Thread: The Battle of Narvik, Warburton-Lee and the first gazetted VC of the war

Battles of Narvik - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (couldn't find a better description than Wiki, I'm afraid!)

Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - W

* For gallantry, enterprise and daring in command of the force engaged in the First Battle of Narvik, on 10th April, 1940. On being ordered to carry out an attack on Narvik, Captain Warburton-Lee learned that the enemy was holding the place in much greater force than had been thought. He signalled to the Admiralty that six German destroyers and one submarine were there, that the channel might be mined, and that he intended to attack at dawn. The Admiralty replied that he alone could judge whether to attack, and that whatever decision he made would have full support. Captain Warburton-Lee led his flotilla of five destroyers up the fjord in heavy snow-storms, arriving off Narvik just after daybreak. He took the enemy completely by surprise and made three successful attacks on warships and merchantmen in the harbour. As the flotilla withdrew, five enemy destroyers of superior gunpower were encountered and engaged. The Captain was mortally wounded by a shell which hit the bridge of H.M.S. Hardy. His last signal was "Continue to engage the enemy".

A lot of these reports were quite political (with a small 'p') written by the commanders to vindicate their own actions. Good for basic info but not to be relied upon for the full picture.