Aged 92, (2010) Harry Rogers is probably the last remaining survivor from the Hardy. I am very gratefull to his son Tony, grandson Alex, and of course Harry himself for sending me the story and photo’s below. HARRY ROGERS Harry was born on 28 November 1917 in Baxter Street, Middlesbrough, an area which you will now know as Middlesbrough Bus Station. As you can imagine times were hard back then and malnourishment was common. Harry, like most men of the day, ended up working at British Steel from the age of 16. He left British Steel to join the Navy in 1936.The harsh, laborious conditions at the time killed most men before their 60th birthday, so my Grandfather professes that joining the Navy saved his life. Harry joined Devonport Barracks in Plymouth for his basic training as a ‘Stoker’ – Engine Room hand, and on completion of training was selected for a destroyer in the 9th Mediterranean Flotilla – HMS Hardy.
At ‘Action stations’ everyman on the ship had a job, but not necessarily in their core role. In my Grandfather’s case his job was ‘ammunition supply’ to Number 4 turret at the rear of the ship. When Hardy ran aground it was because she’d received battle damage to her engines and steering positions. The helmsman had been killed, and the weight of his dead body slumped over the wheel was forcing the ship to port (the left). At some stage during the battle, my grandfather found himself on the upper deck of Hardy with two other Stokers who were both Chief Petty officers. The Captain at this point had been mortally wounded and Harry, with some others tried to lower the body down from the bridge on to the next deck using a stretcher. They then proceeded to lower the ‘Captain’s Launch’ a small boat on a winch system. To do this the three stokers stood shoulder to should to grasp the long brass handle and wind the boat down. Whilst they were doing this a shell from a German destroyer hit the ship somewhere close to them. Shrapnel from this shell killed the two Chief Stokers outright, tearing into the gullet of one and severing the arm of another. My grandfather felt something ‘bite’ him but continued to try and get the Captain’s body ashore. Within seconds he was in the icy cold water of the fjord. The Captain’s body was dragged ashore but he was considered dead. It was too cold and dangerous to carry him. They agreed to go back for him.
The shore was not far away and Harry was a strong swimmer. He remembers walking up the beach and noticing blood in the snow. Then he realised that the blood was coming from him. He doesn’t remember much after that. He says that he was picked up by locals, as the next thing he remembers clearly, is waking up in what looked to be a school hall being attended to by a local girl. The only way out of occupied Norway by land, was over the mountains into neutral Sweden, but the locals would not take the wounded as they would never have made it. What they did do was fix them with clothes and feed them with whatever little they had. Three days later the Royal Navy battle cruiser HMS Warspite led nine destroyers up the same fjord and defeated whatever German Naval assets were still in the area. The survivors from the Hardy watched with dismay as the British ships departed, not realising that the men in Norwegian clothing waving at them from the shore, were British sailors. Two of the surviving officers from HMS Hardy used a motor boat from a previously captured British iron ore ship to get a message to one of the departing ships. The admiral dispatched two destroyers to return and collect the survivors. Harry was collected by HMS Ivanhoe on 13th April 1940 and returned safely to England. The survivors were taken to Horse Guards where they met Winston Churchill. Harry never made it as he was still recovering from the ‘bite’.
That bite turned out to be a piece of shrapnel about the size of a 50p piece which lodged itself very close to his lungs and heart. The icy water of the Norwegian fjords prevented him from losing too much blood. The shrapnel was too close to his heart to operate the doctors said, yet he made an almost full recovery although he still cannot lift his right arm fully to this day. All this wasn’t enough to stop Harry from leaving the service. On the contrary, Harry’s next ship was the King George the V class Battle Cruiser, H.M.S. Prince of Wales. Harry saw action on this ship against the German pocket battleship Bismark, and was still onboard the Prince of Wales when her sister ship H.M.S. HOOD was sunk by the Bismark with the loss of all but 3 lives – a very famous sinking indeed. In December 1942, in the South China Seas, Harry was still onboard H.M.S. Prince of Wales when it was dispatched as part of force ‘Z’ to the South Pacific. She was sunk by Japanese bombers on 10th December that year. That is another amazing story of survival, in which my favourite quote from my grandfather is that, ‘ he never left the ship – the ship left him’ as he was sat on the keel when it went under.
