Saturday, 23 October

OPERATION TUNNEL

Light cruiser CHARYBDIS with destroyers GRENVILLE, ROCKET, LIMBOURNE, WENSLEYDALE, TALYBONT and STEVENSON, departed Plymouth on the 22nd to intercept blockade runner MUNSTERLAND in the Bay of Biscay. Early on the 23rd, they were engaged by a force of German torpedo boats T.23, T.22, T.25, T.26, and T.27 of the 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla.

Cruiser CHARYBDIS (Captain G A Voelcker) was sunk T.23 and T.27. Captain Voelcker, Ty/Act/Lt Cdr C G Gwynn RNVR, Cdr (E) J D Hamilton, Ty/Chaplain Reverend H Mitchell RNVR, Ty/Paymaster Sub Lt L G Turner RNVR, fifty three ratings, and six Marines were killed, and Ty/Lt F B Bennett RNVR, Lt J C Carver, Act/Surgeon Lt Cdr H de L N Davis RNVR, Paymaster Cdr A C Dickson, Lt P F Duke, Ty/Act/Warrant Electrician S J K G Elliott, Ty/Sub Lt S E Fisher RNVR, Lt (E) G L Giles, Gunner A J Hollingdale, Surgeon Cdr H de B Kempthorne, Ty/Sub Lt J M Leventhorpe, Lt (E) I D Leverett, Ty/Act/Paymaster Sub Lt J Little RNVR, Act/Warrant Mechanic T Livesey, Schoolmaster F H Lowndes DSC, Lt O A Moseley RNR, Ty/Paymaster Lt P E Oates RNVR, Ty/Act/Sub Lt J A Owen RNVR, Lt (E) P G Pedrick, Lt (E) J M Phillips, Ty/Act/Sub Lt J Pounds RNVR, Warrant Shipwright H J Rees, Gunner T R Wilden, Ty/Act/Gunner (T) M J Williams, three hundred and thirty seven ratings, and thirty five Marines missing. Four officers and 103 ratings were rescued.

Destroyer LIMBOURNE (Act/Cdr J Phipps OBE) was badly damaged by T.22, and after an unsuccessful attempt to tow, was scuttled by TALYBONT. Three ratings died of wounds, and Surgeon Lt R F Barlow and thirty eight ratings were missing. Cdr Phipps, Ty/Lt P L Berridge RNVR, Lt D V B Unwin and Ty/Lt J H Wilton RNVR were wounded, and 11 officers and 92 ratings rescued.