Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

14.1.42

Scapa

17.1.42

18.1.42

Rosyth

?

19.1.42

Port Edgar

17.4.42

9/2 From A S Rosyth: LEDA taken in hand for refit and fitting out for cold climates. Provisional completion date end of March 1942

6/4 From D of D: LEDA completes 13/4 ex trials

18.4.42

Scapa

23.4.42

25.4.42

Iceland

26.4.42

26.4.42

PQ15 sailed from Reykjavik on 26/4 with Bramble, LEDA and Seagull as part escort.

2.5.42

Heavy escort left the convoy and Capt J Crombie of HMS Bramble became senior officer of the escort.
CLICK HERE for Bramble's Report on Convoy PQ15

At 2009 Seagull (Lt Commander Pollock) with the destroyer St Albans attacked and brought to the surface a submarine later identified as the out of position Polish submarine Jastrzab. She was sunk by gunfire.

3.5.42

At 0127 convoy PQ15 was attacked by six He111’s at low level, sinking 3 merchant ships with their torpedoes. Three aircraft were shot down. 137 survivors were picked up.

At 0142 LEDA carried out an attack on a submarine (Click here for Report)

At 2230 the convoy was bombed by Ju88’s scoring one near miss for the loss of one aircraft.

4.5.42

In the evening a south-easterly gale blew up off the Russian mainland, filling the air with snow clouds and concealing the convoy.

5.5.42

The convoy arrived Kola Inlet at 2100.

MESSAGE 2300/B  5th May 1942 From SO 1st M S Flotilla

PQ15 arrived Murmansk. Regret to report loss of Botavon, Jutland, Cape Corso as a result of attack by six torpedo aircraft at 2327 May 2nd in position 73N, 19.40E. Attack carried out in good conditions and aircraft appeared to be led in well by leader who may not have carried torpedo. Indications that shadowing submarine may have surfaced and fired torpedoes at same time. One aircraft destroyed and possibly one other. 136 survivors including Commodore. Convoy bombed at 2230 May 3rd in position 73N, 31.51E. Minor damage from near miss to Cape Palliser only. One Junkers 88 shot down. Attack badly carried out and hampered by low cloud. Convoy continuously shadowed by one or more aircraft and or one or more submarines to 36E. Submarines driven off successfully by screening force forcing them to dive and firing depth charges in vicinity. 

21.5.42

At sea

23.5.42

Eastern Local Escort for QP12 (17 ships) comprised Bramble, Gossamer, LEDA, Seagull and two Russian Destroyers. Harrier was part of the ocean escort arriving Reykjavik 29/5 without incident.

29.5.42

On the evening of the 29^th, 140 miles NE of the Kola Inlet,  Captain Crombie commanding the 1^st MSF based at Kola joined PQ16 in HMS Bramble, together with LEDA, Seagull, Niger, Hussar and Gossamer. The convoy divided and at 2330 Crombie’s section, escorting six of the merchant ships to Archangel, was attacked by 15 Ju88’s while 18 attacked the Murmansk-bound ships.

30.5.42

Crombie’s division, proceeding in line ahead and led by the Empire Elgar, arrived at the estuary of the Dvina on 30/5 where it met the ice breaker Stalin. They began a passage through the ice lasting 40 hours. Confined to the narrow lead cut by the Stalin, they were attacked by Ju87 Stukas in a noisy but useless attack.  This section of PQ16 passed Archangel and secured alongside at Bakarista, a new wharf two miles upstream.

Commander Onslow, Senior Officer close escort reported that four fifths of the convoy had got through....  ‘due to the gallantry, efficiency and tireless zeal of the officers and men of the escorts and to the remarkable courage and determination of those of the merchant vessels. No praise can be too high for either’.

31.5.42

Kola Inlet

?

14.6.42

Attacked by six JU87's off Mishkov Point; five near misses caused some minor damage

The soviet icebreakers Krassin and Montcalm were escorted to Archangel by HMS Bramble, LEDA, Hazard and Seagull. HMS Intrepid and Garland were sailed later to act as cover against possible surface attack. The whole force arrived at Archangel on 21st June.

21.6.42

Archangel

?

26.6.42

At sea

Bramble, Hazard, LEDA and Seagull formed part of the local escort for QP13 (36 ships) from 26/6 to 28/6. Ocean escort included Niger (to 5/7 when she sank) and Hussar (to 7/7). Thick weather meant the convoy was not attacked.

29.6.42

Hazard and LEDA escort the tanker Hopemount from Murmansk to Archangel.

1.7.42

Archangel

?

11.7.42

Hazard and LEDA met Britomart, Halcyon, Samuel Chase, Ocean Freedom, Lotus, Lord Middleton and Northern Gem and took the weary survivors of PQ17 in to Archangel.

22.7.42

Bramble, Hazard, LEDA and four other ships met some more of the surviving ships from PQ17 and escorted them into Archangel, arriving on the evening of 24/7.

On the subject of morale, the Medical Officer of H.M.S. Leda recorded: 

'It has been rather interesting to observe the reactions of people to the abnormal stress and strain which action in this climate has imposed upon them. The immediate effect of air attack is one of nervous stimulation coupled with fear or acute apprehension. This apprehension is minimised for those whose minds are occupied with a particular job. But for those whose task it is to watch and wait, it is at a maximum. When a particular incident is over a variety of reactions are seen. Some men laugh hilariously and hurl illustrated epithets after the departing enemy. By contrast, other men reflect despondency. Following a prolonged period of attacks, there may be a period during which everyone outwardly appears normal apart from obvious weariness from lack of sleep. Then the glimmerings of psychoneurosis begin to appear. Most of those affected are normally of a nervous or anxious disposition, but a few ostensibly phlegmatic individuals also exhibit signs. 

