Part of the
Acorn Archive
Hearts of Oak
Dad’s Diary 1941
Transcribed
by Sue Twyman
proud
daughter of
Lt Philip
Bray R.N. [1912 –1988]
HMS Aurora - 1941
Diary
Entries
September
1941 October 1941
September 2nd
1941
A very cold day-never knew it could be so cold and
ice is everywhere. Clouds only about fifty feet above the sea which is still
very calm.
At 6am we got up anchor and left Advent Fiord and arrived
at Isfiord at 8-30 this morning. The Empress
of Canada and Nigeria had
already arrived back from Russia this morning. We tied up alongside Empress of
Canada and she made us look small! We transferred all loot on board her- over
250 tons of it! Over a thousand or so Norwegian men and women were sent aboard
her too- for passage to England.
We left the Empress of Canada at tea time and
anchored close by. So we are now waiting for this time tomorrow to sail for
Scapa.
September 3rd
1941
A very, very cold day. Temperature well below
freezing point- unbearable. Have put on extra clothing. I like to feel alive
and shivering helps one do that! A calm day but cloudy.
We have all prepared to leave Spitzbergen for good
tonight.
At 10 o’clock we blew up 3 large barges, and we set
fire to the last town here. Flames are hundreds of feet high, and there will be
nothing left.
We steamed out of here an hour after this, and now
we are out of harbour. We do not know where we are going, but I think we have
another job to do before we get back to Scapa on Sunday. I hope its to blow
Hammerfest to bits.
September 4th
1941
We were about 200 miles SW of Spitzbergen when I
woke up this morning. Sea was rather rough but it is a little warmer now. We steered
SW all day, and a few moments ago at midnight we left the Empress of Canada and turned back again, and now we are going NE at
very high speed 25K.
The Commander has just told us we have another job
to do before we go back to Scapa- but we do not know what it is yet. But I
think it will be a red hot one, a bombardment or something like that. Know more
about it tomorrow. It seems Aurora
is the only damn ship in the Navy lately and we are all just about fed up with
everything. My nerves feel on edge always now.
September 5th
1941
We went high speed all night until at 6 this morning
we sighted our oil tanker and we oiled from her and so did Nigeria. We left her
at lunch time and been steaming NE all day at moderate speed.
The Captain spoke to us today and told us that
during the next two or three days, we are going to sink enemy merchant ships
off the very North Coast of Norway. We shall be right under the Nazi noses
again- and it seems we shall not get away without being bombed a lot this time.
So we have a red hot time to come! But we need it-
we feel so fed up.
September 6th
1941 Battle of North Cape
Very good day and severe cold—went NE all day
towards North Coast of Norway. At 10 O’clock tonight we sighted the Coast and
went to action stations right away. Captain has offered five pounds to the
first person to bring down the first enemy plane. At midnight just now we are
only 5 miles from the coast, and we are standing by for action.
Since writing my last sentence we have been into
action with the enemy for an hour or more. We first sighted 2 enemy destroyers
and several other ships and we chased them into a fiord. At 2 o’clock we opened
fire on the destroyers with every gun we have, and they fired back at us, but
although close, they missed. This went on for some time and got very exciting,
until we blew one of the destroyers to pieces, and we hit the other badly.
(Hood avenged!)
We also probably sunk several merchant ships who
were in the convoy, but I’ll know more tomorrow.
We have just been in action again, and Nigeria who is with us, with Vian on
board, rammed one ship. Nigeria is now damaged too—so we are only doing slow
speed. We badly damaged an Anti Aircraft Cruiser, and an escort vessel, and
trawler, and sunk a big oil tanker,--this is as far as we can find out yet. It
is now 4 o’clock, had no sleep yet, so here goes.
4 O’clock
Have just found out that we had two shells hit us.
One through the after funnel and one burst on a 4inch gun shield, but no one
hurt.
Aurora has done her stuff at last—and
it was something to be proud of ---right inside the enemy’s front door!!
Tomorrow we shall have their air-force after us. We sank our destroyer at 200
hundred yards range!
September 7th
1941
Sea rough today as we steamed W, away from where our
battle had been. The speed we are doing now is only 18knots and seems we are
making for Iceland owing to the Nigeria
being damaged. Wish it was us, then we would go into dock—but surely we have
earned some leave now!
We had a signal from Admiral Vian today, congratulating us---the Aurora—on being so successful in the battle. The result was that we
did all the sinking, and Nigeria only got the damage!
And so Aurora
sunk one destroyer called the Bremse.
We also sunk two armed trawlers, and one large escort vessel. We had several
hits with our 6inch guns on a second enemy destroyer and badly damaged an oil
tanker. So we all think we did well. Hope it is given out on the news, then
Ethel (wife) will know Aurora has at
last done something glorious.
