VICTORIA CROSS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22479, 14 January 1943, Page 3

VICTORIA CROSS

Award To Naval Officer

Gallantry In Protecting Convoy

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright (6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. The award of the Victoria Cross to Captain Robert Sherbrooke, of the destroyer Onslow, is announced in the London Gazette.

The official citation states that Captain Sherbrooke, in the Onslow, was senior officer in command of destroyers escorting an important convoy bound for North Russia, which an enemy force was attempting to destroy. Captain Sherbrooke led the destroyers into the attack and closed with the enemy. Four times the enemy tried to attack the convoy, but was forced each time to withdraw behind a smokescreen to avoid the threat of torpedoes, and each time Captain Sherbrooke pursued him outside gun-range of the convoy and towards our covering forces'. These engagements lasted about two hours, but after the first 49 minutes the Onslow was hit and Captain Sherbrooke was seriously wounded in the face and temporarily lost the use of one eye. Nevertheless he continued to direct the ships under his command until further hits on his own ship compelled him to disengage, but not until he was satisfied that the next senior officer had assumed control. It was only then that he agreed to leave the bridge for medical attention, and until the convoy was out of danger he insisted on receiving all reports of the action.

His courage, fortitude, cool and prompt decisions inspired all around him, and by his leadership and example the convoy was saved from damage and brought safely to its destination. “There has been nothing finer in the annals of the Royal Navy,” Mr A. V. Alexander. First Lord of the Admiralty, said the other day when referring to the action fought by British destroyers in the Russian convoy against a German pocket battleship and cruiser. Of Captain Sherbrooke, commander of the destroyers, Mr Alexander said: “He sent a couple of destroyers against the enemy destroyers and went straight in against the pocket battleship and an eight-inch gun cruiser. His ships were little ships, but how valuable they were to our Navy, country and cause.”