HMS Zulu

HMS Zulu was a Tribal-class British destroyer, built in Glasgow by A. Stephens & Sons, her keel laid down on Aug 10th 1936 and launched on Sept 23rd 1937. She was launched with boilers and funnels in place, and this gave her the reputation of a lucky ship. Commissioned on 7th Sept 1938. Just after she was completed, the HMS Zulu moved in Mediterranean and was based in Malta. When she returned home, during 1941, she had a part in the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck. After the excitement, the 4th Destroyer Flotilla (Sikh, Zulu, Cossack and Maori) returned to Home Fleet work and Western Approaches escort duties. And in June 1941 Zulu sailed for Falmouth, England to begin her refit. Her after funnel was cut down and her mainmast was fitted with a high frequency direction finding (Huff-Duff or HF/DF) outfit. Two, single 2 pounder guns were mounted on the bridge wings. Radar was installed and the depth charge throwers were re-located.

The refit was completed by July. Then she moved back in Mediterranean, part of Force H for the better part of the year, where she performed strike attacks against Italian convoys, and later took part in the attack against the Italian base in Tobruk (Libya). Here HMS Zulu's luck turned. On September 14, 1942, she suffered some damages from the Italian coastal batteries on Tobruk coast but could still make 30 knots. Her crew were on full watch for approx 48 hours. Just a few hours later, she was bombed by Italian aircraft, the bomb piercing the side and exploded in the No 3 boiler room, and HMS Zulu couldn't move any more and steeled two feet deeper into the water. HMS Croome took off the most part of HMS Zulu's crew, and HMS Hursley took her in tow. But the British destroyer was sinking: just a hundred miles from Alexandria, again she was bombed by an enemy aircraft. HMS Zulu suddenly rolled to starboard and sank in position 32º00'N, 28º56'E. 12 men of the crew died, and 27 more were missing with one wounded (Peckham?). Her commander from 28 April 1942 until her sinking was Commander R.T. White, D.S.O.* (later Captain R.T. White, D.S.O.**). For his part in the attempted rescue of HMS Sikh, White was awarded the 2nd bar to his D.S.O.

General Characteristics

· Armament: eight 4.7 inch guns, seven smaller guns, four 21-inch torpedo tubes

Commanding Officers:
Cdr. John Stuart Crawford, RN
Promoted to Capt. on 31 December 1940
DSO awarded on 24 September 1940
15 February 1938 - 14 January 1941

Cdr. Harry Robert Graham, DSO, RN
DSC awarded on 10 October 1941
14 January 1941 - 28 April 1942

Pennant Numbers: L 18 July 1938 - December 1938 - F 18 January 1939 - Autumn 1940 - G 18 Autumn 1940 - September 1942

The table below shows the Zulu section career of one particular sailor, Eric Bell. He served aboard Zulu until wounded on the day of her sinking. The first column is the theatre of operations, second in his ship, third is his rank, fourth is the From date, Fifth is the To date, in this case, of the sinking of HMS Zulu. The next is total number of days on that particular duty, at sea. The next is total number of days ashore followed by the whereabouts on shore. I suspect that the 35 days spent at Alexandria were on the strength of a hospital as he recovered from his wounds. My thanks to his son, Howard. He writes. My father served in the Royal Navy from 1938 until 1946. He died in 1984. He originally joined the Navy in August 1938 aged 17 years and 5 months. His full name was William Eric Thomas Bell, called Bill or Eric.

Nile	Zulu	Able Bodied Seaman	17-Jun-42	14-Sep-42	89
Nile		Able Bodied Seaman	15-Sep-42	20-Oct-42		35	Shore establishment Alexandria
Nile/Sphinx		Able Bodied Seaman	21-Oct-42	25-Oct-42		5	Shore establishment Sidi Bishr (outside Alexandria)
Phoenix		Able Bodied Seaman	26-Oct-42	24-Nov-42		30	Shore establishment Portsmonth
Nile/Sphinx		Able Bodied Seaman	25-Nov-42	08-Dec-42		15	Shore establishment Sidi Bishr (outside Alexandria)

My father Eric Bell (but sometimes known as Bill or Eric) was born in 1922 and grew up in County Leitrim, Republic of Ireland. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on the 31 August 1938 aged 17 years and 4 months. My father died in 1984 just one week after his retirement. He spoke little about his wartime experiences. Last year, I came across my father’s naval papers and I decided to research this period from my father’s life.

