LAST BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1942, Page 3

LAST BATTLE

OF THREE BRITISH DESTROYERS. TREMENDOUS AIR ATTACKS IN MEDITERRANEAN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 13. Survivors from the three British destroyers lost in one of the fiercest air attacks yet seen in the Mediterranean were landed at Alexandria today, according to an agency correspondent with the Fleet. Some of them had twice within a few hours been on vessels which were sunk. Those saved include Commander Jellicoe, nephew of the famous admiral. Commander Jellicoe had been in temporary command of the Jackal. Though wounded he remained on the bridge directing operations and he was the last to leave the ship. At least one destroyer went down with guns blazing. , . ~ Most of the survivors owe their lives to the skill of the captain of the Jarvis, who brought his ship alongside the burning Jackal in pitch darkness. This enabled some 500 survivors from the three destroyers to walk to safety. Lying in bed in hospital, two survivors of the Jackal said that they were savagely attacked for four hours. Three waves of 10, 12, ' and 15 planes, including Messerschmitts and Junkers, came from all directions. The ships were steaming in a diamond formation, full out, between Libya and Crete, when the first was attacked. The Lively was twice hit, but continued at full speed, turned on its side and sank within four minutes. The Jarvis and Kipling stopped to pick up the survivors, many of whom were killed when a stick of bombs fell in the water. Others suffered concussion. The Kipling was hit at 6 p.m., being buckled amidships. She floated on her side for some time before she sank. Many of the Lively’s survivors were killed when the Kipling was hit. The Jarvis picked up the Kipling survivors, sorne of whom had been two hours in the'water. . The final waves of attacking planes disabled the Jackal, starting'a fire in the boiler-room, but she continued firing. The Jarvis was not hit, but experienced near-misses. She towed the Jackal. Later she edged alongside and took off the crew and survivors from the other destroyers, in the glow of the Jackal’s/fire which was now uncontrollable. Finally, the Jarvis sank the Jackal with torpedoes.