Surnames containing 'Cottrell' |
12
|
|
||||||
| Cottrell, Clement Fraser | ||||||
| Sub Lieutenant | ||||||
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
I have often looked for an opportunity of paying tribute to our submariners.
There is no branch of His Majesty's Forces which in this war has suffered the same proportion of total loss as our submarine service.
It is the most dangerous of all services.
That is perhaps the reason why the First Lord tells me that the entry into it is keenly sought by Officers and Men.
I feel sure the House would wish to testify its gratitude and admiration to our Submariners for their Skill - Courage and Devotion which has proved of inestimable value to the sustenance of our country.
Winston Churchill
|
We Will Remember Them |
|
Suddenly there was an almighty thump, as the conning tower of the submarine struck our hull, almost below where we were standing. The stern of the "Grey Rover" was shunted round a few degrees to port and the bow to starboard. On the bridge we were in shock for a few moments with the realisation of what had happened. The propeller was quickly declutched from the engine and I took a position of our ship. The engineers below, who must have had an awful fright, were told what had happened and checked that we had not been holed.
During the bleak, heartbreaking days of early 1942, when beleaguered Malta was reeling under bombardment and blockade and Rommel was making his last desperate thrust towards Egypt, only one British submarine was operating in the western Mediterranean - the tiny, 600-ton Unbroken.
In twelve months in the Med, Unbroken sank over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping, took part in four secret operations, three successful gun actions, and survived a total of over 400 depth charges, as well as innumerable air and surface attacks.
This account of the 26-year-old Alastair Mars' command of this outstandingly successful submarine embraces her construction, sea trials and voyage to Gibraltar preparatory to her vital role in the Mediterranean. Once there, she was responsible for the destruction of two Italian cruisers and played a pivotal part in Operation Pedestal, the convoy that saved Malta from surrender.
Alastair Mars writes simply and without pretension, and his words evoke the claustrophobic yet heroic world of the submariner.
11 pages added or updated in the last 2 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.
Suddenly there was an almighty thump, as the conning tower of the submarine struck our hull, almost below where we were standing. The stern of the "Grey Rover" was shunted round a few degrees to port and the bow to starboard. On the bridge we were in shock for a few moments with the realisation of what had happened. The propeller was quickly declutched from the engine and I took a position of our ship. The engineers below, who must have had an awful fright, were told what had happened and checked that we had not been holed.
During the bleak, heartbreaking days of early 1942, when beleaguered Malta was reeling under bombardment and blockade and Rommel was making his last desperate thrust towards Egypt, only one British submarine was operating in the western Mediterranean - the tiny, 600-ton Unbroken.
In twelve months in the Med, Unbroken sank over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping, took part in four secret operations, three successful gun actions, and survived a total of over 400 depth charges, as well as innumerable air and surface attacks.
This account of the 26-year-old Alastair Mars' command of this outstandingly successful submarine embraces her construction, sea trials and voyage to Gibraltar preparatory to her vital role in the Mediterranean. Once there, she was responsible for the destruction of two Italian cruisers and played a pivotal part in Operation Pedestal, the convoy that saved Malta from surrender.
Alastair Mars writes simply and without pretension, and his words evoke the claustrophobic yet heroic world of the submariner.
11 pages added or updated in the last 2 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.