My father received his basic training in HMS Wildfire in Sheerness. This was a shore based Boys Training Establishment. After his training, he was assigned to HMS Drake (a shore establishment in Devonport) as an Ordinary Seaman and thereafter to HMS Jackal (a J-class destroyer) for the next 2 years and 4 months. On the 17 June 1942, he was assigned to HMS Zulu (a tribal class destroyer) based at Gibraltar.

During my research mostly via the Internet, I discovered something about the experiences of my father’s service on HMS Zulu. .....For the better part of 1942, ZULU was attached to Force H at Gibraltar, striking against Axis supply convoys. ZULU and SIKH’S final operation together was the commando attack on Tobruk, Libya on 13/14th September 1942. As a result of attacks by JU87’s and JU88’s, ZULU was hit . Her crew had been at full watch since dusk on the 13th and daylight on the 14th did not bring any rest. In spite of surviving multiple bomb attacks during that day, ZULU was mortally wounded at 1600. A bomb from an enemy aircraft had pierced her side and exploded in the engine room, thus flooding it along with #3 Boiler Room and the Gear Room. She stopped dead in the water and settled two feet deeper. HMS CROOME came along side to take off any remaining personnel except for a towing party. ZULU was taken in tow by HMS HURSLEY. By 1900, and only a hundred miles from Alexandria, Egypt, she was sinking fast. The towing party was rescued after a strafing pass by an enemy aircraft. Suddenly, ZULU rolled to starboard and sank. In both attacks, twelve men had been killed, twenty- seven went missing and one was wounded.

January 2007: Got this email from Maurice Dawe. Hi, Just as a matter of interest my brother Leading Seaman William Francis Dawe (Frankie) served in HMS Zulu from its commissioning day until its action with the Bismarck when he was wounded and put ashore in Londonderry to the military hospital where he died on the 2nd June 1941. He was an LST so was at his action station on the torpedo tubes when he was wounded by shrapnel. I guess there are very few survivors still alive but maybe somebody remembers him. He was from Lisburn Northern Ireland. Maurice R. Dawe ex RN, RAN MN.

November 2007: Got an email from Robert Godwin. My uncle (L/Stoker Robert Anderson) was killed on HMS Zulu when the ship was sunk on 14^th September 1942. If any one has further information I would love to know? Email him direct at crana.crana -at- ntlworld.com. If you replace -at- with @, you have his email address.

April 2009: Hi, my name is Mark Peckham. My Granddad, Lesley John Peckham served on the Zulu and was on it during the action at Tobruk. He is dead now and only spoke to me once about it 30 years ago. He was shot in the arm and the hand while in the water. The information I remember is vague. He ended up in the water and was captured and ended up in an Italian hospital in Italy. He was given civilian clothes to escape. Can anybody shed any light on this. You can email Mark at the following email address, and info to me please, if possible. markpeckham - at - tiscali.co.uk. If you replace -at- with @, you have his email address.

May 2009: A request for info from Julie Johnstone in San Diego USA. My father Able seaman Thomas Ferguson was on board the Zulu and one of the crew members rescued from the water after many hours. My Dad passed away June 6th 1988, he never talked about his experience. My mother once told us after his rescue, my grandmother was taken to BBC radio station at Queen Margaret drive, Glasgow and allowed to speak to him over the airwaves. I do recollect there was an article related to his rescue and length of time in water, over the years it disappeared and my sister and I have tried unsuccessfully to find out any information regarding his rescue. Any information you could help us with would be most appreciated. email her at scotsgirlll - at - att.net - replace the -at- with @ for the corrrect email address.

July 2009: Richard Marshall emailed to telling me that his mum's first husband, Charles Mansbridge, served aboard Zulu and was killed, possibly from field gun fire.

For the record, below is the THIRD HMS Zulu with HMS Token alongside, taken in 1967. Zulu was later sold to the Indonesian Navy