Wartime escorts faced U-boats snapping at their heels
(From The Orcadian dated May 2, 2002)

Westray man Bill Harcus - now 90 years old - served on the corvette HMS Samphire during World War Two, protecting the vital convoys to and from the UK. Here, he recounts the events of Convoy HG 79 in December , 1941, and a final encounter with one of the men responsible for the sinking of the warship Royal Oak in Scapa Flow at the outset of the war

Bill Harcus in naval uniform. The photograph was taken in 1941.

On Tuesday, August 2, 1960, a happy reunion of friendship took place between Mr and Mrs Jack Jackson Ashburner, Egremont, Cumberland, and their Orkney friends Mr and Mrs William Harcus and family, East-Thorn, Westray.

Jack and I took full advantage of the prevailing inclement weather, and the long-awaited opportunity to discuss the following, and many other adventures afloat

On turning the pages of the calendar back, Jack and I found that we first met each other on board the brand new corvette, HMS Samphire. Jack was then Higher Submarine Detector (HSD) on board, while

I had just newly qualified as one of the operators of the Asdic set.

The Samphire was one of the original corvettes of the 36th Escort Group that did valuable convoy work, sailing from Liverpool to the Mediterranean. That group of corvettes were under the supreme command of no less a person than Britain’s Ace U-boat killer, the late Captain F. J. Walker, DSO, RN of HMS Stork. He later took over the command of HMS Starling, when he formed and commanded the U-boat Killer Group, which spelt death to German U-boats.

The outward bound convoy had taken almost three weeks to reach its destination, Gibraltar. The corvettes of the 36th Escort Group were riding high in the water, they were badly in need of refuelling and taking on fresh supplies of food.

The officers and men of the ship’s company were looking forward to a well-earned rest before picking up the homeward bound convoy. On tying up at the destroyer pens, it was learned that Britain’s crack aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, had been torpedoed thirty miles east of The Rock, and was in danger of sinking.

The 336th Escort Group immediately refuelled and proceeded to sea in search of the German U-boat. Meanwhile, the Ark Royal, which could not be saved, had gone to her last resting place. Out of the whole ship’s complement of 1,600 officers and men, only one man lost his life.

The 36th Escort Group were reinforced by destroyers dispatched from Force H. Steaming abreast and searching over a wide area of sea, we expected to make contact with enemy submarines some time during the night. It was not until the night of November 16 that the corvette HMS Marigold made contact with the enemy.

HMS Samphire, pictured above steaming her way onto another mission, eventually fell prey to the U-boats she had spent her life hunting. She was sunk in the Mediterranean on January 30, 1943, after Bill Harcus had left her. Samphire was escorting a convoy which was taking part in the Africa campaign when she was hit by torpedoes. The Captain, two officers and 42 of the ship’s crew perished.

I had completed my watch on the Asdic set, and gone down to our sleeping quarters to turn in, when I heard the rumble of exploding depth-charges and the bark of gunfire somewhere near at hand, on our starboard beam.

All the rest of the watch were fast asleep, so I just settled down on my bunk and waited for the “action stations” alarm bells to ring out, but they remained silent.

We had already spent too many hours watch-keeping on the long voyage out not to take advantage of a little shut-eye when the opportunity came along. Feeling very tired and sleepy, I rolled into my bunk, and was soon fast asleep.

On being awakened to take over Asdic watch again, I was informed that during the night, HMS Marigold had made contact with a U-boat and had engaged her with all she had. The striking power of the Marigold’s guns and depth charges had made short work of the enemy submarine. She proved to be the U-433, en route to join up with the Italian submarine fleet, the idea being to boost their dwindling morale.

On picking up no less than 40 survivors, the Marigold left the search group and returned to Gibraltar with her prisoners.

For a few days more, the 36th Escort Group continued their wide sweep eastwards towards Malta, but no further contact with the enemy could be made. They returned to harbour, having spent another week on the search at sea.

On refuelling and taking on supplies, we again put to sea, this time to patrol the western approaches to the Straits of Gibraltar, through which it was known U-boats were making entry to the Mediterranean.

For a number of days an intensive patrol was carried out with no results. At last, one night when darkness had crept out on the face of the water, a reconnaissance plane returning to Gibraltar from patrol reported a U-boat on the surface over on the African side of the patrol area.

Captain Walker on HMS Stork signalled to the Samphire to proceed with all possible speed to the given position. With the engine room telegraph set to full-ahead, the Samphire made good way through the water.

Our Commanding Officer, however, was not at all satisfied with the progress being made, especially when he saw the Stork was gaining and gradually drawing ahead of us.From the bridge to the engine room came the order “Give her all you’ve got, Chief.”

Bill Harcus relaxes at home in Westray where he can recollect - in more peaceful surroundings - the dramatic events he faced more than 60 years ago.

The ERA complied with the order, and soon the Samphire was rushing through the water as she never had before. Gradually, we began to overhaul the Stork, she was now abaft our beam once more. Leaving her well astern, we reached the area first and commenced our U-boat hunt.

Jack was now at his action station on the Asdic set. Soon he picked up a firm submarine contact. With depth-charges all set to fire, the Samphire steamed in to make the first attack. On the signal - FIRE!- a pattern of ten charges was rained down, dead on target.

Jack maintained contact, and our Captain was all set for another run-in, but I could see from my action station on the depth charge throwers that the Stork had now come on the scene and was in the act of making a signal to the bridge that she had obtained contact and would carry out the next attack.

After the Stork dropped her pattern of ten charges, contact could no longer be gained by either ship. It was taken for granted that that would be another of Doenitz’s U-boats that would not return from patrol.

Soon afterwards the Group were recalled to Gibraltar. Re-entering the harbour, they refuelled and were soon ready to escort yet another convoy bound for England.

Convoy through the wolf packs - the story of convoy HG 76 - click here