HC Deb 24 October 1940 vol 365 cc1147-9
66. Mr. Stokes

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that for 48 hours after the sinking of His Majesty's ship "Glorious" a consider- able number of survivors remained afloat on rafts; and why no adequate steps were taken to rescue them?

Sir V. Warrender

It is a fact that a considerable number of survivors remained afloat on rafts for some time. Our aircraft and ships did in fact pass close to these rafts but unfortunately did not see them.

Mr. Stokes

Is it not a fact that there were many hundreds of these people who were not saved, and is it not true that the Air Officer Commanding, Coastal Command, was not advised of the movement of this ship, and, if so, why not?

Sir V. Warrender

I hope the hon. Gentleman is not going to suggest that there was any neglect to rescue these men, because it is inconceivable to anyone who knows anything about the Royal Navy that the Admiralty or any flag officer would not take every step to do so. The position is that this case was governed by the fact that, owing to some completely inexplicable cause, no signals made by the "Glorious" at the time were intercepted.

Mr. Ammon

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that nearly 1,000 men were lost—[HON. MEMBERS: "No"]—and does not that emphasise the need for a court-martial, which has been asked for again and again in this particular case?

Sir V. Warrender

As the hon. Gentleman knows, there has been a court of inquiry, but as the hon. Gentleman also knows, the officer commanding this ship went down with her, and much of what happened must of necessity be a mystery. If anybody attempts to suggest that there was any neglect on the part of the Admiralty or any flag officer, then I take the strongest possible exception to that.

Mr. Stokes

Is it not a fact that no instructions were passed to the operational staff of the Admiralty with regard to the movements of His Majesty's ship "Glorious," and why was not that done?

Sir V. Warrender

That is an entirely different question.

Sir A. Southby

In order to clear up this matter and do justice to the naval authorities, is it not about time that the name of the officer responsible for this disaster was made public?

Mr. Stokes

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

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