My feelings during the battle were at their pitch.
We were hit by shells twice and also by plenty of machine gun bullets---no
casualties.
Enemy aircraft were looking for us today, but did
not find us at all, and so now we are looking out for submarines. We have
steamed 40,000 miles since May.
I shall never forget last
night!
September 9th
1941
Sea a lot calmer today and it is getting a lot
warmer. We altered course for Scapa in the early hours of this morning, so we
shall not touch Iceland. We are due to arrive at Scapa tomorrow night.
We have had to keep a good watch for U-boats as
there are some in this vicinity. We are now 300 miles from Scapa.
During the past 3 weeks alone we have steamed over
7,00 miles—and we all feel proud of the things we have done.
The BBC told of our Spitzbergen exploits over the
news today, but we who did all the stuff got no credit, Canadians got that. In
the 9 o’clock news the world was informed of our daring exploits the other
night. And the Germans also confirmed the ships we sank.
Aurora was not mentioned in the
broadcast---it said Admiral Vian forces, and I wonder if Ethel (wife) knew it
was us!
So now officially we know that this ship Aurora, alone sank the Bremse and three more in less than an
hour! The Nigeria with Vian on board
did not get a chance to do much. But Admiral Vian sent us a signal today
saying, “The Aurora was certainly out
for blood, and I heartily congratulate you all in executing the Nazis as you
did”.
The enemy of that night will always be with me, the
poor devils didn’t stand a chance against us! How that ship blew up in front of
my eyes, only 200 yds away!
I did not feel any fear, not even as the shells came
at us—but I could not think clearly about it until now.
So Aurora has
earned her glory at last
I feel as though the war is altering me in lots of
ways—it is hell sometimes!
I long for a real sleep at night.
September 10th
1941
A rather rough day. Two Catalina aircraft and two
destroyers met us at 8 this morning to escort us back to Scapa. We arrived and
anchored in the same old place at half past eight tonight. Expected some mail
but have to wait till tomorrow for it. How I will love having it.
Have just heard that we may have to go out after the
German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer
September 12th
1941
A warm day and sea calm. Nothing out of the ordinary
happened, except that Admiral Vian came on board and told us how proud he was
of Aurora doing her stuff. Told us he was sorry we cannot have any leave yet,
as we deserved. How my heart sank.
The C in C of Home Fleet signaled us, and told us we
had done a good job.
The Nigeria who did the job with us, and got
damaged, is going into dock today, and they are all going on leave, and so we
get nothing for sinking 4 warships!
(Note.
These guys had not been on leave since May)
September15th
1941
A better day, sunshine came this afternoon for an
hour or so, and I ‘dreamed’ in it on the upper bridge. Same old working day, we
replaced ammunition which we fired in our last battle. Boilers still being
cleaned, they have been over worked.
Captain gave a lecture to ships company today,
explaining why he did this and that when we sank those four ships. It is now
known that the damage to the Nigeria, Vian’s flagship, was caused by ramming
and cutting a U boat in two on the surface—so that comes in our score too.
Wireless described the battle today, but did not
mention that it was the Aurora that did it all.
No mail today!
September25th
1941
Sea very rough and all of our ships had to turn back
or we would have smashed everything.Felt rather ill and did not eat until
suppertime. How I’d love Ethel’s cooking now
We arrived at Iceland and anchored in Hualfiord at
teatime. There are some big USA ships here. Apparently we stay here some days,
while our Admiral (Tovey) has a conference with the Yanks.
We went alongside King George V at suppertime and
had a look around her- what a floating palace compared with this little tub.
They have had a weeks leave!! Everyone has had some except us by the sound of
it!
September 28th
1941
A better day, storm died down and not much wind. Our
chaps fished all the afternoon and caught quite a lot.
This morning some big battleships and aircraft
carriers of the USA came here and now the number of ships in the fiord is
amazing, and such a powerful lot. I think it may have something to do with
America abandoning the Neutrality Act and I feel sure she will do so at
sometime in the coming week---hope so.
How I do long to have just one night ashore, to get
drunk perhaps and forget everything.
There are now 90 ships here all told.
September 30th
1941
A nice day and a little sunshine—but cold.
Still no news of going back to Scapa—may be waiting
here to catch the Bismark’s sister
ship Tirpitz. Would be glad if we
could, it would make a change to have a spot of fighting now. When will we get
a night ashore.
October 4th
1941
Rather rough today. At last we are on the move, for
we sailed away from Hualfiord? with the KG5
and Victorious and destroyers at
lunchtime. And we are now on our way to Seydis Fiord.
This evening aircraft of Victorious carried out a dummy torpedo attack on us—but it was
rather poor.
