three battleships,

five cruisers & seventeen destroyers,

while there's is reported to be two battleships,

ten cruisers, & twenty destroyers.

On sighting us they turned away &

made off, but we gave chase. The Warspite

being the fastest battleship of our force

was soon out in front & we were with

it, the other battleships & cruisers

were behind. We opened fire on a

cruiser and believe to have hit it.

The Warspite damaged a battleship.

Our destroyers went forward to make

a torpedo attack & met the Italian

destroyers, d coming to do the same

to us. On sighting our destroyers as they

went through the smoke screen the

Ities turned & ran for it.

We chased them right into the Straits

of Messina, between Italy & Sicily, When

we turned back we could plainly see

the coastline of Sicily.

10.7.40. Next day, over came the

bombers, dozens of them. They came

over six times in the morning & seventeen

times in the afternoon, twenty three

attacks in one day is not bad going

& believe me we're glad it's over.

11.7.40. Nine torpedo bombers took off

from the Eagle this morning, to carry

out a raid on Messina, the naval base

in Sicily. More bombers today, nearly

as bad as yesterday. We are out of H.E.

shells now, so we're firing practice

ammunition. These explode just like an

ordinary shell but are harmless, they just

make a puff of white smoke.

12.7.40. More bombers again today, but

we're getting closer to harbour.

Gloucester had about fifteen killed the

other day, including Captain Commander

& Navigating Officer.

13.7.40. Arrived in Alex late tonight.

No air raids today, which was a great

relief. We can't stand much more of that

everybodys nerves are nearly gone. We

jump at the slightest stand.

15.7.40. Into dry dock for a couple of

days, it's not long but it's a relief.

18.7.40. Out of dock last night & off again

out to sea with four destroyers this

morning. We're on a contraband control

trip to up in the Gulf of Athens.

19.7.40. At 7.30 this morning it was piped

that two Italian cruisers had been

seen forty miles away so we after

them. Three destroyers were out in front

& they engaged the enemy first. We opened

fire on the leading ship at extreme range

22,000 yards and reduced it to 19,000.

A couple of salvos were seen to strike

it, but it turned away & was out of range

again. We then shifted to the second

cruiser & almost immediately began to

hit it. We were continually reducing

the range and almost every shot was

seen to strike home. Soon she was afire from

stern to stern & as the last salvo hit her in

amidship she stopped. Probably hit in the

Boiler Rm. We left her for the destroyers

to finish off & we chased the other

cruiser. We got a few shots in a couple

of which were seen to hit, but her superior

speed got her away. The destroyers in the

meantime had torpedoed the second ship

which was then abandoned & the survivors

were picked up by the "Havock".

The bombers came over while they were

doing this & a bomb burst alongside the

Havock, but only one casualty was

sustained.

The cruiser was the "Bartolomeo Colleoni"

& the one that escaped was the Bano

"Giovanni della Banda Nere".

We had opened fire at 8.30 & by 9.30

it was all over.

We were bombed for the rest of the

day but not very bad.

20.7.40. Arrived back in Alex. received

a wonderful reception from the Fleet

as we steamed into harbour.

To celebrate the occasion we were

issued with an extra half an ounce of

butter per man.

26.7.40. Off to sea again with the

Fleet.

28.7.40. Orion, Neptune & us have been

detached from the rest of the fleet and

are going up the Aegean Sea to contact

a Greek ship suspected of carrying

petrol to the Italian air bases in the

Dodecanese Islands.

29.7.40. Caught up with tanker & Neptune

opened fire on her & exploded her cargo.

10.8.40. At sea again probably on our

usual run to Crete.

14.8.40. Going through Kaso Straits

at 1.30am tomorrow, that means

action stations all night. Very dangerous

waters, we have to run the gauntlet

passed of motor torpedo boats from

the Dodecanese.

15.8.40. Back in Alex again tonight.

nothing happened while coming

through Kaso.

23.8.40. Proceeding to provide cover

for gunboat & destroyers which are

going to bombard Bardia.

24.8.40. Met destroyer & escorted

them back to Alex.

29.8.40. Destroyers in harbour.

embarked soldiers tonight so it looks

as if something is coming off.

30.8.40. Whole fleet at sea. Providing

cover for destroyers proceeding to

Malta with soldiers.

1.9.40. Enemy force at sea, a long

way off but headed towards us.

Enemy Fleet turned and making for