'There are roughly three classes: 

(1) The man who comes and says outright that he is afraid and cannot stand up to things any longer. 

(2) The man who veils his mental state by assuming a physical malady. 

(3) The person who seeks a means of escape in alcoholic intoxication. 

'As an example of the first group may be quoted the case of a leading seaman, a member of a gun's crew. This man came to me in great distress and stated that he could not carry out his duty any longer, as he was so frightened by enemy air attacks that he feared he might run from his post and seek cover. It was obvious from the man's general behaviour that he was carrying a heavy mental burden. His previous record showed that he had experienced heavy enemy action in other ships. 

'In his case suggestion was employed and he was shown other aspects of his own position and was assisted to redirect his thoughts from himself and his own personal safety to the wider implications of his duty as a leading seaman and a gunner. This suggestion, together with the sedative effects of potassium bromide, produced marked improvement and he subsequently performed his duties in action and showed no signs of collapse. 

'In cases of the second group there was a rating who complained that he had a pain in the region of his heart. He later produced abdominal pains and vomiting, continuously present and unrelated to meals. Improvement followed the suggestion and assurance that he was suffering from no organic disease. 

'The third group requires no amplification.

'I have formed the opinion that no one, except those who desire to stay, should remain in a ship of this size under the conditions which we have experienced for a period longer than eighteen months, because: 

(1) It appears to me that reactions are bound to occur, but in many cases will not manifest themselves until later by which time the environment associated with unpleasant experience has become the ship itself from which there is no escape. A period of rest ashore, or even transfer to a new ship, would mean a change of environment which would bring forth new mental and psychological adjustment. 

(2) Despite the fact that sport and entertainment are organised when opportunity arises, I have yet observed that there is a general listlessness and apathy of late which is quite foreign to the nature of our ship's company. This has increased to a marked degree after the rigorous and exacting winter months spent on the Northern convoy route, and it certainly militates against the happiness and efficiency of the ship as a whole. I am not suggesting that anyone has failed to do his particular duty or that there is even any tendency for that to happen, but after living in the ship for eighteen months, I now observe that the zeal, adventurous spirit, general comradeship and harmony which once existed among us appear less keen. 

(3) Mental and physical stress are severe. This in turn tends to upset the equilibrium of normal bodily functions, and lack of fresh food does little to improve this state of affairs. I feel that we shall soon once more be facing a rigorous winter in the knowledge that we have not been fortified by the fruits of summer to overcome its ills.'

Source: Extract from The Royal Naval Medical Service Vol II, JLS Coulter
 

….including the other guests seated round the table, especially the commanders of such of the First and Sixth Flotillas of fleet minesweepers which happened to be alongside at that moment. All those who found themselves chance neighbours so far from home had come in a body to pay their respects and sign their names in the visitors' book of the Pozarica's Captain, and I was looking through the book the other day to make sure who had been there that evening ‑ Lt. H. J. Hall, Lotus ... Lt. Boyd,Poppy . . . Lt. Rankin, Dianella . . . Lt. Bidwell, La... Lt. Wathen, Lord Austin ... Banning, Rathlin, Master and one of them had added “PQ17, Novaya Zemlya, and Ekonomia, and quite enough!" ‑ but, in the end, after much reminiscent search, I could only be certain that the three signatures which came to mean most to me personally during our incarceration in North Russia were those of the commanders of the LEDA, Halcyon, and Hazard.

 

Three very different types of men: Seymour of Hazard, who had just been awarded his brass hat, possessing an aquiline profile and a passion for the R.N. that made his ship a model of efficiency and his manner at first slightly intimidating till one came to appreciate that if you are compelled by Service obligations to spend years of your life, first in China, then in North Russia, it is as well to adopt a creed of self‑sufficiency: Wynne‑Edwards, ruddy cheeked, hospitable, warm‑hearted, whose ship, LEDA, became such a second home to me out there that I cannot even now think of her and her crew without my heart contracting: and finally Corbett‑Singleton of Halcyon, like a huge sheep‑dog with a shy, sleepy manner, that did not prevent him from winning a double D.S.C. in the course of the war, or from sending ‑ a lightning flash of relieving humour - my favourite signal of the whole voyage. Just as the news had been passed from ship to ship that our convoy had to scatter, he hoisted, "Now I know what the Itie fleet feel like!"

 

Now I know myself, because I have made it my concern to sort it all out, something of the exploits of these two flotillas that first became discs on the operational maps when they commenced their shuttle service, accompanying the second convoy to make the trip through the Barents Sea. That was in October, 1941, the flotilla leader, Bramble, was there, and from that time on no convoy made the journey either way without at least two or three of this small group as part of their escort the whole voyage. I, think it was only when I found myself, later, a member of the crew of the Cumberland serving in those same waters, in winter, that I became in the least degree cognizant of what it must have been like for ships, by comparison so tiny, facing exactly the same hazards, with an inevitably minute proportion of the same resources to combat not only the ravages of the weather but all the other dangers that surrounded them.

Source: Extracts from ‘PQ17’ by Godfrey Winn who travelled to North Russia aboard HMS Pozarica 

The next morning there were two Positive results from that news from home which had succeeded in penetrating the fog of our isolation. I was invited to a party to be held two nights later on board Commander Wynne-Edwards’ ship, the LEDA, and we also received a consignment of green cabbage from the Russian authorities. We did not connect this most welcome gift with the rumour that the second Front had really started up because, after all, the Captain had been pressing for fresh vegetables of any kind, day after day, for a month now. But, of course in our present mood and circumstances there could be no other reason for giving a party, and it turned out to be a most excellent party, too though rather different from my last experience in the ward‑room of the Fury at Seidisfjord Then gin had flowed like the waters of the Dvina River: now they had scraped together sufficient dregs to concoct a LEDA Special ‑ subtitle: Ekonomia's secret weapon ‑ but after the first half‑hour it was the high spirits of the company alone, produced from some store hidden beneath hatches, in that miraculous way that countrymen in exile do succeed in whipping up a supply of good will towards each other, which made it, everyone agreed, the most successful of all the periodical gatherings of "Ye Sockites".

