The Gathering Storm, page 80
Altogether this paper, which is most interesting, gives me the impression of being written by someone high up in the Munitions Department of Germany, who naturally thinks in terms only of shell. Shell is very important, and we are not likely to have too much of it, but there is not the slightest reason for supposing that unlimited artillery ammunition can win victory on a great scale in modern war. The transportation of the ammunition to the guns in the various phases of the battle remains, as heretofore, the limiting factor upon the artillery.
First Lord to Admiral Somerville
21.IV.40
Pray give me a short note upon the present position of R.D.F. so far as it concerns the navy and coast defence, showing weak points and anything you wish done to remedy them.
First Lord to First Sea Lord and VCNS
25.IV.40
The reason why I am worrying about these mine fields on the approaches to Narvik is that now Warspite has quitted, and we have an uncocked-up ship in Resolution only, this ship might be at a disadvantage in range should Scharnhorst or Gneisenau turn up one fine morning. Perhaps however it is possible to shelter in a fiord so as to avoid long-range fire, and force action at reduced ranges, or perhaps Resolution could be careened. Anyhow, I think it indispensable that we should reach certainty so far as the defence of Narvik from a surface raid is concerned. [109]
(Action this Day)
First Lord to First Sea Lord and others
28.IV.40
In view of the bad reports from the Faroes about aircraft or seaplane bases and the fact we must reckon with the Germans all along the Norwegian coast, it seems indispensable that we have a base in Iceland for our flying boats and for oiling the ships on the Northern Patrol. Let a case be prepared for submission to the Foreign Office. The sooner we let the Icelanders know that this is what we require the better. [110]
First Lord to Sir James Lithgow and Controller
30.IV.40
These figures of our shipping gains from the German aggression against Norway and Denmark amount roughly to 750 ships, aggregating 3,000,000 tons. The effect of this upon our shipping and shipbuilding position requires to be considered. Clearly, we have obtained an easement we never foresaw when we embarked upon our present programme. I should be glad to know your reaction, and in particular how the latest paper prepared by Sir James Lithgow is affected.
Some Questions about Personnel
First Lord to First Sea Lord, Second Sea Lord, and Secretary
18.IX.39
I have just approved the message to the Northern Patrol.
About the Newfoundland fishermen: the boatwork of the Newfoundlanders was an important thing to render this effective in the stormy winter months. These men are the hardiest and most skilful boatmen in rough seas who exist. They long for employment. Please propose me measures at once to raise one thousand RNVR in Newfoundland; drafting the necessary letter to the Dominions Office and outlining terms and conditions. They have nothing to learn about the sea, but almost immediately some method of training and discipline could be brought into play. In ten days at the outside this should be working in Newfoundland.
First Lord to Second Sea Lord
21.IX.39
In conversation with the commander-in-chief, Home Fleet, I have promised to look into the question of providing a theatre and cinema ship for the Home Fleet and Northern Patrol at Scapa.
I think it much more desirable to use a ship than shore facilities. I have in mind the arrangements made for the Grand Fleet during the last war, when SS Gurko was used.
The ship should contain a large NAAFI shop as well as cinema and theatrical facilities, and possibly could be combined with a refrigerator storage ship.
Pray let me have your plans for implementing this most important adjunct of naval life at Scapa.
First Lord to Second Sea Lord and Secretary (Secret)
29.IX.39
Leakage of Information
This is a proposal to dismiss from the Royal Navy, without trial, without formulating a charge, or even questioning, a petty officer who is identified with half-a-dozen of the same name by the fact that he has very white teeth, and who is reported to have been at a dinner at some unspecified date at which presumably indiscreet talk occurred. There is no suggestion that he was paid money, or that there was any treasonable intention. I do not find in these papers the slightest evidence that could be adduced before any court against this man, nor does the director of public prosecutions. Yet, without being given any chance of defending himself, he is to be cast from the service at the outset of a great war, with the kind of suspicion hanging over him for the rest of his life of having been a spy or a traitor.
Such processes cannot be allowed. If it is thought worthwhile to pursue these not very serious though annoying leakages into the sphere of penal action, the man must plainly be charged with some definite offence known to the Naval Discipline Act and brought before a court martial which can alone pronounce upon his guilt or innocence.
With regard to the dockyard employees and others, against whom the evidence is also vague and flimsy, no such procedure is necessary. It might perhaps be permissible, as a matter of administration, to move them about a little.
First Lord to Secretary
4.X.39
Let me have a list at once of the branches to which promotion from the lower deck still does not apply. What proportion do these branches bear to the other branches?
