Tribute that had to wait 68 years

ROYAL Navy warships have taken part in a ceremony to honour the crew of a destroyer, the wreck of which was finally found 68 years after she was sunk during the Second World War.

The location of HMS Hunter had remained a mystery until a minehunter found her in a Norwegian fjord during a training operation last week. She was discovered 1,000ft down at the site of the Battle of Narvik, where she was attacked by a German destroyer on 10 April, 1940.

A procession of ships led by Flagship HMS Albion, and including HMS Bulwark and HMS Cornwall, held a formal memorial service, with synchronised ceremonies on deck. They then turned in formation and steamed over the wreck.

The 110 who perished on HMS Hunter were toasted in the traditional Royal Navy way, with a tot of rum poured over the side.

Two of the youngest crew on HMS Albion, Joe George, an engineering technician, and Yasmin Thornton, a warfare specialist, who are both 17, dropped a wreath over the side on behalf of the ship's company.

HMS Albion used signal flags to show the last order of Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee, the commander of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, who commanded HMS Hardy and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the first of the war. It read: "Continue engaging the enemy."

As the Royal Navy sailed away from the fjord on Saturday, it signalled back in Morse code: "Farewell, we'll meet again."

The wreck of HMS Hunter was discovered by a Norwegian minehunter participating in Armatura Borealis, a multinational exercise off the north-west of Norway, when its echo sounder revealed the sunken vessel. And that was a great relief to survivors of the sinking.

John Hague, now 87, from Manchester, was serving below decks when the ship began to tilt and he realised she had been hit.

He leapt into the icy seas, along with many colleagues, and trod water in blizzard conditions until a German ship arrived and picked up survivors.

He said: "I am so pleased and overwhelmed to know that, after so many years, HMS Hunter has been found and my fellow shipmates have a known resting place.

"I'm so sorry not to be able to go to the wreath-laying, but I will be spending a quiet time at home with my family and thoughts. Also, my daughter in Cornwall will be laying flowers at sea for me, dedicated to my shipmates."

Another survivor, James Renshaw, 89, said: "I have spent all my life wondering where she was and what had happened to her.

"It's unbelievable to know she has been found. It just doesn't seem real. I'm shocked. It is upsetting, but for me the chapter will never close until I see evidence she is down there.

"I lost 100 friends and 'family' members when she went down. Not a day has passed that I have not thought about her and people we left behind."

Fred Ward, 88, said: "I have mixed emotions about the events from over 68 years ago and the loss of so many of my friends. I have a great sense of relief knowing the final resting place of my comrades."

BATTLE OF NARVIK

BRITISH ships were sent to the remote port of Narvik during the German invasion of Norway with orders to prevent enemy forces from landing.

The British entered the harbour early on the morning of 10 April, 1940, and sank two German destroyers and six merchant ships.

However, a further five German destroyers were at anchor in other fjords, and they attacked the British flotilla, killing Captain Warburton-Lee, destroying his flagship, HMS Hardy, sinking HMS Hunter and damaging two other ships.

HMS Hunter, an 1,880-tonne H-class destroyer, sank at 5:30am.

Of the estimated 145 crew on board, 110 lost their lives.

The battle resulted in the first Victoria Cross of the war being awarded posthumously to Capt Warburton-Lee.