A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A LIGHT CRUISER
by
Tom Merrett

HMS Phoebe – 1941 - Captain Guy Grantham RN - RM Band of 11 – Bandmaster II G Mortimer

January 1st saw Phoebe quietly laying off Oban prior to a quick trip to Scapa Flow and then down to Gibraltar for convoy duty, eventually returning to Scapa on the 30th.

On 9th February we left Moville (Northern Ireland) as part of a huge convoy heading west into the Atlantic. 23 destroyers made up the leading safety screen – one leader and eleven each side. Amongst the dozens of “Castle Boats”, “Empress Boats”, “Bibby lines” etc. could be seen the reassuring presence of heavy cruisers and what could have been an aircraft carrier. For many days the convoy steamed west into the setting sun. Eventually, having turned south, Phoebe detached to Gibraltar for 12 hours on the 19th and then rejoined the convoy to continue the steady plod. From 2nd – 8th March we enjoyed a very welcome break in Freetown before resuming convoy duty, crossing the line on 12th March. Four hours in Simonstown on the 22nd and then onto Durban arriving on the 26th. Rejoining the convoy on 1st April we noticed that two “R” class battleships, (Ramillies and Resolution) were with us. We bade farewell to the convoy on the 3rd April and proceeded at speed for Aden crossing the line again on the 7th. Transmitting the Suez Canal we arrived in Alexandria on the 14th. Meanwhile the convoy was slowly making their way to the Red Sea – nearly two months at sea!

The reason for our presence in Alex soon became apparent. We left at 0530 on the 18th April, were off Crete on the 19th and had our first taste of enemy air action on the 20th. Back to Alex for six hours on the 22nd and then into the evacuation of Allied Troops from Greece.

Our task was to steam up between the “fingers” of Greece, nets over the side and then do everything we could to help the thousands of “squaddies” get inboard. Many were badly shot up and I could never understand how one burly Australian with a mass of red rags where his stomach should have been, insisted on having a cup of tea. He died a couple of hours later propped up in the Band Mess. On that trip to Kalamata we rescued some 3,000 troops but months later I learned that about 8,000 had been left behind. It was always traumatic when we steamed away but we had to adhere to a very strict set time for departure – usually 3 am. Next day, as expected, we were dive bombed most of the day on our way back to Alex, but Phoebe was a lively lass and we got away with it.

Arriving in Alex on 25th April it was a quick turn around and then back to Mauplia for a second run. This time we suffered intermittent attack from the air and from E. Boats for three days but still managed to rescue thousands more troops.

The third and last run to Greece (Argos) was quite remarkable because of the miracle. We left, as usual, in the dark hours with soldiers all over the upper deck and below and proceeded at about 30 knots from the mainland. Dawn action stations, the sun coming up on a still, beautiful day, no wind and the sea like polished glass. Our wake could have been seen from the air dozens if not hundreds of miles away. AND NOTHING HAPPENED! We simply couldn’t believe it but there was the Ras el Tin lighthouse and we were soon safely in Alexandria Harbour after a wonderful day cruising (rather fast) in all the best traditions of P and O.
Routine patrols based on Port Said followed including a “halfway” trip to Malta with a convoy of four merchantmen which was heavily supported by a battleship, cruisers and destroyers. We saw our sister ship Naiad for the first time. Returning to Alex on 16th May we went into the floating dock for minor attention until the 27th.

The next day we set off for Crete and in four hours from midnight on the 29th took off some 5,000 troops at either Suda Bay or Heraklion. We visited Crete again on the 30th and 31st. Of the two evacuations Crete seemed to be the bloodiest.

Back to Alex at the beginning of June and then to Palestine patrol based in Haifa and covering the Syrian coastline. We now began to patrol more with Naiad, Perth and Ajax and even took part in exercises off Alex with the battleships Queen Elizabeth and Valiant. General Freiberg was aboard and we also flew an Admiral's flag for the first time. Returning to Alex at the end of July we enjoyed a couple of weeks' welcome break with much swimming at Stanley Bay and visits to Mex and Rouchdi Pascba.

The 8th Army were by now giving Rommel severe headaches in the desert and our next task was to escort destroyers up to Tobruk. They would go in and off-load stores, ammunition and water whilst we gave air cover off shore. This was known as the Club Run and other participants included Naiad, Galatea and the fast minelayer Abdiel. Having had a near miss on the second run, Phoebe was finally torpedoed on 27th August and limped back to Alex with a heavy list to starboard, and with just 12 inches of bow above sea level.
In dry dock we could see a huge hole near “B” magazine extending from above the water line down to the keel. It took three weeks to clear the debris and then the riveters began repairing the “outer skin”.

On 12th October we finally left Alex, transited the Suez Canal and then on to Aden, Mombassa, Durban and Simonstown. After a short break we continued on our world cruise (and it didn't cost us £10,000) to Lagos, Freetown, Trinidad and finally Brooklyn Navy yard, New York.

I still have vivid memories of seeing (and hearing) Nantucket light before we anchored off Coney Island on 20th November. We then proceeded to Bayonne, New Jersey to de-ammunition. Phoebe’s final dry dock was right under Brooklyn Bridge.

What can I say about our final days in Phoebe in New York? It was absolutely fantastic! “Life with Father” occupied the huge, brilliantly lit space in Times Square; “I don’t want to set the world on Fire” was played over the tannoy dozens of times a day and it was mighty cold. The Band was allocated 99, Park Avenue as our shore base for leave and life was one long round of parties and visits. Our hosts just overwhelmed us with amazing generosity.

CODA The Ship's Company left Phoebe on 5th December and travelled down to Norfolk, Virginia by Greyhound Coaches. At Philadelphia we learned of the appalling news of Pearl Harbour.
Embarking in Formidable on 10th December we arrived in Belfast on 21st December. Then Stranear, Scarborough and London. I arrived home in Minehead, Somerset at 0830 on Christmas Day for four weeks' leave.