NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007 13
Old enemies, new friends
I
N THE autumn of
1783, the former
In the fourth in his series for Navy News, Royal
commander-in-chief of
Naval Museum Director and leading naval historian
the French naval forces
Dr Colin White looks at a key element in the Royal
in the Indian Ocean, Count
Navy’s approach to waging war – compassion for
Pierre-André de Suffren,
its foe.
called in at the Cape of
Good Hope with a small
national anthems were played This humane gesture so
French squadron. was the man who initiated the impressed the governor that he
He had just ended a remarkable transfer, WW2 veteran Cdr Eddie offered to take the British wounded
two-year campaign, in which he Grenfell. as well and look after them.
and his comrades had fought a Better-known for his long fi ght Two years ago, at the Trafalgar
series of major fl eet actions against to get offi cial recognition for those 200 Fleet Review, that inspiring
the English, under Admiral Sir who took part in the Atlantic story formed the climax of the
Edward Hughes. Now peace had Convoys, Cdr Grenfell has also stunning son et lumière show, which
been declared and he was on his worked tirelessly for reconciliation ended a truly memorable day.
way home to France. between former foes. At the fi nish, all the ships in the
A few days after Suffren arrived Like so many veterans, he great international fl eet at Spithead
at the Cape, an English squadron understands the special bond were suddenly lit up as a symbol of
sailed into the bay, also on its way that exists between fi ghting men, the ‘brotherhood of the sea’.
home. It could have been a very whatever their nationality. Some of the more cynical
awkward moment. Six English Of course, this sort of bond commentators wrote this off as
captains had been killed during exists in the other services as ‘political correctness’.
the campaign just ended, and the well. One thinks, for example, of They said that we should have
squadron was commanded by that great man Simon Weston, the ended the show with stirring
Cdre Richard King whose ship, veteran of the Sir Galahad disaster patriotic songs and lots of
HMS Exeter, had been badly during the Falklands War in 1982. triumphant fl ag-waving.
mauled in one of the most fi ercely- He has made a point of But it was noticeable that
contested battles. tracking down Carlos Cachón, the none of those who made this ill-
Instead, as soon as he heard Argentine pilot who dropped the informed criticism were sailors!
that Suffren was at the Cape, King bomb that killed his comrades and And we can be sure that Nelson
went to call on him, accompanied scarred him for life. The two men himself would have approved of
by all the captains of the squadron. have made peace with each other that more thoughtful ending. For
They wanted to pay public tribute and Cachón has even met Simon’s it was entirely in tune with the
to an opponent whom they had family. spirit that he encouraged in his
come to admire for his courage All the same, the bond between men.
and tactical ability. sailors has an extra dimension. Early in the morning of October
Suffren was very moved by their For, whatever their nationality, 21 1805, as the Victory was sailing
gesture. “Among the tributes that they have one important thing in into battle, he wrote a famous
have most fl attered me,” he wrote, common. They are all at the mercy prayer in his diary. In it, he asked
“none has given me more pleasure of the sea. God, “may humanity after Victory
than the esteem and consideration And that has created a special be the predominant feature in the
testifi ed by the English.” phenomenon – the ‘brotherhood British Fleet.”
Esteem and consideration. I of the sea’. That phrase is so well-known
was reminded of those words back Next month we will be that some people make the mistake
in May of this year, when I was celebrating the anniversary of of thinking that ‘humanity after
privileged to take part in a moving the Battle of Trafalgar – and the victory’ is a particularly Nelsonian
ceremony on board the German ‘brotherhood of the sea’ is an concept.
fl eet auxiliary Berlin. important part of that story too. In fact, as so often, Nelson
She was making a special visit to After the battle, the opposing was simply giving memorable
Portsmouth to pick up an unusual fl eets were hit by a fearsome storm. expression to a golden thread that
cargo – the bell of a WW1 German Immediately, national differences runs through the whole of naval
battleship, SMS Oldenberg. were forgotten and British, French history.
Following the war it had found and Spanish sailors worked Nelson’s prayer for humanity;
its way into the Royal Naval alongside each other to save lives. the tireless reconciliation work of
Museum, but now the Germans And Vice Admiral Cuthbert Eddie Grenfell; and the “esteem
were launching a new Oldenberg Collingwood, who had taken over and consideration” shown by those
and they had asked if the bell command when Nelson died, British captains to their former
could be returned. sent a message to the Governor foe, Pierre-André de Suffren.
The museum trustees agreed of Cadiz. He offered to land the All these are elements of the
and I was formally handing it over Spanish wounded so that they same tradition.
to the German Navy. could be looked after properly in They an essential part of the
● Humanity after victory... survivors of the Bismarck are plucked from the Atlantic in May 1941 by HMS
Standing beside me as the hospitals ashore. Royal Navy’s way of waging war.
Dorsetshire
Submarine’s loss recalled
ILL-FATED submarine HMS the hangar doors open. It plans three days of dives
M2 will be remembered this The bodies of two crew, Leslie on M2 with a mix of Service
THE ROYAL ALFRED
autumn with a series of events Gregory and Albert Jacobs, were and civilian divers returning to SEAFARERS’ SOCIETY
marking the 75th anniversary recovered; 58 other men remain the submarine to lay a White
of her loss. entombed in the wreck. Ensign.
Providing quality long term edge of Banstead. Donations Head Office, Weston Acres,
The undersea leviathan was To mark the loss, the Nautical On November 22 there will
unique in the annals of the Archaeology Society, Silent be a talk on the boat and her
nursing care for Seafarers and their and legacies are vital to us and Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead,
Silent Service: a seaplane- Service and Fleet Air Arm are all aircraft at the Fleet Air Arm
dependants. The nation owes a help ensure that our residents
Surrey SM7 3HA.
carrying submersible as the RN planning events. Museum in Yeovilton followed
great deal to its seafarers and our continue to receive the best
dabbled with different variants “For years, the M2 has been by an exhibition in January,
home provides them with a safe possible care.
Tel: 01737 353763
of submarines between the an iconic dive – but we should and St Andrew’s Church on haven in old age and adversity.
wars. never forget that the crew are still Portland will host a comme
For further information about the
Fax: 01737 362678
M2 was originally built, like inside the boat. That means we morative service on December
We offer modern en suite rooms services we provide, or for advice
her sister M1, with a 12in gun; should treat her with respect,” 9.
www.royalalfredseafarers.com
Washington Treaty limitations explained Jane Maddocks, The society will also produce
and sheltered flats set in 14 acres on tax efficient giving, please
and the loss of M1 in the wreck protection offi cer for the a Christmas card based on one
of lovely Surrey countryside on the contact: The Chief Executive, Reg Charity No 209776 Est 1865
Channel caused the Admiralty British Sub-Aqua Club. sent 75 years ago by HMS M2
to re-design the boat, replacing “I know that this boat is crew member Jack Lewis.
the gun with a small hangar to special and that submariners More details are available
carry a seaplane. who dive her still feel an affi nity from www.nasportsmouth.
It is the seaplane which with those inside the hull.” org.uk
caused M2’s downfall in M2 enjoys protected
January 1932 during exercises status – a message the NAS
in Lyme Bay. hopes to reinforce through its
Other vessels watched M2 commemorations; the
and keep driving it!
dive, but the submarine never society promotes the
• Money for any purpose
reappeared. Eight days later, respectful, scientifi c
divers found the wreck, with study of wrecks.
• Often available to pay out on same day
Contact your local rep on:
24/7
Written quotations on request. A Logbook loan is secured on your car.
0013_NN_Sept.indd 113_NN_Sept.indd 1 117/8/07 14:45:167/8/07 14:45:16
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