Hero of the fleet

摘要

I enjoyed the article Afloat with a Walrus in the October issue. Our dad worked at Fairey Aviation for most of his life so the pictures of the Swordfish floatplanes were good to see. In the article reference was made to the sinking of the County-class cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and Cornwall and the writer mentions the search for survivors. I remember reading a biography of Sir James Somerville [Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet] many years ago and in it mention was made of the survivors on life rafts. One was quoted as saying that they hadn't been too worried because they knew Sir James would come and find them. He was very highly regarded by the lower ranks. [Sir James went on to become Admiral of the Fleet, the Royal Navy's highest rank. He died in 1949, aged 66 - ED]. Incidentally his granddaughter is BBC television present Julia Somerville.