Escaping the island of Singapore before it’s capture by the Japanese, he found himself employed in a variety of vessels until he was posted to the USA to become part of the 20 strong crew of one of the hundreds of Landing Craft (Infantry) built for the Allied landings in Europe. Harry saw action at Anzio – landing the Black Watch Regiment with the 8th Army in the historic capture of the Italian Peninsula (Seen the film?)
Harry left the Royal Navy as a Chief Petty Officer after 14 years service. Worked as a foreman at ICI until 1979 when he retired from work.
He now lives in Redcar with his wife Eileen, (Who, as many will agree is the reason he’s lived so long). They have 5 children, the second eldest of which also became a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy choosing submarines over surface vessels. Harry’s eldest Grandson, Alex, who studied at St. Mary’s College in Middlesbrough is the 3rd generation to join the Royal Navy only this time as a commissioned Officer. Lieutenant Kopsahilis, joined the Navy 6 years ago afer completing A-levels and is now a fighter controller onboard one of the Royal Navy’s newest warships Her Majesty’s Ship DARING. She’s the first of a brand new class of six anti-air warfare destroyers being built in Scotstoun, Glasgow.
In November 2006 Alex was lucky enough to be drafted to HMS Ocean – A Helicopter Landing Platform travelling to Norway to take part in an annual exercise with Royal and Norwegian marines. Whilst there, he stepped ashore and visited the the Museum at Narvik where he found lots of articles from the ship including a photo of the survivors in which his grandfather was present. He also mentioned the story to the ship’s Chaplain who arranged for a service of Remembrance to be carried out at the cemetery where the sailors of that battle were buried in the nearby village of Ballangen. It was quite moving to be able to lay a wreath on the Grave of his grandfather’s old Captain, Bernard Warburton-Lee with a personal message from Harry.
Brian Knutsen says
I had the great pleasure of working with Harry at ICI Wilton on Olefins 4. Harry was the Foreman and for a short time I was his Panel Man and later his SRO. Night shifts were especially entertaining, when Harry would stand, gently swaying from side to side as if he was onboard and regale us with his hair raising stories of his time in the Royal Navy.
I have also retired after travelling around the world commissioning petrochemical plants. I’m currently in Singapore doing some consultancy work and will be returning to Yarm at the end of the month. Please pass on to Harry my regards and best wishes.
Carmelo Grima says
I am trying to help Mr Ron Cope who is tracing the whereabouts of a Maltese cook/steward who survived from the H>M>S> HARDY on the 10th April 1940. Mr Cope says that the Maltese is Giuseppe (Joseph) but without surname.
If by chance your grand father knows something about this Giuseppe you are kindly requested to contact me so that I may communicate with Mr Ron Cope.
Thanking you for your kind help,
Yours sincerely
Carmelo Grima
from Malta.
Ron Cope says
It is with great sadness I have to inform those reading this website that Harry Rogers passed away on 12th October 2010 aged 92. He was an amazing man whom had a number of close encounters with death. Not just on HMS Hardy. I send my condolences to Harry’s family and in particular Tony Rogers Harry’s son who has assisted me in gather information for my book.
Thank you Carmelo for your help. For you and others interested here is the update. I have established contact with the family of Anthony Ronayne B.E.M in Fugara, Malta and was warmly wlecomed by his family ..widow Mary, daughter Lucy , son in law Lorry and grand daughter Gertie.
