HC Deb 31 July 1940 vol 363 cc1221-3
23 and 24. Mr. Ammon

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether the old-established custom of holding naval courts-martial following the loss of ships of the Royal Navy in order to determine the circumstances of such loss, is being adhered to; whether such courts-martial have been held as to the sinking of His Majesty's Ship "Glorious"; and what were the findings of the courts;

(2) whether any inquiry has been held into the conduct of the naval operations following the evacuation of Narvik, which led to the loss of His Majesty's Ships "Glorious," "Orama" and two destroyers; and, if so, whether the findings of the court will be promulgated?

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander)

A court-martial is not held of necessity and as a matter of course whenever one of His Majesty's ships is lost. The circumstances of the loss of His Majesty's ship "Glorious" and the ships in company were investigated by a Board of Inquiry, but it was decided that there was no advantage to be gained by holding a court-martial in addition. The findings of these Boards are confidential, and I regret that I cannot add anything to the official announcement concerning the loss of these ships.

Mr. Ammon

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable perturbation in the Navy among the officers concerned?

Mr. Alexander

I do not know where the evidence of perturbation may be, but if officers of the Navy have such perturbation, they might communicate it to me. At any rate, I see no reason at present to change my decision.

Sir A. Southby

Is the First Lord aware that the old established custom was, I think up to the last war, that there should be a court-martial in the case of the loss of one of His Majesty's ships; and can he say why that rule has been departed from, observing that naval officers themselves welcome the opportunity of a legal court-martial following the loss of a ship so that the circumstances may be made as public as possible?

Mr. Alexander

It is true that up to 1914 it was not the invariable rule but a very general direction to have courts-martial, mostly in peace-time, with regard to the loss of ships, but during the first two years of the Great War it became necessary not to follow that practice, and even in the last two years of the Great War courts-martial were not excessive in number having regard to the heavy losses of ships. In regard to the procedure, it means, of course, that, if you have a court-martial, all the evidence is in public, and in the present circumstances I am not prepared to publish it.

Sir Herbert Williams

Have any persons who witnessed the sinking of the "Glorious" been in this country since the event?

Mr. Alexander

We have conducted a Board of Inquiry, and the witnesses examined have included survivors.

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