DRAMATIC STORY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 122, 22 April 1940, Page 8

DRAMATIC STORY

H.M.S. HARDY’S EXPLOITS. BATTLE OF NARVIK FIORD. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) . (British Official Wireless.) ’. RUGBY, April 19. A vivid story of the exploit of H.M.S. Hardy in Narvik Fiord was told by a 'petty officer on arriving homo in Britain. “Just after midnight,” he said, "we entered the fiord in a blinding snowstorm, the Hardy leading the other destroyers. As we neared the month of the harbour visibility was very bad. We sighted our targets and there were so many ships, both warships and cargo vessels, that it seemed impossible to miss them.

“When the gunnery officer spotted a German destroyer we opened fire and the signalman said the first salvo went straight through her bows. The German slap opened fire with her antiaircraft guns, thinking it was an air attack.

"Going round a bend, the Hardy led the other destroyers and our gunners had a dim outline at which to fire. Shells and torpedoes exploded on all sides. “Then we came for another run at the destroyer, but a largo British merchantman lay in position partly protecting her. We silenced the fire of a small fort near the harbour, held by the Germans, with our second salvo. Again we tackled the German destroyer, and up to this time none had been hurt. “When we altered course we found three German destroyers. Then we sighted two more German destroyers trying to head us off from the exit of the fiord, and a salvo fell on us. There was a terrific- crash and Captain Warburton Lee and others were badly wounded. “It was now about 6 a.m. and we lost all headway, and the Hardy gradually drifted towards the beach. One of our guns was still firing as we went aground.”

SALVAGE POSSIBLE.

DESTROYER HARDY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 19. The Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Sir Victor Warrender) stated 'that the Admiralty would certainly consider the possibility of salving the destroyer Hardy, which ran ashore at Narvik.