VICTIM OF BOMBS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 7

VICTIM OF BOMBS

BRITISH CRUISER RECONSTRUCTED SHIP FIRST ENEMY SUCCESS OPERATIONS OFF NORWAY (British Official Wireless.) Reed noon. RUGBY, May 31. The Admiralty announces the loss by enemy bombing action of H.M.S. Curlew off the coast of Norway. Heavy bombing attacks have been delivered on ships engaged in shelling enemy positions and protecting coastal areas and convoys and during which many enemy aircraft have been destroyed.

The Admiralty states that occasional losses are inevitable in the confined waters in which these operations are being carried out and it was during these arduous operations that the Curlew was struck by bombs and subsequently sunk. This is the first British cruiser to be sunk as a result of enemy action. She was reconstructed and rearmed as an anti-aircraft cruiser in 1938, her original armament being replaced by 10 4in. anti-aircraft guns.

The only other British cruiser lost in the present war was H.M.S. Effingham, which was sunk in consequence of marine risk.

The Admiralty announces that four officers and five ratings are missing as a consequence of the loss of the Curlew.

The loss occurred while His Majesty’s ships were operating in the Narvik area. The difficulty of obtaining the names of the survivors prevented an earlier announcement. The casualty list of H.M.S. Glowworm, which was sunk on April 11, comprises seven officers and 105 ratings missing and presumed dead, and one officer and 39 ratings prisoners of war.

The loss of three destroyers yesterday brings the total destroyer losses since the outbreak of war to 1". Britain entered the war with 174 destroyers. .. ■■ ■'( V■ . , v ’