 

It certainly seemed a memorable evening to me, and the magic started the moment I came over the side and I was me by the Master of Ceremonies, with a completely serious face and a very old sock, attached to his best uniform by a safety pin. On other occasions, he was Lt. Pengelly, LEDA's Gunnery Officer, who used to take me sailing in the dog‑watches and talk to me about his native Cornwall, and especially Looe, with its absurd little toy pier shaped like a banjo, and the brown sails of the fishing boats softly coming home to sleep on summer's evening. Pen possessed the easy, friendly charm of the officer who has once been a matlow himself, and won promotion from the lower deck the hard way, and knows all the answers, like the Heavenly Twins, in our ship, did. But had no answer when in the course of the evening I was presented with a sheet of paper which read!

Honours and Awards.

H.M.S. LEDA Gazette. Ward‑room Officers of HMS LEDA have been graciously pleased to approve the following appointment. To be an additional Member of the Most Excellent Order of the "Old Sock:"

             Mr. Godfrey Winn.

Signed by Order of the "Old Sockites."
 

And then Pen's signature in ink as the "commodore" and a very grand seal attached. The seal of His Majesty's ships. Another silly little joke? Oh, yes, I know. But somehow it didn't seem like that, especially as the hours passed, and I came to have about six of the oldest navy‑blue socks in the world attached to my person. I can remember so well at one moment finding myself in a corner talking to the Doc, who looked after the crews of the whole flotilla of minesweepers. He was drinking what he always called the "Doc's Special", ship's lime juice, and I was grateful to share his glass after the parching heat of the rugger scrums in which I kept finding myself, conscious that it was only a question of time before I was debagged too. As for the LEDA's Special, that had long since given out though it did not worry the Doc since he never drank anything stronger than his own Special, however much was ragged for being a Pussyfoot. Not that he was much ragged because there was no more popular member of the ward‑room He was ever on his quiet way, listening to confi­dences, giving advice on many subjects but indirectly connected with medicine, talking in his slow, deliberate Scots voice so that, little by little, you came to listen to him, even above the hubbub of a party.

 

The pilot of the LEDA made plenty of noise that night, but he drank nothing stronger than lime juice, either. It was something to do with a vow, in his case. A vow never to drink even a glass of beer in harbour until he was reunited with his wife in their own country, then overrun by the Nazis. For Lt Aarl came from Oslo, and his wife had won a national competition as "Miss Norway" for her beauty before he carried her off to be his bride. He himself was fair and good looking in the way that film stars so seldom are in the flesh, and he carried himself with great dignity and with very real respect for the uniform that he wore, and he never went ashore, they told me, even to visit the Welcome Inn. Whenever I, in my turn, visited the ship, he always seemed to be there on the quarter‑deck, pacing up and down, up and down, as though the ship itself was his sheet‑anchor, a substitute love for the wife whose cardboard picture, looking a little like Garbo, he took me below that night to see in his cabin.

 

I was very touched by his confidence, for he had a reputation for reticence and I wished that there was something that I could do to ease the burden of which he could only haltingly speak. I have a feeling now that our friendship blossomed in that short time, when I crossed the edge of his orbit, because he recognized in me a special kind of exile, too, though it may well have been simply that he could not bare his heart to those with whom he came in daily and continuous contact.

 

I said: "Pilot, when you get back to England next time, you will promise to come and see me, won't you? And stay as long as you like.”

Source: Extracts from ‘PQ17’ by Godfrey Winn who travelled to North Russia aboard HMS Pozarica 

28.7.42

Dvina

9.8.42

Escorting Winston Salem

2.8.42

A great morale booster for us while we lay alongside, came after a get-together of the officers from the fleet sweepers, and the three trawlers to help to try and get rid of the boredom that was creeping gradually over us all, both officers and men alike. They came up with the idea of holding inter-ship sports of various kinds; in some of the sports the trawlers were classed as one ship, the men from all three who wished to take part putting their names down for any type of sport which took their fancy, and were then chosen for a team to represent us all. This made for great rivalry, and despite the weather, we enjoyed some good sport and fun, either by taking part, or by just watching and cheering the teams on to do their best aided by some ribald comments.

The Northern Gem's own newspaper, the Sunday Buzz, Vol 1. No 1, for Sunday 2nd August 1942, gives this story and the following list of results:-

Sports. . . Despite inclement weather, we have enjoyed some good sport during the past week, in which the trawlers have by no means disgraced themselves. For the benefit of future historians the results are summarised below. We hope that these events are only the forerunners of a series of contests, thoughtfully provided to relieve the monotony of our sojourn.

Tug of War At the time of going to press this event had not been held.

Source: http://www.naval-history.net/WW2Memoir-RussianConvoyCoxswain06.htm
COXSWAIN IN THE NORTHERN CONVOYS - S.A. Kerslake published by William Kimber, 1984 

14.8.42

Archangel

20.8.42

?

Archangel

31.8.42

13.9.42

Britomart, Halcyon, Hazard and Salamander joined QP14 from Archangel as local eastern escort. The ocean escort included Bramble, Seagull (until 26/9) and LEDA (sunk on 20/9).

