VICTORIA CROSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1943, Page 3

VICTORIA CROSS

AWARDED TO CAPTAIN SHERBROOKE VALIANT DEFENCE OF CONVOY. BOUND FOR NORTH RUSSIA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, January 12. The award af the Victoria Cross to Captain Robert Sherbrooke, of the destroyer Onslow, is announced in the “London Gazette.” The ofcial citation states that Captain Sherbrooke, in the Onslow, was senior officer in command of the destroyers ( escorting an important convoy, w bound for North Russia, which as enemy force was atempting to destroy. Captain Sherbrooke led the destroyers into the attack and closed with the enemy. Four times the enemy tried to attack the convoy, but he was forced each time to withdraw, behind a smoke-screen, to avoid the threat of torpedoes, and each time Captain Sherbrooke pursued him outside gun range of the convoy and towards our covering forces. These engagements lasted for about two hours, but after the first forty minutes the Onslow was hit and Captain Sherbrooke was seriously wounded in the face and temporarily lost the use of ope eye. Nevertheless he continued to direct the ships under his command until further hits on his own ship compelled him to disengage, but not until he was satisfied that the next senior officer had assumed control. It was only then that he agreed to leave the bridge for medical attention, and until the convoy was out of danger he insisted on receiving all reports on the action. His courage, fortitude, cool and prompt decisions inspired all around him and by his leadership and example the convoy was saved from damage and brought safely to its destination. - 1