Post by Dave Homewood on May 19, 2021 23:40:32 GMT 12
THRILLING STORY
AIRCRAFT-CARRIER SUNK
“BIG FLAMING BALL”
NEW ZEALAND SEAMEN
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Special Correspondent) LONDON, July 6
Swimming in the warm water of the Indian Ocean under a clear blue sky in brilliant sunshine, Able-Sea-man K. A. Walls, of Wellington, on April 9 saw Japanese dive-bombers batter his ship, the British aircraft carrier Hermes, until she became “like a big, flaming ball.” The Japanese continued their bombing until the Hermes sank.
While treading water Walls saw silhouetted against the skyline one of the ship’s anti-aircraft guns still being operated by an able seaman who had served in the Royal Navy for nearly 20 years. “He must have known that he hadn’t a chance,” said Walls, “but he kept on firing as the Hermes settled down. Then she suddenly turned over and went down. It was a quick finish — less than half a minute.”
Able-Seaman Walls has returned to England after an absence of 18 months. He served in the Hermes for seven months, and visited the Seychelles, Mauritius and Capetown. He was an anti-aircraft ammunition supplier on the top flight deck of the Hermes when the Japanese attacked the ship.
“It was a perfect day,” he said. “We had gone to action stations as usual at dawn. We were about 60 miles south of Trincomalee and 10 miles off the coast when we heard a merchant ship had been sunk 60 miles to the north. Following this we intercepted a Japanese wireless message to the enemy parent ship saying that we had been sighted, so we knew that we could expect an attack.
Fires Break Out On Ship
“Our marines spotted the Japanese aircraft first. The enemy machines dived out of the sun. I saw bombs go right through our deck, leaving small holes, and then heard explosions below. The whole ship shuddered and fires broke out. The steering gear and the water pumps were put out of action. As a result the Hermes revolved helplessly in circles and on fire while the Japanese battered her. “We could see the dive-bombers' markings—red blobs—also yellow and black stripes on the fuselage. They dropped their bombs from the height of about a six-storey building. They attacked relentlessly and were not put off by our barrage. It only took about 20 minutes to sink the Hermes.
“There were few lifeboats, which mostly were smashed, so I stepped into the water when the ship lurched and managed to find a bit of wreckage. My chief worry while the Japanese finished off the Hermes was concussion from the bombs which exploded in the water. I could feel the effect in my stomach and legs.
“I was picked up after four and a-half hours when a hospital ship arrived. We went to Kandy for two days.
“After the Hermes sank the Japanese fired three bursts from machine-guns, which apparently was a signal, for they formed up and flew off. While we were in the water a surgeon from a raft swam round to the bits of wreckage for four hours giving morphia to badly wounded men, of whom many were severely burned. He did grand work.” Able-Seaman Walls is now on leave in London.
WAIKATO TIMES, 8 JULY 1942
AIRCRAFT-CARRIER SUNK
“BIG FLAMING BALL”
NEW ZEALAND SEAMEN
(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Special Correspondent) LONDON, July 6
Swimming in the warm water of the Indian Ocean under a clear blue sky in brilliant sunshine, Able-Sea-man K. A. Walls, of Wellington, on April 9 saw Japanese dive-bombers batter his ship, the British aircraft carrier Hermes, until she became “like a big, flaming ball.” The Japanese continued their bombing until the Hermes sank.
While treading water Walls saw silhouetted against the skyline one of the ship’s anti-aircraft guns still being operated by an able seaman who had served in the Royal Navy for nearly 20 years. “He must have known that he hadn’t a chance,” said Walls, “but he kept on firing as the Hermes settled down. Then she suddenly turned over and went down. It was a quick finish — less than half a minute.”
Able-Seaman Walls has returned to England after an absence of 18 months. He served in the Hermes for seven months, and visited the Seychelles, Mauritius and Capetown. He was an anti-aircraft ammunition supplier on the top flight deck of the Hermes when the Japanese attacked the ship.
“It was a perfect day,” he said. “We had gone to action stations as usual at dawn. We were about 60 miles south of Trincomalee and 10 miles off the coast when we heard a merchant ship had been sunk 60 miles to the north. Following this we intercepted a Japanese wireless message to the enemy parent ship saying that we had been sighted, so we knew that we could expect an attack.
Fires Break Out On Ship
“Our marines spotted the Japanese aircraft first. The enemy machines dived out of the sun. I saw bombs go right through our deck, leaving small holes, and then heard explosions below. The whole ship shuddered and fires broke out. The steering gear and the water pumps were put out of action. As a result the Hermes revolved helplessly in circles and on fire while the Japanese battered her. “We could see the dive-bombers' markings—red blobs—also yellow and black stripes on the fuselage. They dropped their bombs from the height of about a six-storey building. They attacked relentlessly and were not put off by our barrage. It only took about 20 minutes to sink the Hermes.
“There were few lifeboats, which mostly were smashed, so I stepped into the water when the ship lurched and managed to find a bit of wreckage. My chief worry while the Japanese finished off the Hermes was concussion from the bombs which exploded in the water. I could feel the effect in my stomach and legs.
“I was picked up after four and a-half hours when a hospital ship arrived. We went to Kandy for two days.
“After the Hermes sank the Japanese fired three bursts from machine-guns, which apparently was a signal, for they formed up and flew off. While we were in the water a surgeon from a raft swam round to the bits of wreckage for four hours giving morphia to badly wounded men, of whom many were severely burned. He did grand work.” Able-Seaman Walls is now on leave in London.
WAIKATO TIMES, 8 JULY 1942