Report of Commanding Officer HMS Bramble Senior Officer of the Close Escort (extracts)

The wind moderated in the afternoon and with the assistance of Russian tugs the convoy assembled successfully and weighed and proceeded at 1600 on 13th September. Passage through the White Sea was without incident and in fine weather. 

15.9.42

The first incident of note was at 0730 on 15th September when a Ju 88 commenced shadowing the convoy. The convoy at this time was being escorted by two Russian fighters and it was hoped that they would shoot down, or any way drive off this shadower. They appeared, however, not to see her, in spite of crossing and re-crossing at what looked like very close range to each other. Every endeavour was made to call the attention of these fighters to this shadower by V/S but without effect; eventually the British Naval Liaison Officer in the Russian destroyer Uritsi reported that they were unable to communicate with their fighters. HMS Middleton then fired one round in the direction of the shadower. This, as I feared, had exactly the opposite effect to that intended, and the Russian fighters disappeared home, probably complaining that they had been fired at.

Source: Report of CO HMS Bramble

Russian passenger gave birth to daughter during air alarm!

Report of Commodore J C K Dowling on Ocean Voice

16.9.42

During the following day the convoy was constantly shadowed in daylight hours. The convoy made good speed and with the prevailing current I realised that we were ahead of the estimated position signalled by the SBNO, North Russia. On the other hand we were not ahead of schedule based on the C in C Home Fleet's message of 12th September.

During the afternoon of the 16th September the weather started to deteriorate and the visibility to decrease and I realised that these factors combined with the errors in position would make contact difficult unless I reported the position of QP14. Not wishing to break wireless silence I delayed making my signal by R/T until I felt certain that the two forces were close enough for reception to be certain. The signal reporting my position and speed was made at 1515 on the 16th September. The weather continued to deteriorate during the night and the convoy got a little scattered. I ordered HMS Seagull to return along the track of the convoy and round up SS Winston Salem and Silver Sword. SS Troubadour had been a very early straggler and the Commodore had decided not to wait for her.

Source: Report of CO HMS Bramble

It is snowing hard this morning. We have been spotted by a Dornier and unless the weather favours us, I guess we will all be standing by.

Source: Diary of Jack Bowman who served on La Malouine

17.9.42

The Rear Admiral (D) Home Fleet was sighted at 0517 17th September and after the other destroyers had joined an A/S screen was formed in which HMS Bramble took one of the positions on the port bow of the convoy. 

Source: Report of CO HMS Bramble

18.9.42

The decks are covered with ice and snow, and it is blowing a gale. We took on oil from one of the tankers, this was done while under way. Some of the seamen were brought in with their jaws frozen up. It is icy-cold in the engine room. I have been so long without a good meal I don't think I shall be able to eat one now. We passed the island of Good Hope tonight. 

Source: Diary of Jack Bowman who served on La Malouine

19.9.42

We are running alongside Spitzbergen today. It is all covered in snow and ice. I am glad that I live in the U.K. We are being shadowed by German aircraft all the time.

Source: Diary of Jack Bowman who served on La Malouine

“In September the PQ18 arrived, losing 14 ships out of 40. A number of days elapsed, and then the return journey got under way, and the La Malouine was stationed on the port quarter of the now-called convoy QP14.

“About two days later one of the old PQ18 escorts, HMS LEDA, on the starboard bow of QP14, reported that her sonar had broken down.

“The Senior Officer ordered her to swap her station on the starboard bow with the La Malouine stationed on the convoy’s port quarter. During the night the LEDA was torpedoed and, regrettably, no ship was sent to assist her.

“Over the years I often thought of that unfortunate crew, and how lucky the La Malouine crew was that the Senior Officer had made Northern Gem swap her dome and transducer with us.

“Finally, more than 50 years later, looking up information about the convoy on the Internet, I was amazed to see a photo of the LEDA, prior to or after her being torpedoed. The U-boat also picked up some crew member survivors – thank goodness.”

Source: http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2002/0208/1002080201.asp 

20.9.42

The weather during the passage of the convoy was poor. At 0530 on the morning of the 20^th, two torpedoes from U435 (Strelow) hit LEDA, which was at the rear of the convoy. The tough little warship took an hour and a half to sink in 76º31'N, 05º32'E. Commander Wynne-Edwards, 86 of his crew and two merchant navy officers were picked up and accommodated aboard Seagull, Rathlin and Zamalek. Six later died of wounds or hypothermia. Later that day another escort (Somali) and a merchantman were torpedoed.

 Source: http://www.naval-history.net/WW2Memoir-RussianConvoyCoxswain06.htm
COXSWAIN IN THE NORTHERN CONVOYS - S.A. Kerslake published by William Kimber, 1984 

On fairly calm seas, but passing through the banks of fog, and squalls of snow, we progressed onwards with no scares, and on 18th September when we had passed somewhere in the region of the southern tip of Spitzbergen, we were pleased to have join us some aircraft from the escort carrier Avenger, which at the time was with the other convoy outward-bound for Russia. It was on this day that one of our officers, Skipper Tommy Buchan, was confined to his bunk with a very severe bout of influenza, and the CO Skipper Lt Mullender showed his trust in me by asking me if I would take over his watch. I said yes and felt mighty proud and confident in doing this; it would give me more experience of watch-keeping on my own, though I had naturally to keep in touch with the CO by means of the voice pipe from the bridge to his quarters, in the case of there being an emergency. And so it was that I came to be on the top bridge in charge of the watch from four a. m. until eight a. m. on the morning of 20th September.

