The Mystery of Operation Alphabet

By Elaine Merrikin Trimlett Glover

For many years my knowledge of my grandfather, John Thomas Merrikin, was very limited.

All I knew of him was that he came from Amber Hill, Lincolnshire, and was for many years a police officer in Leicester. At the beginning of WW2, my grandfather was called up into the Naval Reserve first of all on HMS Devonshire, and then Stoker First Class on HMS Acasta.

8th June 1940, grandad John Thomas Merrikin died in the Norwegian fjords after the Scharnhorst, and Gneisenau blew up HMS Acasta, and as they sank into the cruel freezing cold sea Nick Carter launched a torpedo at the Scharnhorst and damaged her quite badly.

It wasn’t until I joined the GLARAC (Glorious, Ardent, Acasta) Association in 2008 that I realised that HMS Ardent, and HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, were also bombed by the two German battleships – both the pride of Nazi Germany. The two British destroyers were accompanying HMS Glorious on convoy. I also became aware of a huge conspiracy as to why 1531 servicemen were killed, and only 43 servicemen survived without Admiralty intervention.

During the lockdown of 2020-2021, I decided to do some of my own research on the worst British naval catastrophe of WW2, and I began to write The Mystery Of Operation Alphabet to bring to life 8th June 1940. I did this by putting photographs on as many names of the war dead and survivors as possible to bring them to life too. I also wrote down stories from books and articles of what happened to the war dead and survivors in their own words, and also of their loved ones, rather than writing using my own words, as I wanted the servicemen to have their own voice.

The Mystery of Operation Alphabet has endless photos of the different ships, lists of the war dead, and also I have written down as many explanations and conspiracy theories as possible as to why the three ships were blown up and 1531 men were killed. I did this by bringing to light the opinions and theories of Admiralty, naval historians, government officials, and members of the GLARAC Association so you can make up your own minds as to what happened.

One of my main aims is to bring to light the bravery of commanders Barker and Glasfurd of HMS Ardent, and HMS Acasta, plus Nick Carter, leading seaman of HMS Acasta, the man who shot the Scharnhorst, to hopefully get the government to give these men military honour and recognition for what they did on 8th June 1940. Amazingly, even the commanders of the German battleships saluted the British ships HMS Glorious, HMS Ardent and especially HMS Acasta as they sunk in the Norwegian fjords to honour their bravery.

Last but not least, I would like to uncover why the government has kept the ships’ records under lock and key since 1940, and why they aren’t going to be made public until 2040/41.

So why not read this interesting and intriguing book to find out more?

Elaine Merrikin Trimlett Glover.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398449626

Elaine Merrikin Trimlett Glover

Elaine was born in Leicester in 1961 to Valerie Rose and Bernard Merrikin. Bernard was the son of John Thomas Merrikin, whom this book is dedicated to. Elaine has children and grandchildren, and she has recently married Adrian the Bishop of OCAC in Christchurch Christian Centre, Jerusalem by Canon Andrew White the Vicar of Baghdad. Their Hebrew marriage certificate was signed with Andrew’s green pen which was the same pen used to sign Saddam Hussein’s death warrant by Chief Judge Raouf, who is also Elaine’s friend. Her love of English was inspired by her English teachers, Mr Page of Stonehill Secondary School in Birstall Leicester, and Mr Geoff Parker of Longslade Upper School also in Birstall Leicester. Both teachers were very key in her love for literature and prose. Elaine is a believer in Yeshua Messiah and has been a missionary in Chungni Suna Migori Kenya, where she was involved with Girl-Child Education, Prison Ministry and Evangelism. Elaine was a key figure in looking after Mr Raouf and his family when he and his wife came to Southampton for operations in 2011. Mr Raouf was the Chief Judge in Saddam Hussein’s trial and who sentenced him to death for war crimes against Halabja. Elaine went to stay with the Raouf family in 2011, and visited the Vicar of Baghdad, Canon Andrew White and his team during her stay in Iraq. Elaine is the Bishop of the Cross Denominational Mission, and also of Makongeni Church Chungni. Elaine is a radio presenter for Purbeck Coast Radio in Swanage, and Club Kingdom Radio in London. Amongst those she has interviewed is Canon Andrew White Vicar of Baghdad, retired Dorset Chief Constable James Vaughn, MP Desmond Swayne, MP Michael Tomlinson, Holocaust survivor Henry Schachter, Rolf Monteith and Vincent Marcroft of GLARAC Association. She has been a journalist for many years and is keen to express her views to world leaders around the globe including the late Mikhail Gorbachev president of Russia who sent Elaine an application to live there. She has also written to people like Rev Ian Paisley, IRA terrorist Bobby Sands whilst he was on hunger strike in Long Kesh, N. Ireland, during his hunger strike, and Gangster Reggie Kray who sent her a reply with a typed letter. Elaine is a published author and a poet.

