Derek Hirst on the evacuation of Soroy as Channel 4 airs Arctic Convoy series

Britain this year is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World war II and Channel 4 is broadcasting a 4-part series on the Arctic Convoys – the last episode of which goes out next Sunday evening (20th September).

For Argyll has already published several articles on these most dangerous supply missions designed to keep the Russian threat to Germany – literally – alive. We hope progressively to publish more. (The photograph top is of boats taking Soroy evacuees from the shore out to the waiting British and Canadian destroyers.)

These convoys have a proud place in Scottish history. Loch Ewe in Sutherland on the north west coast on Scotland, was the gathering place for these convoys to Murmansk on the Kola Inlet (Photo below shows Convoy escort ships tied up at Polyarno on the Kola Inlet.)

Poolewe House, which became the Convoy HQ and is now a hotel, regularly receives convoy veterans and, in 2008, hosted a major international tribute to the convoys, which we reported. This brought together veterans with senior military and diplomatic representatives of the several nations involved and local people of all ages. It saw warships of several participating countries present in the Loch Ewe of today.

A museum offering permanent access to a wide variety of artefacts related to the convoys is being established, with the support of the Harrison family at the Poolewe Hotel. A company to take the project forwards has recently been incorporated.

For Argyll published this year Roy Elwood’s story of his experiences on HMS Zambesi on a convoy run to Murmansk and his later participation in the evacuation of desperate Norwegians from the remote island of Soroy, well north of the Lofoten Islands.

A renowned photographer, Roy Elwood, fellow of the Royal Photographic society, has agreed to work with us in sourcing material around the history of the Arctic Convoys. He tracked down a fellow member of the crew of HMS Zambesi, Derek Hirst and has given us Mr Hirst’s first hand account of Zambesi’s evacuation of Soroy.

Interestingly, after we published Roy Elwood’s story, accompanied by some of his own photographs, he was contacted through this website by Argyll man, Bill Macondichie from Achnamara who recognised him as a fellow former member of the Birmingham Probation Service.

Derek Hirst joined joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) in 1944 and was commissioned as a Midshipman at the age of 19. He was appointed to HMS Zambesi and completed four Russian convoys. (The photograph above shows Midshipman Derek Hirst on HMS Zambesi – and the ‘barrels’ at his feet are depth charges.)

While serving aboard the Zambesi on the arctic convoys which he recalls ‘was very cold and uncomfortable’ – a stout understatement – he was involved in the evacuation of Sørøy. Here is his account of that event. (The photograph above shows Convoy escort ships refuelling at sea from a oiler.)

‘We in HMS Zambesi had just taken a convoy to Murmansk but were ordered back to sea to lead a task force of four destroyers to try, at the request of the Norwegian High Command, to rescue 500 women and children from the Island of Sørøy whose plight had become desperate. These people were victims of the German ‘scorched earth’ policy in the north of Norway during the winter of 1944/45.

‘Before the evacuation, the Germans had begun to withdraw from north Norway and ordered people to leave their homes and move south.

‘To ensure that this order was obeyed, the Germans burned down every house on Sørøy, killed animals and destroyed food stocks. They took away 1200 men and women, the fittest on the island, for forced labour. Those who could, fled to the hills, living in caves and snow holes and surviving on whatever they could find. The men hunted reindeer and caught fish at the risk of their lives, for the Germans often returned with patrols and picked up whoever they found.

‘A Norwegian military mission reached the island and saw that the patriots had almost reached their limit of endurance. Their clothes were in rags and their children were exhausted. Something had to be done to save them.

‘The destroyer force under the Command of Captain JH Allison DSO, in Zambesi included HMS Zest (Lt Cdr RBN Hicks DSO), HMS Zealous (Cdr RF Jessel DSO,DSC) and the Canadian destroyer Sioux (Lt Cdr EEG Boak).

‘The Norwegian Military Mission had warned the patriots to stand by for rescue. The Norwegian resistance fighters marshalled the people to a point at the head of the fjord and were told to wait for a signal.

‘At exactly 3 o’clock one afternoon the destroyers, led by Zambesi, with all guns manned, swept down the eight mile Glanton Fjord. (The photographs above show, left, Sub Lieutenant Roy Mander, assistant navigator on HMS Zambesi, who became a lifelong friend of Derek Hirst’s; and, right, a group of Zambesi’s Petty Officers and CPOs.)

‘In a neighbouring fjord were enemy armed trawlers and patrol craft, but they knew nothing of the arrival of the rescue force. Even if they had it would have been too late to interfere.

‘When the destroyers reached the end of the fjord, they lowered their boats and sent them to the beaches.

I remember it was a beautiful day. As we steamed up the fjord everything was quiet.There wasn’t a sign of life. All we could see was  a small boat at the head of the fjord. Things looked a bit suspicious until a man jumped up in the boat  and fired a Verey light (signal pistol).

‘This was a prearranged signal for the Norwegians to come out of hiding. They all came skiing down to the boats and were very pleased to see us. It took us nearly three hours to get them all aboard our destroyers and then we had the most difficult part of the operation, to get them all safely back to Britain.

‘With so many civilians aboard, it would not have been prudent, as Captain Allison put it, to ‘risk battle with enemy craft that might have tried to intervene’.

‘So, throughout the night we steamed at full speed to avoid the enemy. The mess decks were crowded. Bewildered old women sat there in shawls. Younger women nursed babies. One was only ten days old. Weary men, young and old, slept where they sat. Soup, corned beef and potatoes were served, trousers from the ship’s store were issued to men and women alike. Sailors gave up their sleeping room so that children could rest and cigarettes and chocolate were brought up from the canteen for the Norwegians.

‘The rescue fleet reached Murmansk soon after dawn and the patriots were put aboard merchant ships for their return to England. One of these, the American Liberty Ship, SS Henry Bacon, was torpedoed and sunk en route.

(The photograph, left, shows depth charges exploding astern of HMS Zambesi, in anti-submarine  manoeuvres on Convoy  escort duty.)

‘The refugees were put in the first of only two serviceable lifeboats while the crew took their chances in the open rafts. The Zambesi, the Opportune and the Zest were sent to find them, which we did. We managed to pick up the Norwegians but most of the crew in the open rafts were dead.

‘I remember it well even after 62 years but it does not end there.

‘Chance had it that two years ago I met some Norwegian students from that part of the world who were staying near where I live in Kingston.

‘In talking to them I mentioned the refugees from Sørøy, the history of which they knew and said that if ever I came that way, I should let them know.

‘In June we were on a cruise to Norway and I arranged to meet them. Imagine my surprise and amazement when I went ashore to find I was facing a Norwegian television crew together with one of the children who had been rescued 62 years ago and who had come representing some of the survivors who had returned to Sørøy.

‘Apparently I was the only person from the four ships to have returned. I was presented with a painting of what they went back to after the war, just tents. (Pictured below.)

‘It was an emotional day and one never to be forgotten’.

Derek Hirst

Photographs accompanying this article are courtesy of Derek Hirst via digital assistance from Roy Elwood – except obvious shots of the Soroy evacuation which were scanned from the Daily Express report of the day.