Canadian Naval Forces "Interview with Lieut. Cully" page 1 of page 4
Description
- Media Type
- Image
- Item Type
- Documents
- Description
- Page 1 of the Canadian Navy interview with Lieut. Cully describing action of HMCS Oakville on August 28, 1942.
- Notes
- Memorandum: To the Naval Broadcasting officer.
Re: Recent action of H.M.C.S. "Oakville". - Inscriptions
- Canadian Naval Forces Memorandum: To Naval Braodcasting Officer. Re: Recent action of H.M.C.S. "Oakville".
Interview with Lieut. Cully
The following is vague in some sections. It was impossible to secure more explicit information than herein contained.
H.M.C.S. Oakville was in convoy duty in the Caribbean, in company of several American vessels, including an American destroyer, and one Dutch naval vessel. There were 26 vessels in the convoy. Convoy's position was between Haiti and Jamaica, and it was Oakville's second night out of Curacao. There were three Canadian corvettes in all in the convoy escort, and the Oakville's position was on the port quarter of the convoy.
It was around 11p.m. of the (neglected to ascertain date), and a hazily moonlit night. Visibility not very good, and convoy couldn't be seen easily from the Oakville. Disposition of the officers was as follows: The captain, Lieutenant-Commander King, and Lieut. Cully were sleeping under an awning on top of the compass shelter above the bridge. Sub-Lt. E.G. Scott was alone on the bridge on watch. Sub-Lt. Lawrence and Sub-Lt. Fenwick were below, sleeping. The usual lookouts were on deck, and the man at the wheel, signalman on watch. The Captain and Cully were awakened by an explosion about a mile ahead, on the port bow. They climbed down the ladder to the bridge. No details of conversation available. The Captain took over, and the bosun's mate called in the gun crew and depth charge party (3 men), and also called the other two officers. The officers took over their various stations, Scott to the gun, Lawrence on asdic, Fenwick--navigation, and Cully roaming about staying off the bridge. Mr. Fenwick was in wheelhouse, Mr. Scott and Captain on bridge. (further note on Fenwick later) The explosion they had heard was a bomb dropped by a shore-based Catalina aircraft from Cuba, which had sighted a sub. Apparently, she did not signal escort vessels, although this may be an inaccuracy. All that could be seen from the Oakville was a column of water rising from one of the explosions, and the aircraft circling with lights flashing. The Oakville made for that spot, and action stations were rung. Then, the aircraft dropped a flare which went out. As the Oakville came over the spot, she dropped a pattern of depth charges, then altered course to stab'd. Almost at once she obtained an asdic contact 600 yards ahead. Lawrence reported the contact through the voice pipe to the - Date Of Event
- August 28, 1942
- Subject(s)
- Collection
- HMCS Oakville - E. Stewart, Curator
- Language of Item
- English
- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Contact
- Oakville MuseumEmail:oakvillemuseum@oakville.ca
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