Book preview

About the Author

Elaine was born in Leicester in 1961 to Valerie Rose and Bernard Merrikin.

Bernard was the son of John Thomas Merrikin, whom this book is dedicated to.

Elaine has children and grandchildren, and she has recently married Adrian the Bishop of OCAC in Christchurch Christian Centre, Jerusalem by Canon Andrew White the Vicar of Baghdad. Their Hebrew marriage certificate was signed with Andrew’s green pen which was the same pen used to sign Saddam Hussein’s death warrant by Chief Judge Raouf, who is also Elaine’s friend.

Her love of English was inspired by her English teachers, Mr Page of Stonehill Secondary School in Birstall Leicester, and Mr Geoff Parker of Longslade Upper School also in Birstall Leicester. Both teachers were very key in her love for literature and prose.

Elaine is a believer in Yeshua Messiah and has been a missionary in Chungni Suna Migori Kenya, where she was involved with Girl-Child Education, Prison Ministry and Evangelism. Elaine was a key figure in looking after Mr Raouf and his family when he and his wife came to Southampton for operations in 2011. Mr Raouf was the Chief Judge in Saddam Hussein’s trial and who sentenced him to death for war crimes against Halabja.

Elaine went to stay with the Raouf family in 2011, and visited the Vicar of Baghdad, Canon Andrew White and his team during her stay in Iraq. Elaine is the Bishop of the Cross Denominational Mission, and also of Makongeni Church Chungni.

Elaine is a radio presenter for Purbeck Coast Radio in Swanage, and Club Kingdom Radio in London. Amongst those she has interviewed is Canon Andrew White Vicar of Baghdad, retired Dorset Chief Constable James Vaughn, MP Desmond Swayne, MP Michael Tomlinson, Holocaust survivor Henry Schachter, Rolf Monteith and Vincent Marcroft of GLARAC Association.

She has been a journalist for many years and is keen to express her views to world leaders around the globe including the late Mikhail Gorbachev president of Russia who sent Elaine an application to live there. She has also written to people like Rev Ian Paisley, IRA terrorist Bobby Sands whilst he was on hunger strike in Long Kesh, N. Ireland, during his hunger strike, and Gangster Reggie Kray who sent her a reply with a typed letter. Elaine is a published author and a poet.

Remembering John Thomas Merrikin Leicestershire Police Officer and

Stoker 1st Class HMS Acasta one of the 1531 men who died 8th June 1940 Norwegian Fjords

Dedication

I wrote The Mystery of Operation Alphabet to try and bring to light what happened on the 8 June 1940 and why 1531 servicemen were lost at sea, by using a collections of stories from servicemen’s family, also extracts from letters and books from survivors, historical books and information.

One of my aims in writing this book is to bring to light the bravery of HMS Acasta Commander Charles Glasfurd, John Barker Commander of HMS Ardent and Leading Seaman Nick Carter, which can be seen throughout The Mystery of Operation Alphabet with all the information and testimonies of their courage on 8 June 1940. The crew of all three ships deserve Victoria Cross medals for their outstanding bravery.

The Mystery of Operation Alphabet is dedicated to the crews of HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, HMS Acasta, HMS Ardent and especially the 1531 servicemen, including my grandfather, John Thomas Merrikin, Stoker 1st Class on HMS Acasta, who died being left in the Norwegian Fjords for almost a week, their ships having been shelled by the German battleships, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst.

Their death was not necessarily due to the big guns but rather from being stranded in the freezing Norwegian Fjords without any provisions or a Royal Navy rescue party. Thankfully, 43 men survived in the cruel seas and were rescued by Norwegian fishing trawlers and a German seaplane. It was undoubtedly one of the worst naval catastrophes of WW2.