Anthony left an account in which he mentions two other crew members on Hardy out five Maltese all together. These were Guzeppi Micallef and Toni Briffa. However, another source in Malta Denis Darmanin knows of a family whose grand father was on Hardy ..but named Emanuel Briffa. I understand Briffa as well as Anthony or Antonio are very common names. Please contact Carmelo or Ron Cope on ‘roncope@btinternet.com’
tony leavey says
Sir.
My wifes maiden name is Aquilina and her grandfather was photographed with Winston Churchill. As one of 3 survivors from the Hardy a copy of this photo can be seen on page 12 of the Malta Sunday Times 08th November 1987. He is also mentioned in the book VC’s of the Royal Navy by John Frayn Turner we have photocopys of newspaper artical and picture of him and Churchill and a copy of VC’s of RN if you would like copies. I don’t know if this will help. Don’t hesitate to email if you think we may be able to help further .
Tony
Ron Cope says
Tony, can you contact me on ‘roncope@btinternet.com’ . However, in the meantime if you go to ‘Malta Times”..search Ron Cope for edition 26th August 2010. You will see headline photo taken on Horse Guards Parade and Churchill making his speech. You will also see I have marked a person Giuseppe next to my father Cyril Cope. It appears this person is not Giuseppe..is it your wife’s grandfather?
I look forward to hearing from you direct so I am able to include him in my book. Ron Cope
neil wright says
hi ron just browsing on the internet thought i would look up my fathers old ship details hms hardy, my father was Stan (shiner) wright BEM he spoke hIghly of your father and his shipmates.
Ron Cope says
Neil This dedicated section on Harry Rogers has been missing of the main website..’submerged.co.uk’. Hence why I am only now just round to replying to you. Have a look on the above ..go at top to ‘Narvik’ scroll down and you will come to all the dedicated sections named . You may have already done this but unfortunately you left your comments on the only one abscent. I will in form Peter Mitchell the website owner. In the meantime incase you are looking on this site regularly then contact me ‘roncope@btinternet.com’. I remember my Dad mentioning ‘Shiner’ ..however, on my now increasing list of ships company names I have a Able Seaman William Wright. Its that the same. Great to hear from you and he can be included in the book..better if I have more information on his experiences. Kind Regards Ron
viggo kristensen says
It was with great interest I read about Harry Rogers. I was borned and raised in Narvik. For many years I was a diver and often I visited the many wrecks around Narvik. I used to read about the wrecks before and after diving. And to this day I am fascinated by the men on board the ships. Who were they? What happened to them? I have been writing articles in “The yearbook for Narvik” and are now writing about the sea battles. It was one of the largest sea battles during the second world war. In Narvik harbour and in the fiords around Narvik more than fifty ships found their final resting place. During the battles the english sailors proved that they ruled the waves. Especially the bold attack Warburton Lee made inside the harbour on the 10. of april 1940. This bold attack is to day naval history! I hope that HMS Hardy and the men on board have a place in the English history books!They deserve it!
Ron Cope says
Viggo
I am the son of Cyril Cope a 21 year old Torpedo Man on ‘Hardy’. He left me his documents on passing away in 2003. His intention was to write a book about his experiences in the epic ‘Battle of Narvik’. I have since carried on his intentions and have been researching for over three and a half years. This has resulted in my making contact with a vast number of survivors or their families. I hope to have my book published in 2013. My book will not only focus on Hardy crewmen but also the Hunter sailors. The latter being as fascinating on their capture by the Germans in Navik town but as well their forced march to the Swedish border to be handed over to the authorities for internment. In addition the Hunter survivors escape back to UK or as happened to many, becoming prisoners of war in Germany / Poland.
Please contact me on ‘roncope@btinternet.com’ Hear from you soon. Ron Cope
Fidelma says
I came across this website by chance, this is the first time I have seen this article in full. I am Harry Rogers’ eldest daughter and his grandson Alex’s mother. I listened in on my Dad relaying many of his memoires to my son Alex.
Reading Dad’s story (one of many amazing experiences during my Dad’s service in WW2. (He was also a survivor of HMS Prince of Wales for one!) I have tears in my eyes. My Dad was a hero, and like many hero’s of WW2, largely unsung!
