In the darkness of a mid-October night in 1939 many cruisers, destroyers and battleships of the Great British fleet were silently at anchor at Scapa Flow. A periscope broke the water as a submarine glided silently along the Holm Sound barely leaving a ripple in its wake. U-47 was seeking out the battleship, HMS Royal Oak, silhouetted against the skyline. Moments later twin white wakes marked the course of two torpedoes.Continue reading “The Phantom of Scapa Flow – Fact or Fiction?”
Author Archives: poolhousepoolewe
U-31 and the Mining of HMS Nelson
On one of her North Sea patrols on 4th December 1939, HMS Nelson entered Loch Ewe at 13 knots, passing over a magnetic mine and activating it. She was lifted and shaken by the tremendous explosion. No one was killed, but there were 73 casualties. In the heads forward, many toilets shattered and the occupantContinue reading “U-31 and the Mining of HMS Nelson”
Yo Ho Ho and Reporting For Duty Sir
Why were British WW2 submarines issued with official Jolly Roger flags? One of our more curious collection items is this Royal Navy issued Skull & Crossed Bones flag dating from 1940. Interestingly, Royal Navy submarines have been flying the flag for over a century in both defiance and in solidarity with the Silent Service. TheContinue reading “Yo Ho Ho and Reporting For Duty Sir”
If Spoons Could Talk
We have a wonderful wooden box in our collection. It contains a leather wallet full of snapshot photos, some coins, cufflinks, a pocket watch, a pipe, and some rather fancy personalised cutlery. The snapshots show uniformed servicemen and a submarine, captioned HMS Ursula. The box quite obviously belonged to one of the officer class ofContinue reading “If Spoons Could Talk”
No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit
Spitfire AA810 When we think of WW2 and ‘intelligence’, we likely think of Bletchley Park, or the Special Operations Executive, but millions of real time reports and photographs fed into the strategic planning of the allied campaign, and that was largely down to the unarmed photographic reconnaissance units, without which, the outcome of the warContinue reading “No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit”
Catalina Aircraft of No 209 Squadron.
Imagine going to war while your country is at peace and having to keep it a secret……………… That was the situation for Missouri native “Tuck” Smith when he was awakened at 0300 on 28 March 1941, while aboard a seaplane tender in beautiful Acapulco Bay, Mexico. A University of Illinois graduate who had earned hisContinue reading “Catalina Aircraft of No 209 Squadron.”
Pool House
WW2 Arctic Convoy HQ Pool House was a comfortable hunting and fishing lodge that had been a much sought after retreat for wealthy Victorian and Edwardian holiday makers. Soon after the outbreak of WW2, however, it played host to a very different clientele, as it was requisitioned for the war effort. Soon its corridors wereContinue reading “Pool House”
Loch Ewe Boom Defence
At the start of WW2 in September 1939, the Admiralty were already concerned about the security of the fleet based at Scapa Flow. Subsequently, later that month, a number of vessels were moved to Loch Ewe. Although, it was less exposed to attacks by aircraft, submarines still posed a dangerous threat. In mid-September, Churchill arrivedContinue reading “Loch Ewe Boom Defence”
Poolewe Burial Ground
Close to the shore of Loch Ewe lies a tranquil and scenic graveyard with the ruins of an ancient chapel. When you pass through the gate you step quite literally into history. Since 1997 the site has held the status of “scheduled ancient monument” from Historic Scotland. Within the walls you will find a PictishContinue reading “Poolewe Burial Ground”
Lord Seaforth’s Nightmare & the Mackenzie Curse
256 years ago, Francis Mackenzie, Lord Seaforth, caught scarlet fever. The twelve year old schoolboy was put into a makeshift ward at his school along with a number of other boys. This infectious disease usually affects children between 5 and 15 years old and up to the beginning of the 20th century, it was oneContinue reading “Lord Seaforth’s Nightmare & the Mackenzie Curse”