TNA ADM 199 792

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H.M.S. "KEITH" FINAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS 30th MAY -
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1st JUNE, 1940, WITH HER EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION.
(Captain Berthon's No.31 of 1st July, 1940 to V.A. Dover.)
44. At about 0750 on 1st June a further heavy dive-
/
June
bombing attack was launched on "Keith" by the same type of
aircraft. A salvo of bombs from one ai rcraft straddled
the ship. A near miss or hit on the starboard side made
a large hole in the ship's side at the forward end of the
Engine Room below the waterline and the same, or another,
bomb burst the bulkhead between the Engine Room and the after
Boiler Room on the same side. The Engine Room was instantly
flooded and the controls wrecked and the after Boiler Room
flooded very shortly afterwards; a bomb may have gone down
the funnel as the after Boiler Room caught fire. Steam was
gradually lost and the ship came slowly to rest.
45. Lieutenant (E) William Henry Kenward R.N. was
knocked off the control platform of the Engine Room by the
explosion and killed, as were several other men in the Engine
Room and after Boiler Room.
46. It is thought that there must also have been serious
damage to the hull on the port side as the ship at once took
up a heavy list to port and this gradually increased until
the upper deck was within a few inches of the water. Spectators
in ships nearby reported at least two direct hits in this attack
on "Keith".
47. Torpedoes were fired with no range on and all depth
charges jettisoned, set to safe, due to the danger from further
aircraft attacks.
48. Signal and wireless books were then jettisoned in
safes and all secret charts were jettisoned in a weighted
chart container. Confidential folios were locked in a
drawer with the exception of folio H for which there was no
space. This was thrown overboard with Fleet Notices to
Mariners in weighted Guard Boards. Telegraph charts ware in
the locked drawer with the current Z chart.
49. During this time an M.T.B. came alongside and took
off Rear Admiral Dover and his staff, who returned to Dover.
50. Main W/T aerials were blown down in this attack and
efforts were made to repair them. All boats on the starboard
side were holed by near misses. The port whaler was lowered
and all carley floats were got out and secured to it. A
considerable quantity of timber was collected and thrown
overboard.
51. As the ship was settling the order to abandon ship
was given and the majority of the men, who were able to find
timber to hold on to or a place in the boat and floats, left
the ship.
series
52. At this moment the enemy launched a further ****** of
dive bombing attacks without hitting the ship but several near
misses again shook her. Some of these bombs landed amongst the
men in the water.
53.
The enemy was