It was a fine morning, an early morning breeze ruffling the surface of the sea, but there was hardly any swell. Visibility was very good, but there was an overcast sky which threatened more snow. The ship was on station astern of the starboard column of merchant vessels at a distance from them of about two-thirds of a mile. On our starboard bow was the Fleet sweeper HMS LEDA, I had to keep my station on her at forty-five degrees on my bow and astern of the starboard column. Several times since I had come on to the bridge to take over from the previous watchkeeping officer, I had checked on our position. I did not want to be caught off station should the Skipper put his head out of his cabin, and it was getting on for half past five that morning when I lined up the LEDA to take a bearing on her on the bridge compass. As I was going through the drill I noticed a huge cloud of smoke come out of her funnel, and the thought that she had just flashed up a boiler had hardly got into my head when I saw a column of flame shoot upwards and at the same time heard and felt the crump of an explosion. Sticking to my orders from the CO, I shouted down for full ahead and a course to take us towards the LEDA, at the same time pressing the alarm on the bridge to sound general alert and shouting down to the CO what had happened. But he was by that time on his way up the bridge ladder, took over from me, and I made my way to the steering bridge.

Taking over the helm I kept on for the LEDA, and as we got closer the CO shouted down that he was going right alongside her as she lay stopped in the quiet water, so that the crew could step on board without getting their feet wet. It would save the need for putting a boat over the side. When we reached within a hundred and fifty feet of her, and starting to ease round to go alongside, the crew started to abandon ship by jumping over into the sea on her port side, and we had to go full astern to stop, making certain that we did not run some of the faster swimmers under; one of the first to be picked up was a lieutenant, and he was followed by eighty or more of the crew. Fortunately they were not in the water very much more than two or three minutes before we got them onboard, so they were able to help themselves to a certain extent. Our CO told me later that one of the other ships came up in between the LEDA and us, running down an officer and some ratings on a raft. As I did not see this happen I cannot say whether or not it was correct, but I know that we did not pick them all up, including her CO; I don't know yet what happened to him.

We had the rescue nets over the side for them to climb up as quickly as was possible, and as they did so a destroyer came up our starboard side and shouted through her loud hailer for our skipper to get back to the convoy, for we were not supposed to stop to pick up survivors on the run back. Our skipper told him to f . . k off, whereupon the destroyer's CO said he would report him when we arrived in port, though as far as I know nothing came of it. It was all go, just backing and filling with the engines on slow to save men who were in danger of drifting past ahead or astern of the Northern Gem. Having picked them all out of the water, we came hard to starboard and made our way back to our station, and astern the LEDA turned on to her starboard side and slid under the cold waters of the Arctic ocean. I did not see her go for I was relieved at the helm by Tim Coleman, so that I could go down below and dish a tot out to all onboard. By the time I got down I found that we had three dead onboard, an SPO, a PO and an ordinary seaman, all having been injured in the torpedo explosion which I think hit her in the forward boiler room.

We had a total of eighty-one survivors onboard, including nine of the men getting a lift home on the LEDA from the SS Navarino, and the SS River Afton, both sunk on the way out with PQ17, thus getting their second ducking in the water. We sorted them out and took their names down, and gave them bunks to sleep in. They all had to share with our lads, and I had three or four chiefs and petty officers sharing my cabin in the after quarters. They were great lads and appreciated the situation and what we did for them. One of them sharing my cabin, Basil Potts, an ERA, later sent me a leather-backed Bible, along with a letter asking me to thank the whole of the Gem's crew, for all the help we had given to them, I have kept and treasured them to this very day. They had all been sad to see their old ship slip beneath the waves into the depths of the sea, taking with her those who had been killed or trapped when the torpedo hit her. There was nothing anyone could do to save those who were trapped as she was going too quickly, and all who could had to save themselves.

Almost twelve hours later, when we had just about caught up with the convoy, though it took some doing when they had got so far ahead during our rescue work, as we had only a knot or so to spare. we were coming up astern of the Silver Sword when we noticed first of all two great columns of water shoot up from her starboard side, and we immediately thought that a high level bombing attack was in progress. Then there was a third splash of water this time on her port side, I remember. Then we knew that it was a U-boat attack, and that the Silver Sword was doomed with three hits on her, and quite suddenly she started to sink. By the time we arrived on the spot all of her crew had been picked up, and there were just swirls on the surface of the water. Then a second or two later large sacking covered bales from her holds shot out of the water and into the air, before settling back to float quietly and serenely to some other destination than where it was originally bound. What was in them was anyone's guess, some suggested silver fox furs, and one or two of the crew tried unsuccessfully to snare one with a grapnel on a heaving line, and it's probably as well they didn't because we were doing somewhere in the region of eleven knots, and they would have been dragged over the side.

Source: http://www.naval-history.net/WW2Memoir-RussianConvoyCoxswain06.htm
COXSWAIN IN THE NORTHERN CONVOYS - S.A. Kerslake published by William Kimber, 1984  

Next day, September 20, was Sunday again - and another Black Sunday it turned out to be. Just before 5.30 a.m. watchers on Ayrshire saw what seemed to be waves breaking on an oddly disturbed sea. They were puzzling over the curious looking waves when a series of explosions rocked the minesweeper LEDA, steaming astern of the convoy. She had been torpedoed and was very quickly in serious trouble. 

Northern Gem steaming two miles astern of the convoy was stationed about one and a half miles on LEDA's port beam. When a muffled explosion was heard and flames were seen belching from LEDA's funnel Skipper-Lieutenant Mullender immediately rang full ahead... 'I brought Gem hard-a-starboard, intending to put her alongside LEDA's starboard, weather side. When we got within 250 yards of the sweeper I could see many of her company scrambling to the forecastle head - she was well afire amidships and threatened to break in two. I ordered my crew to get our port boat inboard so that we didn't smash it as we went alongside - I thought we might well be in need of it before we got home. Then, on looking back at LEDA I saw an officer dive overboard to swim to us. By hell, he was getting along! But it was the worst thing he could have done, as suddenly other men started jumping and sliding into the sea off her foredeck and leaping through the torpedo hole in her side. I had to stop Gem 50 yards off the sweeper's bow or we would have drowned them between the two ships. I ordered our boat lowered to pick the men up out of the water, but it was a hell of a job to hold them as by this time they were covered with oil which had poured from the torpedoed ship. Other survivors were all around on rafts and clinging to our side nets.' 

