[BITList] Fwd: PQ17 Convoy is to scatter

[John Feltham]

From a correspondent…


> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> 
> 
> Just a guess;  those classified files might involve opposition from the Vichy government forces on the north African coast.
> 
> My uncle was serving on a destroyer - H.M.S.Somali, in Operation Pedestal.
> They went to rescue survivors from a sinking warship close inshore and lowered their guns to show no offence intended, when they were shelled by Vichy land forces.
> Damage was done to her engine room and while the ship was able to get away o.k. and despite a brief dry-docking, when she resumed her role with the Arctic Convoys she was still suffering from a loss of maximum speed because of the French shelling, and arguably this resulted in her being unable to avoid a torpedo which eventually let to her loss 4 nights later, with my uncle and most of the emergency tow crew.