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I also dedicate this book to the GLARAC Association, David Woodcock, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago; to David Emery RMB MBE; to Vinney Marcroft and ‘Captain Monty’ Rolf Monteith RCN RET, both of whom I’ve interviewed on my radio programme a number of times concerning 8 June 1940; Gary Martin, website officer researcher/photographer; Garry Carter (grandson of Nick Carter), the GLARAC Distribution Officer; and all the members of GLARAC Committee and Association, whose ancestors were killed on HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, HMS Ardent and HMS Acasta.

I dedicate this book to Chief Constable of Leicester Simon Cole who was very supportive to Grandads Memorial at Leicestershire police Headquarters who passed away 2022.

Lastly and foremost, I dedicate this book to my grandfather John Thomas Merrikin who I am very proud of.

My grandfather John Thomas Merrikin, 1903–40

Stoker 1st Class, HMS Acasta.

We will never forget!

Copyright Information ©

Elaine Merrikin Trimlett Glover 2022

The right of Elaine Merrikin Trimlett Glover to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

The story, experiences, and words are the author’s alone.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398449619 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398449626 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

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E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to firstly acknowledge GLARAC Association for all their support with this book Mystery of Operation Alphabet, with information, photos, proof reading and for their financial support.

I acknowledge the various navy groups and associations for helping me financially with this book who want to remain anonymous.

I would like to acknowledge David Woodcock RIP, for all his years of research and dedication in trying to find out the truth of what really happened on the 8th June 1940 and why 1531 servicemen perished with no assistance from the British Admiralty.

I would also like to acknowledge Rolf Monteith for his endless effort in trying to fulfil his late wife’s wishes Peggy Kelly, whose brother died on HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, to find out the truth of the sinkings. Peggy believed it was due to the rescue of the Norwegian Royalty and Government that her brother was lost at sea.

I would like to thank Vincent Marcroft his tireless hard work and research for the GLARAC and for helping me in my research.

Garry Carter and Gary Martin for their commitment to the GLARAC and for helping me with all sorts of things.

I would like to acknowledge the work of Ben Barker and his commitment for trying to get Commanders Charles Glasfurd HMS Acasta, and his grandfather John Barker HMS Ardent, plus Nick Carter HMS Acasta, recognition for their bravery in trying to stop the two German battleships from destroying Aircraft Carrier Glorious, even until the boats were sinking. Also for his research concerning Operation Paul as a possible reason behind the sinking of the three ships.

I would like to acknowledge the work of Tim Slessor in his research concerning the three ships that were sunk and what had been the possible lead up to the sinking of HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent concerning the feud between Captain D’Oyly-Hughes and Air Commander John Heath, with letters from his father Paul Slessor.

I want to acknowledge David Emery for his tireless work and research for the GLARAC Association over the years and David is a legend in his own right.

Lance Shippey son of Frank Shippey HMS Duke of York, has been very helpful sharing some of his interesting research of the Scharnhorst and the German take on the sinkings on the three British ships, 8th June.

Leighton Rolley Director at Research Vessels Service Ltd has also brought about new information concerning the sinkings of the three ships sharing new and up to date research that has given a new take all the theories behind the loss of the three ships.

Cathy Brockelhurst has been a great help with proof reading and encouraging me with the book thanks you Cathy.

I would also like to acknowledge the Servicemen on Aircraft Carrier Glorious HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent who gave their lives on 8th June 1940 for their King and Country. You will never be forgotten.

I acknowledge Commander’s Barker and Glasfurd plus Nick Carter the man who shot the Scharnhorst for their bravery and loyalty to their country.

I acknowledge Captain Guy D’Oyly-Hughes for allowing Leading Aircraftman James Maw an Evangelist for agreeing to be able to preach the Gospel to the men on Aircraft Carrier Glorious. 500 men came to faith the day before the Glorious was sunk which have them the promise of eternal life … and thank God for both of these men!

I acknowledge my grandfather John Thomas Merrikin who I sadly never new but what I know you are a brave man and am proud to be related to you.

I acknowledge Leicestershire Constabulary for their support and help especially Chief Constable Simon Cole RIP who with the police historians provided a plaque for grandad, and took part in his memorial in Leicestershire Police headquarters garden of remembrance.

Lastly I acknowledge the Lord Yeshua Messiah who has helped me with this book and the inspiration during lockdown 2020 and for the way he answered the prayers of those who called out to him in the Norwegian sea... June 1940.

"You may think we are running away from the enemy; we are not.