'A trawler which steamed down between us and LEDA ran over six men on a raft, one of them I think being LEDA's doctor. I saw all six men go under the trawlers bottom. LEDA turned turtle and the last I saw of her captain he was sitting on the ship's bottom, or what was left of it. I think he was saved.'

'A destroyer steamed over and ordered me to leave the men in the water and get back to the convoy. I told her to go to hell. Her captain was right in one respect, because if we too had been torpedoed while we lay there many more men would have died, but in the circumstances such a chance had to be taken. If only LEDA's company had waited until we had got alongside no doubt we could have saved more...' As it was, Gem pulled seventy men from the sea but others were doomed. 

Aboard Ayrshire, which had no scramble nets or rope ladders, Sub-Lieutenant John Aylard and others hung over the ship's side with someone holding their feet, grabbing the hands of men in the sea and trying to pull them aboard, but in many cases owing to the oil everywhere the hands of the struggling men slipped from their grasp and the men were swept away and drowned. Cruelly among them were six survivors of the River Afton which LEDA had been bringing home. Others saved from the sea died shortly after rescue. It was a savage blow.   

Source: PQ17 Convoy to Hell - Paul Lund & Harry Ludlam 

22.9.42

Survivors from HMS Leda (Source: PQ17 - Godfrey Winn)

When we had left the White Sea, it was touch and go as to whether we had enough food to see us through, water too was going to be a problem. We had picked up the men from the LEDA, and they had now been biting into our rations for over two days. With over two hundred souls onboard things were getting a bit chaotic, and with all these extra mouths to feed, I had estimated that we should be lucky if we lasted two more days with the food we had, though the water situation was not too bad as yet.

Conditions in both the seamen's mess and the petty officers' mess were terrible, with all the bunks full and men either standing or lying on the decks, taking up every available bit of space. Moreover there were many of the merchant seamen who would not go down below, and just roamed about the upper deck, blocking the entrances to the various companionways, which would have obstructed our crew getting to their action stations if the need had arisen again, but fortunately it did not. While we were steaming, the dead American fireman who had been brought onboard from the SS Bellingham had, because of the situation we were in, been buried while the Gem was forging ahead, a thing we had not liked to do, but had to.

Now I was called to take the helm it seemed as though the answers to the signals had come through, for I was told that we were to go alongside one of the destroyers to pick up some food. Which one I don't remember; it could even have been the Somali. It probably was for she had to be lightened and many things were ditched over her side. However it was always a ticklish piece of work going alongside another vessel, as one had to keep an eye open for anything to happen. This time we went close enough for them almost to pass the cases of tinned stuff over, with the use of a heaving line. Soon that job was done, and it was time for us to close on the Seagull, onto which ship we transferred two naval officer survivors from the LEDA, and thirty-one naval ratings along with three merchant navy seamen who were transferred to the SS Rathlin. So this made things a bit easier on the Gem. At first it seemed to us that most of the merchant seamen wanted to go, as they had not been too pleased about being picked up by a small trawler, but when they were given the chance to go, only three went, the remainder saying that they stood a better chance of getting home on a small ship. In the words of one man when asked if he wanted a transfer to the Rathlin, 'The chances of my being tin-fished on this "Coggy-boat" are far less than on one of yon big uns.'

Source: http://www.naval-history.net/WW2Memoir-RussianConvoyCoxswain06.htm
COXSWAIN IN THE NORTHERN CONVOYS - S.A. Kerslake published by William Kimber, 1984   

SECRET

From …H M S Northern Gem
Date … 2^nd October 1942
To …    A C I C 

Subject: REPORT OF NORTHERN GEM’S MOVEMENTS AFTER HMS LEDA HAD BEEN TORPEDOED 

Sir, 

I have the honour to submit my report on the movements of HMS Northern Gem after HMS LEDA had been torpedoed. 

HMS LEDA was torpedoed at 0523, British Summer Time on the 20^th September 1942. At this time, Northern Gem was stationed about one and a half miles on the port beam of LEDA and two miles astern of the convoy. 

A muffled explosion was heard and flames were seen to come from LEDA’s funnel. Full speed ahead was immediately rung and the helm put hard-a-starboard to bring Northern Gem on to the starboard side of the torpedoed vessel, this being the weather side. LEDA appeared then to be well afire amidships and breaking in two. Some of her crew were seen to be mustering on the forecastle deck. Northern Gem was stopped about 50 yards on the starboard bow of LEDA and boats were lowered and ordered away. Northern Gem was not put alongside LEDA as men were seen to be jumping into the sea through the hole in her side and, at this time, others began sliding into the sea off her foredeck. Shortly afterwards, LEDA turned turtle and large quantities of oil appeared on the surface of the water making rescue operations very difficult. The large majority of the men in the water were naked and their oil covered bodies made it difficult for my boats’ crews to get a strong grip on them; many of the men were hardly able to help themselves owing to the coldness of the water. 

Sixty two men were eventually picked up by Northern Gem, three of whom succumbed either aboard the ship of from their immersion in the water. Three other men were known to have been drowned by slipping through the grasp of their would-be rescuers. 

By the time Northern Gem left the scene of the disaster to proceed to catch up with the convoy, now 10 miles ahead, no man was left in the water. 

