The Royal Navy at Devonport since 1900

[al1934]

I thoroughly recommend this book of photos and facts by Lt. Cdr. Ben Warlow RN.

Includes two photos of HMS Javelin. One of the photos, taken November 1940, shows Javelin being towed back to Guzz after Mountbatten screwed up a night time engagement with some German destroyers. Javelin lost nearly 200 feet of her original 353 feet, having taken two torpedoes - one took off her bows and the other her stern. The other photo shows her in the Sound after Guzz Dockyard skilfully rebuilt her just over a year later.

There is even a photo of Alfonso Jago in this remarkable volume - but unsigned!

I bought my copy from Maritime Books, who have long gone but copies are available online.

[al1934]

PS: I once lived nextdoor to the late Rear Admiral Tony Pugsley, CB, DSO** who had commanded Javelin during the operation but was outranked by Lord Louis. He once told me that he could never forgive the man for an act of naval suicide which resulted in the loss of 3 officers and 43 ratings.