TNA ADM 199 790

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DEVONUES,
and Juno 1940.
Sir,
I regret to have to report the loss of Hellows
by enemy action at 103 lat June 1940 off the Belgian
coast, The circumstances are 68 follows.
at about 0815 while embarking British troors off
EASURES I TRIC attacked by a squadron of nine German JUNKARS
dive bombers. They approached from astern and on sighting I went
full speed shoul 13 boilors connected and as the bombu were
released turned hard to port. 43 far as I could judge such aircraft
released & pattern of five Dombs one boing a large "B" type and
four smaller bombs with alight delay action. une of the latter
exploded at the ufter end of 40.3 boilor room on the port side and
storeed blew away the bulkhoad pieroing both main and suxiliery
steam linou and main oil fuel supply. +11 engine room and boilor
room personnel were killed. About six of the "B" type bomba then
exploded underneath the ship flooding the after magazine and
shell room and probably the gland compartments and store rooms
Just forward of this position. The uppor deck and older of the
ship cracked right across in the vicinity of the minnest. This is
a gonoral line of neukness in dostroyers.
In order to precerve stability the torpedoes and
depth charges were jottluoned and the ohio floated confortably
with little increase in drought. 1 increated ongine room and Ro.3
boiler room and found that a small amount of nuter was making its
way through shrapnel holos. These were plugged and collision eat
placed over the norst lonks. It WELL found impossible to got steam
to the enginee and the ship thereafter remined imobile.
4.
fforts were now made to send out messages for
assistance. a tug who had boon attending on Hahada "K-ITH" passed
me a signal triling DO to sink to which I replied that I
was out of action and required immediate addistance. 1 aluo
requested him to inform The Ylag officer Commanding, Nover to
this effect. Tue then dion peared. Jignals for assistance were
also mudo by using type 4 4 with battory power. It is
doubtful whether any of these seauages were received owing to very
heavy traffic at the time and comparative meukness of by cignals.
5.
a Belgiun fishing smook under French colours was
seen in the distunce and the notor boat TRIO desputched to
her to our assistance. she WAS 43 JULI- of Could and after
DOBB efforts a tow WELD passed and corse not to open from the coast.
This ha: hardly been accomplished before & second attack devellopped
ut about 0945. This consisted of lovel bumbing from about S, 10000.
each bomber acting independently. about hulf 5 squairon of 18
curried out the attack. Considering the ship was a stationary
target and there was little wind these attacks were pourly curried C
out and no bumba hit. This may have been due to pon pom fire if
which Hunner (2) 183 in charge. Unfortunately this
gallant officer WBG killed at his post by machino [un bulleta which
wore fired continuously as the bonbers pussed overhead.