HC Deb 20 September 1939 vol 351 cc957-8
Mr. A. V. Alexander

(by Private Notice)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make concerning the sinking of His Majesty's Ship "Courageous"?

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Churchill)

On Sunday, 17th September, His Majesty's Ship "Courageous" was torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine. The submarine was immediately attacked by one of the screening vessels and there is every reason to believe that she was destroyed. His Majesty's Ship "Courageous" had on board 1,202 officers and men; this was somewhat less than her full complement, as she had embarked a reduced number of aircraft. A large number of survivors have been picked up by destroyers and merchant ships, amounting in all to 687 officers and men. The Commanding Officer, Captain Makeig-Jones, went down with his ship. The names of the survivors are being issued through the Ministry of Information as soon as they become available.

His Majesty's Ship "Courageous" was one of our earlier aircraft carriers. Built in 1917 as a cruiser, she was converted to an aircraft-carrier after the last war. The loss of this valuable ship to the Navy is not one I would wish to minimise. Since the outbreak of war, His Majesty's Ship "Courageous" has rendered conspicuous service in the protection of Merchant Shipping against submarine attack and her operations against individual submarines have not been without success.

The public have already learnt from survivors the graphic story of the gallantry of the ship's company. I should like to express on behalf of His Majesty's Government and the Board of Admiralty their profound sympathy with those who have been bereaved.

Mr. Alexander

May I ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, when he is giving that general expression of sympathy, to include the sympathy of the whole of the House? May I also ask him, if the House agrees, to convey to the Board of Admiralty, for distribution to the Fleet, our view of the fine spirit which has been shown in this, the first and important action by one of His Majesty's ships?

Mr. Churchill

I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman and those for whom he speaks.

Mr. Bellenger

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this ship was accompanied by its full complement of protecting destroyers, and whether the Board of Admiralty have had under consideration increasing the protection given to aircraft carriers, which are particularly vulnerable?

Mr. Churchill

Yes, Sir, she was accompanied by a full escort of destroyers.

Mr. De Chair

Can the First Lord of the Admiralty explain how it came about that a submarine was able to get within striking distance of the "Courageous," in view of the fact that the Admiralty have frequently assured the House that they can deal with the submarine menace and that it is impossible for a submarine to get within striking distance?

Mr. Churchill

That question is not one which can be dealt with in a supplementary answer, but I see no reason to doubt the soundness of the broad view, which the Admiralty expressed before the war, as to our means of coping with this peculiar form of menace.