Submerged

Narvik

In April 1940, indecision on the part of the British Government, and the surprise invasion of Norway by the Germans, contrived to place the two opposing fleets in the same bit of sea at the same time, albeit unknown to each other. Thus was triggered the two sea battles of Narvik.(see Overview)

Map showing many of the wrecks in the Fjords.

Map showing many of the wrecks in the Fjords.

In the engagements the British won two posthumous V.C.s as they destroyed ten German destroyers and a submarine for the loss of two of their own destroyers and two aircraft. The Norwegian Navy lost two ageing ships and two patrol boats. Over 700 sailors were killed on all sides, and it later came to light, that in the initial torpedo attacks, a German troop ship, carrying 3000 men of the Alpine Division, was sunk drowning all on board.

Map showing wrecks in Narvik harbour.

Map showing wrecks in Narvik harbour.

At the time of the battle over 25 merchant ships were anchored around Narvik harbour, and many were sunk. These ships, together with all the destroyers, have turned the area around Narvik into a spectacular graveyard of shipwrecks, to which access has only been recently granted.

The diving vessell Jane R.

The diving vessell Jane R.

All these wrecks were dived on in September 2004, from the Diving vessel Jane R, skippered by the inimitable Gordon Wadsworth, who is still finding new wrecks.

Gordon Wadsworth

Gordon Wadsworth

While I was in Narvik I met a great underwater photographer called Frank Bang who has extensively filmed most of the wrecks in the area, and is still adding more. He was very kind to allow me to reproduce several of his photos in the articles below. visit his site Frank Bang’s homepage for more great photos.

On the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Narvik, author Ron Cope shines a spotlight onto the brave young sailors behind this dramatic military campaign, including his father.
name of ship/subject of story
Attack at Dawn: Reliving the First Battle of Narvik in World War Two by Ron Cope (published by Clink Street Publishing RRP £11.99 paperback, RRP £7.99 ebook) is available from 10 April 2015 online from retailers including amazon.co.uk and to order from all good bookstores.
RRP £11.99… ISBN:978-1-909477-97-1 Ebook : 978-1-909477-98-8.

Three years after his book on the Battle of Narvik, Ron Cope now reveals for the first time the untold story of HMS Hunter and her crew.

Doomed Destroyer by Ron Cope
Doomed Destroyer by Ron Cope (published by Clink Street Publishing RRP £12.99 paperback, RRP £4.99 ebook) is available from April 2018 online from retailers including amazon.co.uk and to order from all good bookstores.

Comments

  1. Leo Styles says

    HMS Hardy survivor Austin McNamara

    > I am searching for a particular photograph of Winston Churchill inspecting the survivors of the HMS Hardy on 19 April 1940 at the Horse Guard Parade at Whitehall. I have been successful in obtaining many different photographs of the occasion over the past few months, but not the correct one clearly showing Austin McNamara in the photograph. Austin had been presumed dead in the sinking of the HMS Hardy at Narvik in Norway on 10 April 1940. The local paper boy in Bolton raced around with a copy of the newspaper saying ‘he was alive’. I am trying to get a copy of the right photo for his sister’s 70th birthday in April 2004. Apparently the same photograph appeared on a television documentary at the time as well. I am also trying to get any information pertaining to him or the HMS Hardy or HMS Gould for her.

    I have hundreds of pages of emails, photos etc if someone would like to have copies of information I have gleaned over the years about HMS HARDY in my search for the photo for my mother in law.

  2. Ron Cope says

    Thanks Leo…in making contact you have provided me with a significant amount of relevant but more so personal photographs and information which would have taken me as long as it has taken you to collate. Your remarkable efforts deserve a successful outcome. Obviously if anything comes by way of my own research I will pass it on quickly. Ron Cope

  3. Diane James says

    My father was on the Hardy (Walter Mitchell known as Mick) and at Trafalgar Square when Winston Churchill was giving his speach. I have a photograph of him and also a Pathe News video of the event.

