| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P00219.013 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Maker |
Milne, Robert Nicol |
| Date made | c 1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Mediterranean Sea, probably Sollum, Egypt. Port quarter view of the W Class Destroyer HMS ...
Description
Mediterranean Sea, probably Sollum, Egypt. Port quarter view of the W Class Destroyer HMS Wryneck, pennant number L04. In 1939 HMS Wryneck was selected for conversion to an anti-aircraft escort (WAIR) ship.The conversion was completed in March 1940 and she was re-commissioned in April. She went to work escorting convoys in the Mediterranean Sea until 27 April 1941, when in company with HMS Diamond the pair of destroyers rescued the survivors from the Dutch troopship Slamat, which has been disabled by German air attack. 700 crew and troops were taken off the Slamat. The two destroyers were also attacked by Ju87 Stukas (from JG77) and were both sunk about 20 nautical miles east off Cape Maleas, Greece. Of the 983 men from all three ships only 66 survived. (Photographed by Robert Milne taken from HMAS Vendetta).