I should like to pay a great tribute to all my ship’s company for their untiring efforts to save every possible man, under the most difficult conditions. The small boats manned by Skipper Buchan, Acting Leading Seaman Coleman, Seamen Jones, Budd and Robins and Seamen A/S Sullivan and Thomson stuck well to their arduous task; Acting Leading Seaman Coleman, Seaman Jones and Seaman A/S Sullivan were particularly noticeable. 

On the morning of the 22^nd September, 22 survivors were picked up from RFA Grey Ranger and 21 from the American Steamship Bellingham. 

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

Lieutenant Mullender Commanding Officer

 

From : Rear Admiral (D)’ Home Fleet

No. HD571 of 15^th November 1942

To: Commander in Chief Home Fleet 

The names of the Officers and ratings whom it is considered are deserving of inclusion in the recommendations for operational awards are:

                        Acting Temporary Skipper Thomas Buchanan, RNR
                        Acting Leading Seaman Ezer Coleman LT/JX216503
                        Seaman Charles Henry Jones LT/JX 260764
                        Seaman S D John William Sullivan X 19943A

For courage and continued devotion to duty under most difficult conditions in saving lives of many Officers and men of HMS LEDA after she had been torpedoed.  

The Commanding Officer HMS LEDA reported that: 

‘The large majority of those who got away from the ship were picked up in spite of the low temperature of the water and the fact that most of them were immersed in fuel oil. This is largely due to the excellent work performed by … HMT Northern Gem … I cannot speak too highly of their efforts in picking people up...’

Source ADM1/12300 Northern Gem Recommendations for Awards for services rendered after HMS LEDA had been torpedoed 

Report of Medical Officer, HMS Somali

'On September 20 H.M.S. Leda was torpedoed and sunk. Her survivors were picked up by H.M.S. Seagull, and included 6 casualties who had been immersed in the sea for thirty minutes. Fortunately the air temperature at the time was as high as 31°F, and sea temperature 40°F.

'As the Seagull had no medical officer on board, Somali was ordered to close her and render medical assistance. A whaler was lowered and I was transferred to Seagull.

'On board her I found that one casualty from the Leda was already dead. I could see no sign of injury on him and concluded that he must have died of exposure. Two other men without obvious injuries were receiving artificial respiration, but they too died shortly afterwards. One other casualty had a fractured femur and burns, and there was a second case of extensive burns which proved fatal.

'I remained on board H.M.S. Seagull, and the following day we picked up a number of survivors from a torpedoed merchant ship.

'There were no further incidents, and we arrived at Scapa Flow on September 26 and transferred the casualties to the Hospital Ship Amarapoora.'

This transfer of the Medical Officer of the Somali to the Seagull was unfortunate in that his absence was soon keenly felt in his own ship. Nevertheless, the transfer may well have saved the medical officer's life because H.M.S. Somali was herself torpedoed later on September 20.

Source: The Royal Naval Medical Service Vol II, JLS Coulter
 

44 Officers and men were killed

It was seven o'clock in the morning, and the telephone beside my bed was ringing and a woman's voice I did not recognize was asking to speak to me."They gave out over the wireless last night that the LEDA had been sunk. But they made no announcement about casualties. Could you possibly find out if my husband is all right?"

I marvelled at her composure, but then that was the way my own Captain's wife would have behaved, too. "The one good thing I ever did was to marry the right girl." On my return I had written and told her that and many other things beside and now I saw her husband's ruddy, open face, saying goodbye to me on the quayside. I certainly had not recognised death in his eyes that day. Was I still drugged and dreaming this conversation? With an effort I pushed the bedclothes back off my chest, as though with the same gesture to free my mind. From a long way off, at the other end of a tunnel I heard myself answer. "I'll ring up the Admiralty at once, Mrs Wynne‑Edwards.

This was something I could do legitimately without feeling I was being a confounded nuisance. And the news they we able to give me, in due course, checking the names, sent me rushing to dial "Telegrams". For the LEDA's Captain was among the rescued. He was safe, on land. One vigil at least through   the long night was at an end.

Later that day, a telegram arrived for me at the flat. I am looking at it now, and it still states the same simple fact.

“THE SWIM WAS RATHER COLD BUT I MADE IT.

I WILL GIVE YOU A RING. PILOT. LEDA.”

That evening for the first time I had no inclination to walk aimlessly about the streets, or take refuge among the mirrored reflections in the Regent Palace. I was no longer afraid of my own company, alone in the flat, as I waited again for the telephone to ring. However, in the end it was not till three days later that he came, and I remember how he was dressed in a borrowed Civvy suit, and started to apologize for that, as soon as he was inside the door.

"But my new uniform will be ready on Saturday," he went on, quickly. "I have already been to the Admiralty to ask when I can have another ship, but they say I've got to wait a fortnight at least …” I started to get Aarl a drink, until I remembered that was no ‑use. "Nice place you've got here.” I don't think I made any reply, standing, there by the fireplace, awkwardly waiting. There was a pause. We both knew what in the other's mind. The Roll Call. "We lost the Doc.," Pilot said, at last.

As he spoke, he was holding his two hands very tightly clasped together against his knees. I've seen other men make the same movement when they are talking of the same thing.

"They got us in the dawn. You know how it is yourself, those hours at sea the dusk and the dawn. I was asleep in my cabin and the next thing I remember was being on the quarterdeck and the ship split in half. Yes, right in half. Afterwards they said it was a tremendous explosion, but the funny thing is I can't remember any noise at all, I only remember the oil everywhere and a kind of numbness, as though I was still asleep ... we tried to launch a whaler ... the one you went sailing in sometimes, in the dog‑watches ... but it was too badly damaged by the explosion ... so in the end I shouted out to Pen, who was on a Carley float, 'Any room there?' and he shouted back, 'Come on,' and I dived over the side into the oil.  There were quite a few of the crew on the Carley float, and later we fished the Sub. out of the water. When he came round at last on board the rescue ship, he kept on saying, 'Please take me out of the Drink, please take me out of the Drink!' No one could make him understand at first that he was O.K., among   friends. . . .”