    Can I help in any way.
    Regards
    Mrs Diane James

  4. Ron Cope says

    Dear Diane, Sorry for delay in getting back. I have just been to Malta where I met the family of Anthony Ronayne. Anthony although now passed away, his lovely family made me very welcome and provided me with his written account on that fateful day on 10th April 1940. Any information (see above at the top of this page which has been recently placed kindly by Peter Mitchell) may be of interest. It could be I can send you information. Walter was a member of the Narvik Association, in fact I have photo of him with my father and the wonderful lady who helped the survivors Petra Kristiansen. Ron ‘roncope@btinternet.com’

  5. JOHN LAWTON says

    Back in 1992, whilst researching for my book about HMS Veteran I72, I met and spent time with Mr Philip Warburton Lee, the son of ‘wash’ Lee….In fact he allowed us to use the family church in Whitewell to hold the service of remembrance. I have photographs of both the Inside and Outside of the church, Also the commemoration Stone of the wall of the church regarding the narvik action…Please let me know if you are interested, no charge…There is also a Video/Dvd available of the day, which I will copy if anyone is interested….John

  6. Ron Cope says

    Thanks John for contacting me and sending pictures. As well as the interesting information regarding Surg Lieut Garner-Evans who was killed on ‘Hunter’ and buried in Ballangen Cemetery next to Captain Warburton-Lee’s grave. Kep in touch. Ron Cope roncope@btinternet.com

  7. RON COPE says

    Message from Ron Cope. I have spent six years following up from my father’s documents / audio tapes of his experience in the First Battle of Narvik. This led to making a significant number of contacts with other families associated with the crewmen of the other ships. A lot of these came by way of this website and kindly assisted by the owner Peter Mitchell Subsequently, my book ‘Attack at Dawn’is published in April the 75th Anniversary of both the First and Second battles. If anyone would like to purchase a copy then the ISBN 978-1-909477-97-1 from Amazon or Waterstones. Or contact me for a signed copy (roncope@btinternet.com)Thanks Ron

  8. RON COPE says

    I would add to my last that ‘Attack at Dawn’ predominantly focuses on the Crewmen on ‘Hardy’. There is a following book which is about the experiences of the Crewmen on ‘Hunter’. This will be published in summer. Watch this space.

  9. clement milligan says

    MY UNCLE BRENDAN MULHALL WAS ON THE HUNTER HE MAY HAVE ALSO HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS JOHN MULHALL . I WOULD BE GRATEFULL IF ANY ONE HAS ANY IMFORMATION ABOUT HIM AS MY ONLY RECOLLECTION OF HIM IS A PHOTO OF HIM IN UNIFORM ,WHICH SAT ON A TABLE IN MY MUMS HOME. I WAS BORN IN 1947 SO I NEVER KNEW HIM ,BUT I HAVE ALWAYS FELT A CONNECTION WITH HIM. I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF RON COPES BOOK IF YOU COULLD TELL ME HOW TO CONTACT HIM

  10. RON COPE says

    Clement as you rightly say, Chief Petty Officer John Brendan Mulhall went down with HMS Hunter on 10th April 1940. However, I have some information on your uncle from other family members Anne Cruistan and Brendan Sheidan. If you contact me ‘roncope@btinternet.com’ I will be able to pass on Brendan’s E Mail address, and / or the information they have supplied to me. He will be mentioned in my next book focused on HMS Hunter and her crew, which I hope to have published in a few months time. In the meantime it is worth reading my first book “Attack At Dawn” as they are ‘dovetailed’ together. It can be purchased at ‘Amazon’ or major book stores. Or if you are not in a hurry from your local library. ISBN:978-1909477-97-1 or eBook ISBN: 978-1-909477-98-8. Here from you soon. Ron Cope

  11. RON COPE says

    Clement forgive me just wanted to add to my last that did you know there is a dedicated section on your father. Please add a comment. Ron

  13. Patrick Tuggey says

    I am writing this as I have just finished reading Ron Cope’s excellent book Attack At Dawn. My interest in Narvik is that my grandfather John William McCracken was a Gunner on the HMS Hardy. It was great to see him mentioned and even a photo in the book. Ron if you read this thank you so much for sharing these stories.

  14. Ron Cope says

    Thanks for your kind comments Patrick. My book was written for families like yours associated with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla at Narvik. I am glad your grandfather Warrant Officer ‘Gunner’ John McCraken was mentioned a number of times by other crewmembers. He was well respected and in those days Warrant Officers were the cream of the Navy both for their past experience but also the younger sailors appreciated he had been one of them. It is a pity I did not have contact with you before I wrote the book as I could have provided more person information on John. However, if you want to contact me with that then it could go into a ‘re-print sometime in the future. I would also advise you and anyone else reding these comments, all those participating on the five ‘H’ Class destroyers at Narvik are entitled to the newly introduced ‘Arctic’Medal. Go online and you will see the details. Finally if you purchased my book / ebook from ‘Amazon’ you can leave a ‘Review’ comment, which would be much appreciated. Also if you make contact with me direct I can put you on my list of those wishing to purchase my next book ‘Doomed Destroyer’ the sequel and the story of what happened to HMS Hunter and her 48 survivors. Kind Regards Ron [roncope@btinternet.com]