Captain broadcast to us the full story of how the Bismark was sunk, from the Nazi
prisoners reports when interrogated—so now we know what happened in Bismark. Our own ship was mentioned a
lot in this story.
We left the K.G.5
and Victorious at 5pm and we are
going alone. Passed heaps of wreckage from a sunken ship at 7pm, and we are
keeping a good look out for U boats, as this is their hunting ground, and we have
no protection against them.
Hope so much we shall go back to Scapa and then I’ll
have her letters again.
October 12th
1941
I feel too unhappy and despondent to write much for we
sailed at 8 O’clock this morning for Gibraltar. Oh my dear Ethel I shall not
see you for ages now. Had no time to let you know.
October16th
1941
A nice day, sea flat calm, but makes us liable for U
boat attack. Steamed South all day except for few maneuvers with the Penelope
our sister ship, who is with us on this job.
It has got very hot and uncomfortable, and we shall
be glad to get into Gibraltar.
The decks were painted black today, so that Italian
aircraft will not spot us so easily.
October 17th
1941
Another nice day and sun is very hot. Continued
south all day with a few maneuvers here and there. We are in a very hot spot
because of U boats but have sighted nothing – hope our luck holds good!
We go into white hats tomorrow.
Heard a rumour today, that from Gib’ we go onto
Malta---if so shall see Fred and Kath (sister-in-law and husband serving in
British Army Malta)
This is the worst secret trip we have done so far,
and the Captain doesn’t even know what we are to do until we get to Gib’
tomorrow.
October 18th
1941
A very hot day but sea calm. We steered South all
day at high speed. This evening at 5 O’clock we sighted an enemy U boat on the
surface, but although quite close, neither she or us attacked.
The Captain told us today, that so secret is our
present mission, that we would have no communication with the shore at all in
Gib’.
We arrive at Gib’ at 10 O’clock this evening, and we
are now taking oil and stores on board. Stores consist of ammunition, guns and
torpedoes!! What are we going to do!!
It’s a dark night, but the Rock is lit up as if it
were peace time. Lads are working all night tonight.
Well, one phase of our journey is finished, and we
have just completed 3,000 miles in 7days. From the North Pole—Spitzbergen—to
Gib’---what a contrast in a month.
October 19th
1941
A very hot day. We worked all night last night
getting guns and torpedoes on board. Had no sleep at all. Then we left
Gibraltar at 5am, before dawn, for Malta. And now we are steaming in company with
Penelope and two destroyers, towards Malta.
The Captain has told us we shall almost definitely
be attacked heavily tomorrow—by German planes—I do not mind much as it will
make a change for us. What does tomorrow hold for us.
October 20th
1941
A very hot day and a calm sea—blue—we steamed
towards Malta all day at very high speed—but we were shadowed by an Italian
bomber, but it did not attack us. Curiously enough the expected air attack did
not develop.
Early in evening it got dark and we went to “action
stations”, and had to remain awake all night.
At midnight we passed Tunis with only a mile off it!
At 2am we passed the heavily fortified island of Pantilarria—within 5miles of
it—but we were not seen by the Italians.
A rather hard day and feel tired.
October 21st
1941 2.30am Aurora arrives in the Med
The hottest day I’ve known—but feel it as we have
come from Spitzbergen to here!
Arrived at Grand Harbour in Malta at 9am. Malta had
4 hour raid last night—as can be seen! We had 3 red warnings today so far, but
nothing happened—it will.
Hate the sight of the place—never dreamed I would
see it again.
Dress now in whites and today issued with tropical
clothes—does this mean we are going further east? First sleep in my hammock for
11 nights. We have come 4,000 miles from Scapa now!
October 22nd
1941
A very hot day. Went ashore at 10am and after a good
hunt round found Fred and Kath in Sleima. They were overjoyed to see me and
Jonesy and made us feel very, very welcome, and we all had good long chat.
I went from Kath’s at 7 o’clock and got as tight as
I could on whisky—by myself—but still I feel most unhappy, and it looks as if
we are going to stay out here now. What a dirty trick to send us out here with
no leave.
Italian plane came down in flames this afternoon—big
raid here, and town has caught it bad!
How I wish to be with her (wife) again.
October 25th
1941
Still laying alongside jetty in Grand Harbour.
At dinner time 4 Italian planes came over to attack
the ship, as we are the only ones here. They dropped a stick of bombs very
close to us, and hit a dockyard factory. Couple were shot down.
At 6o’clock this evening we sailed towards Benghazi
to intercept and sink 3 Italian destroyers, but after doing high speed and at
“action station” all night, we did not find them. I feel so disappointed as I
was looking forward to the action. Now we are on our way back to Malta at high
speed.
Raymond Forward
Thanks to Sue Twyman