“JERVIS BAY” SPIRIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 13 January 1944, Page 1

“JERVIS BAY” SPIRIT

•It was dawn in the Atlantic. Nineteen merchant ships were in convoy bound for Britain. Suddenly the silhouette of a German warship of the 10.000-ton Hipper class appeared through the mist. It carried 8 Bin. guns. The convoy was sailing without escort, but there was a small 6,000-ton Norwegian merchant motor vessel, Borgestad. Perched on her stern was a single 4in. anti-submarine gun. The captain, Lars Grotnes, called his tiny gun crew to action, altered course towards the enemy and prepared to give battle. He r. ust have known it was a death warrant for himself and the ship’s company of 32. But he knew also that he might save many in the convoy. “While the rest of the convoy scattered he steamed towards the cruiser. The Germans, fearing a trick, that they were facing a strongly armed auxiliary cruiser, did what Lars Grotnes wanted. They concentrated on the solitary fx-eighter. “The David and Goliath action could not last long. A salvo from the cruiser made a direct hit, and the freighter disappeared. Not a single man survived. “This glorious action was fought in February. 1941, but only to-day are the facts disclosed. Men from other merchant ships in the convoy have paid their tribute. The raider pursued them and sank 6, but the number would have been much higher if it had not been for the gallant behaviour of the Norwegian skipper and his men.” — (Naval correspondent of "News-Chron-icie.")