THREE LOST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 14 May 1942, Page 5

THREE LOST

BRITISH DESTROYERS MEDITERRANEAN ACTION Rugby, May 12. The loss of three British destroyers in the Mediterranean as a result of air attack is announced in an Admiralty communique, which states:— “Yesterday afternoon a force consisting of four of our destroyers was heavily attacked bv German’ aircraft in the eastern Mediterranean. H.M.S. Lively was hit and sank. The remaining thre destroyers were subjected to a further heavy air attack by the German air force during the evening. H.M.S. Jackal and Kipling were both hit, and the Kipling sank. The Jackal was taken in tow, but had to be sunk by our own forces during the early hours of this morning, since it became impossible to save the ship. “It is known that more than 500 officers and men from these three ships are safe, so the total casualties cannot be heavy. “During these air attacks Beaufighters of the R.A.F. destroyed one [ He.lll and damaged at least seven enemy planes.”—B.O.W. The Lively was one of Captain W. G. Agnew’s light forces which last November annihilated two Axis convoys. of ten ships in all, in the Mediterranen. Two Italian destroyers were also sunk in this November action. ! The Lively was of 1920 tons and was completed in 1940. The Jackal and the Kipling were completed in 1939 and were both of 1690 tons.