Our Chummy ship has sunk, the Glorious is sinking.

The least we can do is make a show. Good luck."

Commander Charles Glasfurd of HMS Acasta

Commander Charles Glasfurd of HMS Acasta

Well Done Sir.

Another reason for writing this book is to try and answer as many questions as possible concerning the sinking of HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, the two destroyers Ardent and Acasta, and the loss of 1531 servicemen over a seven-day period. I’ve done this by sharing the survivors’, serviceman families and friends with their own accounts, and stories rather than just use my own words.

I’ve also researched as many possible causes of the loss of HMS Glorious, HMS Ardent and HMS Acasta in trying to discover the truth of what really happened on the 8 June 1940 as to why 1531 servicemen were left to die in the freezing Norwegian Fjords without out any British Naval intervention.

1. Was it because HMS Devonshire was carrying the Norwegian Royal family, Norwegian Government, and possibly their gold reserves, and therefore been under strict orders by Prime Minister Winston Churchill not to turn back to rescue the survivors as It would have put the Norwegian Royalty, and Government at risk?

Did HMS Devonshire receive the message that HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious sent them about the sinking, or was the message garbled, just as they stated it was?

Did the HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious have enough fuel?

Did Winston Churchill want to send HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, Ardent and Acasta to lay mines in Sweden’s port of Lulea, where the Germans bought top quality iron ore in the summer for their armament, under Churchill’s plan, ‘Operation Paul’?

Why did Admiral Wells allow Aircraft Carrier Glorious to leave his convoy with only a few destroyers rather than the several required by the Admiralty?

Was it because Captain D’Oyly-Hughes and John Heath had a dispute, over sending Fairy Swordfish planes to Norway to bomb ill-defined targets, causing unrest with the men on HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious?

Was it indeed a dispute over ‘Operation Paul’?

Captain D’Oyly-Hughes wanted to court-martial Commander (Air) John Heath, RN, HMS Glorious, who had challenged D’Oyly-Hughes’ commands. One wonders if Captain D’Oyly-Hughes would have lost total control of the Glorious as its Captain, had he not done so?

Was D’Oyly-Hughes under direct orders from Winston Churchill to lead ‘Operation Paul’ and if John Heath refused, could it have been Winston Churchill who ordered John Heath’s court martial?

Would Admiral Wells, HMS Ark Royal, have allowed HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious to leave with a convoy of only a few destroyers rather than several over a dispute with John Heath, or was it really ‘Operation Paul’ or some other reason especially as the Germans had just invaded Norway?

Was it to refuel as it’s been suggested by the Admiralty during a Parliament debate in the 1950s?

Did 1531 servicemen die because there were no provisions on the Carley floats, such as water, food, clothes, etc.?

Could the loss of the 1531 servicemen have been caused by a combination of situations?

Was Captain Guy D’Oyly-Hughes losing his faculties? Is that why the three ships were sunk or was he made a scapegoat for the sinking of the three ships when in fact he was a hero because of his role in ‘Operation Paul or as a decoy for HMS Devonshire carrying the Norwegian Royal family’?

When the survivors were rescued from being in the sea for several days, Admiralty wanted to debrief the men cautioning them not to say anything about what happened. Sworn to secrecy one wonders if the survivors stories were true if they were told what to say?

Did the Germans know about ‘Operation Paul’ and was it their mission to destroy the three ships?

Did the three ships have radar and if not, was this why they weren’t aware of the presence of the Scharnhorst?

Were the three ships under orders by Amorality what to do rather than their commanders especially Captain D’Oyly Hughes?

Introduction

I love nothing more than to browse through old books in charity shops, hoping to find naval history books, mentioning the battle in which my grandfather, John Merrikin, served as Stoker 1st Class on HMS Acasta. John was amongst the 1531 servicemen from HMS Acasta, Ardent and Aircraft Carrier Glorious, who were left to die in the cold waters of Norwegian Fjords having been bomb-blasted by German battleships, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst.

During lock down, it was my own personal mission to investigate why HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious and her two destroyers were allowed to leave their convoy. It was a naval ruling that a convoy had three cruisers and several destroyers, not one carrier and two destroyers. Sadly, all the books I have come across about the early part of WW2 and the battles in Norway seldom mention HMS’ Aircraft Carrier Glorious, Acasta and Ardent, just the two German battleships, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst.

