2.
In the forefront (second row) hatless and bearded is my friend, Don Preece,
a gifted artist, who died 1.11.42, on his left, round faced is
Buckingham, Regulating Petty Officer, his senior is the Master-at-Arms,
Johnnie Harber who is half way back, third in from left, short hair,
round face, flattened nose with visible collar badge.
The front row
of officers from the left is Lt Cdr D'Oyly [an error, this person has
now been identified by his son as Lt Cdr H.C.R. Alexander RN, the Navigation Officer] bearded; he was a relative
of the Royal family & had a signed picture in his cabin of King
George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the young princesses. Next to him is
Captain Colthart who left the ship later and was replaced by Captain
Law. Colthart has his hand to his face. Smiling beside him and also
with 4 rings on his arm is Paymaster Captain Monk who went down with
the ship. Immediately behind Captain Colthart the smilling thin-faced
officer is Surgeon Lt Steve Hetherington.
"Uncle Cyril", Capt C.G.B. Coltart RN, being piped aboard HMS Hecla by his fellow officers dressed as ratings after a day's shootin' at Havelfjord in 1941
Lt Surgeon Stephen L Hetherington RNVR is facing centre
Courtesy of Dr Peter Hetherington
With British forces hard pressed in
Egypt and the Mediterranean and growing Icelandic resentment of British
and Canadian forces occupying their land President Roosevelt agreed to
take over the defence of Iceland from Britain and despatched 36,000 US
troops in June 1941 (Project Indigo).
Winston Churchill stopped off at Havelfjord on the 16 August while returning home on the battleship, HMS Prince of Wales,
after signing the Atlantic Charter with Roosevelt at Placentia Bay, in
Newfoundland. He held talks with Iceland officials, inspected the
combined British and US Marine forces and came aboard the destroyer
depot ship, HMS Hecla. He attended a service in the ship's chapel where the "Jack Dustie", AB Ernest Victor Frowde, known as "Fingers Frowde", played the organ.
Winston Churchill being welcomed aboard HMS Hecla by Captain C.G.B. Coltart RN and his senior officers Courtesy of George Male
Winston Churchill leaving HMS Hecla at Havelfjord Courtesy of George Male
Herbert McWillliams, an OD on the County Type heavy cruiser, HMS Shropshire, was one of those who saw Churchill at Havelfjord and his ship was part of the escort for HMS Prince of Wales when
it left Havelfjord on the 18 August for with Churchill aboard:
he appeared I was disappointed, I expected a big man and he is really
quite small. He was dressed in a navy blue blazer with brass buttons,
and wore a cap without a badge; he looked rather like a porter on a
railway station. He was by no means quite sober, having come straight
from a luncheon party on the flagship. He had a most odd expression,
rather like an obstinate little boy caught near the pantry with jam on
his fingers, or a comedian appearing on the stage expecting a laugh.
But when he began to speak it was clear how he exercises power and
authority over so many. I didn’t like his speech all the same; none of
us really cared to be told that we should feel thrilled at being so
lucky as to have this wonderful chance to fight the Nazi evil! I would
rather have heard something about his interview in mid-ocean with
Roosevelt. Naturally, I was very glad to have had the opportunity of
hearing him speak; I stood only a few yards from his rostrum, and had
whiffs of his huge cigar which once, accidentally, he put into his ear
instead of into his mouth. He really was “pissed”!
Fourteen months later McWilliams took passage on Hecla for
the invasion beaches in Algeria and his remarkable paintings and vivid
description of its loss on the night of the 11 - 12 November 1942
in A Hard Fought Ship have preserved the memory of that night for generations to come.
Top: The Captain's motor launch at speed
Bottom: U-570 being towed into Havelfjord after its
capture on the 27 August 1941 Courtesy of Simon Skelhorne (top and bottom left) and George Male (right)
Shipwright Bill Clayton from Plymouth remembered U-570 being
towe