Such kind comments have touched my heart. Oh and Brian Knutson, you really made me chuckle. I can just picture the scene!Bless you.
My e-mail address is fidelma59@hotmail.com. My son Alex now has all my dad’s service documents including the certificate detailing his wounding at the battle of Narvik. When Alex visited Ballangen in Norway in April 2010 he visited the small war museum there and discovered to his great delight a huge photo of the Hardy survivors on board HMS Ivanhoe, in which his grandad is immediately identifiable!
Alex adored his grandad and was inspired to join the navy by him. Alex flew home from exercises off the coast of Florida on board HMS Daring to be with his grandad when he left this world. He slept on the floor his grandad’s hospital room the last night of his life and sang naval songs to him each time he woke.
At one point my Dad woke up and asked “am I still here?” Alex replied “yes you are, were you dreaming?” my Dad said he was and Alex asked “were you back on board a ship?” and my Dad replied “yes” He slipped away peacefully a few hours later with my mum holding his hand and my brother Tony and my son Alex by his side.
My sister and I were on our way to the hospital when he heard he had just slipped away. As we were leaving Alex placed a copy of the Seaman’s prayer in his hands.
His coffin was wrapped in the Royal Navy Ensign, which Alex had brought home specially. It was a fitting send off for a wonderful man.
I wrote a poem for him, which I read at his funeral service. It sums him up perfectly, as everyone who knew him agrees. My Dad was the funniest person I’ve ever known. He would tell such funny stories to his grandchildren, the same ones he told us as kids! He had some hilarious turns of phrase too. I will post my poem here separately.
My mum joined him in the great ocean in the sky on September 21st 2012. She simply gave up after Dad died and spent more than half of the 23 months after his passing in hospital. Two days before my mum died, I walked in on her having a conversation with Dad. I watched in amazement as she chatted and giggled and appeared to interact with someone I couldn’t see. Despite being in her final hours and in great pain her face was transformed to that of a young woman during that loving conversation. I was spellbound, when she suddenly said something that removed any doubt that she was indeed talking to my Dad. She joined him in spirit 36 hours later.
My best wishes and heartfelt thanks to all who have taken the time to read my Dad’s story, especially to those who have so kindly commented.
Fidelma Rogers
Fidelma says
As promised. My poem to Dad.
An Old sea dog sets sail today,
Across the ocean blue,
A voyage to lands far away,
to start his life anew
The Lord himself, his Captain
Has given him sailing orders
So splice the main brace, set the sail
and head for Heaven’s borders
His uniform is neatly pressed
His kitbag packed with love
His medals pinned upon his chest
Salute the Lord above
The time had come for him to leave
We loathed to say goodbye
A treasure trove he did bequeath
Memoires of days gone by
Tall stories, yarns and tales you told
their purpose to enthral.
Such gallant acts, you were so bold
Oh Dad, you did it all!!!
What man ever could compete
when single-handedly one day
you destroyed the German fleet!
then just carried on your way!
In shark infested oceans
you were forced to swim…
You always had these notions
for risking life and limb!
And never was it known,
in either Regiment or troop,
another medal ever won
Just for eating hot soup!
I swear that I could write a book
if I could but conceive it
of when you sailed with Captain Cook
But no one would believe it!
Amazing were the stories
you told us just for fun
more amazing yet the Glories
of your medals bravely won.
Harry Rogers I salute you
God speed you on your way
across the ocean wide and blue
and take you home one day.
One thing will always make me glad
and forever keep me guessing
why we deserved to call you “Dad”
You were my greatest blessing.
Though many tides may ebb and wane
and memories will grow dim
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember him
Ron Cope says
Dear Fidelma Hopefully by now you have received my E Mail and we are able to make contact. I really enjoyed reading your wonderful memories of your father ‘Harry’ and as I explained have included him in my book as a major charactor.
Ron Cope