Therefore, I have written this book so that we don’t forget what happened on 8 June 1940, when HMS Glorious Aircraft Carrier, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent were sunk by two German battle ships and 1531 servicemen died in the freezing water of the Norwegian Fjords, the worst British naval catastrophe of WW2. I may not have all the facts completely right but through sharing stories from other people’s books and information I’ve found from those who survived, like Nick Carter HMS Acasta, Ronald Healiss HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, and Roger Hooke HMS Ardent and other sources. I’ve attempted to bring as many possibilities to the table as I could.

This might help families try to come to terms with a possible ‘cover up’ that claimed the loss of lives of so many men, especially those young men aged 16–25 who had hardly lived a life. I want to find out the truth about Captain D’Oyly-Hughes’ behaviour and if HMS Glorious was an unhappy ship.

I also want to share about the work of the GLARAC Association who have done tremendous work to keep their loved ones’ memories alive and fight for their honour, bringing to light ‘truth’. However, even 80 years on, I suspect we will never really know the truth as to what happened, even when the records are available to the public in 2040/1?

Captain Rolf Monteith RCN RET met his first wife Wren Peggy Kelly who sadly passed away many years ago, at the Britannia pub in Milehouse, Plymouth. As they began to chat, she told Rolf what had caused her great bitterness and sadness and she said to Rolf, My brother was sacrificed to save the King of Norway.

Therefore Rolf promised Peggy he wouldn’t go his grave until he found out the truth about her brother’s death and get to the bottom of what was the cause of the possible ‘cover up’. HMS Devonshire received a message from HMS Glorious asking for help yet the Devonshire say that it was garbled, yet one crew member on the Devonshire said it was not garbled. 1531 died on the 8 June 1940 and the Norwegian Royalty and Government arrived safely to UK shores.

Rolf joined the GLARAC in 1990 as he wanted to find out if the loss of 1531 men on 8 June 1940 was a conspiracy as Peggy thought it could be and through his involvement with David Woodcock RIP and GLARAC, he. He also discovered that HMS Devonshire was carrying 29 tonnes of Norwegian Government money…

At this point of time, after all his research, Rolf, ‘Captain Monty’ RCN RET, does not believe it’s a conspiracy and let’s hope he finds an answer to give to Peggy Kelly before he meets her again on the other side.

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The information below has been taken from the research of Captain Rolf Monteith with the help of David Woodcock RIP. We can see some of the viewpoints and ideas from a few leading men in their own research put together by Rolf which he gave me at a gathering at a GLARAC weekend in Drake Naval Base Plymouth.

Ben Barker: Whose grandfather was John Barker, Commander of HMS Ardent, and father was Commander of HMS Endurance in the Falklands, is unable to accept a conspiracy theory. Ben says that the loss of the three ships and eventual heavy death toll due to failure of communications was the consequence of a series of military blunders.

The failure to interview Vice Admiral Wells meant there was no conclusive proof as to why approval was given to release the three ships to return independently to Britain. Ben’s theory is based on ‘Operation Paul’. This was Churchill’s plan to mine and bomb the Swedish Port Lulea to prevent the Germans from buying high quality iron ore in the wintertime, so they would be cut off from their ammunitions. Churchill would have seen this as a major victory and a blow to Germany.

Ben expressed some disquiet regarding the many references to Captain D’Oyly-Hughes’ strange behaviour. In his research for the Channel 4 documentary, Ben spent some considerable time with his daughter Bridget and from her evidence developed a much kinder image of her father. It seems that he was appointed to command Glorious specifically to bring some order into what had become an ill-disciplined ship—the Admiralty was quite aware that they would soon be at war and the Fleet Air Arm component of the carrier was particularly in need of stiffening, so when Churchill became first Sea Lord, he asked to meet D’Oyly-Hughes personally.

David Woodcock RIP: Founder member of the GLARAC whose father was Master of Arms on HMS Glorious, who didn’t survive. As chairman of the GLARAC Association, he had been involved with many aspects of research into the events surrounding the loss of the three ships and did not believe in a conspiracy but supported Ben Barker’s theory of ‘Operation Paul’.

Tim Slessor: A TV producer and author, whose father, Paul Slessor, was Lt Commander (Air) aboard HMS Glorious, believes there was no conspiracy. He says that Captain D’Oyly-Hughes had been a commander on submarines and not had experience on an aircraft carrier. He mentioned that Captain Guy D’Oyly Hughes wanted to court martial John Heath because, according to Tim Slessor, he was mentally unstable; and Tim has written proof from his father and others concerning D’Oyly-Hughes’ behaviour. He has written two books, Ministry of Deception and Lying in State.

