Battle of the River Plate. Wednesday 13th December 1939.
Received signals from Ajax and Exeter saying they are in action
against Pocket Battleship Graf Spee.
We leave Falklands at full speed. At 1100 Exeter goes in to engage
Graf Spee while Ajax and Achilles stand off as they only have
6’ guns and are out of range. After 2 hours Exeter retires
and lets Ajax and Achilles have a wipe. They outmanoeuvre her
and batter her driving her towards the River Plate and force her
to run into Monte Video, escaping unharmed themselves.
Exeter carries on to Falklands having been damaged, the other
two patrol outside and we join them.
Uruguay government give Graf Spee 48 hours to make herself seaworthy
and clear out, later extended to 72 hours. Ship builders in Monte
Video will not work on her as they are anti-German. Meanwhile
we (the 3 of us) patrol outside patiently waiting.
Sunday 17th December - 1300gmt
I’ve not had my clothes off for 4 days and not much sleep
but it will be worth it if we can get her. Her time is up at 1600
tonight and we are ready. We want a whack at her. We were disappointed
because we let the Exeter take our place to go down to the Falklands
while she patrolled as she had damaged her screws. When she relieved
us we went down in her place. So we should have met the Graf Spee
not the Exeter and if her screws hadn’t been damaged. We,
the Cumberland and Exeter who form the hunting force (force G)
would have carried out our original programme of searching for
her, and done the wiping in proper style and not given her the
chance to nip into Monte Video (Cumberland is senior officer of
force G and normally in supreme command). We’ve given ourselves
the name of ‘the canteen boat’ as we are the only one
out of our squadron not to go into action or even capture a merchant
ship, but have acted as transport for other ships prisoners and
our class can travel twice as far as any other ship in the navy
without oiling.
The Commodore was awarded the KGB and made Rear Admiral and the
Captains of Exeter and Achilles awarded CB’s, besides appearing
in the press, and so telling their folks at home where they were,
whereas we’ve still to let them know, but only a few hours
and she’ll have to come out or be interned.
We have reinforcements in Battleship Renown, Aircraft carrier
Ark Royal and French Battleship Dunkerque not far off in case
report is correct that Pocket Battleship Admiral Von Sheer and
submarines are on way to the scene.
Bit of American news yesterday states that soon America will regard
all German reports as 100% lies. Firstly Germany announced that
Cruiser Achilles was sunk by Von Spee whereas she was not touched,
and that our forces used poison gas. Whole world now knows the
truth, and are we and they laughing!
I hope the Von Sheer does come with her subs we’ll wipe them
and so leave one German cruiser active in the Atlantic with a
few subs.
One of our aircraft flew over the Graf spee yesterday morning,
and she opened fire on it but didn’t hit it and so should
rightly be interned for violating a neutral harbour though our
ships aircraft should also be interned.
The Cumberland looks a sight. We looked a wreck when we went to
the Falklands with not much paint left on us. We were painting
ship when the action began and so half the ship looks ‘tiddly’
and half horrible, but well show ‘em what we can do! if the
Exeter could do so much damage, we could ‘vittle her up’
on our own! It was left to the good old South Atlantic Squadron
of 4 cruisers (minus one - US) to give the Jerries a walloping.
(Many small boats filled to the Gun’lls with people - presumably
press of the world etc. and decked with flags! in near vicinity
of us throughout whole of this threatened action!!! My job was
at that time radio operator in the control tower in contact with
our spotting aircraft).
7.15pm local time (9.15pm gmt) I received “Most Immediate”
messages from Monte Video saying that Graf Spee was transferring
700 of her crew to German merchant ship Takoma leaving 250 on
board. Then that she was raising steam, and then finally that
she had sailed. We then closed up at action stations (not before
last dog watchmen having supper) we within 15 miles and just waiting
for her to clear territorial waters before opening fire (all guns
loaded and cleared for action) when our spotting aircraft reported
“she’s blown her f—-ing self up!” All 3 ships,
Ajax, Achilles and Cumberland cleared lower deck and cheered ship.
Achilles hoisting New Zealand ensign at main, white ensign at
fore (New Zealand ship), congratulatory signals passed between
ships. Graf Spee caught fire, still burning when I came off middle
watch at 4.a.m.
Winston Churchill broadcast following evening (Monday 18th December)
and mentioned Cumberland for the first time, all in the press
next day, I read it and kept copy of the part mentioning us.
Crew of Graf Spee boarded 2 tugs and sailed up river to Buenos
Aires hoping they wouldn’t be interned there, as Uruguay
would definitely do so.
Ajax and Achilles shove off, believed one to Buenos Aires and
other to Monte Video while we continue patrolling.
Graf Spee scuttled herself on direct order from Hitler.
Wednesday 20th December
Only 2 German ships escaped from this coast during the action. One was captured and the other 33,000 ton Colombus scuttled herself yesterday off the U.S coast. Both these ships escaped from Van Cruz in Mexico. NO German ship has ever escaped from us in the South Atlantic so far.
Captain of the Graf Spee committed suicide in Monte Video today
wednesday, remainder of crew are interned in Buenos Aires and
will cost Argentina £6,000 a month, to be charged against
Germany.
Friday 22nd December
Anchored 3 miles outside Monte. Graf Spee quite close and still
smouldering and half out of the water (only sank in 4 fathoms).
Met Dorsetshire in forenoon, sailed for Falklands in the evening.
Admiral Von Scheer escaped from Germany 14th December, we believe
she is going to attack Exeter who she knows is out of action in
Falklands. All squadron going down there and she’ll get a
surprise if she tries. (squadron now includes Dorsetshire instead
of Exeter)
Christmas Eve 1939
Arrived Falklands, Dorsetshire in company.