  15. Terry Orford says

    Dear Ron
    We have corresponded in the past re. ( my uncle was on the Hotspur at Narvik ) and I would also like to be on your list to purchase your next book “Doomed Destroyer “

  16. Ron Cope says

    Dear Terry,
    Sorry for delay in replying but we have spoken since. As you know my second book will feature the ‘Hotspur’, having been in collision with ‘Hunter’ [The Doomed Destroyer] and then escaped down the fjord from the five larger German destroyers. Hopefully the book will be on sale for end of 2016, or shortly after. Those wishing to purchase a copy, similar to ‘Attack at Dawn’ it will be available on ‘Amazon’ and ‘Kindle’ and all good book shops.
    I have no idea why, but it is for sale in the USA for $50 to $70 New or as new second hand? Ron Cope

  17. Esmond Hamilton says

    Dear Ron

    Greatly appreciated your first book on the battle of Narvik.

    Any news on your second book ?

    Regards

    Esmond Hamilton

  18. Ron Cope says

    Dear Esmond,
    Glad you enjoyed “Attack at Dawn” the popularity is in the decent received royalties, where donations will be made to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. Sorry for the delay in replying but the last six months have been hectic receiving more relevant information from contacts and authors for the “Doomed Destroyer”. The manuscript is now with the publisher and editoring and proof reading has been completed. The book cover will be a copy of the painting by the renown WW2 artist John Hamilton. Permission kindlygiven by his daughter Jane Hamilton. The book has 25% [200,000] more words and 100 photographs, some never been published before. I will contact Michael Mitchell, this ‘website’ owner to send me your E Mail address, so I can let you know when the book is out in the public domain. I have been humbled to be asked by so many people to send a signed copy. Finally, I have some strange experiences whilst writing both books where contacts have turn up out of the blue. The last one, as was about to send of the manuscript was from Victor Wallwork fron Toronto, Canada. He was searching the web for information about the Battles of Narvik, and came across a feature in the Falmouth newspaper “The Packet” in 2010, and made contact. To my great surprise his stepfather Percy Danby was an Engineering Artificer on HMS Hotspur [which collided with HMS Hunter – subject of my second book] and the welcoming news at the age of 98 he is still with us, with full facilities. Publisher had to wait until I got Percy’s amazing story of his experiences. Best Wishes Ron [Cope]

  19. Ron Cope says

    Just an update about the publishing of “Doomed Destroyer”, it appears I have set ‘Authoright/ Clink Street’ publishers quite a task. As previously mentioned there are almost 200,000 words [in fact brought down from 10,000 more] also 100 photographs, which are from different printing sources / media. Having purchased the original ‘As Fitted’ Admiralty Ships Architect drawing of the ‘H’ Class Destroyer [Infact HMS Hardy] I have enlarged the print to show six sections to allow a Key of140 relevant parts of ship. This could be on seperate pages or produced in a ‘concertina’ type pullout. A first for the publisher. The ‘Front Cover’ for the book has been completed. Watch this space. Ron Cope.

  20. Christine Taylor says

    Hi Ron, I was looking for an update and so thrilled to see the next book is with the publishers. If there is any chance you could ask if Percy remembers anything of my grandfather Leslie Oliver who died on HMS Hotspur as a family we would be most grateful. Even if he could tell us if he has a gravesite or was buried at sea. We don’t know anything nor does my father or uncle. Many thanks and excited in anticipation of the release of new book. Christine

  21. Nate Martin says

    Do you have any information about the U-Boat found in a Narvik Fjord? It was shown in the last episode of ‘Finding Hitler’ which is shown on the History Channel. Its located at 150ft depth. It is close to where the Dornier Sea Plane lies.

  22. Claire Davies says

    I wonder if anyone can help me. I am trying to get in touch with John Lawton who has commented on this page. It is relating to his research on HMS Veteran which my great uncle was serving on when it was torpedoed. I thought I had found an email address online but it must no longer be in use.

IMPORTANT: Please note the author of this article, Peter Mitchell, passed away in 2015. Comments are now closed.