Air Chief Marshall Sir Kenneth Cross: As Squadron Leader Cross, he was the CO of RAF 46 Squadron and led the 8 Hurricanes to land safely aboard HMS Aircraft Carrier Glorious, the afternoon before she was sunk by the two German battleships, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. Sir Kenneth was one of the survivors of the worst naval disasters in WW2. When Rolf went to visit Kenneth in a nursing home in Hayling Island, he said to Rolf, that when he went to the bridge to report to the Commanding Officer as was Military protocol, Captain D’Oyly Hughes appeared unstable. When he asked Captain D’Oyly-Hughes why there was an absence of any aircraft being airborne in a search role, he was ordered to leave the bridge.

Andrew Lambert, head of War Studies, Kings College, London believes that there was no conspiracy, but rather a series of circumstances that led to a complete military cock up. Andrew also said that Bletchley Park were in their early years. It is relevant that May/June 1940 was Churchill’s darkest hour. President of US Roosevelt had been monitoring developments in Europe and with the Blitzkrieg and Chamberlin’s apparent weakness, he concluded that Britain would have to seek a peace deal.

McKenzie King’s (Prime Minister of Canada at that time) diaries reveal that Roosevelt had approached Canada proposing that Canada join the US and give shelter to British naval forces so that they wouldn’t fall into the German hands. It seems that the Canadian Prime Minster reported this to Churchill, commenting that he wouldn’t accept such a proposal.

Captain Christopher Page: Head of the Naval Historical Branch; like many others, believes that Commander Charles Glasfurd of HMS Acasta, and Commander John Barker, Commander of HMS Ardent, should be given proper gallantry medals for the way they continued to fire at the two German battleships with expertise right until they sank. Captain Page mentioned that the German Commanders noted this act of bravery in their account.

Harry Plevy, author and naval historian was particularly critical of Admiralty reluctance to honour the two British commanders and said that after his own research, he concluded that there was no conspiracy. He believed that the key factor in these disastrous events were Captain D’Oyly-Hughes’ obsession with the court martial of Commander J Heath (air) and Admiral Wells’ incompetence for permitting Glorious to detach from the task force. The seemingly lax preparedness of the Glorious was unforgivable. Admiral Wells was never given another operational appointment and John Heath was eventually exonerated.

Vice Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailey: One of the Royal Naval distinguished engineers published widely on a number of naval issues. Concluded there was no conspiracy and had an unease that Admiralty said that Aircraft Carrier Glorious was low in fuel.

Royal Archives: During this phase of Rolf’s research, he discovered that

(i) Browsing through two new books Rudolph Hess Cover-Up and War of the Windsor’s, it was reported that super-secret files were held at ‘Windsor Castle’.

(ii)Mike Rossiter (TV producer) revealed that he visited the PRO at Kew and could find nothing relating to the rescue of the King of Norway in June 1940.

Rolf said that through a close confidante, a contact was arranged at the Royal Archives in Windsor and he was told that there were no references to Glorious, Ardent and Acasta, but there was a message from HMS Glasgow reporting that she had embarked the Norwegian Royal family and 29 tonnes of Norwegian gold. As events unfolded, Rolf said that Glasgow had transferred the Norwegian Government, Royalty and cargo onto the Devonshire.

Ian Logie, retired banker: His interest was the transportation of the Norwegian gold and how Prime Minister Winston Churchill went to great efforts to accumulate Britain’s gold reserves and the safe arrival of 29 tonnes of Norwegian gold, according to Rolf’s research, and post-war difficulties in resolving war reparations to Norwegian ship owners.

Let’s raise a glass to Peggy Monteith who died 4 August 1973, and who brought this to Rolf’s attention upon their first meeting.

Since writing this book I was given some of David Woodcocks research and whilst browsing through some of the information my eyes came to appendix F, Appendix E and Appendix B which is more to think about and weigh up.

This is what I read in David’s research.

Appendix F. Why is there no evidence from Vice Admiral Wells?

