The last person to talk to our Captain was a Petty Officer named Townsend.  Both he and the Captain used to play cricket for the flotilla. The Captain said  to Townsend: "I don't think we'll be playing cricket for a long time yet".  Then he proceeded to go to the wardroom where the sea cocks were situated to open them and sink the ship.

We were in the water for quite a considerable time before the Hipper returned and proceeded to pick up survivors.  Among the survivors a few names have come to mind; Petty Officer Townsend; Petty Officer Walter Scott; Leading Seaman Smith from Southampton; Leading Seaman Shergold; Able Seaman Andrew Perry; Able Seaman Edgar Seeward;  Able Seaman Bob Rainer; Able Seaman Mallett; Able Seaman Merritt; Petty Officer Gregg and one or two others.

Eventually I was helped out of the water with a rope.  From my waist down I was absolutely frozen.  I never felt so cold in all my life and I don't think I've warmed up yet.  We were taken to Wilhelmshaven and handed over to the military authorities where they proceeded to interrogate us.  Two of our ratings who were ASDIC operators had an immediate change of status by becoming torpedo men.  After interrogation we were sent to a prison camp in a place called Spannenburg in Germany where we were registered in an officer's camp of all things.  I was given POW number 161.  Then we were sent to a naval camp near Bremerhaven. Whilst there I met two Flight Sergeants who had been shot down over Germany on the day war was declared, operating a leaflet drop. 

I finish by saying two of the brightest moments in my life were: one when I joined Her Majesty's Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert at Portsmouth in 1945 during the Coronation season. I was one of the six boys on the ship who were awarded the Coronation Medal.  The other great moment of my life was when I eventually returned home and heard the news that the Captain of Glowworm Lt Cdr Roope had been awarded the Victoria Cross.  The very first action of World War II resulting in the award of the VC'.

Above:  Duncan (centre) With My  Uncle  Bill  (right) and  another  sailor  from  the Glowworm at somewhere called  the 'Chorus Bar Quadrangle',  just before the war.

Above: Duncan when he was serving on HMS Victory.