END OF SCHARNHORST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 7, 10 January 1944, Page 4

END OF SCHARNHORST

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recc. 8.35 p.m. London, Jan. 8. First-hand accounts by New' Zealanders in action against the Scharnhorst are still not available, but it is known the following were in the battle in addition to those previously mentioned: Lieutenant H. Boyack, R.N.Z.N.V.R., in t ne Jamaica: SuhLieutenan- D. L: Matheson, Plumber B. H. Barker, and Joiner J. B. Hickey, in the Duke of York: Ordinary Seamen K. Perrin. E. W. Hindle, H. D. Bell, E. Brayshaw, L. C. Lynhan, D. A. Davies, W. R. Hocking.’ R. W. Jones, D. E. Lamb and W. Jarvie, in the Shefield. Lieutenant C. W. J. Crocker, ar Englishman who married a former Wellington girl, Willow Horton, and who before the war was a member of the literary staff of The Dominion for 18 months, commanded one of the forward gun turrets of the Norfolk. This County class cruiser was the first to sight the Scharnhorsl, the first to hit her with 8-inch shells, and the first to be hit by her, but was in for the kill. Lieutenant Crocker had the unusual experience of reporting the launching of the Scharnhorst and of helping to sink her. Before the war Lieutenant Cracker was second ir charge at the Berlin office of th* Morning Post, when he described the Scharnhorst’s launching. Lieutenant Crocker’s gun crew’ was. at action station for ten hours during the action. Although the Norfolk was hit twice by 11-inch shells, one of which caused a few casualties, nobody in Lieutenant Crocker's turret knew their shin had been hit until after the action. It was their job to keep the guns loaded and trained. The guns were actually fired on the bridge by the English director, Gunner A. G. Hancock, who was also in action against the Bismark. Lieutenant Crocker was lhe only one with New Zealand connections in the Norfolk. He had previously served in the submarine Trident for eighteen months. Lieutenant Crocker said: “There was a terrific din during the action, but of course we in the turret got no chance of seeing the Scharnhorst go down."