Thursday, 31 December

BATTLE OF THE BARENTS SEA

Destroyer ACHATES (Lt Cdr A H T Johns) was sunk by German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER in the Barents Sea. Cdr Johns, Sub Lt K H Highfield RNR, Ty/Surgeon Lt J L B MacFarlane RNVR, Ty/Lt E B Marland DSC RNVR and seven ratings were killed, Ty/Sub Lt P R Barrett RNVR died of wounds, and Ty/Lt R H Perry RNVR, Lt (E) P A Wright RNR and ninety nine and ratings were missing. Lt L E P Jones DSC, Gunner (T) E Smith, Sub Lt A J Davidson and seventy eight ratings were rescued.

Minesweeper BRAMBLE (Cdr H T Rust DSO) was sunk by German destroyers ECKHOLDT, BEITZEN, and Z.29 in the Barents Sea. Cdr Rust, Ty/Lt H C Aalf RNR, Paymaster Lt M L Cully, Warrant Engineer F Docherty, Lt N R Lambrick, Ty/Lt A T McKevitt BEM RNVR, Ty/Lt DMorrison RNVR, Ty/Lt R E Perry-Hook RNVR and one hundred and twelve ratings were missing.