Cope, Cyril Ernest (Oral history)

British seaman served as torpedoman aboard HMS Hardy, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean, South Atlantic, GB coastal waters and Norway, 9/1939-4/1940 including sinking in Ototfjord, 10/4/1940; evaded capture in Norway, 4/1940

REEL 1 Background in Salford, GB, 1918-1936: family; education; reasons for enlistment in Royal Navy, 1936. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Hardy, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean, South Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 9/1939-4/1940: attitude towards naval discipline; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; move to mouth of Dardanelles Straits to intercept German merchant ships carrying grain; formation of Force H and hunt for German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee in South Atlantic; return to GB coastal waters; duties as torpedoman; examples of Captain Bernard Warburton-Lees' keenness for discipline. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Hardy, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in Norway, 4/1940 including sinking in Ofotfjord, 10/4/1940: role warning neutral merchant vessels from minefield laid in Norwegian Leads; receiving message from HMS Glowworm. REEL 2 Continues: discovery of debris in water at reported position of HMS Glowworm; exchange of fire between HMS Renown and German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; removal of guard rails in order to free up torpedo tubes; gathering of intelligence from Norwegians about German destroyer movements at Narvik; abortive plan for landing party to capture Narvik; rum issue prior to battle; refusal of Norwegian pilot to take destroyers up to Narvik; progress of destroyer flotilla up fjord towards Narvik, 10/4/1940; sight of captured British iron ore ship; torpedo attack on German ships, 10/4/1940; subsequent attack on German ships in Narvik harbour using ship's guns, 10/4/1940; thwarting of third attempt to attack Narvik harbour; pursuit of ship by German destroyers from Narvik towards Ballangen. REEL 3 Continues: destruction of ship's bridge and casualties; further hits on ship and subsequent damage and casualties; stopping of engines; abandoning ship, 10/4/1940; period in water in sea struggling with whaler; his rescue of non-swimmer shipmate; swimming ashore; problems on shore with frozen clothing; shelter in Norwegian house; search for clothing in Norwegian house; rescue of navigation officer left for dead on ship. Recollections of period evading capture and rescue by HMS Ivanhoe in Norway, 4/1940: discussion about whether survivors should surrender or not; trek towards Ballangen; physical state he was at Ballangen hospital. REEL 4 Continues: aid from Norwegians in Ballangen; planning escape from Ballangen; hospitality of Norwegians and reunion with shipmates; reaction to hearing news of sinking of HMS Hardy on British Broadcasting Corporation World Service; system for raising alarm at German approach; clearing snow for convoy of wounded Germans; relations with Norwegian family which helped him; arrival of Merchant Navy seamen who had escaped from German captivity; sight of HMS Warspite sailing up fjord; attempt of HMS Hardy survivors to signal HMS Warspite's Fairey Swordfish piloted by Petty Officer Frederick 'Ben' Rice; sight of Second Battle of Narvik; appearance of rescue party from HMS Ivanhoe; embarkation of survivors aboard HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Kimberley; voyage back to GB. REEL 5 Continues: reception for survivors in GB; meeting with First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill in London; reception in Devonport; train journey home to Salford; reception on arrival in Manchester; how his wife miscarried as result of upset over loss of HMS Hardy; physical effects of service aboard HMS Hardy; story of how bronchitis contracted in Norway saved him drafting to HMS St James torpedoed off West Africa.