First Lord to Second Sea Lord, Parliamentary Secretary and Secretary
7.X.39
Will you kindly explain to me the reasons which debar individuals in certain branches from rising by merit to commissioned rank? If a cook may rise, or a steward, why not an electrical artificer or an ordnance rating or a shipwright? If a telegraphist may rise, why not a painter? Apparently there is no difficulty about painters rising in Germany!
First Lord to Secretary
7.X.39
Admirals of the Fleet
This matter does not require verbal treatment. Kindly draft Minutes f.m.s. [for my signature] to First and Second Sea Lords in the sense of surmounting the difficulties. I am very clear that the admirals of the fleet should remain on the Active List like field marshals, and should not be penalized for winning promotion unduly young. You might explain to the Treasury privately that no money is involved. What is the value of being made admiral of the fleet if it is only to hoist the Union flag for one day and retire to Cheltenham, writing occasional letters to The Times?
First Lord to Second Sea Lord and others concerned and Secretary
14.X.39
There must be no discrimination on grounds of race or colour [in the employment of Indians or colonial natives in the Royal Navy]. In practice much inconvenience would arise if this theoretical equality had many examples. Each case must be judged on its merits, from the point of view of smooth administration. I cannot see any objection to Indians serving on H.M. ships where they are qualified and needed, or, if their virtues so deserve, rising to be admirals of the fleet. But not too many of them, please.
First Lord to First Sea Lord
24.X.39
I see no reason to suspend these enlistments or bar the navy door to the dominions in time of war. Most particularly am I concerned with Newfoundland, about which I have given special directions. The Newfoundlanders are certainly not to be “left to find their own way to this country” from Newfoundland. Care and pains are to be taken to recruit, train and convey to the United Kingdom as many as possible. I hope we shall get one thousand. I understand this is in progress, and let me have a report saying exactly what is being done in Newfoundland.
With regard to the other dominions, suitable enlistments should be accepted whether for hostilities only or for permanent service. These ratings can be trained at the naval ports in the dominions: at Sydney, at Halifax and Esquimalt, and at Simonstown. Opportunity will then be given to transport the men in batches to this country or draft them on to His Majesty’s ships visiting the dominions.
Pray let a scheme on these lines be put forward with a view to surmounting the difficulties.
First Lord to Naval Secretary and others concerned
19.XII.39
“Salmon’s” War Patrol Narrative
I am in entire accord with the Second Sea Lord’s Minute of yesterday. I shall be most willing to concur in the promotion and honours proposed, both to the officers and to the men. I await the proposals of the Sea Lords in respect of the promotion. Naval secretary should prepare submissions for the Honours to the King, and, if possible, these should be published, both as to officers and men, before the Salmon sails again. Perhaps His Majesty would like himself to see the officer (Lieutenant Commander Bickford), and conclude the audience by pinning on the DSO Naval secretary might find out what they think about this at the palace. It seems probable that similar, though not necessarily the same, awards will be required in the case of the commander of the Ursula, and here again the crew must participate. Every effort must be made to announce the awards to the men at the same time as the officers. The whole of this should be put through in forty-eight hours at the latest.
First Lord to Fourth Sea Lord
12.XII.39
I am told that the minesweeper men have no badge. If this is so, it must be remedied at once. I have asked Mr. Bracken to call for designs from Sir Kenneth Clark within one week, after which production must begin with the greatest speed, and distribution as the deliveries come to hand.
Special Entry Cadetship
8.II.40
It seems very difficult to understand why this candidate should have been so decisively rejected in view of his high educational qualifications, his service connections, and his record as set out by his father in his letter of January 4. One has to be particularly careful that class prejudice does not enter into these decisions, and, unless some better reasons are given to me I shall have to ask my naval secretary to interview the boy on my behalf, before assuming responsibility for writing to his father as proposed.
First Lord to Secretary
25.II.40
Candidate for the Navy Entrance Examination, November 1939, Who Failed
I do not at all mind “going behind the opinion of a board duly constituted,” or even changing the board or its chairman if I think injustice has been done. How long is it since this board was re-modelled? I could not help being unfavourably struck with the aspect of the Dartmouth cadets whom I saw marching by the other day. On the other hand I was enormously impressed with the candidates for commission from the ranks who I saw drilling and being trained on the parade ground at Portsmouth. They were of course much older, but a far finer-looking type.
Not only shall my naval secretary see the boy, but I shall hope to have time to see him myself. Who are the naval representatives on the board of selection? Naval officers should be well represented.
Action accordingly.
Let me have a list of the whole board—with the full records of each member and the date of his appointment.