What is much more extraordinary than the inadequacy of the original and only board of inquiry, is the fact that vice admiral well, the man who permitted Glorious to proceed independently, was never questioned about his reasons and yet he lived until the mid-1960s. He was the man ultimately responsible for the loss, he would have nearly all the answers. Yet despite specific instructions from VCNS to NHB Staff of 1940 to find out Why did Glorious part company with Ark Royal? No questions seemed to have been asked. Two thoughts arise—

The writer remembers hearing Captain Roskill, thinking aloud (summer 1980) and wondering if the NHB of the day had indeed found himself vis-a-vis the debacle, did Wells decline (short of being compelled) to make what could have been an embarrassing answer, or worse an incriminating one?

Was he relieved of command as Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers? Or did he leave the end of the tour of duty? What is much more certain that successful Navy lists show that he never again he held a sea gong command or, indeed, any command of Significance.

Appendix E why was there no court of inquiry into the disaster?

Whenever a ship is lost there is an automatic board of inquiry into the circumstances and causes of that loss. In the case of Aircraft Carrier Glorious, a Board of Inquiry was convened, but it limited itself to questioning the few survivors (who were commanded by Admiralty to say nothing) about what they remembered of the actual action and then about their experiences in the various Carley floats. It did not concern itself in anyway with an inquiry into the possible causes of the disaster; what as referred to as the external circumstances were outside the scope of this inquiry.

The Board assumed such an inquiry would be held elsewhere of which it never was.

Thus no time then or later, was there an examination of the various questions which have come down to haunt us.

Why was Glorious detached from the main group?

Why was she flying no spotter aircraft?

Why were no aircraft ranged on the flight deck?

Why did she have inadequate lookouts posted?

Why were a third of her boilers shit down?

Why was she at the fourth level of redness?

Why was the Captain and his senior FAA Officers at Log a heads?

Why had there been a lapse in intelligence?

Appendix B The theory of the disaster

Certainly there are problems with the Court Martial it was a trivial reason for which to detach ( and risk ) an Aircraft Carrier with planes on board, two destroyers and 1531 lives – which maybe the very reason Admiralty / MOD have always found it embarrassing to even consider the possibility. Why should the Admiral had have ever to agree to that unlikely request for an early and independent departure? (Amazingly there has never any record of him ever being asked this question). The two destroyers escorting the Carrier had been recently re-fueled and the re-fire ready to go and were rotated every day for refueling.

Leighton Rolley Managing Director of Research Vessel Services said, "I have no personal or family connection to the Glorious, other than my grandparents lived a few doors away from one of her lost crew members in Ely, South Wales (Phillip Barrow, Fonmon Crescent, Ely). I now live in Stirling, Scotland and regularly walk past the house where another victim of Glorious once lived with his wife (Walter Ray, Assistant Cook). While our family may not have been touched by the events of June 8th, like so many, war has touched our family and we lost a relative on the HMS Sydney and a few others in the horrors of WWI.

I have spent my working life at sea, sailing every ocean and visiting every continent. I was drawn to\ Glorious after researching and participating a mission to find the USS Indianapolis. While the Indianapolis was lost in the tropics and the Glorious in the cold Arctic, the effects of prolonged exposure, salt water and mental deterioration on the crew are strikingly similar. The chance discovery of the survivors, failure to distribute intelligence reports, transmission of distress messages and the lack of sufficient protection draws striking comparisons. Indianapolis’ Captain, who survived the sinking was later Court Martialed for hazarding his ship. He received letters of abuse from the families of those who lost their lives and eventually committed suicide.

If Captain Guy D’Oyly- Hughes had survived the sinking of Glorious a court martial may have been the fate that awaited him. While it is easy to blame D D’Oyly Hughes’ for the loss of Glorious there is so much data that is overlooked in the pursuit of applying blame and anger. As a Captain D’Oyly- Hughes is ultimately responsible for his ship.

However, of all the historic losses I have researched, none has been shrouded in as much anger, contradictions, misinformation, myth, and uncertainty as Glorious and her escorts. The uncertainty came from the lack of a proper investigation. In the absence of information and the silence of secrecy, the vacuum was filled by different theories, some plausible some fantastic: The ship was sacrificed for the King of Norway, the hurricanes on deck prevented aircraft operations, the Enigma was already broken, and the admiralty wanted to protect its secrets, Guy D’Oyly-Hughes wanted the VC and ran headlong at the enemy. These theories have evolved, been embellished and survive in magazines, papers and online debates even today.

In the immediate