Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: Battle of Crete and the Loss o…

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Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: Battle of Crete and the Loss of HMS Kelly

AssociatedAssociated with Lord Mountbatten of Burma (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)

Medallist John Pinches, Medallists

DateMay 2004

Object NameMedal

MediumSterling Silver

ClassificationsMedals

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS072500.97

Keywords

Commemorative

About MeAfter the withdrawal of British forces from Greece in April 1941, it was decided to defend the island of Crete, chiefly by means of the Navy and in spite of the fact the Germans had complete air superiority throughout the area. Although the Mediterranean Fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, had suffered crippling losses and damage, it managed to prevent a seaborne landing on any scale; the Germans captured the island through the use of parachute troops. The Fleet was then faced with the hazardous task of withdrawing the garrison. Losses mounted, and it was suggested to Cunningham that he had done enough. 'No,' he replied, 'It takes three years to build a ship. It would take three hundred to rebuild a tradition.

Among the ships lost in Cretan waters was the destroyer Kelly, commanded by Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten. She already had a splendid record of service, and had survived being torpedoed in the North Sea the year before, when she received damage which would have sunk most ships. The Kelly was recommissioned in November 1940 and led the 5th Flotilla in the hazardous passage from Gibraltar to Malta in 1941. She continued to play an active role in seeking out supply ships carrying vital stores to the Afrika Korps, bombarding Benghazi, carrying out escort duties, all the time fighting off German air attacks. While attempting to support the New Zealand forces in Crete she was attacked by a strong force of Stuka dive bombers. The accompanying ship, the Kashmir, was sunk. The Kelly, turning at speed to pick up survivors and therefore listing heavily to port, was then struck by bombs. The ship listed more heavily, control of the helm was lost but the guns kept firing until the ship started to roll over. Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last to leave the ship. Survivors from the Kelly and Kashmir were picked up by the Kipling, which arrived just in time.

That was the end of HMS Kelly, a story true to the finest traditions of the Royal Navy. She stands as an example of the fact that, although grievous losses have to be accepted, the Navy which persists in its task, however difficult, is likely to triumph in the end. It was so in the Second World War, as it had been in the First.

The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.