First Lord to First Sea Lord and DCNS
25.II.40
I should like Salmon to go to Devonport as you suggested as an extra practice submarine for a few months after the severe and distinguished service she has rendered. There would be advantages in having Commander Bickford in the Plans Division of the Admiralty for, say six months, in order to bring them in close and direct contact with the very latest conditions prevailing in Heligoland Bight. This officer seems to me very able, and he has many things today about anti-U-boat warfare which I trust will be gathered at the earliest opportunity.
2. Is there any reason why Ursula should not go, on escort to the Norwegian convoy?
3. There may be other vessels which RAS (Rear Admiral Submarines) would say have also had heavy strain. Perhaps this might be looked into later.
4. If the war were general and everybody engaged to the hilt there would be no need to consider these variations of duty. But considering that the peculiar brunt falls upon very few at the present time, and that nothing is comparable to submarine work amid the mine fields and all its increasing dangers, I am strongly of the opinion that we should keep a rotation, shifting boats and crews which have had a particularly hard time, or have distinguished themselves, to easier duties, and letting others have a chance of winning renown. Is there any possibility of arranging a certain number of relief crews for submarines, suitable for the Bight so as to divide the strain among a larger proportion of the personnel? I should like this to be studied.
5. Have the men of the Salmon and Ursula received their medals and honours? The officers have already been decorated. Let special measures be taken to ensure that the men have these rewards before they go to sea again.
First Lord to Second Sea Lord and Fourth Sea Lord
24.III.40
Backgammon would be a good game for wardroom, gunroom, and warrant officers’ mess, and I have no doubt it would amuse the sailors. What happened to the one thousand pounds Lord Rothermere gave me for various kinds of amusements? Is it all expended, and how? I have no doubt I could get some more if necessary. Backgammon is a better game than cards for the circumstances of wartime afloat, because it whiles away twenty minutes or a quarter of an hour, whereas cards are a much longer business.
First Lord to First Sea Lord and Second Sea Lord
25.III.40
I see charges of looting preferred against our men in the German press. I should not think it necessary to mention this but for the fact that it has come to my notice that the captain of the Altmark’s watch, chronometer, and Iron Cross were stolen, and are now in the hands of some of the sailors as souvenirs. Anything of this kind must be stopped with the utmost strictness. No souvenir of any value can be preserved without being reported and permission obtained. Personal property of enemies may be confiscated by the state, but never by individuals.
First Lord to Second Sea Lord
7.IV.40
I have seen the three candidates. Considering that these three boys were fifth, eighth, and seventeenth in the educational competitive examination out of more than 90 successful, 320 qualified, and 400 who competed, I see no reason why they should have been described as unfit for the naval service. It is quite true that A has a slightly cockney accent, and that the other two are the sons of a chief petty officer and an engineer in the merchant service. But the whole intention of competitive examination is to open the career to ability, irrespective of class or fortune. Generally speaking, in the case of candidates who do exceptionally well in the examination, the presumption should be that they will be accepted. Similarly, those who do very badly in the educational examination may nevertheless in a few cases be fit to serve. But the idea of rejecting boys at the very top of the list, unless some very grave defect presents itself, is wholly contrary to the principles approved by Parliament.
I am sure if the committee, when they had these boys before them, had known that they were among the cleverest in the whole list, they would not have taken so severe a view and ruled them out altogether on the personal interview. It seems to me that in future the committee ought to conduct the interview after the examination, and with the results of it before them. Furthermore, it is wrong that a boy should be allowed to sit for examination, with all the stress and anxiety attached to it, when it has already been settled that, even if he is first on the list, he has already been ruled out.
I also feel that there is no need for any mention of a disqualifying standard for interview and record. The Interview Board should also be instructed that they may award different marks to the same candidate for different branches of the service. It is obvious that a boy may be much more suitable for the Paymaster than the Executive Branch, and the committee should be able to differentiate accordingly.
There will, of course, be no need for the Interview Committee to see all the candidates. There must be a qualifying educational standard. This is 400 marks at present, out of a total of 1,350. I notice that all the successful boys in the last examination had well over 600 marks. Surely it would ease the work of the Interview Committee if the qualifying educational standard were raised?
Pray make me proposals for rearranging the present system so as to achieve the above conditions. Cadetships are to be given in the three cases I have mentioned.
* * *
90 The Fiji class mounted 6-inch guns. Nonetheless, the 6-inch cruisers Ajax and Achilles later fought a successful and glorious action with the Graf Spee mounting 11-inch guns.
91 The Argus was commissioned and performed valuable service training pilots for the Fleet Air Arm in the Mediterranean.
92 Many practical difficulties were encountered in the development of these nets. The early trials were unsuccessful, and it was not until 1942 that the equipment was perfected. Thereafter it was fitted in over 750 ships with varying success. Ten ships are known to have been saved by this device.
