HMS Jervis Bay and the Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer

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Captain. Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen. Victoria Cross.
The hero of the action between HMS Jervis Bay and the German Admiral Scheer

HMS Jervis Bay

The sacrifice of HMS Jervis Bay.
Jervis Bay was built at Vickers Ltd at Barrow in Furness in 1922, originally to carry emigrants across the world to Australia, this passenger ship was requisitioned by the Admiralty in September 1939. The 14,164 ton ship to become HMS Jervis Bay, an Armed Merchant Cruiser mounting 7 by 6 inch guns of WW1 vintage, and 2 by 3 inch AA guns. Her speed, a modest 15 knots.

Convoy HX 84, Halifax to UK.
Jervis Bay sailed out of Halifax, the sole escort for 38 ships forming Convoy HX 84, on the 28th. of October 1940. In the Geman pocket battleship Admiral Scheer, her Captain Krancke, with his ship's 11 inch guns had learned through Naval intelligence that HX 84 was on its way, and his ship stood directly in their path.

German Admiral Scheer

On the morning of the 5th. of November the ship's Arado aircraft on a scouting flight sighted the convoy, but lookouts afloat did not spot this plane, which scurried back home to report its find.
Now Admiral Scheer ran into the 6,000 ton banana ship SS Mopan, it was essential that she was silenced before she could raise the alarm and warn the nearby convoy. Scheer used a signal lamp to order this ship to stop, and maintain radio silence, she suprisingly obliged, her crew to be taken off, and the ship consigned to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Now lookouts in Jervis Bay sighted an unknown ship, and Captain Fegan had his signalman send off, What Ship? Of course no response, so the question was repeated as he was expecting to soon join up with his ocean escort.
At 1730 ( 5. 30 PM ) the unidentified ship turned broadside on, about 8 miles away, and then opened fire, this salvo falling close to Jervis Bay.

Officers of the ill fated HMS Jervis Bay, sunk by the German pocket battleship Admiral Sheer 5th. of November 1940

Convoy ordered to scatter.
Now the danger was apparent, Kennedy ordered his charges to scatter, dropped smoke floats trying to obscure the target from the German gunners. The AMC opened fire with her forward 6 inch guns, but this obsolete armament was still out of range, a German salvo struck the fore part of Jervis Bay , now her bridge was hit, destroying her gunnery control, and the Captain lost an arm.
The ship, mortally stricken was starting to sink by her bow, it was time to leave as "Abandon Ship" was ordered. The AMC quickly sank into the dark depths of the grim Atlantic Ocean, taking 187 crew members including the Captain with her. It was all over in about 22 minutes, but she had won time for the bulk of the convoy to escape, Sheer sank a further 5 of the convoy ships, but the Swedish ship Stureholm risking her own safety, stopped to collect 65 sailors from Jervis Bay. Unfortunately this brave ship was herself sunk by U-Boat U-96 on the 15th. of December 1940.
Fegan was awarded a posthumousVictory Cross for his gallant fight and sacrifice which saved many of Convoy HX 84.

[Hugh]

Captain Fegen was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross as a result of this action. The citation for the Victoria Cross reads:

"Valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty to protect."

Regards

[Adrian Roberts]

Have you seen the film "San Demetrious, London"?

Made in 1943, this is the true story of a ship of this convoy, the tanker San Demetrious, which was very severely damaged and abandoned by her crew. The next morning, the some of the crew spotted a ship from their lifeboat and realised that it was their own vessel, still afloat. They reboarded her, and despite damage, managed to limp back to England.

The film does show the sacrifice of "Jervis Bay". Model-work of course, but pretty effective for the time.

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Originally Posted by Adrian Roberts

Have you seen the film "San Demetrious, London"?

Made in 1943, this is the true story of a ship of this convoy, the tanker San Demetrious, which was very severely damaged and abandoned by her crew. The next morning, the some of the crew spotted a ship from their lifeboat and realised that it was their own vessel, still afloat. They reboarded her, and despite damage, managed to limp back to England.

The film does show the sacrifice of "Jervis Bay". Model-work of course, but pretty effective for the time.

Hi Adam,

Great pick up! I was wondering if anyone would make the association.

"San Demetrio London" is the name and "my friend" Kyt chased up a DVD for me from E-Bay (Copied version) for under three pounds as the movie is now out of copyright.

The only "real" copies available were selling for $95.00 on VHS.

The movie is great and it was good to see the crew also received the salvage money as the Captain was picked up by another ship and did not re-board San Demetrio.

[Adrian Roberts]

I have a copy on video that I recorded from the TV.

I must admit I didn't pick up on the significance of why the crew got the salvage money - that if the Captain had reboarded it wouldn't have been salvage. But at least their wages would have continued.

Adrian

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Originally Posted by Adrian Roberts

I have a copy on video that I recorded from the TV.

I must admit I didn't pick up on the significance of why the crew got the salvage money - that if the Captain had reboarded it wouldn't have been salvage. But at least their wages would have continued.

Adrian

We have been discussing that pay issue with Hugh one of the MN/MM threads.