He broke off, but I found myself prompting him at once.

"You haven't told me about the Doc,'' I said.

"Didn't I?' His eyes flickered away across the room.

“There isn't much to tell, except that his strength must have given out before he reached the Rathlin. She rescued most of those who were saved, and her captain was wonderful, both at the time, hoving‑to, and putting the nets down, when it looked like suicide for her ‑ they got seven ships you know, coming back ‑ and afterwards, too, he was so good looking after the wounded and the survivors. In fact, they were all so good to us on board. I was very happy when your ship just before we parted company, sent Captain Banning a signal. I made a copy for you. Look, here, it is. 'Goodbye and good luck to a gallant ship and a gallant ship's company'."

I could hardly concentrate on reading the words that were on the slip of paper. "You mean, the Pozy was with you?"

"Oh, yes, didn't you know? And the Bramble and the Seagull and . . ."

I interrupted him again. “But she's all right? The Pozy, I mean..” "Oh yes, rather. The Pozarica and the Palomares split up and went to Belfast."

A wild rush of excitement and relief flooded my being and then the next instant 1 felt my heart contract again. "But the Doc ......

“I told you, didn't I? His strength must have given someone saw him sink, there was nothing to do, he was too far away; you know how it is in those seas ... many went like that. . . ." Then there was silence for a moment before he added, “We always used to say he was the fittest man on board; you remember how proud he was of the way he kept so fit."

Yes, I remembered. And something else, too. How I had been told that in the beginning he had served in the Merchant Navy, in peacetime, until one day he had fallen down a hatch and been so battered about, with such multiple injuries, he should have died then, so his recovery was a miracle of science. Indeed, so impressed was he by the doctors' skill who succeeded in patching him up again that he made a vow to become one of them himself and minister, as they ministered, to his fellow men. And the day came in Glasgow that it was so: but the war came, too, whereupon he at once volunteered to go back to sea. And now the rest was the silence of the Barents Sea.

But surely we who knew him, even for a short space of time, would not forget such a man, or his example, I told myself, nodding when my companion announced that the LEDA's Captain had been saved. That was something I knew already: but the other thing: the reason why a human being is rescued and brought back from the borders of the unknown land, only to be lost so soon afterwards in the grey waters of a distant sea, that was something beyond me to answer or rightly understand, and once again, I heard my own Captain's voice, in his cabin, exclaiming:

"Do you really mean to tell me that the Almighty stretched out His hand, and said, I want you and you and you, that some were worthy to be picked up . . . but others not ......”

The question, of course, would go on being asked so long as there was human life upon the earth. But I did not realize that a few months later I should be asking it already again myself about the fellow human being, at that moment sitting in my flat who, like the Doc had crossed my path for such a little while, but contact with whom would make me conscious for the rest of my days what it really means to be pure in heart.

"Of course, the Old Man was the last to leave the ship," he was saying. "Do you remember what a good sport he was at the Old Sockites Party? You know, I should like to sail with him again, as soon as I am rigged out."

Again I nodded. "Did you save anything, Aarl?" I suddenly asked. "Not even the photographs of your wife?" But he only shook his head and with an abrupt movement jumped to his feet.

"Come on, what show are we going to? Fine and Dandy. That's a good title, anyway! Do you know, it is the first time I have ever seen a show in London!"

And for the first time, as one scene followed another, and the music and the lights began to act like a drug, while the dancing girls passed like phantoms of enchantment ‑across the stage‑for this must always be the mirage, the other the reality now‑1 saw his bands relax, slide off the side. of his knees, and with a sigh, rubbing his back against the comfortable stall, he exclaimed softly:

"This is what they all used to talk about out there, at the Welcome Inn. A show, and Big Eats afterwards. . . ."

Later on, when there was a topical sketch with Leslie Henson, attired in full feathered regalia as a hen, egg‑bound through too much blitzing, he turned to me again: "Do you know, the night before we sailed, I managed to scrounge fifty pounds of potatoes. Fifty pounds! It was marvellous. We planned it all out that it would be a potato for every chap, every day until we got home."

I wish, in a way, he hadn't said that. It would have made it easier now to turn over the page. Instead, I know it's foolish of me, but I still cannot get out of my mind the potatoes that were wasted, in the end.

Source: Extracts from ‘PQ17’ by Godfrey Winn who travelled to North Russia aboard HMS Pozarica 

..Commander Wynne-Edwards (of the recently sunk HMS LEDA) turned up too, not looking in the least like a survivor who, a fortnight before, had been clinging to a Carley float, but in a brand new uniform, and with a brand new ship awaiting his command, to take over from a Yankee shipyard, and yes, he had equally positive news of Aarl. “He's got promotion. He is to be the Pilot of the Bramble, when she goes back to Russia. He's tickled to death,”his late Captain added. 

“And what about your No.1 in the LEDA?” I asked. “I suppose you've heard he's made it with his girl in Aberdeen. He sent me a piece of the cake. I meant to keep it for today, but I ate it!”

“No.1 in the LEDA? Oh, he's going back on the same run too as No.1 in the Bramble. That's a step up for him, also. Benson is getting his brass hat, you know. While M.S.1 is due to go to the Admiralty, as Director of Minesweeping.”

Source: Extracts from ‘PQ17’ by Godfrey Winn who travelled to North Russia aboard HMS Pozarica